Budget PC Case | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:15:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Budget PC Case | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Chieftec Hunter 2 Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/chieftec-hunter-2-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/chieftec-hunter-2-review/#respond Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:00:40 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=638524 An updated Hunter 2 from Chieftec aims to be the king of budget gaming cases, but can it succeed?

The post Chieftec Hunter 2 Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
If you are a regular reader of KitGuru you will know that we usually bring you reviews and showcases of some of the latest high-end hardware. But not everyone wants the most expensive, premium components so there are times that we dial it back a bit and look at some more affordable and budget gear. Today’s review is of one of those cheaper bits of hardware, It’s a case that costs under 80 Euros, it comes with four ARGB fans and supports some high-end hardware. But is the Chieftec Hunter 2 really good value for money? Let's find out.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:51 Pricing and availability
02:06 Features
02:57 Front I/O & RGB lighting
03:58 Changes between V1 and V2
04:23 A closer look – stripping it down
06:19 The Fans
06:36 Dimensions / radiator support
09:11 PSU area / cable management
10:25 Motherboard tray / space
10:51 Rear and flip side of case
11:57 Power supply shroud storage
13:15 Floor of the case
14:29 Test System
15:50 Thermal Performance
16:50 Accessories
17:45 James thoughts on the case
20:38 Overall quality discussion

The Chieftec Hunter 2 is an updated version of the original Hunter featuring some subtle changes and additions. The front panel has been reworked to include a larger centre mesh section with added brushed aluminium panels on either side. One of the front panel USB Type-A ports has been sacrificed for USB Type-C and the PSU shroud window cut-out has been replaced with a full cover PSU shroud. These all sound like worthwhile changes and additions.

Some features remain the same in the Hunter 2 that were in the original, such as the ARGB fans, there are four 120mm ARGB fans included with the case, and they are branded as Chieftec SF1225RGB-C1. Also included with the Hunter 2 is a five-port ARGB hub which has two additional LED strip ports, an Aura Sync port, five fan power ports and is powered by a SATA power connection. It’s a compact mid-tower that supports a decent array of hardware such as graphics cards up to 320mm long, CPU coolers up to 170mm tall and motherboards up to ATX format.

Chieftec Hunter 2 Features:

  • The Hunter 2 comes equipped with four rainbow ARGB fans, three pre-installed in the front panel and one in the rear exhaust mount.
  • A full-length mesh panel covering the centre of the front panel with brushed aluminium side trim accents.
  • The tempered glass side panel is hinged for easy access and requires no tools to open or remove completely.
  • Included is an ARGB fan Hub with 5 ARGB Ports, two RGB strip connections, one Aura Sync port and fan speed via voltage control with 5 ports.
  • USB Type-C front panel connectivity has been added as an upgrade from the original Hunter which had two USB Type-A ports only.

Specifications:

  • Case Type: Compact Mid-Tower
  • Dimensions: 408mm x 210mm x 464mm
  • Material: 0.5mm SPCC and tempered glass panel (side)
  • Motherboard Support: ATX, mATX, Mini ITX
  • Expansion Slots: 7
  • Storage Bays: 2x 3.5” (or 1x 2.5” , 1x 3.5”) and 2x 2.5”
  • Max GPU Length: 170mm
  • Max CPU Cooler Height:
  • Max PSU Length: 320mm
  • Fan Support: 2x 140mm or 3x 120mm (Front), 2x 140mm or 2x 120mm (Top), 1 x 120mm (Rear)
  • Pre-installed fans: (Front): 3x 120mm A-RGB rainbow, (Rear) 1x 120mm A-RGB Chieftec SF1225RGB-C1
  • Radiator Support: up to 360mm / 280mm (Front)
  • Dust Filters: Top, Bottom
  • Font I/O: 1x Type-C, 1x USB3.1 Gen 1, Audio-out (AZALIA / HD-Audio), Mic-In, RGB Brightness Button, RGB Modes Button

Thermal Performance Testing

To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Speed Way stress test simultaneously in a loop for 60 minutes to fully load the system. This gives the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.

Thermal performance is measured with the case in various configurations, such as the default, with the tempered glass left-hand side panel removed and with the front panel removed to see how these configurations affect the CPU and GPU temperature. During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps are set to maximum RPM and fans are set to a custom RPM curve by the Motherboard software/BIOS.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then the last 15 minutes of the data are calculated to get the average. The ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 19-21⁰C.

Test System Specification:

Thermal Performance Overview

The Chieftec Hunter 2 does an OK job of keeping high-end components cool. The Core i7-12700K sits happily at around 50-55°C average delta under heavy load with the case in various configurations. It's not as good as some of the cases that we have tested with this CPU, but considering it's only a 240mm AIO cooling the CPU it's fine.

GPU temperature is acceptable with the case in its default configuration, however, removing the tempered glass side panel allows for more GPU airflow which means that GPU runs cooler and quieter. Adding fans to the PSU shroud also provides a significant improvement in GPU core temperature but overall, the Hunter 2 does a decent job of cooling the high-end system that we used.

Closing Thoughts

Priced at around 70 – 80 Euros the Chieftec Hunter 2 just squeezes into the budget PC case market but it is priced at the high end of the budget range. There are cases much cheaper than this, they may not all come with as many fans and an ARGB fan hub that is as capable as the one found in the Hunter 2 but this is the Hunter 2’s competition. I have looked at several budget cases over the years and I wasn’t overly impressed with the build quality and officially supported specifications of the Hunter 2 compared with alternatives that are out there.

The build quality of the Hunter 2 isn’t great, the sheet steel that the chassis frame and side panels are manufactured from is quite thin at just 0.5mm. This means that there is a lot of flex in the chassis frame and the steel side panel. The tempered glass side panel is hinged and requires no tools to open or remove completely which is good but it has a cheap feel to it. The glass thickness is approximately 2-2.5mm and the magnetic catch mechanism is quite weak. If you close it a little too briskly it bounces back and does not hold on to the magnets.

When we received the review sample of the Hunter 2, the official specs sheet listed only up to 280mm front radiator support and no top radiator support. After testing several 360mm AIO radiators in the front of the case I found that they all fit fine without causing any interference with other components, so it seems odd that 360mm radiator support was not officially listed. I reached out to Chieftec about this, they investigated it internally and have since updated the official specs on their website to include 360mm front radiator support.

To add to that, I also found that installing a 240mm AIO in the roof of the case is possible but may depend on the AIO, motherboard and memory configuration. Connecting EPS power and other cables to the top of the motherboard must be done before installing a top AIO, but it does fit quite comfortably and causes no interference with other components. Also missing from the official specs is support for PSU-mounted 120mm fans, there are quite obviously two 120mm fan mountings on top of the PSU but it's not listed in the official spec or on the Chieftec website anywhere.

But with these negatives aside the Hunter 2 does offer some good points such as decent thermal performance, four included RGB fans and the ARGB/Fan control hub. However, the fans are only 3-pin voltage speed control, not PWM, the selection of different RGB lighting effects from the hub is good but the implementation of the RGB in the fans is the best, there's a lot of light bleed and you can see the structure of the fan blade hub too so it does not look great. So there's still lots to improve on in a potential Hunter 3 for Chieftec.

The Chieftec Hunter 2 isn't available in the UK right now, but it can be picked up across Europe for around 70-80 Euros. You can find the best price HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Comes with four ARGB fans and a five-port ARGB and fan control hub.
  • Supports more features than what is listed in the official specs.

Cons:

  • Cut out at the top right is small – difficult to get two EPS cables through.
  • Build quality is poor –  very thin steel means there is a lot of flex in the chassis and external panels.
  • Tempered glass panel is thin – approx 2-2.5mm, swings closed very abruptly and doesn't hold well on the magnetic catches.
  • Alignment of motherboard standoffs is not perfect.
  • Side cable cut out small – only just able to push the 24-pin cable connector through.
  • Price is high for the quality.
  • Important features missing from the spec sheet but are possible – such as 360mm front radiators and top AIO installation.
  • Motherboard standoff interferes with the ARGB hub.

