Home/Component/Cases/Streacom introduces the DB1 Mini-ITX chassis and Nano90 PSU
João Silva 5 hours ago Cases, Featured Tech News
Streacom has designed a new Mini-ITX fanless case in a small form factor of just 5L. The DB1 is Streacom’s “most compact fanless case”, giving up to “45W of cooling”, making it the perfect case for power-efficient systems based on the likes of the latest Ryzen APUs and Intel CPUs with integrated graphics.
Measuring in at 222 x 222 x 101mm, the DB1 is made using 4 mm thick aluminium panels, solid aluminium pillars, and a 21mm “thick extruded heatsink”. All the construction components are made using CNC milling and feature an anodized/sandblasted finishing. The 4x aluminium pillars connect the heatsink and the side panel while also holding together the rear, front, upper, and lower panels.
The CPU cooling is made by the case itself by using the same copper CPU shim, adjustable CPU mount and heatsink mount as Streacom’s DB4. The heat generated by the CPU is transferred to the heatsink (side panel) through 6mm copper heat pipes, which is then dissipated to the rest of the case and its surroundings.
The CPU mount is compatible with “all current desktop sockets”, but there’s also an optional CPU mount to further increase the compatibility to other less known sockets. The included front I/O module only has a single port USB-A port, but users can replace it with another module featuring a USB-C or or faster USB standards.
To power such a small case, Streacom also developed the 90W Nano90 PSU. The small Nano90 PSU is plugged directly into the 24-pin power connector of a motherboard, reducing the overall space needed to place a PSU thanks to its compact size.
The Streacom DB1 chassis and Nano90 PSU will be available in Q1 2021, priced at €109/$129 and €68/$79, respectively. You can learn more about the Streacom DB1 HERE.
KitGuru says: Would you like to build a PC using the Streacom DB1 chassis? What components would you use in it?
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SilverStone plans to launch the small SUGO box 15, compatible with Mini-ITX and Mini-DTX motherboards but with full-size ATX fonts.
Contrary to models such as the Mini pyramid tower 806 by Azza, where aesthetics are prioritized instead of usable space, the SilverStone SUGO 15 arrives with a typical rectangular shape but with more interior space. This new model comes to replace the SUGO 14, launched at the end of this summer. In it we have some dimensions of 247 x 211 x 366 mm , a size practically identical to the previous one. However, in SUGO 15 has bypassed bay 5. 25 “which included in favor of having more space for the rest of the components.
In this way we have space for motherboards up to Mini-ITX, CPU heatsinks up to 182 mm, graphs of 330 mm and power supplies of 150 mm , which is covered by the ATX standard of 140 mm long. The outer body is now made of steel and aluminum, and the dust filters have been changed by others more versatile that also allow a greater flow of air through them.
For storage, the SilverStone SUGO 15 offers 2 bays of 3.5 “and another 3 of 2.5”. Ventilation is carried out by means of a fan of 12 cm rear (included) and two other sides of 12 cm, although all of them can be replaced by models of 14 cm . Despite its small size, double radiators can also be installed in the upper part (up to 280 mm ) and single 120 mm at the rear.
Unfortunately we have no price or availability of the same, but can be purchased in white or black.
End of Article. Tell us something in the Comments or come to our Forum!
Pablo López
With 15 years I started doing I overclocked my PC to get every extra FPS I could in gaming and scratch a few milliseconds in SuperPi, all the while relentlessly posting about hardware on the Geeknetic forum as a user and reader. They were probably so fed up with continually reading me on the forum that I became part of the writing team, where I continue to report on the latest in technology. Astrophysics and PC games are the hobbies that, after hardware, cover most of my free time.
Page 1: Chieftec Hunter (GS – B-OP) in the test: Gaming case blows for hunting
The Chieftec Hunter blows for the hunt – on other inexpensive midi towers with A-RGB lighting. At a low price, it offers four A-RGB fans, a partial mesh front and a glass side panel – and should of course be suitable for gaming systems. But does Chieftec really deserve a price-performance recommendation?
With the Hunter, the name already makes it clear that it is should be a gaming case. And the equipment list also fits what you would expect from such a model. Four “Rainbow RGB Ring” fans are responsible for cooling – and to a large extent also for the optics. A mesh insert in the front should make the work of the three front fans easier. Just like the glass side panel, it also reveals the A-RGB fans. An RGB controller is already pre-assembled. This controller also serves as a practical distributor for the fans.
Chieftec has designed the midi tower so that it can accommodate a maximum of one ATX system. With dimensions of 210 x 464 x 408 mm (W x H x D) and a weight of just 5 kg, the Hunter is relatively compact and light for a midi tower.
In terms of price, the Hunter segment is aimed at the entry-level segment. The cheap gaming model is already available in stores for around 60 Euro.
The Chieftec Hunter comes with a bag with mounting screws, a replacement rubber ring for mounting the glass side part, black coated wires as a replacement for cable ties, instructions for the A-RGB controller / Fan hub and an A-RGB connection cable.
Before we begin with the actual test, here are the key data of the housing in tabular form:
Key data:
Designation:
Chieftec Hunter (GS – 01 B-OP)
Material :
Steel (0.5 mm SPCC), tempered glass, plastic
Dimensions:
210 x 464 x 408 mm (W x H x D)
Form factor:
ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Drives:
2x 3.5 inches (internal, one of which is optional for 2.5 inches), 2x 2.5 inches (internal)
Fan:
3x 120 / 2x 140 mm ( Front, 3x 120 mm pre-installed), 1x 120 mm (rear wall, pre-installed), 2x 120 / 140 mm (cover, optional)
Radiators (maximum according to the manufacturer):
Front: 240 / 280 mm
CPU cooler height (maximum according to manufacturer):
17 cm
Graphics card length (maximum according to manufacturer):
32 cm
Weight:
about 5 kg
Price:
round 60 Euro
<> Chieftec Hunter (GS – 01 B-OP) in the test: Gaming case blows for hunting External appearance (1)
In cooperation with Aerocool, we are looking for three Hardwareluxx readers and community members who can put a brand new case from the manufacturer to the test at home and after a comprehensive test report want to keep for our forum as a small thank you for the efforts in the end. We are starting the application phase immediately.
