high airflow | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 23 Nov 2023 13:16:05 +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 high airflow | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 APNX Creator C1 ChromaFlair Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/apnx-creator-c1-chromaflair-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/apnx-creator-c1-chromaflair-case-review/#respond Thu, 23 Nov 2023 12:00:23 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=637716 The new APNX Creator C1 chassis that looks unique - on the outside at least!

The post APNX Creator C1 ChromaFlair Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
For the most part here at KitGuru we review hardware aimed at gaming, however there are some exceptions. A new case for review today is one of those exceptions. The APNX Creator C1 is aimed at content creators, with its “Skandi” or Scandinavian exterior designed to appeal to creative professionals. But that doesn’t mean you can't use it for a gaming system, as the company suggests its high airflow design and support for high-end hardware will appeal to more than just content creators. What we are here to find out is if it’s any good and if it’s worth the $160 price tag.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:58 APNX Creator C1 / pricing / colours
02:00 Main features – overview
02:53 Accessories and close up look
05:02 Front I/O and panels
06:07 Inside / filters / fans
07:30 Clean look and performance mode
08:26 Overall cooling support
10:23 Cable management cutouts / rear
11:11 Reverse side / lackluster design
12:42 GPU/ drive support / space / hub
13:55 Power supply support
14:08 Floor of case
14:57 Hardware for the build
17:20 Time Lapse Build
20:24 Build is finished
21:20 Thermal testing and noise output
22:45 James thoughts
23:52 The Cons (its a long list)
28:07 Does James recommend it?

If you think this case looks familiar then you are correct, the whole internal structure is identical to the Sharkoon Rebel C50 that was reviewed by Leo just a few weeks ago, which means that most of the interior features and specifications of the APNX Creator C1 such as hardware and cooling support are the same as the Sharkoon Rebel C50. The two cases have very different exterior panels and aesthetics plus the C1 is available in three different colours, white, black and special ChromaFlair.

The case supports up to ATX motherboard installation, dual 360mm radiators, up to 11 fans in total, four fans come pre-installed as well as a 5-port PWM and ARGB hub. There is no vertical GPU mount included with the case but one can be purchased separately for additional cost. The price of the APNX Creator C1 depends on the colour you choose, black is the cheapest at £139.99, white costs around £10 more at £149.99 and the ChromaFlair has a premium price of £167.99 almost £30 more than the black version. All are available from OverclockersUK.

APNX Creator C1 Features:

  • A modern “Skandi” (in the words of APNX) or Scandinavian exterior design with several paint options available including Black, White and the special ChromaFlair pearlescent paint.
  • ANPX Creator C 1 is equipped with a wide range of interior cooling options with 11 fan mounts and includes dual 360mm radiator support.
  • Toolless exterior tempered glass and steel panels with quick-release brackets.
  • Unique 90-degree font and side panel mesh design wraps around the front of the chassis exterior.
  • The case comes with 4 x APNX FP1 fans pre-installed, three 140mm in the front and a single 120mm in the rear –  APNX FP1 fans usually cost $10.99 USD each.
  • The motherboard tray is technically compatible with Gigabyte’s Project Stealth motherboard, featuring back-facing connectors for an ultra-clean look. Making it one of the few cases on the market that supports Project Stealth.

Specifications:

  • Case Type: Mid-Tower
  • Dimensions: 230 x 502 x 464 mm (W x H x D)
  • Colour: Black / White / ChromaFlair
  • Material: Steel, Plastic, Tempered Glass
  • Motherboard Support: Mini ITX / Micro ATX / ATX
  • Expansion Slots: 7
  • Storage: 3 x 2.5″ SSD max, 3 x 3.5″ HDD max
  • Max GPU Length: 395mm
  • Max CPU Cooler Height: 166mm
  • Max PSU Length: 270mm
  • Fan Support: 3 x 120/3 x 140mm (Front) 3 x 120 /2 x 140mm (Top), 1 x 120 (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), 360mm Max (Side), 120 (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 / Bottom
  • Font I/O: Power and reset button, 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, USB 3.0 Type-C port, 3.5mm audio jack

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:

Thermal performance of the APNX C1 looks solid with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X running at around 90°C in either configuration with side panels installed or removed, which is what we would expect from this CPU running Precision Boost Overdrive. Moving the AIO to the side mount caused a minor decrease in CPU temperature so with an AMD Ryzen 7000 CPU in this case AIO placement isn’t too critical.

It’s a similar story with GPU temperature, with the case in the default configuration average GPU temperature is around 35°C delta which is normal for this GPU in a high airflow case. As we often see with case testing, removing the tempered glass side panel reduces GPU temperature but it isn’t as severe as in some cases with the C1. So overall the high airflow design of the APNX Creator C1 seems to work fine.

Noise:

Noise output isn’t significantly reduced or increased by changing the case from its default configuration, however there is a slight drop in noise output when removing the tempered glass side as more airflow means the GPU temperature is lower, fan speed is reduced and therefore noise output is lower.