KitGuru says: I would not consider the Chieftec Hunter 2 as a genuine enthusiast case with the issues, build quality and lack of official hardware/cooling support but it may be one that we see used often by system integrators as it might offer better value to them with the included accessories such as the fans and RGB hub, but it's not one that I would consider buying in its current state.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Chieftec Hunter 2 Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/chieftec-hunter-2-review/feed/ 0
Cougar MX600 Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/cougar-mx600-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/cougar-mx600-case-review/#respond Tue, 17 Oct 2023 13:00:33 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=633743 Is the Cougar MX600 genuinely new or just another generic rebranded mid-tower? We find out today

The post Cougar MX600 Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Cougar is usually a name that I would associate with budget-friendly PC hardware. Not necessarily bad, as I have reviewed several Cougar cases and coolers before that have been cheap but done the job, however I wouldn’t normally expect too much. Today I have a new Cougar MX600 ATX case to review that on the surface looks ordinary, but it has some features that could make it very popular. The question is, is it still good value for money? Let’s find out.

 

When news came in that I had a new mid-tower chassis from Cougar to review, I was initially a little sceptical and thought it was just going to be another generic chassis with a fancy front panel and some ARGB lighting. However, as soon as I took the Cougar MX600 out of the box I was instantly interested as there were some very noticeable features that caught my attention, such as the side PSU vents, the square mesh perforations and an integrated GPU support bracket that was visible through the side window.

After looking at the case and the spec sheet a little closer and reading that the case supported multiple 360mm radiators, modular panels as well as other features I would normally expect from more premium brands I started to wonder how this could be possible from a brand which would normally be classed as budget – is Cougar trying to become more upmarket? Well, if the price of the MX600 is anything to go by then I don’t think so, as it will cost just $119 U.S. or £129 which these days isn’t expensive for a case with these features.

Cougar MX600 Features:

  • Multiple vented panels create omnidirectional ventilation for maximum airflow – Mesh panels are fitted to the front, right and left-hand sides and the rear of the case for a very open-style high ariflow design.
  • Placed behind the bottom front fan mount is an internal air scoop in front of the PSU shroud to guide airflow to heat critical components, such as the graphics card and the motherboard chipset.
  • A 110mm tall power supply shroud side vent is integrated into the chassis to promote air intake and help system cooling.
  • 3 x 140mm front-mounted ARGB PWM fans and a single 120mm ARGB PWM rear fan are pre-installed to the chassis. The case includes an ARGB and PWM fan hub with six ports.
  • The front fans can be installed without needing to remove the front panel, alternatively, the front fan/radiator bracket is removable via a tool-free solution.
  • Full tower capacity in a mid-tower profile – the Cougar MX600 supports EATX motherboards with eight PCIe slots and up to 400mm long graphics cards.
  • Accessories bundled with the case include a vertical GPU mounting bracket (No riser cable included) and a box of screws, cable clips and a few white zip ties.

Specifications:

  • Case Type: Mid-Tower
  • Dimensions:235 x 515 x 478 (mm)
  • Colour: Black / White
  • Material: Steel, Plastic, Tempered Glass
  • Motherboard Support: Mini ITX / Micro ATX / ATX / CEB / E-ATX
  • Expansion Slots:8
  • Storage:4 x 2.5″ SSD max, 1 x 3.5″ HDD max
  • Max GPU Length:400mm
  • Max CPU Cooler Height:180mm
  • Max PSU Length: 180mm
  • Fan Support:3 x 120/140mm (Front) 3 x 120/140mm (Top) 2 x 120mm (PSU Shroud) 1 x 120/140mm (Rear)
  • Pre-installed fans – 3 x 140mm ARGB PWM (front) 1 x 120mm ARGB PWM (rear)
  • Radiator Support:360/280mm Max (Front) 360/280mm Max (Top) 120/140mm (Rear)
  • I/O Ports: 1 x Power Button, 1 x Reset/ARGB Button, 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB Gen2 Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio
  • Dust Filters: Top / Front / Bottom / Right / Left

Thermal Performance Testing

To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Speed Way stress test simultaneously in a loop for 60 minutes to fully load the system. This gives the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.

Thermal performance is measured with the case in various configurations, such as the default, with the tempered glass left-hand side panel removed and with the front panel removed to see how these configurations affect the CPU and GPU temperature. During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps are set to maximum RPM and fans are set to a custom RPM curve by the Motherboard software/BIOS.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then the last 15 minutes of the data are calculated to get the average. The ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 19-21⁰C.

Test System Specification:

Thermal Performance/Noise Overview:

Thermal Performance:

With the MX600 in either configuration, thermal performance is very consistent. The coolest CPU and GPU temperatures ware with the left-hand panels removed which is common in most cases that we test. Adding a couple of fans to the top of the PSU shroud dropped GPU temperature by a couple of degrees but running the case in the default configuration also produced excellent thermals with an average CPU delta temperature of 48°C which is excellent for this hardware.

Noise:

Noise levels tell us the full story though, the system ran at its lowest noise level under load with the left-hand side panel removed, as the graphics card didn’t need to ramp up the fan RPM much to keep the GPU core cool, but with the case in the default configuration plus PSU shroud fans the peak noise level was only 1dBA higher as again the graphics card fan RPM was able to stay low to keep the GPU cool. Removing the PSU shroud fans created a little more noise from the graphics card fans running at a slightly higher RPM but because of the impressive thermals in any configuration noise output is consistent and not too distracting.

Closing Thoughts

Initially, I was surprised to see the lengths that Cougar had gone to with the MX600, rather than just using a generic internal chassis that we have seen time and time again. However, after building a system in the MX600 and testing the thermal performance I can safely say that Cougar has ripped up the rule book that budget brands usually follow and created a genuinely brilliant mid-tower chassis. For me, the looks, thermals, hardware support and premium features such as the modular panels and high-spec cooling support make it an all-round winner.

However, as always nothing is perfect, there are a couple of minor niggles with the case. The build quality of the front mesh panel is dubious, there's far too much flex and wobble in it when you press on it, this could have easily been remedied by adding central clips or a magnetic solution to hold the middle of the panel firmly. Also, the integrated GPU anti-sag support didn’t work with the Gigabyte 7900XT Gaming OC graphics card that we used in the build, so a minor redesign on that would be good.

There is a lot to like about the case though, as we saw during our thermal performance tests the case can keep high-end components cool in any configuration. Adding fans to the top of the power supply helps but it's not essential as the open and highly ventilated style of the case works well with just the stock fans in the stock positions, but with a graphics card that otherwise runs quite hot, it might be worthwhile adding PSU shroud fans to assist with GPU cooling.

Other features such as the removable top panel are very worthy design features. It's good to have a removable top panel when installing a top-mounted radiator or fans and it can also come in handy if you forget to connect up cables at the top of the motherboard such as the EPS or fan headers before you install a radiator up top. But there is still a reasonable amount of space between the motherboard and the top of the case even when a roof-mounted radiator is installed, which is good.

A question I get asked a lot is if a case will support dual 360mm radiators installed in the front and top simultaneously. With the MX600 this is possible, I tested two EK-Quantum Surface S360 30mm thick radiators, one in the roof and one in the front of the case with 25mm fans in place and they fit comfortably which is excellent news for custom water cooling enthusiasts. I was also able to squeeze in a 420mm radiator (with the air scoop removed) or 420 AIO at the front of the case even though it's not officially supported.

Cable management is very easy in the Cougar MX600 too, the case has plenty of cable cutouts located where you would expect (not all with rubber grommets) as well as cable management channels and straps on the back of the motherboard tray which come in very handy. I usually measure how good a case is at cable management by how many additional zip ties or straps I need to use to make the cabling look tidy, with the MX600 it was just one so that is an excellent result, better than some more expensive premium cases.

The case also comes with three front-mounted 140mm ARGB PWM fans and a 120mm ARGB PWM fan in the rear, as well as a six-port ARGB / PWM hub to control ARGB either via the top reset button (that can be re-purposed for RGB control) or via the motherboard software when connected to a motherboard 3-pin 5v ARGB header.  Controlling the ARGB lighting via either method is simple and the effects are fine, there is some light bleed on the fan LEDs but the lighting is pretty well diffused.