Three copies of the Aerocool Atomic are made available, which was only released in August. The Micro-ATX case combines a mesh approach on the front with a huge 200 – mm fan with chic RGB lighting, with a second 120 – mm model was attached to the rear wall in order to provide an optimal airflow for cooling. Many other fans can be installed as an option. Both of the fans pre-installed at the factory are fans with A-RGB LEDs, the lighting of which can be controlled via a button in the lid or with a suitable mainboard. For water cooling there are free radiator spaces for a 120 -, 240 – or 280 -mm model in the front, a 240 – mm radiator under the lid and for a 120 mm large heat exchanger at the rear.
The interior of the Aerocool Atomic accepts either a Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX mainboard, and offers space for up to 18, 4 cm high processor cooler and up to 34, 7 cm long graphics cards. The floor chamber accommodates an ATX power supply and an HDD cage. The latter offers a 3.5-inch drive space and a combined 2.5- or 3.5-inch drive space. In addition, three further 2.5-inch drives can be accommodated on the mainboard tray.
The v2 version of the Aerocool Atomic also offers a graphics card support, with which a dual-slot graphics card can be mounted vertically using an optional riser cable. Other, user-friendly features such as cable management, a glass side panel with hinges and removable dust filters in the base and lid are also offered.
The Atomic is made of tempered glass, ABS plastic and steel with a material thickness of 0.5 mm and measures 230 x 390 x 403, 5 mm (W x H x D). The tower weighs around 5.9 kg.
2x 120 / 140 or 1x 200 mm (front, 1x 200 mm pre-installed), 1x 120 / 140 mm (back panel, 1x 120 mm pre-installed), 2x 56 / 140 mm (cover, optional)
Radiators (maximum according to the manufacturer):
Front: 120 / 240 / 280 mm, cover: 230 mm, back wall: 120 mm
Cooler height (maximum according to manufacturer):
18, 4 cm
graphics card length ( maximum according to the manufacturer):
34, 7 cm
Weight:
about 5.9 kg
Price:
round 56 Euro
In the price comparison, the Aerocool Atomic is currently available at a price from around 56 Euro offered. Three of our readers are now allowed to put the Midi-Tower to the test in detail with their hardware at home and write a comprehensive test report about it for the Hardwareluxx community. As a thank you for your efforts, you can of course keep the case.
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The application phase begins
As with every reader test, we start the application phase in advance. In the next two weeks, you can be busy knocking on the keys and writing an application – until December 6th is time. This should include all test criteria and the test system. Of course, a short description of the applicant should not be missing: What do you do for a living, what are your hobbies and how old are you? The question of why you want to take part in the reader test with Aerocool should also be answered briefly and crisply.
The Hardwareluxx editorial team then selects the lucky participants from all submissions. After receiving the samples, the testers have four weeks to post their reviews in the forum. The applications are simply posted in the comment thread of this news.
Apply now for our reader test with Aerocool!
Provisional process:
Application phase until December 6th 2020
Selection of applicants + shipping: from December 7th 2020
Test period until 10. January 2021
Fine print:
Employees of Hardwareluxx Media GmbH, Aercool and their relatives are excluded from participation
The participants are selected by the editors at Hardwareluxx
An account in the Hardwareluxx forum is absolutely necessary for participation
The participants will be notified by PN
All test samples remain with the testers after the test reports have been published
If the test reports are not posted online on time, the manufacturers reserve the right to invoice the full amount
Lian Lis O 11 Dynamic can convince as a show case as well as a water cooling case. The case is so successful that Lian Li has added a larger XL version. For the CES, the O 11 Dynamic Mini was also a more compact Version announced. This mini show case can now be pre-ordered from Caseking.
Compared to the regular 0 011 Dynamic shrinks the 0 11 Dynamic Mini of 272 x 446 x 445 mm (W x H x D) on 269, 5 x 380 x 420 mm (W x H x D), so mainly loses height. Lian Li’s mini show case should still be flexible in use. Thanks to the modular rear panel, three basic usage variants are possible: with seven expansion card slots and an ATX mainboard, with five slots and a micro-ATX mainboard and with three slots and a mini-ITX mainboard. The smaller the mainboard, the more space there is for radiators. There are three radiator positions available. Under the lid and on the bottom there is a maximum of one 360 – or 280 – mm radiator space. And on the side can be a 240 – or 280 – accommodate mm model. The pump bracket can be used in different ways depending on your needs. Up to nine case fans can be installed for air-cooled systems.
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The modular structure of the rear wall also enables the use of a optional bezel for vertical graphics card mounting. The interior of the O 11 Dynamic Mini is again divided into two chambers. The mainboard chamber is generous enough for cm high CPU cooler and up to 39, 5 cm long graphics cards. The chamber on the right shrinks so much that an ATX power supply can no longer be used. The 0 11 Dynamic Mini supports space-saving SFX and SFX -L power supplies. Two vertically aligned combination drive cages can be used for two 2.5 or 3.5 inch drives. There is also a drive carrier for two 2.5-inch drives. A total of four drives can be installed at the same time.
Lian Li manufactures the basic structure of the O 11 Dynamic Mini made of steel. From the outside, however, it is mainly glass and aluminum that are visible. The front strip on the right is made of brushed aluminum. Lid and right side part are made of powder-coated aluminum. Lian Li gives buyers the choice between a black and a white color variant. The I / O panel sits in the lid and provides two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.1 Type-C, and an audio jack.