Closing Thoughts

With any new case or any other hardware, there are always pros and cons. The APNX Creator C1 is no different but the cons outweigh the pros this time, and and by a long way. Let’s start with some of the good things about this case such as the availability of it in different colours. Users can choose between black, white or the special ChromaFlair blue/purple pearlescent colour to suit their style. White costs around £10 more than black and the ChromaFlair option demands quite a hefty premium of around £28 which seems a bit excessive.

The case comes with four ARGB fans pre-installed, three 140mm at the front of the case and a single 120mm at the rear. The fans provide decent airflow for case fans and have good RGB lighting effects, colours are bright, there is no major light bleed coming from the RGB LEDs and they are well diffused by the fan blade. The Creator C1 also includes a 5-port PWM and ARGB fan hub which adds to the value of the case.

Although not officially supported, we found that with the case in its performance configuration with the cable management panel removed, an E-ATX motherboard the size of the X670E Aorus Master will fit into the case without issues. Installing the cable management panel and running the case in what APNX call the “clean look” configuration means the cable panel interferes with the EATX boards but you can simply leave out the top mounting screw and the E-ATX board will fit, which is useful as a lot of boards use this format nowadays.

So where do we start with the negatives? Well, one of the main issues with this case for me is its internal design. It doesn’t feel particularly modern or innovative, in fact internally most of the features are quite basic and have been seen before. The interior has hints of Corsair 4000D with the removable cable management panel – don’t get me wrong, the Corsair 4000D was a great case when it launched… three years ago. But that is a long time in the PC hardware world and case design has moved on since.

The solution for removing the modular panels such as the top radiator bracket, cable management panel and PSU shroud front section is very old-fashioned. Nineteen screws have to be removed manually with a screwdriver to detach the modular panels from the case, and none of the screws are thumbscrews or captive so it’s a painfully slow process. Quick-release fittings, slot-in brackets, captive thumbscrews and other modern solutions would be quicker and easier for the user, this is just sub-optimal design.

The case doesn't feel like it's high quality either, the steel side panels remove pretty easily but they are awkward at best to install back to the case, particularly the curved front/side panel. The choice of steel over aluminium isn’t great for the outer panels, they have a cheap and tinny feel, they rattle a lot and the paint finish is very rough, it almost feels as rough as wet and dry sandpaper in some places. Some of the modular panels such as the top fan bracket are very weak and flexible, also there are no rubber grommets in any of the cable management cutouts.

The lack of front 360mm radiator support is an odd design choice and the positioning of the top radiator bracket means that the radiator sits too close to the motherboard components. Fan blades end up being extremely close to the EPS power cables and the position of the radiator bracket means you will struggle to install push/pull fans on a 360 or 280mm radiator, as there will be interference with motherboard components such as VRM heatsinks and EPS connections.

That said, the thermal performance from the APNX Creator C1 seems to be as good as some other decent high airflow cases that we have tested recently, the case was able to keep the temperature of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU and RX 7900XT graphics card well under control and when you get your system installed in the case it looks OK, with good RGB lighting effects from the included fans so not all is bad.

One last thing to mention is that the internal structure of the case is identical to the Sharkoon Rebel C50 that we reviewed recently, both cases share most of the same features and specifications but have an opposing exterior aesthetic. The Sharkoon is considerably cheaper though so if you want a case with these features and you are not bothered about the C1’s looks then it would be better value to buy the Sharkoon, however, the Sharkoon suffers from some of the same problems as the C1 which would put me off buying either case and choosing something like the Lian Li Lancool 216 instead.

The APNX Creator C1 ChromaFlair is available to purchase now from OverclockersUK priced at £167.99 HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Three different colour choices including the premium ChromaFlair.
  • Four fans come pre-installed.
  • 5 port PWM and ARGB fan hub included.
  • Supports multiple 360mm Radiator installation.
  • ETX motherboard installation is technically possible.

Cons:

  • Detaching modular panels means removing lots of screws -19 in total none of which are thumbscrews or captive.
  • Doesn’t feel like a particularly new or innovative design internally, just the same basic features we have seen for years.
  • The Finish on the paint is extremely rough it almost feels like wet and dry sandpaper.
  • Some modular panels are very flimsy – Top radiator bracket.
  • Side panels are not particularly well aligned and difficult to install.
  • No official support for front radiator installation.
  • The top radiator mount/bracket puts the rads/fans close to motherboard components – no chance of running push-pull fans on a radiator.
  • Using the side mount for fans/rad means the GPU support is lost.
  • Vertical GPU mount metalware is an optional extra that adds to costs.
  • No grommets on the cable cutouts around the motherboard.
  • Not enough space to connect the HDAudio cable once the power supply is installed.