With everything considered, the Cougar MX600 is an excellent mid-tower chassis. It is capable of great thermal performance, has premium features you would normally find in more expensive cases, the colour shades of white panels correspond well between different materials, hardware and cooling support is high end, it is available in black or white colour schemes and the included fans and ARGB hub are useful for those who aren’t too fussy about which brand of fans they use, so priced at $119 USD or £129 it’s a bargain and one I would use in a future build without having to think twice.

The Cougar MX600 will be available to pre-order from OCUK (link is coming soon) in either black or white priced at £129.99.

Pros:

  • Multiple vented panels provide great airflow and thermal performance.
  • Convertible top creates more access.
  • Spacious Interior is easy to build with.
  • White panels are the same shade in different materials
  • Simultaneous installation of multiple 360mm radiators.
  • A generous amount of ARGB fans are included for the cost.
  • Good cable management features.

Cons:

  • Front panel flex is a bad design.
  • GPU support bracket isn’t compatible with all graphics cards.

KitGuru says: You won't go far wrong if you spend your cash on this case, There is some stiff competition at this price point but the Cougar MX600 is up there with some of the best.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Cougar MX600 Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/cougar-mx600-case-review/feed/ 0
Phanteks unveils new budget-friendly Eclipse G300A chassis https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/phanteks-unveils-new-budget-friendly-eclipse-g300a-chassis/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/phanteks-unveils-new-budget-friendly-eclipse-g300a-chassis/#respond Tue, 09 May 2023 15:30:12 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=614411 Back in late 2022, Phanteks launched a trio of G500A cases. Now, Phanteks is upgrading its G300 cases with the new Eclipse G300A, available in two flavours, one with a solid front panel and another with a full mesh front panel for improved airflow.  The G300A chassis is a refined version of the older P300A. …

The post Phanteks unveils new budget-friendly Eclipse G300A chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Back in late 2022, Phanteks launched a trio of G500A cases. Now, Phanteks is upgrading its G300 cases with the new Eclipse G300A, available in two flavours, one with a solid front panel and another with a full mesh front panel for improved airflow. 

The G300A chassis is a refined version of the older P300A. The newer model includes improved cooling and fan support and a more modern finish.

On the cooling front, the Eclipse G300A has been reconfigured to allow for up to a 360mm radiator in the front, and up to a 240mm radiator in the roof of the case. Overall, the case can support up to six 120mm fans and if you do go down the liquid cooling route, there is an additional 30mm of clearance space for radiators, so your fans won't be starved for airflow.

The chassis supports ATX motherboards, CPU coolers up to 162mm tall and GPUs up to 390mm long. The top panel has a USB 3.0 Type-A port, a USB 3.0 Type-C port, as well as the usual power/reset buttons and audio jacks.

The Phanteks Eclipse G300A makes an ideal choice for those on a tighter budget, with prices starting at just £54.95 for the standard version and £64.99 for the mesh version with D-RGB fans.

KitGuru Says: How much do you typically look to spend on a new PC case? 

The post Phanteks unveils new budget-friendly Eclipse G300A chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/phanteks-unveils-new-budget-friendly-eclipse-g300a-chassis/feed/ 0
Battle Of The Builds – Fractal Focus 2 vs DeepCool CH510 https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/battle-of-the-builds-fractal-focus-2-vs-deepcool-ch510/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/battle-of-the-builds-fractal-focus-2-vs-deepcool-ch510/#respond Wed, 03 May 2023 09:02:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=613007 It's Fractal up against DeepCool in this battle of the budget case builds, but who will win?

The post Battle Of The Builds – Fractal Focus 2 vs DeepCool CH510 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The Fractal Focus 2 and DeepCool CH510 cases have been around for a while now, so you guys will no doubt have seen all the launch reviews. Instead of reviewing these cases, we therefore decided to do something a little different… and a case-build battle video it is! Which one do you prefer? We put the two cases head to head…

Both the DeepCool CH510 and Fractal Focus 2 have been around for a while but they are two very inexpensive, good-looking cases that support lots of hardware configurations, so we thought these cases needed some attention. In the video, we build a system in both cases and put them head-to-head to see which one you guys like the best. Will it be the high airflow Fractal Focus 2 with an all-black all-AMD 7000 build or the DeepCool CH510 with its white-themed Intel and Nvidia build?

Both these cases were designed to be easy on the eye and easy on the wallet, coming in at under £70 each if you choose the non-RGB version of the Fractal Focus 2. The RGB-clad Focus 2 will set you back slightly more at £79.97 but it comes with some RGB fans and an RBG controller so you still can’t complain at that price. When these cases were designed, I doubt the idea was for them to be used to build high-end systems but we want to push them to their limits so we built an all AMD Ryzen|Radeon 7000 system in one and an Intel i9-13900KS/Nvidia 4080 system in the other.

Fractal Focus 2 Features

  • Available in black and white, RGB/non-RGB (no fans).
  • High airflow mesh front panel/dust Filter.
  • Two Aspect 14 (140mm) fans are pre-installed in the front.
  • Tempered glass side panel.
  • Front I/O 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 2 x 3.5mm audio jacks, RGB button (optional USB-C upgrade kit is available separately.
  • RGB hub is included with the RGB version only.

Cooling support:

  • Space for up to 6 x 120mm or 4 x 140mm fans
  • Front rad support up to 360mm, Top up to 240mm, Rear up to 120mm
  • 170mm max CPU cooler height

Hardware support:

  • ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX motherboards
  • 7 PCIe expansions slots
  • Max  GPU length – 405mm with front fans installed
  • Cable routing space 19mm

Storage Support:

  • 2.5” Drive bays – 2 included, 6 total
  • 3.5” Bays – 2 total (included)

 Fractal Focus 2 System Specification:

  • CPUAMD Ryzen 9 7950X
  • MotherboardGigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AX
  • Graphics Card – Gigabyte Radeon RX 7900XT Gaming OC
  • Memory – 32GB (2 x 16GB Modules) Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5-6000
  • Storage – 2TB WD_Black SN580 PCIe Gen 4 NVME M.2 SSD
  • CPU CoolerFractal Lumen S36 RGB 360mm AIO
  • Power Supply – Fractal ION+ 2 Platinum 860 Modular 80+ Platinum 860W
  • Case fans – Fractal Aspect 12/14
  • Chassis – Fractal Focus 2
  • Operating System – Windows 11

DeepCool CH510 Features

  • Minimalistic solid front panel with side vents.
  • Built-in headphone holder.
  • Vented right-hand side panel for PSU shroud airflow intake.
  • Built-in GPU anti sag bracket.
  • Dust filters front, top, and bottom.
  • Front I/O 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A Ports, single combined 3.5mm audio jack, Power + Reset.

Cooling Support:

  • Space for up to 9 x 120mm or 5 x 140mm fans (1 x 120mm rear included)
  • Front rad support up to 360mm, top up to 360mm, rear 120/140mm
  • 175mm max CPU cooler height

Supported hardware:

  • E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX motherboards
  • 7 x PCIE slots
  • 380mm max GPU length
  • Max PSU length 170mm

Storage Support:

  • 2.5” Drive bays – 2 (+1)
  • 3.5” Bays – 2 total (included)

DeepCool CH510 White System Specification:

  • CPUIntel Core i9-13900KS
  • Motherboard – NZXT N7 Z690
  • Graphics CardINNO3D RTX 4080 iCHILL X3
  • Memory – 32GB (4 x 8GB Modules) PNY XLR8 Gaming DDR4-3200
  • Storage – 1TB PNY XLR8 Gaming CS3040 PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
  • CPU Cooler – DeepCool LT720 White 360mm AIO
  • Power Supply – DeepCool PQ1000M Modular 80+ Gold 1000W
  • Case fans – 3 x Thermaltake SWAFAN EX 12/14 White
  • Chassis – DeepCool CH510 White
  • Operating System – Windows 11

Building systems inside both of these cases was interesting and enjoyable. Often in cheap cases, you run up against some hardware incompatibility or annoying issues due to the design and cost-cutting measures, but in the DeepCool CH510 and the Fractal Focus 2 there were no such issues, well almost. The Fractal Focus 2 is a little tight for space at the top so moving 140mm fans from the front created a minor issue with clearance between the fans and the motherboard EPS connectors. The 140mm fans did just squeeze in but the cables were a little crushed so I wouldn’t recommend 140mm fans in the top, even though they do fit, it’s just a bit too tight for my liking.

