Joshua J.
Joined on 10/16/09
- 9
Huge! But really nice case.

Pros: This case is big and VERY sturdy. It comes with all the cooling power you need for most setups and some built in options if you want to add a liquid cooling unit. I got this case with my first full build just so I'd have space to add or upgrade whatever I want in the next few years, but honestly I could see this thing lasting a decade. This case really does have extremely good airflow, it fully lives up to it's name. I positioned mine with the front and side (intake) fans facing towards a window which I leave cracked and when I put my hand over the top fan the exhaust air is always cool. The case is easy to open and clean, there are no places for dust to collect in any significant amount so I have not had to clean very often.
Cons: I don't know if this is a common issue for this case or if it is only a problem with my motherboard, but my Intel BOXDZ77RE75K did not align well with the cutout for the CPU cooler mount (Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus). I had to expand the cutout on the case myself, which is not all that easy with the tough material this case is made from. It was not a huge problem, but it delayed my build a couple of hours since I had to go get a cutting tool. If you have a Dremel already, you're good to go.
Overall Review: There is an updated version of this case for $30 more right now, but from the looks of it it sports just one more 200 mm exhaust fan on the top, personally I don't see the need for any more cooling than this case provides.
Decent Bargain Case

Pros: -Cheap -Mostly Metallic
Cons: -Somewhat flimsy -Little room for cables -Fan mounting challenges (works with a bit of customization) -2 fan vid card MAX, do not attempt a large vid card as it will create 2 separate air chambers in your case
Overall Review: I would recommend this if you are going for a bargain mini ITX build. If you do, however, spend some decent cash on your components then you should opt for a nicer case. Major issues with this one are a slightly flimsy build quality, lack of space for adequate cooling and lack of space for cable management on the backside of the MOBO. You can make it work but you will have a challenging time cramming in power and data cables if your PSU comes with round, braided cable sleeving. Bargain functional yes, quality... meh.
FAST LOADS

Pros: -Just fast. Fast boots, fast game loads, crispy everything. -Super easy to install, no cable management needed.
Cons: -Right now, nothing. I imagine these will only get faster in future generations so maybe this model will be sub-par in a year or two... but probably not worth replacing still.
Overall Review: If you are on a wired HDD or SSD and you are thinking about getting a new C drive, this will absolutely please you. Just make sure this will be supported on your MoBo.
Quiet and effective CPU cooler

Pros: -Fairly easy to install, with some careful handling and common sense. -Strong build quality. -Tried & True results. -Copper tubing looks (and tends to stay) very cool. (I don't have any specific temps and stats, but if you are not planning on doing any extreme overclocking and if your ambient temps are not crazy high then this cooler is all you need)
Cons: -Needs to be cleaned/dusted occasionally. -Metal bracket on backside of MoBo can be a bit tricky to install the first time (just line-up the holes though... not difficult).
Overall Review: I recommend this and will very likely purchase more of these in the future, although I have not personally tried any Noctua products... they seem very highly recommended.
Ideal Case

Pros: -Looks very clean, glass side-panel needs a periodic wipe-down though. -Very good build quality. -Appropriately sized to build any modern PC with a standard ATX board with expansion space (see cons for more sizing comments). -Clear side panel is nice even if you are not going full RGB throughout. -Cooling by design is adequate to good. (Coolermaster standard) -Large enough cavity behind MOBO to run cables without issue.
Cons: -Larger than necessary if you do not install disk drives and HDD's (which, why would you really in 2019?) -No other cons, just could be about 4-5 inches smaller from front-to-back for modern builds.
Overall Review: Highly recommend this case for any standard ATX build. It isn't crazy huge, but still has plenty of space for any reasonable machine you'd want to build. Build quality and aesthetics are fairly utilitarian but still very nice.
Compact and loaded, but limited.

Pros: -Small profile -Built-in WiFi -Pretty good build quality -Good return policy (NewEgg) -2nd unit has worked fine so far.
Cons: -1st unit I tried was defective (not entirely broken but definitely problematic with properly installed components) -Limited case fan connectors. If cooling is a priority for you you will need some 3-4 pin expansion adapters via molex or whatever. -That's it really, any other cons are just a matter of the mini ITX mobo & case combos in general. You will need to plan your build a little more carefully.
Overall Review: A very well-built mobo for a compact and high-powered PC. All the normal concerns of motherboards apply to this product with the added challenge of careful installation in a mini itx case where you may need to be more careful about installing fans, SSD, PSU, and any other accessories prior to mounting the motherboard.