KitGuru says: The APNX Creator C1's unique exterior will certainly appeal to some but beneath that Scandinavian-style exterior lies a pretty basic chassis that doesn't do a lot of things well, which is a shame.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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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

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Endorfy ARX 500 ARGB Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/endorfy-arx-500-argb-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/endorfy-arx-500-argb-case-review/#respond Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:17:39 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=624409 Is the Endorfy ARX 500 the new budget airflow champion? We take a look.

The post Endorfy ARX 500 ARGB Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Just a couple of months ago we did a sponsored build featuring a brand new case from Endorfy, The ARX 700 Air was Endorfy’s first case to be designed and built entirely in-house. It came with mesh panels, five 140mm fans and a budget price tag. Well, today I'm looking at the new Endorfy ARX 500 ARGB, which has many of the same features as the ARX 700 Air, it comes in two different versions with or without RGB and is more compact and cheaper. But is it as good? Let's find out.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:55 Features
03:01 James thoughts / closer look / support
07:27 Side panel – cable management
08:40 PSU support / storage space
09:29 5 port PWN fan hub
09:55 Floor of case
10:53 Build hardware
12:19 Build timelapse
17:05 James thoughts on the build experience
19:16 Thermal/noise performance with high end system
20:34 Closing Thoughts

Endorfy impressed us with the ARX 700 when that launched a couple of months ago, it offered great value, excellent airflow and extensive hardware and cooling support. The ARX 500 ARGB is the baby brother with slightly smaller dimensions but it retains many of the features that made the ARX 700 a great buy, such as ultrafine mesh front and top panels for high airflow, radiator support, space for large graphics cards and lots of PWM fans included.

For just over 100 Euros the ARX 500 seems like exceptional value for money, it supports ATX motherboards, graphics card up to 350mm long, front and top mounted radiators, it comes with four ARGB fans that are PWM controlled as well as a five port PWM fan hub and a five port 3-pin 5v ARGB controller. So it's off to a good start right away the only initial gripe I have with the ARX 500 is that it isn’t available in white.

The ARX 500 series is also available in a slightly cheaper ARX 500 Air model, which ditches the ARGB in favour of regular black 140mm fans. There's no ARGB controller included which seems sensible in a non-RGB case but the PWM fan hub is still there and the fan count is up from 4 in the ARGB version to 5 in the Air. It has the identical layout and mesh panels as the ARGB version so for around 90 Euros it sounds like a steal.

Features

  • Spacious Interior that allows for up to seven fans to be installed – 5 x 140mm Endorfy Strutus 140 PWM fans come pre-installed in the ARX 500 Air and 4 x 140mm ARGB fans in the RGB case, fans in the ARX 500 Air are regular Black fans.
  • Both cases feature a built-in 5 port PWM fan controller, a 5 port 3-pin 5v ARGB Hub is also included with the ARGB model but not in the ARX 500 Air.
  • Front and top panels are heavily ventilated with perforated steel ultrafine mesh that also acts as a single-layer dust filter, so they are less airflow restrictive compared with cases that have a secondary dust filter. Both panels are easily removable for cleaning.
  • A tempered glass panel is fitted to the left-hand side of the case for an unobstructed view inside the chassis.
  • ARX 500 is a compact ATX case measuring 486 x 228 x 429mm but still allows for the installation of 360mm and 280mm radiators, as well as graphics cards up to 350mm long and CPU coolers up to 179mm tall.
  • Front I/O Connectivity includes a single USB Type-C port, two USB Type-A ports, individual 3.5mm audio jacks for headphones and microphone, a power button and a reset button that can be repurposed as an ARGB control button.

ARX 500 ARGB Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 486×228×429mm
  • Motherboard Form Factor: ATX, Micro ATX, Mini-ITX
  • Graphics card clearance: 350mm
  • PSU Clearance: 300mm
  • CPU Cooler Clearance: 179mm
  • Storage bays: 6 x 2.5”, 1 x combined 2.5”/3.5”
  • Max Fan Capacity: 7
  • Included Fans: 3 x Stratus 140 PWM ARGB (front), 1 x Stratus 140 PWM ARGB (rear)
  • Radiator Capacity: 1 x 120/240/280/360 (front), 1 x 120/240/280 (top), 1 x 120/140 (rear)
  • Dust filters: Front, Top, Bottom
  • Front I/O: 1 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A, 2 x 3.5mm Audio, Power, Reset/LED button

Thermal Performance Testing

To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Time Spy Extreme 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:

Thermal Performance/Noise Overview:

Thermal Performance:

Due to how the AMD precision boost algorithm works the Ryzen 9 7900X CPU temperature is in the 90's no matter what case you use. However, 91 degrees C is good, especially considering that just a 280mm AIO was used.

GPU Temperature is what we look at closely these days when testing case thermals and I have to say I have never seen a more consistent chart. It doesn’t seem to matter what configuration you run the case in or add a fan to the power supply shroud mount, the GPU temperature is consistently low which shows that the airflow in the ARX 500 ARGB is nothing less than superb.