Although the flexible mini-showcase is clearly aimed at enthusiasts, it should be offered relatively cheaply. At Caseking, both color variants can currently be used for 89, 99 euros can be pre-ordered (the regular price should be at 99,90 Euro lie). The delivery will probably no longer start punctually before Christmas, but rather directly on Christmas Eve (24. 12.).
Big Chungus is one of the most interestingly named PC cases we have seen in a long time. In a market where a series of letters and numbers often make PC cases sound more like a robot from a sci-fi movie rather than somewhere to house your expensive hardware, having an actual name is refreshing. ‘Big Chungus’ was originally a viral meme in case you were wondering, but does this huge show case live up to its name and can it rival some of the other similarly priced open-air display chassis the market has to offer? We find out today.
Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
The case we are looking at today is the Kolink Big Chungus Unit Edition, on the box it is labelled as “V2” since it is an updated version of the original Big Chungus that released earlier this year. Kolink claims that the V2 Unit Edition improves on the original as it includes five 120mm dual Ring ARGB PWM fans (single ring fans in the original), as well as a black, anodised aluminium stand that comes pre-installed to the base of the cassis, the original had a red anodised aluminium stand that the user self-assembled. Other than that, the two look almost identical.
When Big Chungus arrives, you instantly notice the sheer size of the case, the box is almost a two-man job to carry, it is huge. Once out of the box and stood on the desk, the Big Chungus lives up to its name as it stands 668mm tall and 336mm wide. For the system build, I immediately thought about cramming in a load of custom water cooling to show off what this case is capable of since it is marketed as a showpiece chassis after all.
Kolink Big Chungus Unit Edition Features:
Large and unorthodox ATX form factor with a unique appearance designed for displaying and showcasing extravagant and extreme PC builds.
Open chassis layout with four sides of the case covered with tempered glass panels allowing airflow and an unrestricted view of internal components.
Unit Edition is an updated version of the original Big Chungus and includes five 120mm dual ring ARGB fans pre-installed along with two RGB lighting strips at the base and an RGB fan controller with remote control.
Steel chassis frame with a black anodised aluminium base that comes pre-installed, unlike the original red aluminium base that had to be assembled by the user.
Potentially supports front-mounted radiators up to 480mm long (360mm officially), top radiators up to 240mm, floor mounted radiators up to 360mm and/or a total of up to ten 120mm fans (4 x front, 2 x top, 1 x rear and 3 x floor), no support for 140mm fans.
Motherboard support includes ATX/E-ATX or Micro-ATX, maximum CPU cooler height is 175mm, maximum graphics card length is 335mm, as well as power supplies up to 220mm long.
Front panel connectivity consists of 1x USB 3.1 Type C, 1x USB 3.1 type-A, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 3,5mm Audio In/Out and a power button.
Fans possible in total: 4x 120 mm (front side), 2x 120 mm (cover), 1x 120 mm (back side), 3x 120 mm (floor)
Pre-installed: 4x 120 mm (front, PWM, digitally addressable RGB-LEDs), 1x 120 mm (back panel, PWM, digitally addressable RGB-LEDs)
Fan/ARGB controller/Hub: Outputs 10x 6-pin (ARGB/PWM), 2x 3-pin ARGB (5VDG), Inputs: 1x 3-Pin ARGB (connection with motherboard), 1x PWM 1x SATA power (for power supply)
Radiator mountings: 1x max. 360 mm (front side), 1x max. 240 mm (cover), 1x max. 120 mm (back side), 1x max. 360 mm (bottom)
Power supply: 1x standard ATX
Expansion slots: 7
Drive Bays: 2 x 2.5″/3.5″ + 2 x 2.5″
I/O Panel: 1x USB 3.1 Type C, 1x USB 3.1, 1x USB 2.0, 1x Audio In/Out
Maximum graphics card length: 335 mm
Maximum CPU cooler height: 175 mm
Maximum length ATX power supply: 220 mm
However, when you start to look at the case in more detail it seems as though there are some shortcomings with the design. Because of its angular design, the case is tall at its highest point but the problem is the depth of the case from front to rear and the useable space it provides. The case isn’t deep enough to allow the installation of a regular pump/res combo upfront so building custom water cooling inside the Big Chungus may not be as easy as we would expect.
Building a system inside the case also throws up some unexpected issues and limitations and makes the installation process frustrating and less enjoyable. There are several fundamental issues with the case such as pre-installed motherboard standoffs that are not removable and a micro-ATX pre-installed standoff that could potentially cause a short with ATX/E-ATX motherboard installations and possible component damage.
Other issues during installation included the LED strips at the base interfering with power supply installation, power supply screws not lining up easily and the power supply blocks half of the LED strip once installed. Cable management on the rear of the motherboard tray is virtually non-existent, there are cable pass-through holes but no cable management channels, tie-down points, eyelets or straps to neaten up cable installation which is annoying since you can see all the untidy cables through the glass panel.
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 under load, we run Aida64 stress tests, stressing CPU, FPU, Cache and GPU 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 Silverstone IceGem 240P, 240mm 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.
The following configurations are used to test the effect they have on thermal performance:
Default configuration;
Front panel removed;
Glass side panel removed.
Test system
Chassis: Kolink Big Chungus V2 Unit Edition
CPU: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Motherboard: Gigabyte TRX40 Aorus Master
Memory: 2 x 16GB (32 GB Total) (2 x 8GB Modules + 2 x Dummy modules) Aorus RGB 3600MHz DDR4 memory
Power supply: Seasonic Prime TX-1000 1000W 80+ Titanium
CPU Cooler: Silverstone IceGem 240P TR4/TRX40 AIO cooler
Case Fans: 5 x stock 120mm dual ring ARGB
Thermal compound: Corsair TM30
Operating System: Windows 10 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.