Other than that minor issue, both builds turned out looking great. The DeepCool CH510 build is the more shouty RGB system but it looks sleek with the white theme. The Fractal Focus 2 build is a combination of stealth with all-black components and subtle lighting from the Fractal Lumen AIO and Aspect RGB fans. It's amazing to think both of these cases can cost under £70 and both handled all the high-end hardware we packed into them.

The Fractal Focus 2 RGB (White) can be purchased from Scan.co.uk for £79.99 HERE while the DeepCool CH510 White is available HERE at £69.98.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: I love how both these systems look but the DeepCool CH510 build probably just edges it for me, I am a sucker for a clean white build. Which one do you guys prefer?

The post Battle Of The Builds – Fractal Focus 2 vs DeepCool CH510 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/battle-of-the-builds-fractal-focus-2-vs-deepcool-ch510/feed/ 0
Montech AIR 1000 Premium Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/montech-air-1000-premium-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/montech-air-1000-premium-review/#respond Fri, 19 Nov 2021 13:00:58 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=538866 Can Montech deliver another cracking budget case?

The post Montech AIR 1000 Premium Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Montech may not be a familiar name to everyone, the company burst onto the enthusiast PC scene a few years ago and has quickly become known for its great value products. The company has a good selection of cases, coolers and power supplies, as well as a few peripherals in its arsenal. Today we are checking out the AIR 1000 Premium, offering a choice of glass or mesh front panels, for less than £70.

I first encountered Montech a couple of years ago while working with the KitGuru news team. My initial thought was that this could be just another budget case manufacturer offering nothing but cheap quality rubbish. But, in fact, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Leo got his hands on the Montech AIR 100 micro ATX chassis not that long ago and gave it a glaringly positive review, it scored 9 out of 10 and won the KitGuru Must Have award for its exceptional value and high build quality.

So, when the AIR 1000 Premium landed in the KitGuru office, I was more than happy to take a look and see if Montech could follow up on the impressive AIR 100 with another win. After a quick peek at the Montech AIR 1000 Premium, I can safely say that my initial opinion on this case is very good, it looks again like Montech is providing amazing value for money, with premium features packed into a case that is said to cost just £67.99/$89.99 USD when it hits the shelves in the coming weeks.

What you are getting for your money with the Montech AIR 1000 Premium frankly puts other PC case manufacturers to shame in terms of value. Features of the AIR 1000 Premium include a hinged tempered glass side window panel, four ARGB fans with a control hub and front panel LED button and motherboard synchronisation, complete dust filtration, support for high-end hardware and interchangeable front panels so the user can swap between stylish tempered glass or high airflow mesh.

On top of all that, the Montech AIR 1000 Premium is available in black or white and feels well built, this isn’t one of those cases with wafer-thin steel that feels like it will buckle if you look at it the wrong way. The build quality feels just as good as a budget case from the likes of Corsair, be quiet!, Phanteks etc. As far as I can see, the only thing that isn’t premium about this case is the price. But before we give it the full KitGuru seal of approval, let's build a system inside it to see just how good it is.

Montech AIR 1000 Premium Features:

  • Supports high-end components including up to full ATX form factor motherboards (ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX) graphics cards up to 340mm long, CPU coolers up to 165mm tall, power supplies up to 180mm long (with 3.5” HDD caddy fitted) and up to four 2.5” or two 3.5” storage drives.
  • Excellent cooling performance with a high airflow chassis design and space for up to 360mm radiators or three 120/140mm fans in the front of the chassis, up to 280mm radiators or two 120/140mm in the roof and 120mm radiators or fan in the rear panel.
  • Interchangeable front panel design with included tempered glass and high airflow mesh panels. Users can quickly switch between contemporary tempered glass or mesh for maximum cooling potential.
  • The left-hand side tempered glass window panel is mounted on a hinge for easy access to components and a mild tint provides a perfect view of the system's interior.
  • Three 140mm (front intake) and one 120mm (rear exhaust) addressable RGB fans are included with the AIR 1000 premium for unbeatable cooling performance.
  • An included ARGB fan hub comes as standard. The ARGB lighting of the four included fans can be controlled by a front panel LED button or synchronised via motherboard ARGB software at the flick of a switch.
  • The innovative Quick Slide Dust Filter is fitted to the front of the chassis for easy access and cleaning. Additional fine mesh dust filters are positioned at the top and bottom of the chassis for complete dust management.
  • Smart cable management in the right-hand side of the chassis with cable access via seven cut-outs equipped with rubber grommets. Three pre-installed Velcro straps and various eyelets allow for clean cable management.

Technical Specifications:

  • Dimensions (L X W X H) – 416mm x 220mm x 495mm
  • Weight – 7.25kg
  • Motherboard Support – ATX/Micro ATX/Mini ITX
  • Storage Bays – 2 x 3.5-inch, 4 x 2.5-inch
  • Front I/O – USB 2.0 x 1, USB 3.0 x 2, Audio x 1, mic x 1, LED Button
  • Fan Support – 120/140mm x 3 (front), 120mm x 1 (rear), 120.140mm x 2 (top)
  • Radiator Support – 360/280/240/140/120mm (front), 280/240/140/120mm (top), 120mm (rear)
  • Max CPU Cooler Height – 165mm
  • Max GPU Size – 340mm / 310mm (with front radiator installed)
  • Supported Power Supply – ATX, 1800mm / 200mm (HDD cage removed)

System installation

In terms of the system installation, Montech hasn’t made mistakes that other higher priced case manufacturers have. Space inside the chassis is plentiful, high-end components can be installed inside the AIR 1000 Premium with ease. Our RTX 3080 Aorus Master, three slot 320mm plus card fit into the chassis effortlessly with just three fans installed in the front panel.

Alignment of all the cut-outs for rear I/O, PCIe slots and motherboard standoffs etc were all spot on, there was no need to put excessive force on any components to get them to line up. We test fitted a 280mm AIO CPU cooler in the roof of the chassis too, It was a tight squeeze but it did fit with the rear exhaust fan lowered in its elongated mounting screw holes.

On a whole, cable management is very good. There are plenty of cut-outs to pass cables through and almost all have rubber grommets. Around the right-hand side of the chassis the cable management channel works well, all the important cables could be routed here and the pre-installed Velcro straps made cable management a breeze. A couple more eyelets could have been added to the right side of the motherboard tray (for EPS) but overall cable management went well.

However, there is one glaringly obvious design fault with a couple of the cable cut-outs on top of the power supply shroud. Once the power supply is installed, one cut-out is completely blocked by the PSU and another is partially blocked. This meant that the front panel audio cable could not pass through the cut-out near the motherboard header, so it looked untidy routing it further back.

This isn’t the end of the world, but it seems like a silly design error and I am really surprised that the issue wasn’t picked up on and changed before the case went into production. Another minor niggle is the Montech logo on the PSU shroud, it looks a little out of place, also the RGB hub could have more spare ARGB headers to connect extra Montech ARGB components to, such as the CPU cooler we used in the build. But other than those minor issues, the build went really well overall.

System Specification

RGB Gallery

The ARGB lighting effects of the Montech AIR 1000 Premium can be controlled using the LED button on the front panel. Repeatedly pressing the button cycles through the pre-set RGB colours and patterns. A long press of the LED button switches the mode to motherboard synchronisation and allows the user to configure the RGB effects via compatible motherboard software.

Thermal/Noise Performance Testing

To simulate thermal demand, we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and Heaven Benchmark simultaneously in a loop for 30 minutes to fully load the system. This should give the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.

We first measure the thermal performance with the case in its default configuration, so all exterior panels are installed and fans in the default locations. The system is then left to fully cool down before changing configurations to measure how the change affects thermal performance and noise output.

During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps (where used) are set to maximum RPM, CPU cooler and system fans are set to a fixed RPM by the Motherboard software/BIOS.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then calculated to get the average. Ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 20-22⁰C.