Noise:

As we saw with thermals, again noise levels are very even with the system under heavy load due to the stable temperature in any configuration. Fan speeds were consistent with the case in different configurations, so noise output was almost identical no matter the configuration of the case which again points to excellent thermals with the case in its default configuration with all panels installed.

Closing Thoughts

If you are in the market and looking for a budget case with lots of fans, great airflow and cooling then the Endorfy ARX 500 ARGB or Air would be a very smart choice. Building a system with the case is a joy, the interior is very spacious, it supports a good range of hardware, large radiators and very tall air coolers so cooling options are great even if it is a compact ATX chassis. During the build phase, I didn’t run into any compatibility or alignment issues with the hardware which is impressive as its a high-end hardware specification.

Endorfy is very generous with the number of fans that it includes with the ARX 500 ARGB. It comes with four PWM control ARGB fans pre-installed, a 5 port PWM fan hub and a 5 port ARGB controller, all for the bargain price of 109 Euros. But what if you don’t want RGB? well then the ARX 500 Air is even better value with five 140mm fans included and the PWM hub at 90 Euros which is excellent value for money in a world where prices of essentials are spiralling. It makes you wonder how Endorfy does it.

It's difficult to find them but there are some very minor negatives. I would have liked an additional cable cut out to the top right-hand side of the motherboard tray and the Velcro cable management straps are a bit fiddly, but I am really being picky with these. The only other thing I would have liked to see with the Endorfy ARX 500 series is the option to buy the case in white, the bigger ARX 700 is only available in black too but I hope Endorfy addresses this in the future as white cases/builds are becoming ever more popular.

Our test system included some very high-end hardware and during thermal tests the Endorfy ARX 500 ARGB dealt with the high thermal load with absolutely no problem whatsoever. We set a silent fan curve in the Gigabyte BIOS for the CPU cooler and ran the graphics card fans at their factory curve. Noise output was quite high at 55dBA but with such great thermal performance, you could tune the fan curves on both the CPU and graphics card cooler to your preferred noise level without compromising too much on cooling.

So the Endorfy ARX 500 series, is well priced, it has superb airflow and thermal performance, it comes packed with decent fans and it's not too bad to look at either. Some might say that the aesthetics are conservative but that means it's more likely to appeal to a wider range of tastes and it shouldn’t look out of place anywhere, be it a gaming setup, office or bedroom/living room PC it should fit in just fine.

If I was looking at purchasing a budget case for a mid-range gaming PC I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it, even a high-end system would be perfectly comfortable inside this case. So if you are looking to build a new system soon and don’t want to break the bank on an expensive high-airflow case, make sure you give this one a look because if you buy one, you won't regret it.

Pros:

  • Cheap price.
  • Plenty of PWM fans are included with the ARX 500 series.
  • 5 port RGB Hub in the ARGB version.
  • Good cooling support for a compact ATX case.
  • Easy to build with.
  • Superb airflow and cooling.

Cons:

  • Not available in white.
  • Some panels are a bit flimsy.

KitGuru says: This is one of the best budget airflow cases that we have seen for a while, under 100 Euros for the non-RGB ARX 500 Air is amazing value, adding ARGB costs just 20 Euros more so either will be friendly on your wallet and the money you save on the case and be put to use in other areas.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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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?

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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?

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be quiet! Silent Base 802 Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/james-dawson/be-quiet-silent-base-802-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/james-dawson/be-quiet-silent-base-802-review/#respond Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:00:31 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=496867 We check out the new be quiet! Silent Base 802

The post be quiet! Silent Base 802 Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Silent Base 802 is a new PC case from be quiet! But calling it “brand new” could be a little deceptive as its more of a revised version of the Silent Base 801 featuring an interchangeable front panel for users to switch between silent and high airflow configurations. You could say it covers all bases, but only if both configurations work as intended, of course. This is something we will find out shortly after building a high-end gaming system inside.

The be quiet! Silent Base 802 provides users with choice, not only of two interchangeable front panels (one for airflow and one for low operating noise) but also in colour and side panel options. The Silent Base 802 is available in black or white colour schemes and with either noise insulated steel side panels or with a tempered glass left-hand window panel.

Priced at around £150, the Silent Base 802 comes from the be quiet! High-End range which means it is one of their top tier products. There is a mixture of steel, plastic and glass materials used in the manufacturing process and the case lives up to the usual be quiet! high build quality, all panels fit together nicely and the structure of the case feels solid even though this is a modular case that can be disassembled entirely to invert the motherboard orientation.

Today we are focusing our review on the white window version of the Silent Base 802, I liked the initial look of the case so much that I have chosen it to build my own gaming rig upgrade into, so I hope it lives up to expectations. I plan to run the case in its open airflow configuration but will test the thermal performance and noise levels of the case in both the airflow and silent configuration later, to see how thermal performance and noise levels are affected.

