If you like the looks of the new Apple Mac Pro but not willing to cough out an insane US$ 5,999 (about RM25,123) for the base model, here’s a cheaper alternative. A PC case maker, Dune, has introduced its own clone version of the almighty cheese grater and you can pre-order a unit starting next week on Kickstarter.
The Dune Pro looks identical and the obvious thing that’s missing is the big Apple logo on the side. Like the original, it has a stainless steel frame that doubles as the handle and feet. The enclosure itself is made out of precision high-grade aluminium that’s 3mm thick. At the top, it comes with two USB-C 3.1 ports but you don’t get that fancy circular round handle that folds into the body.
According to Dune, the Pro case can support a variety of motherboard sizes such as Mini ITX, ATX, mATX, EATX or EEB. You are also free to install any industry-standard graphics cards (more than 380mm in length), giving you the flexibility to upgrade at any time.
The enclosure has a 160mm CPU fan clearance and if you want to take cooling to the next level, Dune says you could also install 120mm, 240mm or 360mm water cooling radiator with fans. In terms of expansion, you can fit 5x SSD and 3x HDD.
Of course, the key highlight is its front panel. Dune says they have created a patent-pending sound dampening accessory which helps with case acoustics. The panel is machined at the front with large holes for optimal air intake. Behind the panel, it uses a different pattern that looks like an array of dices that intersects at the Y formation.
At the moment, there are no pricing details but if you’re interested, the Dune Pro will be available for pre-order on 21st October via Kickstarter. Previously, the same company has introduced a clone casing for the previous “trash can” Mac Pro called the Dune and it starts from US$ 199.