Thermal Performance Overview:
Because the Big Chungus is technically an open-air chassis, thermal performance is relatively unaffected by changing the configuration of the case such as removing side or front panels.
Removing the side panel or front panel of an airflow restrictive case usually has a noticeable positive effect on GPU and CPU temperature, but with the Big Chungus, we only recorded a minimal change in the CPU and GPU temperature when removing panels as expected from an open-air chassis.
We omitted any noise level testing from this review as the open layout of the chassis means that noise levels are not affected by changing the case configuration as they would be in more traditional PC cases.
Closing Thoughts
There is no doubt that Big Chungus V2 Unit Edition is a unique looking chassis, however, it is extremely frustrating to work with. During the build process, I was so discouraged by the issues that kept occurring I almost gave up on the build completely. There are so many small niggling issues with the Big Chungus and the build quality isn’t of a high enough standard to warrant the premium £220 price tag the case has been given.
The most annoying and possibly dangerous flaw with the case is the pre-installed motherboard standoffs. This wouldn’t normally be such an issue if the standoffs could be easily removed, but in the Big Chungus the motherboard standoffs are pressed into the steel tray and include a MATX standoff that could potentially contact a component on the rear of an ATX or E-ATX motherboard, short out a circuit and cause damage to hardware.
Another annoying oversight in the design of the Big Chungus is the complete lack of cable management on the rear of the motherboard tray. There are plenty of cable cut-outs in the right places which is great, however, there are no cable channels, eyelets, straps or points to fasten cables down anywhere which is a big disappointment since the case is equipped with glass side panels so the untidy cable management can be seen. Much cheaper cases with solid side panels have better cable management options than this.
Installing the power supply was also problematic with the Big Chungus Unit Edition, the pre-installed LED strips on the base of the case interfered with installation and once the PSU was in position, the screw holes didn’t line up correctly and the power supply blocked off half of the LED strips so the lighting effect glow was only visible from below the front of the case.
The list of issues continues, front panel motherboard connections are multicoloured and look unsightly, AIO installation at the top of the case is very tight, there isn’t much space at the front of the case for a pump/res combo, LED strip power cables are too short, front panel connectivity is sparse for this price range, glass panels are tricky to re-install due to poor alignment and so on.
One thing that the Big Chungus V2 Unit Edition does have in its favour is the appearance, there is no other case you can buy that looks like the Big Chungus V2 Unit Edition. You also get five pre-installed ARGB fans, two ARGB LED strips and an RGB/Fan hub, although this would be expected from a case that costs in excess of £200.
So if you are a fan of the Big Chungus meme and want a PC case that resembles a fat rabbit then this might be the case for you, just make sure you cut out that dodgy MATX motherboard standoff and try not to get too stressed out while building a system inside as I did, maybe play some calming music to keep relaxed.
The Kolink Big Chungus V2 Unit Edition is available to purchase from Overclockers UK now, priced at £219.95 HERE.
KitGuru says: What could be an interesting and unique chassis for showing off exotic builds is seriously let down by build quality and frustrating issues that spoil the build process.
Seasonic, the power supply company, has delivered its first PC case and it is an adventurous piece of work. If you check back to our coverage of the Seasonic Connect power supply and cabling system you might be able to guess where this is going. Syncro Q704 is an E-ATX case that has been designed to work with Connect and the model we have on review is supplied with the Syncro DGC-750 power supply. To say that Q704 is unusual does not do it justice as it has an inverted motherboard tray, four 120mm Nidec fans and a cable system that is unique.
Watch the video via our VIMEO Channel (Below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Main features
Seasonic Syncro Q7 features an aluminium body with a tempered glass panel on one side and the Seasonic Connect on the other.
The Connect module functions as a cable management hub, to which the components are directly connected with generally shorter cables.
Inverted motherboard design.
The Seasonic Syncro Q704 model ships with four 120mm Nidec fans.
Syncro Q7 supports up to eight 120 mm cooling fans, as well as various liquid cooling solutions.
Front I/O panel includes USB Type-C
Large removable air filters in the top, front and bottom.
As you will see in our video, Syncro Q704 is dramatically different to a regular PC case. The motherboard tray is inverted and once the power supply and cables are installed you have the basics of a PC that looks different to anything you are likely to have seen before. In particular, the way the cables run from the Connect unit to the motherboard and graphics card is very interesting. We were somewhat disappointed to see the cables that are included with Syncro are the regular black liquorice where we felt this case deserves something truly special. If ever a case was crying out for sleeved cables from the likes of CableMod then Seasonic Syncro is that case.
Testing
To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, Gigabyte RTX 2080 Super and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Seasonic Syncro Q704‘s cooling capabilities.
CPU Cooler: Fractal Design Celsius S36 (2,000rpm fans)
Motherboard: ASRock B550 Extreme4
Memory: 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3600MHz
Graphics card: Gigabyte RTX 2080 Super Gaming OC 8GB
Power supply: Seasonic Syncro DGC-750 Gold
SSD: 240GB Toshiba RC100 M.2 NVMe
OS: Windows 10
Cooling Performance
Cooling Performance Overview
During our testing it was clear that Syncro Q704 does a decent job of cooling, but frankly we expected nothing less with four case fans running at 2,150rpm and three 120mm fans on the Celsius S360 cooler. While we are confident the front panel of the case allows cooling air to enter the chamber, and we could see the large filters in each panel have plenty of surface area and offer little obstruction, even so it felt like something odd was going on.