Be quiet! Silent Base 802 Features:

  • Large mid-tower case featuring support for motherboards up to E-ATX form factor (ATX, MATX and Mini-ITX also supported) with multiple front panel options and motherboard orientation layouts.
  • Interchangeable front and top panels optimised for either high airflow with perforated metal mesh or low noise operating modes with heavily insulated (10mm) soundproofed panels.
  • Three be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140mm fans pre-installed, supports a total of up to eight 140mm fans (3 x front, 3 x top, 1 x rear, 1 x PSU shroud) or up to a 420mm front-mounted radiator, 360mm top radiator and up to a 140mm radiator in the rear panel.
  • Built-in four-step fan controller with front panel switch offering three speed settings plus an auto/PWM mode.
  • Semi-modular chassis structure with an invertible motherboard layout, detachable top fan bracket, removable power supply bracket for rear PSU installation as well as a removable power supply shroud.
  • Choice of two colours (black or white) and sound insulated all-steel side panels or an alternative left hand tempered glass window panel.
  • Supports high-end graphics cards up to 432mm long, CPU coolers up to 185mm tall, power supplies up to 288mm long. Additionally, the case supports up to seven 3.5-inch bays (3 included) and up to fifteen 2.5-inch drive bays (7 included)
  • Cable management cutouts with rubber grommets and multiple cable eyelets to tie cables down on the rear of the motherboard tray.
  • Support for motherboards up to E-ATX format factor including E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX.
  • Dust filtration includes a woven mesh filter behind the front panel, a pull-out floor filter and a magnetic perforated metal mesh filter that can replace the top solid sound dampening panel.
  • Front panel connectivity includes 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port and 2 x 3.5mm audio jack for headphones and microphone.

Our system installation does not require inverting the motherboard tray so the case is configured in its default layout. Since the system will be mainly used for gaming, the high airflow front and top panel configuration is applied with the mesh front and top panels installed. However, to measure how both configurations affect thermal performance we switched to the silent configuration by installing the sound damped panels during testing.

The system installation process went very smoothly, there was loads of space inside the case for our new Zotac RTX 3080 Trinity OC card that measures almost 320mm long, you could easily squeeze in a front-mounted radiator or a pump/res combo in the space that is left at the front of the case too. The pull out top radiator bracket is a handy feature that is very useful when plugging in the top EPS power connections as you could slide the radiator out slightly to improve access.

There are plenty of cable management cutouts and eyelets to tie cables down so making a neat job of cable management is easy. The removable PSU shroud cover also allows access to the power supply, so adding or removing cables from modular power supplies is easy, this also allows the user to install a 3.5-inch HDD with cables facing inwards and access to connect the SATA power and data cables for a neat installation.

Technical Specifications:

  • Model: Silent Base 802 Window White
  • PSU form factor: ATX PS/2
  • Motherboard compatibility: E-ATX (30.5 x 27.5cm) / ATX / M-ATX / Mini-ITX
  • Case size excl. stands (L x W x H): 539 x 245 x 507 (mm)
  • Installation of motherboards with backplate: Yes
  • Case size incl. stands (L x W x H): 539 x 281 x 553 (mm)
  • Dimensions side panel window (L x W): 401 x 431 (mm)
  • Colour option: White or Black
  • Weight:15kg
  • USB 3.2 Gen. 1: 2
  • USB 3.2 Gen. 2 Type C: 1
  • HD Audio I/O: Mic + Audio
  • Expansion slots: 7 + 2
  • 3.5″ slots (max.): 7
  • 3.5″ slots (scope of delivery): 3
  • 2.5″ slots (max.): 15
  • 2.5″ slots (scope of delivery): 7
  • Fan mounting locations : Front / Rear / Top / PSU Shroud
  • Top cover: ABS
  • Side panel: Steel
  • Side panel window: 4mm tempered glass / Steel
  • Front panel: ABS
  • Stands: ABS

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 60 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 be quiet! Pure Loop 360 AIO and the graphics card stock cooling solution.

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.

Acoustic Testing

Our case testing involves comparing the acoustic performance of the case in several configurations with an all-in-one liquid CPU cooler installed.

These tests will include measuring sound levels with our sound meter from approximately 300mm from the front of the case, at idle and under 100% CPU and GPU load.

Load noise levels will be measured by running AIDA64 stressing CPU, FPU, cache and GPU for 15 minutes.

CPU and case fan profiles will be set to their standard operating profile in the Asus ROG Strix Z490-A Gaming motherboard BIOS and GPU fans set to their default fan curve. The CPU cooler used in acoustic testing will be a be quiet! Pure Loop 360. System fans are the three factory pre-installed Pure Wings 2 140mm units

The ambient noise level (noise floor) in our test room is measured at 33.1 dBA.

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

  • Silent configuration: insulated panels installed;
  • High airflow configuration: mesh panels installed.