Noise levels are measured by placing a noise meter 300mm from the front of the chassis while the stress test is running and the peak noise level during the test is recorded. The noise floor (ambient noise level) in the room is 36dBA.

Thermal Performance Overview

Initially, I had some concerns over the relatively high average CPU temperature during thermal testing. However, I was assured by Luke our AMD CPU expert that the 90⁰C (68⁰C Delta) CPU temperature I saw was perfectly normal for this CPU under heavy load using a single tower air cooler. Just to be sure that the Montech Air Cooler 210 wasn’t underperforming, I temporarily fitted the Cooler Master Hyper 212 (a similar size cooler) and the results were virtually identical.

With this in mind, we can see from the chart above that using the case in any configuration (high airflow mesh or with the tempered glass front installed) CPU and GPU temperature can be kept under control. If a bigger air cooler or AIO is used, we expect thermal performance to be very good in this chassis. But even using a smaller air cooler, a high-performance CPU such as the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X runs within spec temperature.

Noise levels Under Load

It is a similar theme when it comes to noise output too. In either configuration, the noise output of the system remains pretty constant at around 48dBA under load, which isn’t too distracting. It is also worth mentioning that when the fans are set to a profile or curve and the RPM drops at idle, the stock case fans run very quiet.

Closing Thoughts

Taken as a whole, the Montech AIR 1000 Premium offers exceptional value for money, as long as we can actually purchase it for the stated price of £67.99. If it does become available at this price to the UK market, then it will definitely be the case to buy if you are looking for a premium chassis packed with features on a budget. There isn’t much else on the market at this price with the same amount of features.

The fact that the case comes with two front-panel configurations included is a huge bonus. With similar types of cases such as the Corsair 4000D, the user has to choose between high airflow or a solid front panel when purchasing. If the user wants to swap front panel style later with these cases, they have to either buy a whole new case or at best buy a new front panel. Not with the Montech AIR 1000 Premium.

Nothing is perfect however, there are some minor issues with the Montech AIR 1000 Premium, some can be forgiven due to the cost but the blocked cable cutouts for me is a bit of a stupid one. How that passed quality control and made it into production is beyond me. Montech needs to check these trivial things before releasing a case in future.

There are one or two small areas that could also be improved on, such as the Montech logo on the PSU shroud. Once the power supply is installed and showing its own logo through the cutout window, the Montech logo looks out of place right next to it. I would suggest Montech either remove that logo from the PSU shroud or move it elsewhere, away from the cutout. Or alternatively, get rid of the PSU shroud cutout/window.

One other very minor thing is the RGB fan hub. The pre-installed fans come connected to the four outputs on the hub which is great. However, if you add another Montech ARGB product to your system, it would be ideal to connect it to the case RGB hub which is impossible as the other output headers are not soldered to the board and cannot be connected to.

This isn’t a huge problem as you can connect extra RGB products directly to a motherboard header, but it would be better if you can connect additional Montech ARGB components to the hub so that the RGB effects can be controlled using the LED button on the AIR 1000 Premium front panel.

But overall installing the system inside the Montech AIR 1000 Premium went well. All the high-end components selected for the system fitted into the case with ease and lined up to their respective cutouts and standoffs perfectly. Other than the blocked cable cutouts, the rest of the cable management works a treat and you end up with a neat looking install. Build quality is solid, especially when you consider how little this case is expected to cost, I have no complaints in the department at all.

Hinged tempered glass side windows, interchangeable front panels, high-end hardware support, full dust filtration and good cable management options are all features that we usually expect of mid-high end cases usually costing in excess of £100. Montech has shown the industry that PC enthusiasts can have all this on a budget now too.

The Montech AIR 1000 Premium will be available by end of November 2021 to UK buyers via Amazon Germany priced at £67.99.

Update 25/11/21: Since the review was published, Montech has been in touch to clarify that for retail models the RGB hub will come with a full complement of six connections, unlike our review sample that only had four.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Great value for money.
  • Good build quality.
  • Premium features.
  • Interchangeable front panels.

Cons:

  • Blocked cable management cutouts.
  • RGB hub would benefit from more outputs. See update above.
  • The Montech logo on the PSU shroud looks a bit out of place.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Montech AIR 1000 Premium Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/montech-air-1000-premium-review/feed/ 0
Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/james-dawson/cougar-mx410-mesh-g-rgb-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/james-dawson/cougar-mx410-mesh-g-rgb-case-review/#respond Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:56:43 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=492042 A compact ATX budget case packed full of RGB!

The post Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The budget PC case market is absolutely flooded with options, though many of them can be very sketchy in terms of build quality and are quite frankly not worth wasting your money on. However, there are some bargains to be had in this sector – just recently KitGuru reviewed the brilliant Phanteks Eclipse P360A priced at under £65, while the MSI MAG Forge 100 series costs around £50-£60 and is another solid choice. Today we look at the Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB, coming at just £43.99. How does it stack up against the competition? Let’s find out.

Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB Features:

  • Compact ATX form factor design, both shorter and slimmer from compared to a traditional ATX mid-tower case, taking up less desktop space, but slightly wider at 210mm for improved cooling performance and cable management.
  • High airflow design with full-length mesh panel allowing almost unrestricted airflow entry at the front of the case.
  • Easy to use Integrated digital ARGB lighting, software free with a built-in controller and the option to connect directly to compatible motherboard 5v headers for system-wide synchronisation.
  • Integrated power supply shroud to hide away unsightly cables with a full-size tempered glass left-hand window panel to show off your clean build.
  • Support for high specification gaming systems including up to ATX size motherboards (Mini ITX/Micro ATX /ATX) and high-end graphics cards with a maximum length of 300mm.
  • Space for storage devices comprises of up to three 2.5-inch SSDs as well as two 3.5-inch HDDs – enough to fulfil most user’s needs.
  • Supported cooling hardware includes the installation of up to a six 120mm fans (3 x front, 2 x top, 1 x rear) water-cooling radiator support up to 240mm in length (front 120/240, top 120/240, rear 120)
  • Four 120mm ARGB fans and 2 x front panel RGB LED strips included with front panel RGB control button.

Full Specifications:

  • Case Form Factor: Mid Tower
  • Motherboard Type: Mini ITX / Micro ATX / ATX
  • Dimensions (WxHxD): 210 x 455 x 380 (mm)
  • I/O Panel: USB 3.0 x 2, USB 2.0 x 2, Mic x 1 / Audio x 1, RGB Control Button
  • 3.5″ Drive Bay: 2
  • 2.5″ Drive Bay: 3
  • Expansion Slots: 7
  • Cooling Fan Support: Front 120mm x 3 (ARGB fans x 3 pre-installed) Top 120mm x 2, Rear 120mm x 1 (ARGB fan x 1 pre-installed)
  • Maximum Number of Fans: 6 Max.
  • Water Cooling Support: Front 240mm / 120mm, Top 240mm / 120mm (Max. component height on motherboard is 40mm) Rear 120mm
  • Graphics Card Length: 300 (mm) / (Only fans at the front panel) 270 (mm) (Radiator with fans at the front panel) (Horizontal graphics card slots are compatible with RTX 3080/3070.)
  • CPU Cooler Height: 165 (mm)
  • PSU length: 160 (mm)
  • Onboard Lighting System: Integrated Lighting with Addressable RGB LEDs and Dynamic Lighting Effects in the Front Panel
  • RGB Sync with M/B: Yes

The Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB claims to offer all the features and benefits of more expensive premium cases, but in a more compact and affordable chassis. Once removed from the packaging, the size of the MX410 is instantly noticeable – this is much smaller than regular mid-tower ATX cases, measuring just 210mm x 450mm x 380mm (W x H x D) which isn’t much more than some Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX cases.

Before the system build began, we had concerns about whether the installation of an AIO at the front is possible at all while using a high-end graphics card. With the stock fans installed at the front of the case there is only 310mm of space to play with, and our Aorus RX 5700XT measures 290mm. Therefore, our only option is to install the AIO at the top of the chassis which also looks very tight for AIO installation.

There are also some concerns about build quality and the design of the case. A small amount of the filter fabric has not been trimmed correctly and is found poking out of the mesh front panel. At the back of the case, the plastic PCIe slot cover is poorly designed a single screw in the centre of the cover means that the ends can easily come away from the case, while the shape of the cover makes it awkward to remove the thumbscrew by hand.