When we slowed the fans from 100 percent to 50 percent we saw the CPU temperature fell by one degree in Time Spy and rose by one degree in Blender. Let’s split the difference and say that temperatures remained constant despite a huge change in fan speed, which means we have a bit of a puzzle on our hands. It is our best guess at least some of the air coming in the front of the case is immediately exiting through the roof.
Closing Thoughts
Seasonic Syncro Q704 is an interesting PC case but the main reason for its existence is to support the Connect power supply and cable module.
This avoids the need to have a bundle of cables running up the back of the motherboard tray but the main benefit is to tidy up the cables that connect to your motherboard and graphics card. By running short cables from the Connect module to your motherboard, Seasonic has made a feature of the cables and we can see this has the potential to look both interesting and appealing. The problem is that the cables supplied with Syncro Q704 are shorter versions of the cables you get with any high end Seasonic power supply and that is something of a disappointment.
The thing is, the Q704 case is a decent piece of work and when you consider it is Seasonic’s first step into the case market we find it is very impressive. The aesthetics, construction, filters, I/O panel and drive bays all pass muster and leave little room for complaint.
Instead we find ourselves taking a step back and looking at the fundamentals of the design. This case supports Connect, which means the cables connections are arranged in a certain area of the case, and that means the best way to shorten the cable paths is to invert the motherboard. That inevitably means you end up with a graphics card that has the cooling fans positioned next to the cooling in the roof of the case, and whether or not that works correctly it looks very unusual and slightly odd.
Having worked with Syncro Q704 we are quite sure the best way to approach this case is with custom loop cooling on both CPU and GPU, and we also think it would be a good idea to add a decent amount of RGB.
You will be able to buy the Seasonic Syncro Q704 with Syncro DGC-750 for £349.90 in December.
Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.
Pros:
Full dust filtering on all intakes.
Neat design and tidy construction.
Four impressive Nidec fans are included with Syncro Q704.
Seasonic has shown there is room for innovation with a case and power supply combo.
Cons:
You pay a steep price for Q704 and Connect.
The cables supplied by Seasonic are the usual black liquorice.
Gaining access to your HDDs is a fiddly job.
KitGuru says: Seasonic Syncro Q704 is rather expensive but we are happy to see that Seasonic is making waves and shaking things up.
New members of the Meshify family are easy to identify from their familiar polygon-shaped web front panels, although there are many innovations involved.
Swedish Fractal Design has risen to the ranks of the most popular enclosure manufacturers by following its simple Scandinavian design principles. Now the company has released new versions of its highly popular Meshify series.
Meshify 2 and 2 XL are easily identifiable as members of the Meshify family by their web-based front panels made up of walkable polygons. Efficient air circulation has been one of the product family’s selling points. Meshify 2 has seats for a total of nine 10 or mm or nine 140 mm for the fan
Fractal Design’s new Meshify 2 enclosure overhaul features a much-needed removable nylon dust filter on the front panel, a movable wall to customize the enclosure for different needs, and a fully detachable enclosure roof. The new movable wall at the front of the case can be pulled flush with the motherboard carriage to the right side of the case, or pulled to the left side of the case to accommodate the entire case 14 3.5-inch hard drive and four SSDs. The removable roof, in turn, makes building the assembly even easier.
The basic version of the case will be available in black, gray and white and 2 XL in black. For Black Meshify 2, you can choose a solid side or a tinted glass side. The tinted glass sides are available in two different degrees of tinting. Only the lighter tinted glass side is available for the gray version and the clear glass side for the white version. Meshify 2 XL will only be available with a more or less tinted glass side.
Technical features of Fractal Design Meshify 2 and 2 XL cases:
External dimensions and weight:
2: 542 x 240 x 473 mm (W x H x D), 14, 1 (blind side) or 10, 5 kg (glass side)
2: 315 – 491 mm ( depending on the position of the disc frame and the front fans)
2 XL: 359 – 549 mm (depending on the position of the disc frame and the front fans)
Maximum CPU height of the processor: 185 mm
Maximum length of power supply: 250 mm (hard disk slots in use, not indicated without)
Fan slots:
2: Front 3 x 120 / 140 mm, on the ceiling 3 x 99 , at the bottom 2x 120 / 140 and 1 x on the back 140 / mm mm
2 XL: Front 4 x 132 / 3 x mm, on the ceiling 4 x 99 3 x 132, at the bottom 2x 99 / 140 and 1 x on the back 120 140 mm
Fans: Includes a total of 3x 140 mm Dynamic X2 GP – 14 (
rpm, 68, 9 dB (A), 71, 4 CFM, 0, 71 mm H2O)
Radiator compatibility:
2: In front 360 / 280 mm, on the ceiling 360 / 420, at the bottom 240 / 280 and at the back 99 mm
2 XL: In front 480 / 420 mm, on the ceiling 480 / 420, at the bottom 240 and rear 99 mm
Both cases come on sale immediately. The Recommended Price for Meshify 2 is at a dead end 14, 71 euro and on the glass side 142, 99 euros. The Recommended Price for Meshify 2 XL is set 120, 71 euro.
Fractal Design has produced a long, long, LONG list of the changes they made to the Meshify S2 to create the Meshify 2, however we can save you a huge amount of time and trouble. The best way to understand Meshify 2 is to look at the superb Define 7 and then mentally add a Mesh front panel. It sounds simple and we have to say, the result is excellent.