Test System

  • CPU: Intel Core i9-10850K
  • Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix Z490-A Gaming
  • Memory:32GB (2x 16GB modules) White Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4 3200 C16
  • Storage: 500GB Samsung 960 Pro NVME M.2 SSD, 2TB Crucial MX500 SATA SSD, 2TB Toshiba P300 SATA III 3.5-inch HDD
  • Power supply: be quiet! Straight Power 11 750W 80+ Platinum
  • CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Loop 360 AIO
  • Thermal compound: Arctic MX-4
  • Chassis: be quiet! Silent Base 802
  • System fans: 3 x stock be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140mm
  • Operating System: Windows 10 20H2

There are no surprises during our thermal performance and acoustic tests. As expected the system temperatures are at their lowest with the case in its high airflow configuration. GPU temperature is barely affected in either configuration, however, installing the silent panels has a detrimental effect on CPU temperature as airflow through the top-mounted radiator is being choked off.

Noise levels are a few decibels lower with the case in its silent configuration which will be noticeable in quiet environments or if the user is concentrating, but in louder environments or with a headset on the improvement in thermal performance may outweigh the higher noise levels with the case in the high airflow configuration.

Closing Thoughts

The be quiet! Silent Base 802 is aimed at offering the user options, with different airflow/panel configurations to choose from, a motherboard tray that can be inverted, semi-modular internal structure, two colours and window or solid side panels available. The case is also equipped with some very handy features such as the pull out top radiator/fan bracket, the removable PSU shroud covers as well as great cable management features.

Building a system inside the case was a very pleasing experience with plenty of space inside the case for high-end components, flexible cooling support including the potential for installing radiators up to 420mm (front) and 360mm in the roof.  If large amounts of storage are required the user can sacrifice some of the cooling space at the front of the case to install additional HDD bays, so all bases are covered.

This also applies to how be quiet! has equipped the case with a new high airflow configuration, instead of just offering the case with a mesh front and top panel, the Silent Base 802 provides the best of both worlds with high airflow and insulated silent panels bundled with the case. Users can quickly and easily swap between high airflow and silent panels to suit any situation without compromising thermal or noise levels to the extreme.

The only slight gripe with the case is the minor mismatch in the shade of white between the steel and plastic panels. It isn't hugely obvious, but when you get near the case, you can see the variation in white tone. This is common of white case and we have seen this before in cheaper alternatives on the market, but with a high-end case such as the Silent Base 802 we would hope for a better colour match.

Nevertheless, the case feels well built and up to the usual be quiet! standard. All panels fit together well, there isn't a tremendous amount of flex in the chassis with the outer panels removed, and the painted panels of the case are evenly covered and have a smooth finish. The tempered glass panel doesn’t have much of a tint to it so you can clearly see inside the system and the expensive hardware installed.

Something worth noting about the case is that the legs don’t come installed to the case from the factory, the legs are a little hidden in the polystyrene packaging so make sure you remove them before discarding the packaging. Be quiet! are also planning on providing a kit for current Silent Base 801 users to upgrade their case with the 802 high airflow mesh front panel, the kit is expected to be available in Q1 2021 which is good news for Silent Base 801 owners.

The be quiet! Silent Base 802 is quite large by current ATX case standard, however, this allows it to be deployed in all types of scenarios, whether you want to build a high-end gaming system with custom liquid cooling or a rendering/editing system with lots of storage, this case is good for all of that. Plus, you have the choice of airflow or silent operation, as well as the inverted layout options and different colours to choose from which means that all tastes are catered for.

The be quiet! Silent Base 802 range is available to pre-order from Overlockers UK priced from £140.99 – £149.99 HERE.

Pros:

  • Choice of airflow or silent configurations.
  • Good Thermals and acoustic levels.
  • The motherboard can be inverted.
  • Available in two colours.
  • Space inside for lots of hardware.

Cons:

  • Slight mismatch of colour in materials

KitGuru says: The Silent Base 802 is an improvement over the 801 and gives users the choice of easily switching between high airflow and low noise which should please everyone. The only letdown in an otherwise impressive chassis is the slight mismatch in the shade of white between the steel and plastic panels, even so, its worth adding to your list if you are in the market for a case to house a new high-end system.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Deepcool CL500 PC Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-cl500-pc-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-cl500-pc-case-review/#respond Fri, 14 Aug 2020 11:00:48 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=480666 The CL500 PC case from Deepcool offers an alternative to the usual high airflow front panel

The post Deepcool CL500 PC Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Deepcool has become an established brand that continually produces quality products at an affordable price. The company’s latest addition to its range of mid-tower PC cases is set to continue with this trend by offering a value segment, high airflow case that Deepcool claims to provide form and function in one package. But what exactly does this mean? Let’s find out.

The recent crop of Deepcool mid-tower cases I have reviewed featured airflow restrictive solid front panel designs. With the new CL500 mid-tower ATX chassis, Deepcool has stepped away from the solid front panel design and opted for a high airflow front with integrated dust filtration which is sure to please many PC enthusiasts out there.