Space inside the power supply shroud also looks very restricted too, it will almost certainly be impossible to connect and disconnect modular cables with the HDD cage fitted, and there doesn’t look to be much space at all for cables to be hidden with the HDD cage installed in the PSU shroud. The HDD cage also completely blocks off the lower front fan so airflow to any HDDs will be virtually non-existent.

Installing the system inside the Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB turned out to be less problematic than we initially thought. Space for AIO installation is very tight at the top of the case with a high-end motherboard installed. A motherboard with smaller VRM heatsinks and without a rear I/O shroud may offer more space for AIO installation in the roof of the case.

As expected, installing a modular power supply would be difficult with the 3.5-inch HDD cage fitted to the case, so we removed the HDD cage to allow for more space. This could be a problem if your budget only stretches to allow for mechanical HDDs in the system, however, SATA and M.2 SSDs are more affordable these days so it may not be such a big issue leaving the 3.5-inch HDD cage out.

Other than the minor issues mentioned, installing a full-size ATX system with a big high-end graphics card didn't turn out to be such hard work. Novice system builders may find it challenging building an ATX system inside such a compact chassis, but for anyone with experience the job isn't so difficult and it looks neat in the end, with enough space for high-end hardware and tidy cable management.

Thermal Performance Testing

As with every KitGuru case review, thermal performance is important, therefore we shall measure this by running a series of tests to record CPU and GPU temperatures under load.

To simulate thermal performance in gaming we will run 3Dmark Time Spy benchmark in a loop for 20 minutes with the case in various configurations. With this data, we can compare how each scenario affects thermal performance.

We will compare the system’s thermal capabilities with a liquid-cooled solution for the CPU, using a Cougar Aqua 240, 240mm AIO and the graphics card stock cooling solution. We will then measure thermal performance using a CPU Tower (Noctua NH-D15) with the case in the same configurations.

During thermal performance testing, only stock case fans will be used unless otherwise specified. All fans and pumps (where applicable) will be set to their standard fan curve profile as controlled by the motherboard.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU/GPU temperature giving us a Delta.

The following configurations will be used to test the effect they have on thermal and acoustic performance:

  • Default configuration;
  • Front panel removed;
  • Glass side panel removed.

Test System

  • Chassis: Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT
  • Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master
  • CPU Cooler: Cougar Aqua 240 240mm AIO/ Noctua NH-D15
  • Memory: 16 GB (2 x 8 GB + 2 dummy modules) Aorus RGB Memory DDR4-3600
  • Graphics: Aorus AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
  • Storage Drive: 500 GB Corsair MP600 PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSD
  • Power Supply: Adata XPG Core Reactor 750 GOLD 750W
  • OS: Windows 10 version 1909

Note: 240mm AIO cooler was installed in the roof of the case with fans fitted in a push configuration exhausting air out of the case.

Note: The Noctua NH-D15 used in this test was configured in single/central fan specification due to CPU cooler/case Height restriction.

Thermal Performance Overview:

The Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB is an airflow focused case with a mesh panel that spans almost the entire front of the case. The mesh aims to provide almost unrestricted airflow into the system to improve thermal performance and component temperature under load.

Our thermal performance test using both an AIO closed-loop CPU liquid cooler and a CPU tower cooler shows that the high airflow front panel of the MX410 Mesh-G RGB is doing the job of keeping internal system temperature well under control.

A fluctuation of just 2-3 degrees Celsius average delta temperature was recorded during our testing with the case in various configurations.

Closing Thoughts

While we did come across some minor issues with the build quality and some small difficulties during the system installation, the Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB has no fundamental problems that make us believe that it is a poor case, it is quite the opposite. Cougar has to be commended for squeezing ATX motherboard support into such a compact ATX form factor – the dimensions of the case are comparable to other Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX chassis on the market, taking up a similar footprint of desk space.

This does mean that installation of certain components such as an AIO cooler or a long, high-end graphics card is slightly compromised. However, we still managed to squeeze in a 240mm AIO in the roof of the case, as well as our Aorus RX 5700XT which is a 2.7 slot graphics card measuring 290mm long. With our high-end B550 Aorus Master motherboard and its large VRM heatsink and I/O shroud, it made the AIO a very tight fit and the long GPU meant the AIO could only fit up top and not in the front of the case.

That said, it did all fit inside this very compact chassis which is impressive. 3.5-inch HDD installation was also compromised since we had to remove the HDD cage to fit our ADATA XGP Core Reactor 750w modular power supply. This isn't such a problem as there is still space for three 2.5-inch drives and M.2 device don’t take up any case space.

As well as being compact, the MX410 Mesh-G RGB is very affordable at around £45 currently. The build quality may not quite live up to the more mid-range cases from the likes of Phanteks, be quiet!, Fractal etc, but it has several more premium features we'd expect to see, such as a tempered glass side panel, handy cable management options and lashings of RGB.

You may not be getting the best build quality possible but the chassis feels solid when all panels are installed, so we can't knock it too hard, it is just the little finishing touches that slightly let it down. However, if your budget for a case is tight and you want the features such as tempered glass and addressable RGB, this may be a worthy candidate for your next budget gaming build.

The Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB is available to purchase from Amazon UK now, priced at £43.99 HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Super compact ATX form factor.
  • Plenty of RGB included.
  • Great airflow.
  • Budget price tag

Cons:

  • Questionable build quality in certain areas.
  • AIO and PSU installation can be a tight squeeze.

KitGuru says: The Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB is the new benchmark for ultra-budget cases with its super-compact ATX form factor, tempered glass and array of RGB lighting.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/james-dawson/cougar-mx410-mesh-g-rgb-case-review/feed/ 0
Corsair 110R PC case review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/corsair-110r-pc-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/corsair-110r-pc-case-review/#respond Sat, 02 Nov 2019 15:41:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=431959 Corsair's 110R is a budget case, but does it offer enough to tempt the enthusiast user ?

The post Corsair 110R PC case review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Corsair is well known for its series of high-end gaming PC cases, memory and a huge range of cooling products. The company also produce products aimed at the budget end of the spectrum. Today, we have one of those budget products to examine. The 110R focuses on the savvy gamer looking to save a bit of their hard-earned cash over the high end models on the market today.

Corsair’s 110R case is a compact Mid Tower chassis, available with either a steel side panel variant (110Q) or with a tempered glass side to display components in full view. The 110R’s minimalist design ensures that your system can fit in almost any environment without looking out of place.

Flexible storage options are provided in the Corsair 110R – the case supports up to four storage drives including two 2.5-inch trays and two combo 3.5/2.5-inch removable cages. Additionally, there is a 5.25-inch ODD bay which is often a rarity these days.

Although classed as ‘budget', the corsair 110R can fit a total of four 120mm or two 140mm fans inside the chassis. Corsair claim there is also space for multiple radiators inside the relatively small case. A full-length PSU shroud has been implemented into the design to hide away those unsightly cables.

The 110R also features an acceptable amount of dust filtration so you don’t have to worry about cleaning the internals regularly. There are filters located in the floor, roof and at the front. Also, upfront is an I/O shield featuring USB 3.1 ports and a combined microphone/headphone socket.

While it may not be the most feature-packed case on the market, the 110R does offer exceptional value. With a price of just £54.95, could this be the budget PC case we have all been waiting for? Let's find out.

Key Features

  • Tempered glass side panel
  • Compact design
  • Budget price
  • Full cover PSU shroud
  • Flexible storage options and ODD bay

Specifications

  • Motherboard compatibility: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX
  • Case Dimensions: 418mm x 210mm x 480mm
  • Maximum GPU Length: 330mm
  • Maximum PSU Length: 180mm
  • Maximum CPU Cooler Height: 160mm
  • Case Expansion Slots: 7
  • Case Drive Bays: ”(x2) 3.5in (x2) 2.5in
  • Case Material: Steel, Tempered Glass
  • Radiator Compatibility: 120mm, 140mm, 240mm, 280mm
  • Compatible Corsair Liquid Coolers: H55, H60, H75, H80i, H90, H100i, H105, H110i, H115i
The post Corsair 110R PC case review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/corsair-110r-pc-case-review/feed/ 0
Gamemax Polaris (RGB Tempered Glass) Gaming PC Case https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/dale-shaughnessy/gamemax-polaris-rgb-tempered-glass-gaming-pc-case/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/dale-shaughnessy/gamemax-polaris-rgb-tempered-glass-gaming-pc-case/#comments Wed, 07 Jun 2017 12:37:47 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=337039 This Gamemax case has ASUS AURA RGB supportand it has tempered glass panels. Its only £65 too!