Watch the video via our VIMEO Channel (Below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Main features
Iconic angular mesh design with a bold, stealth-inspired aesthetic
Dual-layout design for more flexible configuration options and vastly increased storage capability
Spacious, adaptable interior accommodates ATX/E-ATX motherboards up to 285 mm in width
Includes 6 HDD/SSD trays, 2 SSD brackets, and one universal Multibracket for mounting up to 9 drives
Expandable to 11 trays and 4 SSD brackets with 3 Multibrackets installed in the top and bottom for a max of up to 18 drives in Storage Layout
Modular chassis design with removable top panel assembly opens up to fully expose the case interior on three sides
New front panel design with hinged removable mesh and tether-free bezel
Nylon front filter can be removed from the mesh to further increase airflow
Nine 120/140 mm fan mounts with three Dynamic X2 GP-14 fans supplied
Support for radiators up to 360 mm in front, 420 mm up top, or 280 mm in the base
Included Multibracket converts any unused fan position to an HDD, SSD, pump or reservoir mount
Ventilated PSU shroud with two-part removable cover and additional SSD/multi-bracket mounts
Bridgeless expansion slots ensure obstruction-free connections and allow for a more centred vertical GPU installation via the new Flex B-20 PCIe riser (sold separately)
Two vertical GPU slots for use with the Flex VRC PCIe riser (available separately)
Three front USB ports including one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
Ultra-slim Nexus+ 2 fan hub with three PWM and six 3-pin connections logically placed in-line with cable channels
Tool-less, top-latching side panels offer quick access. Optional screws (concealed beneath front bezel) secure TG panels for transit and/or deter unwanted removal
Easy-to-clean high airflow nylon filters on the front, top and base with full PSU coverage and convenient front access
Detachable PSU cable shield and integrated cable guides with Velcro straps simplify cable management
We cover the features of this case in a fair amount of detail in our video but one aspect that took us by surprise is that our white sample is actually traditional Fractal Design black and white. The other thing that was unexpected came to light as we dug into Meshify 2.
The floor of the case is riveted in place and it is different to the floor of the Define 7. Add in the fact that the front I/O panel has also changed slightly and the result is that you cannot pull the front panel off the Define 7 and install the panel from the Meshify 2. That might be a minor pain for owners of the Define 7 who fancy a change to Mesh but it is a larger pain for reviewers who imagined they could swap panels around and do some back-to-back comparisons.
Testing
To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, Gigabyte RTX 2080 Super and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Fractal Design Meshify 2‘s cooling capabilities.
Graphics card: Gigabyte RTX 2080 Super Gaming OC 8GB
Power supply: Seasonic Focus PX850W Platinum
SSD: 240GB Toshiba RC100 M.2 NVMe
OS: Windows 10
Cooling Performance
Cooling Performance Overview
Fractal Design Define 7 does a perfectly decent job of cooling, however it is always clear the emphasis is on low noise levels, a clean aesthetic and a reasonable level of air flow. By contrast the Meshify 2 is all about cooling and air flow, and the results speak for themselves. When the case interior is set to the Open mode you have clean, unobstructed paths that will deliver results for gamers with high-end PCs. No doubt it would be a different story with the Meshify 2 in Storage mode but that is only to be expected and does not detract from the point that Meshify 2 is very impressive.
Closing Thoughts
Reviewing a flawed product is relatively easy as the reviewer can point out problems, suggest fixes and generally get excited about the perceived foolishness of the designers and developers who have been involved.
By contrast a product such as the Fractal Design Meshify 2 is terribly dull to work with as it is based on a very good case – the Define 7 – that has been enhanced to deliver improved air flow. As far as the enthusiasts and gamers are concerned this is a one way bet where we gain a benefit and lose almost nothing.
This leads to a situation where your reviewer flogs along, checking features and confirming the claims made by Fractal Design and we end up with a balance sheet that is very lopsided. On the negative side we have an absence of RGB lighting, a mixed colour scheme and a single screw that is awkward to access. We know full well that a large part of the KitGuru audience has little time for RGB so that is more of an observation than a genuine complaint.
On the positive side we have the option to install a huge number of fans and radiators, an absurd number of storage drives and any graphics card we can imagine. In addition, Fractal Design includes a decent number of drive mounts and three 140mm fans so you are unlikely to have to buy any accessories unless you are building an extreme PC. If you do want to buy accessories they are available, but the price you are being charged includes a very fair level of hardware and accessories.
Fractal Design has simply done a very good job with Meshify 2.
We don’t yet have a buy link for the Meshify 2 but the UK MSRP is £128.99 for the tempered glass model (as reviewed).
Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.
Pros:
Superb air flow.
Excellent tool-free design.
Monumental support for SSDs and hard drives.
You can pack in a huge range of fans and radiators.
Fully filtered.
Good value for money.
Cons:
This white case has a black interior.
Changing the case to Storage Mode is slightly fiddly.
Removing the drive cage in the floor of the case may take some work.
KitGuru says: Fractal Design has improved their design by leaps and bounds. Meshify 2 is superb.
Page 1: Sharkoon Elite Shark CA 280 T in the test: Massive gaming bolide in black and white double
With the Elite Shark CA 300 T Sharkoon is expanding its range of gaming cases with a massive bolide. That almost 15 kg heavy model should be robust and versatile – and also shows itself in a special design and with A-RGB Lighting on four fans and the I / O panel.
Sharkoon housings should generally convince primarily through their price-performance ratio. Almost all models cost below 100 Euro. But with the Elite Shark CA 280 T now wants to convince Sharkoon in a higher price range. This model is clearly designed as a gaming case: It shows a gaming design with lush A-RGB lighting, offers plenty of space for high-end components and a flexible cooling system – even with space for a 420 – mm radiator and with a mounting space for a pump
The choice of material is also remarkable. Sharkoon largely dispenses with plastic and manufactures the Elite Shark CA 300 T mainly made of steel and hardened glass. A weight of 14, 7 kg gives hope for respectable material strengths.
Buyers have the choice between a black and a white color variant. We received both variants for the test and can compare them accordingly in our product photos. In terms of price, it makes no difference whether you choose the black or the white Elite Shark CA 300 T decides. Both variants currently cost around 137 Euro.