Unlike most of the high airflow PC cases currently on the market from competitors that feature a large mesh section mounted inside either a plastic or metal front panel frame, Deepcool has done its own thing with the CL500 which is a refreshing change. The CL500 high airflow front panel features a vertical fin design that extends to the top panel, which makes the case almost resemble a giant heatsink.

CL500 isn’t all about airflow and appearance though, it also includes some handy built-in features such as tool-free side panel removal, both the tempered glass and steel side panels are attached to the case magnetically making them easy to remove for quick tool-free access to the system components. The top panel also removes from the chassis tool-free with a simple push-button release.

Inside the case, Deepcool has included what the company calls practical accessories. A four-way PWM fan hub is located on the back of the motherboard tray towards the top of the case and a built-in GPU support bracket helps to take up the sag we often see in heavy, high-end graphics cards. Both of these features we have seen before in the Deepcool Macube 310P that we reviewed earlier this year.

However, the CL500 is a very different case compared with the Macube 310P, there has certainly been more work done with the new stylish appearance. As well as the high airflow and tool-free panels, the case features a two-tone colour scheme with contrasting black and gunmetal front and top panels but there is no out of the box RGB lighting, just a simple plain black 120mm system fan is pre-installed at the rear of the case.

The Deepcool CL500 is a regular size mid-tower case standing 519mm tall, 473mm deep and 226mm wide, which means it can support liquid cooling hardware such as up to 360mm front-mounted radiators or AIOs, 240mm top radiators and 120mm at the rear. Alternatively, the front panel can house up to three 120mm or two 140mm fans, two 120mm or 140mm fans can also be installed in the roof with a single 120mm fan space at the rear.

Full-size ATX motherboard support is also included, so that means mATX and Mini-ITX boards can be fitted too. Maximum supported GPU length is up to 330mm so an extensive range of graphics cards can be installed inside the CL500. Maximum CPU cooler height is 165mm and power supplies up to 160mm can be installed behind the integrated PSU shroud.

Around the back of the case is the usual seven horizontal PCIe slots, however, there is no official word on vertical GPU mounting support. At the front of the case, the I/O panel includes one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a single 3.5mm TTRS headphone and mic jack as well as the usual power and reset buttons.

Key Features

  • High airflow design
  • Tool-free panel removal
  • Integrated fan hub
  • Built-in VGA support bracket
  • Multiple radiator support

Specifications

Motherboards Mini-ITX / Micro-ATX / ATX
Materials ABS+SPCC+Tempered Glass
Product Dimensions 473 x 226 x 519 mm (L x W X H)
Item Weight 8.4kg
Warranty 1 year
5.25″ Drive Bays 0
3.5″ Drive Bays 2
2.5″ Drive Bays 2
Front I/O Panel USB3.0 x2

USB3.1 Type-C x1

Audio x1

Expansion Slots 7
Cooling Fans Compatibility Front: 120mm x3 / 140mm x2

Top: 120mm x2

Rear: 120mm x1 (Pre-installed)

Power Supply Type ATX PS2 (160mm max length)
CPU Cooler Height Limit 165mm
Radiator Support Front: 360mm, 280mm

Top: 240mm

Rear: 120mm

VGA Length Limit 330mm
Cable Management 23mm

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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be quiet! updates the Pure Base 500 for improved airflow https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/be-quiet-updates-the-pure-base-500-for-airflow/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/be-quiet-updates-the-pure-base-500-for-airflow/#respond Sat, 18 Apr 2020 10:58:31 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=462561 be quiet! announced an update to its Pure Base 500 compact mid-tower chassis series this week, the new Pure Base 500DX PC case focuses on airflow and thermal performance with a redesigned front panel featuring a large mesh vent. A new DX line of be quiet! Pure Base 500 PC cases not only features this …

The post be quiet! updates the Pure Base 500 for improved airflow first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
be quiet! announced an update to its Pure Base 500 compact mid-tower chassis series this week, the new Pure Base 500DX PC case focuses on airflow and thermal performance with a redesigned front panel featuring a large mesh vent.

A new DX line of be quiet! Pure Base 500 PC cases not only features this reworked front panel to maximise airflow for optimal thermal performance, but it also includes new advanced lighting features too. The interior layout of the chassis remains unchanged and still offers support for high-end hardware such as large graphics cards up to 369mm long and CPU coolers up to 190mm tall, with ample storage device options too.

The most noticeable change in the Pure Base 500DX is the addition of a mesh front panel, in fact, the 500DX is the first be quiet! PC case to move away from the usual low noise focus to concentrate on improving thermal performance and airflow. The new mesh front panel is only part of the overhaul, the Pure Base 500DX is also equipped with a high airflow top cover and three Pure Wings 2 140mm system fans to further emphasise cooling performance.

As well as an expected improvement in airflow and thermal performance, the new Pure Base 500DX case also features another first in the history of be quiet!. The company has integrated addressable RGB lighting into the 500DX which enables complex lighting patterns and colours that can be controlled either by a dedicated button on the case or via compatible motherboards.