The post Gamemax Polaris (RGB Tempered Glass) Gaming PC Case first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
If you are unwilling or unable to spend £150+ on a new chassis then Gamemax have been releasing a series of cheap and cheerful cases which we have reviewed in recent months. Today we look at their Polaris model which features a tempered glass side panel and a remote to control the lighting – and all for the modest asking price of £64.49 – Is it any good?

Specification:

Key Features

  • I/O Ports – The 2 x USB3.0 / USB2.0 and HD Audio.
  • Remote controller – 1 remote controller controls the LED's freely.
  • Water-Cooling Support – Front panel supports a 240mm radiator and the back of the case supports a 120mm radiator.
  • Fans – 3 x 120mm RGB fans on the front,1 x 120mm RGB fans on the rear. Colours include Red, Blue, Green, Cyan, Yellow, Orange and Purple.
  • Front & Side Panel – With a tempered glass front panel and an attractive tempered glass side panel on the left side allows users to show off there internal components.

Case Specifications
Form Factor: Full Tower
Motherboard Support: ATX
PSU Support: Standard ATX
Gaming Case: Yes
Water Cooling: Water Cooling Ready!
Supported Radiator Size: 240mm
Supported Radiator Positions: Front
Front Bezel Material: Tempered Glass
Side Panel: Tempered Glass
Internal Cable Management Depth: 20mm
Internal Bays: 3 x 3.5” Internal, 2 x 2.5” Internal
Cooling Front: Space For 3 x 120mm fans (3 x 120mm RGB LED inc.)
Cooling Rear: Space for 1 x 120mm fan (1 x 120mm RGB LED inc.)
GPU Max Length: 415mm
CPU Cooler Maximum Height: 163mm
Body Colour: Black

The Gamemax Polaris offers a wide variety of features for the price, such as full control over the RGB LED's, fan speed and tinted tempered glass side panels. A small remote is provided to change and control the LED's with various colours and pre-set colour changes. The LED's on the fans are all connected to a Fan / LED hub which can support up to 8 devices in total – either RGB fans or RGB LED strips.

The cost of this case is £65.00 GBP, which is a very competitive price when you compare it to other cases with similar features or chassis in the same price range that will lack some of these features. This Gamemax Polaris case is very similar to the Bitfenix Neos internally, with obvious differences in the shroud.

It delivers impressive cable management options and accommodates multiple places for cables to be neatly tied, out of sight. You can hide away 3 x 3.5 HDD bays and mount 2 x 2.5 SSD's above and they will be on show.

The case can support graphics cards up to 415mm in length which is big enough for any available today.

Testing

To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system incorporating an Asus ROG Crosshair VI Hero , AMD Ryzen 7 1700x, GTX 970 and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a good amount of heat to effectively test the Shoguns cooling capabilities.

Test System:

  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 1700x.
  • Motherboard: Asus ROG Crosshair VI Hero.
  • CPU cooler: Thermaltake Riing Silent Pro
  • Memory: Geil RGB EVO X Gaming Memory 3200Mhz 2 x 8GB.
  • Graphics card: Zotac GTX 970.
  • Power supply: EVGA 650 P2.
  • Storage drives: OCZ Vector.
  • OS: Windows 10 Home.

Cooling Performance

The four case fans working together (alongside the 1 x 120 Riing fan for the CPU cooler) were able to cool the system adequately.

Acoustics performance.

There was a slight issue with the middle of the three front fans when the system was first powered on. It appeared that the fan had been over-tightened and made a clicking noise as it touched the front panel, but other than that they all ran smoothly without much noise. When the fans were set to boost the noise was not intrusive at all.

Closing Thoughts.

At £65 the Gamemax Polaris case offers a lot for the money and we particularly enjoyed the RGB remote control with the tempered glass side panels showcasing the build inside. Bonus points as the Gamemax case does not need a separate software download for RGB control.

There is a small remote control sensor on the front panel but I would have preferred if the sensor was larger as the remote does need to be pointed directly at the sensor, otherwise it won't work at all.

The Fan / RGB LED Hub did require a lot of space to accommodate the cabling so we are really happy that the included shroud hides all of this mess from view.

 

The GameMax Polaris has a 20mm cable management space behind the motherboard tray and it offers just enough space to route a 24-pin cable neatly. This case is good for a beginner PC builder as the side panel can hide away all the cables.

The tempered glass side and front panel showcase the RGB lighting, although it would probably be more aesthetically pleasing to take Gamemax up on their offer of mounting a 240mm radiator in the front of the case. I would suggest using an air cooler so you can make full use of the RGB Fans as you may have to swap them out for pressure fans and then transparency of the front panel becomes somewhat useless.

The GameMax branded wording was a constant irritation for me during the review. The size of the logo is quite frankly ridiculous and a simple, small, neat badge at the front of the case would work much better. Colour coordinating a system build is critical for many enthusiast users in 2017, and having a row of huge white letters on display right below the system build will likely alienate a large audience. I hope they address this in the next version of the case.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Buy from SCAN For £64.49 HERE.

Pros:

  • Tempered Glass panels.
  • 20mm Cable space.
  • RGB LED Fans.
  • Very good air flow.
  • Shroud covers everything.

Cons:

  • More space for CPU 4/8 pin.
  • Massive Gamemax logo.
  • Fan/ RGB Led Controller takes a lot of space.

KitGuru says: There is a lot to like about the Gamemax Polaris Case. Its well built and offers full RGB control via a handy little remote control. Tempered glass panels on a sub £70 case is also a welcome addition. We do feel Gamemax need to reduce the size of their logo a little, as it distracts from the overall look of the internal build.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Gamemax Polaris (RGB Tempered Glass) Gaming PC Case first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/dale-shaughnessy/gamemax-polaris-rgb-tempered-glass-gaming-pc-case/feed/ 3
SilentiumPC’s Regnum RG1 chassis packs a lot of value https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/silentiumpcs-regnum-rg1-chassis-packs-a-lot-of-value/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/silentiumpcs-regnum-rg1-chassis-packs-a-lot-of-value/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2016 21:07:45 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=287756 SilentiumPC has announced its new PC case today, the Regnum RG1, the first value-oriented chassis with a dual-chamber internal layout which aims to dramatically improve both airflow and cable management. There is also a roomy interior with plenty of room for components, radiators, drives all for just £24. The Regnum RG1 is compatible with ATX …

The post SilentiumPC’s Regnum RG1 chassis packs a lot of value first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
SilentiumPC has announced its new PC case today, the Regnum RG1, the first value-oriented chassis with a dual-chamber internal layout which aims to dramatically improve both airflow and cable management. There is also a roomy interior with plenty of room for components, radiators, drives all for just £24.

The Regnum RG1 is compatible with ATX motherboards, long power supplies, graphics cards up to 380mm in length and CPU coolers up to 160mm tall. It also offers two external 5.25” drive bays as well as two 3.5 and two 2.5” internal drive bays for different SSD and HDD configurations.

rg1-malik-1

Being a budget case, there are some cut backs, the RG1 only comes with one 120mm case fan but it does include dust filters for all intakes and there is room for up to six 120mm fans if you require the cooling. There is also mounting space for a 120mm and 240mm radiator if you happen to want to use an AIO liquid cooling unit.