In the unpacked & touched video we take a first look at the case:
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The Elite Shark CA 320 Instructions, the mounting material and a replacement slot cover are included. Finally, two Velcro strips are hidden in one of the screw bags with which you can fix cables.
Before we start the actual test, here are the key data of the housing in tabular form:
Page 1: ASUS TUF Gaming GT 360 in the test: How tough is the gaming case?
The ASUS TUF series now even includes PC cases – including the TUF Gaming GT 501 . The midi tower should be robust and durable thanks to steel up to 1.5 mm thick, a special coating and particularly resilient carrying handles. And of course, neither gaming optics nor gaming features should be missing.
As the first ASUS case we recently have the ROG Strix Helios tested. The striking flagship model has a number of clear strengths, but also a handsome price of around 260 Euro. But there are significantly cheaper ASUS cases – from the TUF series. The TUF Gaming GT 301 is even below the 100 – Euro mark. But we have the TUF Gaming GT 501 in the test, the currently best equipped TUF model. The TUF series originally started with mainboards and promised particularly robust models.
ASUS also wants this DNA with the TUF Gaming GT 501 pour in. Up to 1.5 mm thick and galvanized steel is advertised, a special coating that is supposed to help against scratches and the two handles made of woven cotton, which are up to 30 should withstand kg. The look of the case is characterized by an industrial style – and of course the TUF Gaming GT 501 be designed to accommodate gaming hardware and to cool it adequately. The case is delivered with four pre-assembled case fans and has numerous air openings in the front.
The TUF Gaming GT 360 costs only about half as much as the ROG Strix Helios: It is currently available in stores for around 135 euros to have. That applies at least to the black variant. The more conspicuous white variant costs around 150 Euro.
In the unpacked & touched video we take a first look at the case:
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ASUS submits the TUF Gaming GT 501 instructions, warranty information, mounting material, cable ties and a cover are included. An opening in the power supply unit cover can be closed with this plastic plate. It is somewhat unusual that the dust filters for the cover and front are not pre-assembled, but are also delivered as accessories, so to speak. The front dust filter is made of textile, but there is a magnetic dust grille for the cover, which is a bit wider meshed.
Before we start the actual test, here are the key data of the housing in tabular form:
Asus ROG Z11 is pretty much the opposite of what you might expect. It supports Mini-ITX but is larger than a number of ATX cases and it can be stood upright or laid down so you are never quite sure which side is front, back, top or bottom. One thing is for certain, which is that your graphics card will be displayed behind the window at the front (or top) so you had better have some tasty hardware for the world to enjoy.
Watch the video via our VIMEO Channel (Below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
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Full product details HERE
Main features
ROG Z11 Mini-ITX/-DTX gaming case features 4 mm tempered glass panels, patented 11° tilt design, optimised thermal performance, ATX PSU support, extensive connectivity, and Aura Sync
Premium aesthetics: 4 mm tempered glass panels with aluminium frame and integrated Aura Sync lighting create a sleek and stylish appearance
Patented 11° tilt design & optimised airflow: Delivers enhanced airflow and cooling around CPU, graphics card, and a back-mounted M.2 SSD
Compatibility with demanding hardware: Supports one ATX PSU, 3-slot graphics card without a riser cable, 240 mm radiator, water-cooling pump and reservoir, and up to five fans
Extensive connectivity: Built-in extension hub and advanced front panel I/O ports with one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and an ARGB control button provide broad connectivity options
Easy cable management and case maintenance: Extra cable routing space from the 11° tilt design, a multifunction cover and cable strips ensure effortless cable management, and removable dust filters provide simple cleaning and maintenance
Dual orientation: Provides the flexibility to choose orientation based on workspace availability, preferences, and component display
Specification:
Motherboard support: Mini ITX/Mini-DTX(up to 6.7”x 8”)
Drive Bays: Up to 4x 2.5-inch SSD or 2x 2.5-inch SSD and 1x 3.5inch HDD
System Fan Support: Pre-installed Fans Top: 2 x 140 mm Bottom: 1 x 140 mm
Expansion Slots: PCIe x 2 (3 expansion slots space)
Fan Support:
Rear: 2x 120 mm
Top: 2x 120mm/140 mm
Bottom: 1x 120mm/140 mm
Clearances:
Maximum GPU Length: 320 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height: 130 mm
Radiator Support: 240mm Rear, 120mm Bottom
Front I/O Ports:
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A
2 x USB 2.0 Type A
1 x Headphone/Microphone Jack
Extension Hub: 6x PWM Fan, 3x ARGB LED Strip, 2x USB 2.0
Power Supply: ATX or SFX PSU, up to 160mm
Dimensions: 194mm (W) x 386mm (D) x 531mm (H)
Weight: 8.73 kg
Getting inside the ROG Z11 requires a certain amount of thought as the rear panel has a hidden thumbscrew and the panels lock together in such a way that you need to remove them in a particular order.
One you have that figured out you will find that building a PC in the ROG Z11 is slightly confusing as the motherboard is rotated 90 degrees with the rear I/O panel pointing upwards towards the two 140mm exhaust fans. We chose to use an SFX power supply to create as much space as possible in the floor of the case and this was tricky as the EPS cable would barely reach the connector.
The problem here is that SFX power supplies come with cables that are intended for use in a small ITX case, yet this particular ITX case is very large. After a bit of a struggle we had the cables connected but were unhappy with the cable routing behind the motherboard tray.
Another quirk of the build is that the graphics card hangs vertically at the front of the case which works perfectly well but looks unusual. Once the hardware was installed we were ready for some thermal testing.
Testing
To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an Intel Core i9-10900KF, Palit RTX 3080 graphics card and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Asus ROG Z11‘s cooling capabilities.