Be quiet! has equipped the front panel with an RGB lighting strip that includes 14 individually addressable RGB LEDs, along with an additional 10 LED addressable RGB strip fixed to the top of the chassis frame. The RGB control button on the case supports six different colours with four lighting pre-sets and three rainbow lighting modes. The lighting can also be completely disabled and a new USB 3.1 Type-C connector replaces a Type-A port on the front panel too.

The updated Pure Base 500DX case is available to pre-order from Overclockers UK now in black and white colour schemes, priced at £89.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: the Pure Base 500 is a quality compact mid-tower case and now offers further options for those who want the be quiet! build class with high airflow and RGB lighting. What do you guys think of be quiet! adding RGB lighting to a product for the first time?

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MSI MAG Forge 100R Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/msi-mag-forge-100r-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/msi-mag-forge-100r-case-review/#respond Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:06:35 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=461155 MSI forges ahead with airflow in the 100R compact mid-tower case

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MAG Forge 100 is a trio of new compact mid-tower PC cases from MSI. Core chassis structure, internal layout and external appearance of all three cases from the series are identical. The only variation between the three cases is the layout and specification of the included system fans. However, all the MAG Forge 100 cases feature RGB lighting in some form.

Making up the MAG Forge 100 case series is the 100M, 101M and the 100R. The case we will be reviewing today is the 100R variant featuring two addressable RGB fans in the front panel with a single regular system fan pre-installed in the rear as an exhaust. The 100M has two regular RGB fans pre-installed in the front panel and a system fan in the rear, while the 101M is equipped with three regular RGB front-mounted fans and one RGB fan located at the rear.

MSI has optimised the MAG Forge 100 series for high airflow and chilly system temperature. As a compact mid-tower chassis, the MAG Forge 100R offers an impressive array of fan and radiator mounting options inside. The front panel can accommodate either up to three 120mm/two 140mm fans or up to a 240mm radiator, the same size radiator can also be installed in the top panel, while a single 120mm fan can be installed at the rear.

Another popular feature of modern high airflow PC cases is a mesh front panel, the MAG Forge 100R has mesh spanning the entire length of the front panel and is one of the most open looking layouts I have seen for a while. With this open front layout and three pre-installed 120mm fans, there should be no reason to worry about system temperature when using the forge 100R, even with some pretty high-end hardware installed inside.

Inside the MSI MAG Forge 100R is spacious enough to install a CPU cooler up to 160mm tall and graphics cards up to 330mm long. There are provisions for installing up to a total of five 2.5-inch SSDs inside the case or two 3.5-inch HDDs beneath the integrated power supply shroud. Motherboard support caters for up to standard ATX form factor and maximum installable power supply length is up to 200mm with the 3.5-inch HDD caddy removed or 160mm with the caddy in place.

Around 80% of the left-hand side of the case is taken up by a mildly tinted tempered glass panel, so you can see all those lovely hardware components inside. While the bottom 20% is made up of the integrated metal PSU shroud with a MAG graphic decal to add a little MSI style to the side panel.

This is quite a compact mid-tower chassis which measures just 420mm from front to back at its longest point, 500mm tall and 210mm wide, which sounds quite impressive considering the vast hardware configurations it can support. This compact design means the MAG Forge 100R should fit on your desk and leave plenty of room for other peripherals if you so choose.

With all these features combined, you could be forgiven for thinking that the MSI MAG Forge 100R will come with a premium price tag. However, the series is very cost-effective. Currently, the MSI MAG Forge 100R is available to purchase for around £60 here in the UK. But is it any good? Let's find out.

Key Features

  • Addressable RGB lighting hub
  • Tempered glass side panel
  • Power supply shroud
  • High airflow front panel
  • Three pre-installed 120mm case fans

Specification

Case Form Factor
Mid-Tower
Support MB Form Factor
ATX / Micro-ATX / Mini-ITX
I/O Ports 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
1 x HD Audio / 1 x Mic
Drive Bays
2 x 3.5” (compatible with 2.5”) + 3 x 2.5”
Case Expansion Slots 7
Maximum GPU Length
330 mm / 13 inch
Maximum CPU Cooler Length 160 mm / 6.3 inch
Lighting
Addressable RGB
Power Supply
Standard ATX 160 mm, max to 200 mm (without 3.5” HDD case installed)
Cooling Layout Front: Up to 3 x 120 mm / 2 x 140 mm
Top: Up to 2 x 120 mm / 2 x 140 mm
Rear: Up to 1 x 120 mm
Pre-install Fan Front: 2 x 120 mm addressable RGB LED Fan included
Rear: 1 x 120mm System Fan included
Radiator Layout Front: Up to 240 mm
Top: Up to 240 mm
Rear: Up to 120mm
Dimension 421(D) x 210(W) x 499(H) mm
17.05(D) x 8.27(W) x 19.65(H) inch

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