Full tech specs can be found below:

  • Dimensions: 430(H) x 447(L) x 208(W)mm
  • Motherboard support: mATX / ATX
  • PSU: ATX standard (not included)
  • Expansion slots: 7
  • Net weight: 4.4 kg
  • Drive bays:
  • External: 2 x 5.25″
  • Internal: 2 x 2,5” + 2 x 3,5”
  • Maximum VGA card length: 380mm
  • Maximum CPU cooler height: 160mm
  • Cooling system (up to six fans in total, one included):
  • Front: 3 x 120mm fan (optional; top one replaces 5,25” drive bays)
  • Rear: 1 x 120mm fan (1x included 120mm fan @ 1100 rpm)
  • Chamber separator: 2 x 120mm (optional)
  • Front panel interface:
  • 2 x USB 3.0
  • 1 x Headphone jack (HD audio)
  • 1 x Microphone jack (HD audio)

The Silentium PC Regnum RG1 is set to release soon for $27.50 in the US and £23.90 here in the UK.

KitGuru Says: On paper, this looks like a fairly decent basic chassis, especially for the price. Are any of you currently planning a system build? How much do you normally spend on a PC case? 

The post SilentiumPC’s Regnum RG1 chassis packs a lot of value first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/silentiumpcs-regnum-rg1-chassis-packs-a-lot-of-value/feed/ 5
Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Chassis Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/leo-waldock/phanteks-enthoo-pro-m-chassis-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/leo-waldock/phanteks-enthoo-pro-m-chassis-review/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2015 07:13:52 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=257919 Phanteks has released a budget PC case with a model code that suggests it is a junior version of the Enthoo Pro. In fact the Pro M (M for mid-tower) is a hybrid of the Pro and the recent Enthoo ATX, with a number of changes to keep the price as low as possible.   …

The post Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Chassis Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Phanteks has released a budget PC case with a model code that suggests it is a junior version of the Enthoo Pro. In fact the Pro M (M for mid-tower) is a hybrid of the Pro and the recent Enthoo ATX, with a number of changes to keep the price as low as possible.

Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-Box-2Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-Box-1Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-front-side-quarterPhanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-windowed-side
Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-side-open-unbuiltPhanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-side-open-unbuil-reartPhanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-Open-RearPhanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-Open-Rear-alt
Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-side-open-traysPhanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-Base
 Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-PSU-casePhanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-built-front-open
Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-built-open
Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-built-open-cables  Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-Drives-Close-Up     Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review---Rear-Built-open
Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-side-full
   Phanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review---Rear-BuiltPhanteks-Enthoo-Pro-M-KitGuru-Review-built-open-cables-alt

The best thing is to consider the Pro-M as the frame of the £140 Evolv ATX minus that expensive cladding. Instead you get a plastic front panel and fairly basic steel side panels that are reminiscent of the Enthoo Pro. Removing the aluminium would obviously save on the bill of materials but Phanteks wanted to go further so they have pretty much removed the accessories. You get a single 140mm fan at the rear of the case and the bare minimum of drive bays which raises the obvious question of whether Phanteks has made sensible cuts or gone bonkers to get the price as low as possible.

We have told to expect the Pro-M will be priced at £59.99 which sounds very competitive for an enthusiast case and puts the Pro-M head-to-head with the NZXT S340.

At Computex we saw the Pro-M in Titanium Green which looked drop dead gorgeous. Tragically our review sample came in Brushed Black which looks better than a plastic panel with a mock aluminium finish has any right to look. In any other context we would congratulate Phanteks on the look of the Pro-M but this time we're going to say ‘Titanium Green' and pull a disappointed face.

The side panels of the Pro-M are plain steel without any sound deadening material and the window in the main panel is smaller than other windows we have seen from Phanteks. Cosmetically it does a decent job but there is no attempt to deliver a Wow factor. Indeed the appearance of the Pro-M reinforces the budget nature of this case.

Specifications:

  • Motherboard support: E-ATX (up to 264mm wide), ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX.
  • Expansion slots: 7.
  • Included fans: 1x 140mm rear exhaust.
  • Fan mounts: 3x 120mm or 2x 140mm front, 3x 120mm or 2x 140mm roof, 1x 120mm/140mm rear.
  • 5.25″ drive bays: 1.
  • Internal drive bays: 7x 2.5”/3.5 (two supplied) 3x 2.5″ (one supplied).
  • Dimensions: 480mm high x 235mm wide x 500mm deep.

Remove the side panels and pull off the front panel and you'll be able to see most of the features with a single glance. There is one optical drive bay which can be removed to open up more cooling space at the front and top of the case. There are three positions to mount the single Drop n' Lock SSD bay but if you want a second or third bay you'll have to lay out some cash on accessories. Similarly there are two 2.5”/3.5 drive caddies in the lower compartment in front of the power supply, but if you want to mount more drives using the modular Enthoo ATX system you'll have to buy the necessary drive bays.

That is pretty much the essence of the Pro-M. If you need to buy a fan to replace the ‘missing' front fan or you want extra drive bays then you are missing out on part of the appeal of the Pro-M as this will inevitably raise the cost.

On the other hand the Pro-M has some tricks up its sleeve that have been borrowed from the Evolv ATX. Remove the lower drive bays, open the hatch in the power supply cover and remove the optical drive bay and your options for cooling are almost limitless. You have room for a colossal custom loop or two all-in-one coolers or pretty much any hardware you fancy installing.

Testing
To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an Intel Core i7-4770K, Sapphire Radeon R9 290 and multiple storage drives. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Phanteks Enthoo Pro M‘s cooling capabilities.

For stress testing we use a mixture of Prime95 and FurMark to create the maximum heat output. Prime95′s ‘Small FFTs’ setting allows us to stress our CPU. FurMark’s ‘GPU Burn-in’ mode creates the maximum amount of load our GPU is ever likely to see.

Test System:

  • Processor: 3.9GHz Intel Core i7-4770K
  • Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Killer
  • CPU cooler: Corsair H110i 240mm
  • Memory: AMD Radeon 1600MHz RAM
  • Graphics card: Sapphire Tri-X R9 290
  • Power supply: Seasonic Platinum Fanless 520W
  • Storage drives: Samsung 840 SSD
  • OS: Windows 8.1 64-bit.

Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Temperatures KitGuru Review

Assess cooling
Cooling in the Pro-M is good. The Pro-M has a power supply cover however it is perforated and doesn't prevent heat rising from your PSU and heating the motherboard compartment.

The open nature of the case with free flow from the filter at the front straight through to the 140mm fan at the rear is impeccable. Add in a liquid cooler at the top and the air has no problem flowing and exiting.

Acoustic Performance Test Procedures:

  • We placed our Digital Sound Level Meter one metre away from the case.
  • The case fans are set to maximum speed.
  • The CPU cooler’s fans are deactivated.
  • The Phanteks Enthoo Pro M's default fan configuration is: 1x 140mm rear exhaust fans.

Assess noise
At the most basic level the Pro-M is effectively silent as the 140mm fan is very quiet. Choose your CPU cooler carefully, as we did with the Corsair H100i and you end up with a very quiet PC.

Closing Thoughts

We like the Phanteks Enthoo Pro-M and admire the way Phanteks has kept the price so low. On the downside the side panels and window are nothing special. They are certainly adequate for a £60 case but might not meet the approval of the enthusiast market.
650px
Perhaps the biggest question mark over the design of the Pro-M is that the likeliest customer is the home builder who wants a good deal and we doubt they will use the facility to build a custom cooling loop. It seems likely to us that most people using a Pro-M will simply install a motherboard, cooler, power supply and drive which makes perfect sense but also misses a trick or two.

Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.
overclockers logo 250px
Buy from Overclockers UK for £59.99 inc vat.

Pros:

  • Low price
  • Ability to add cooling galore, including a custom loop.
  • Full height dust filter at the front.
  • Top magnetic dust filter.
  • Dust filter for PSU intake.
  • Sliding mount for top liquid cooler.
  • Hook and loop cable management straps.
  • Cable grommets are well located.
  • Smart appearance.
  • Power supply cover.

Cons:

  • Side panels are flexy and rather basic.
  • Smaller window than Evolv ATX.
  • Bare minimum of drive bays to keep costs low.
  • We doubt many Pro-M customers will make use of the advanced options for cooling.

KitGuru says: Good work Phanteks. We need more budget PC cases to show you don't have to spend a fortune to get quality hardware.
WORTH BUYING

The post Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Chassis Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/leo-waldock/phanteks-enthoo-pro-m-chassis-review/feed/ 1