Test System:
Processor: Intel Core i9-10900KF (10 cores/20 threads, 4.9GHz all cores)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z490I Aorus Ultra
Memory: 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3600MHz
Graphics card: Palit RTX 3080 Gaming Pro 10GB
Power supply: Corsair SF600 Gold
SSD: 1TB WD Blue M.2 NVMe
OS: Windows 10 Pro
Custom Loop Cooling
CPU Block: EK Quantum Magnitude
GPU Block: Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Plexi GPX-N
Radiator: EK CoolStream SE 240mm
Fans: 2x EK Vardar EVO RGB 120mm 2,200rpm
Pump/Reservoir: EK XRES 100 DDC MX 3.1 PWM
Fittings: EK 13/10mm Quantum Torque
Tubing: Corsair XT
Coolant: EK CryoFuel Solid Scarlet
Cooling Performance
Cooling Performance Overview
With the fans running at full speed (and rather noisily) we saw temperatures that were quite acceptable but slowing the fans to 50 percent made a significant difference to the results. While we can see the ROG Z11 is configured like a chimney, we have to think the power supply shroud and other pieces of PC hardware obstruct the air flow to such an extent the ROG Z11 works rather poorly.
Closing Thoughts
We spent a fair amount of time working with the ROG Z11 yet it continues to cause us a fair amount of bafflement and confusion. It seems to us that during the development of ROG Z11 the main priorities were the novel form factor and aesthetics, and there is no denying the combination of aluminium, tempered glass and RGB works well.
We quite like the way the graphics card is suspended in the front window as our liquid cooled RTX 3080 looked superb however air cooled graphics cards may well be starved of cooling air. As we know, Asus manufactures some of the largest and thickest graphics cards on the market so it is quite possible that an Asus graphics card would be a poor choice for the ROG Z11.
Another curious point is the way the Asus design team decided to give the customer the option of flipping this tall ITX case into the horizontal laid down orientation. We are all in favour of choice but this orientation has a significant effect on temperatures inside the case and also means that Asus had to include a short adapter cable for the main power cord as well a plate to rotate the Asus ROG logo by 90 degrees.
In a sense these are quibbles about details as we imagine a small part of the KitGuru audience will be wowed by the Asus ROG Z11 while the majority will have little interest in a big and tall Mini-ITX case that presents the owner with a number of problems.
While we are mildly amazed by the price tag of £240 we wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if those potential customers quite like the high price as it will buy them exclusivity and they will be the only person in their circle that owns an Asus ROG Z11.
Well that’s fair enough and we hope they enjoy the aluminium panels, glass and RGB as the Asus ROG Z11 has a certain amount of style but we can think of a great many cases on the market that do a better job at a lower price.
You can buy the Asus ROG Z11 for £239.99 from Overclockers UK HERE.
Pros:
Plenty of space for a full sized graphics card.
PWM fan hub is included.
Smart and unusual styling.
Cons:
Asus ROG Z11 is rather expensive.
This large case is limited to a Mini-ITX motherboard.
You need fast fans for decent cooling and that gets noisy.
SFX power supply cables are very tight.
Cable routing from rear I/O is awkward.
KitGuru says: Asus ROG Z11 is interesting but we can see no clear reason to buy this large and expensive ITX case.
The compact housing with a volume of only 12 Liters Corsair packs full of high-end hardware. We had the top configuration with the 16 – Core CPU AMD Ryzen 9 3950 X, 32 GByte RAM and the Nvidia -Graphics card GeForce RTX 2080 Ti with 11 GByte video memory for Available. The components are on a Mini-ITX mainboard with AMDs X 192 chipset, which serves as the system drive the fast, 960 GByte PCIe 4.0 SSD Corsair MP 600. In short: Not much more is currently possible.
Corsair gives its column computer a pleasing number of connections. In addition to conventional USB 3.0 ports, there are also four with USB 3.2 Gen 2 with 10 GBit / s, one of which is designed as a USB-C socket . Three DisplayPorts are suitable for HDR-capable 4K displays with a high refresh rate. The USB-C socket of the graphics card is not led out, so that you cannot connect a VirtualLink headset.
The One a 100 either wirelessly via Wi-Fi 6 or wired at gigabit speed. The very good sound chip Realtek S 1220 A delivers its 7.1 signal at three analog audio outputs. There are two additional USB 3.0 ports and a headphone jack on the front of the case. The fact that the only HDMI 2.0 socket is also on the front of the housing unfortunately leads to more cable clutter on the desk.
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HiFive Unmatched is equipped with a SiFive Freedom U 740 system circuit based on the RISC-V architecture, which includes four U 74 cores and one S7 core.
In the world of processor architectures, everyone is familiar with x 86, ARM, and even MIPS, but RISC-V has received less attention today. RISC-V is the latest processor architecture based on the Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) principle maintained by the University of California, Berkeley campus
. SiFive is a processor design company founded by the developers of RISC-V. It has brought to market several different RISC-V cores that provide an easy stepping stone to an open processor architecture without having to design your own chip. The company is now expanding its PC-side offering by launching a complete RISC-V development platform in Mini-ITX size.
The development platform, dubbed HiFive, is built on a Mini-ITX size motherboard. The motherboard contains a SiFive Freedom U 740 system circuit (4x U 74 core, 1x S7 core), 8 GB of DDR4 memory soldered to the motherboard, 32 Mt Quad SPI Flash memory and microSD card reader. Expansion slots include one PCI Express x 16 connector (x8 electronically) and M.2 slots for SSD (M-key) and WiFi card (E-key). The motherboard connector range includes a gigabit network connector, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A connectors, and one MicroUSB console connector. Power is supplied to the system board by a conventional 24 – pin ATX power connector.Source: SiFive
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.
Watch the video via our VIMEO Channel (Below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
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
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.
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.
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