Verdict: This Gladiator won't be winning any contests

If the A-Top Gladiator had to slug it out with Maximus Decimus Meridius in the Coliseum then it probably wouldn't last longer than a few heartbeats.

In fact, it's made from such incredibly thin aluminium that even a retiarii would make mincemeat of it in seconds. So if you intend on taking your PC to LAN parties make sure it's well padded - the Gladiator will afford it little protection. The door covering the external drive bays is particularly flimsy, and fell off almost every time we picked up the case. The exterior is hardly likely to scare a dinner lady, never mind a battle-hardened gladiator.

However, inside the overblown outer shell is a pretty reasonable case. There are four 5.25in, two external 3.5in and five internal 3.5in drive bays. Cooling is provided by two 120mm fans, with one intake at the front and one exhaust at the rear. Unfortunately, the sides of the internal 3.5in drive bay cage restrict cool air sucked in by the front 120mm fan from entering the main body of the case. This is a perfect example of why 120mm fans by themselves are not good enough, as they must have a good supply of air.

The Gladiator really could do with an extra intake fan on the left side panel to cool the CPU and graphics card. Unfortunately, because the left side panel has a large window it would be very difficult and messy to drill a hole in it and fit a fan yourself. There are a miserly two USB 2 ports at the bottom of the front panel, and no FireWire ports or audio jacks whatsoever.

The bundled 400W PSU isn't very impressive either. It claims to output a mere 18A on the all-important 12V rail, which isn't really enough for a high-end PC with several hard drives, and a power-hungry CPU and graphics card. This really is the final nail in the coffin for the Gladiator. The new Cooler Master Centurion 530 not only looks better, but it's also cheaper, and allows you to choose a decent-quality PSU. The Centurion's ventilated front panel and side air ducts also ensures it has better airflow. It may be a Gladiator by name, but it's only fit for being thrown to the lions.

• Cases - 21st November 2008
• Motherboards - 24th October 2008
• Gaming Headsets - 26th September 2008
• Dream PCs - 24th September 2008
• Headphones - 12th September 2008
• Media PC components - 22nd August 2008
• PSUs - 14th July 2008

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