Four Sub-$100 Cases For Your 2013 Gaming Build, Reviewed
Last week we previewed the first four mainstream gaming cases in our 11-way sub-$100 round-up. Now we get to build four systems and test them. What other features will we uncover along the way, and how will they affect thermal and acoustic performance?
Cougar Evolution BO
The Evolution BO by Cougar uses moderately-thin steel sheet to save cost and weight, focusing primarily on features. It’s still sturdy enough to qualify as medium-duty, especially with rolled-edge holes and internal channels designed to both stiffen and enhance cable routing.
Using the same metal structure as SilverStone’s PS06, the Evolution BO gives up some of the clearance above the motherboard that its competitor includes by adding a dual-fan clip-in bracket. Removing that bracket makes the space available again, and mounting fans directly is still an option if you need it. Even at 1.2” without the bracket, there’s not enough room here to stack a radiator with those optional fans.
Note the single installed standoff in the photo above, which has a locator pin rather than a screw hole. Roughly half of the remaining standoff locations are pressed into the motherboard tray, with a few screw-in standoff holes left to allow switching between microATX and full ATX motherboards.
The Evolution BO supports both 3.5” and 2.5” drives, with the larger drives pin-mounted on silicon vibration dampeners. Rather than starting the build here, I decided to use the case’s top-panel external mount.
The Evolution BO’s dual-control fan system is supposed to accommodate up to six fans, but we see only two headers in its attached cable kit. That’s because the firm decided to use splitters, rather than hard-wire the sextet of connectors.
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g-unit1111 Nice choice of cases that aren't from the usual contenders. I'm a fan of Silverstone - I think I might use the PS06 in my next build, but the polished metal look of the Lian Li is awesome, I wish more case manufacturers would use that look.Reply -
mjmjpfaff Nanoxia, in my opinion has produced a winner. It is pretty significant what they have been able to do with such a short time in the American market. My vote goes out for Nanoxia DS2. The size of it is a plus, as well as its looks. And of course it is aesthetically very pleasing, especially for its price.Reply -
ASHISH65 Good review,i think there should have been more cases and contenders,but personally liked SilverStone’s case due to looks.Reply -
slomo4sho I would like to see the temp ratings with a GPU that isn't using a blower style cooler since these seem to be the minority these days.Reply
Also, I would like to see more cases at this price point. The Cooler Master HAF XB is one I would like to see included personally. -
vmem I think Nanoxia is the winner in this contest imhoReply
HOWEVER, I'd be curious to see how it's GPU temperature problem can be alleviated by adding a few fans, and how that affects it's noise reduction. if the overall picture is still good, then it is the clear winner -
dudewitbow I think Nanoxia. albeit temperatures are one thing, silence is another. there is a trens for people to pick up better fans, and the trend of people using low end AIO WC units with Dwoods brackets to cool gpus.Reply -
rolli59 I say it again any case that has a door for drive bays or a flap for ports, does not work for me. Making the Silverstone and Cougar cases my choice out of the lot but I would prefer both all black.Reply -
dalmvern g-unit1111Nice choice of cases that aren't from the usual contenders. I'm a fan of Silverstone - I think I might use the PS06 in my next build, but the polished metal look of the Lian Li is awesome, I wish more case manufacturers would use that look.Reply
I was thinking the same thing g-unit. Im 90% sure im going to use the PS06 for my Haswell build in a few months. -
major-error vmemI think Nanoxia is the winner in this contest imhoReply
HOWEVER, I'd be curious to see how it's GPU temperature problem can be alleviated by adding a few fans, and how that affects it's noise reduction. if the overall picture is still good, then it is the clear winnerI have the exact same opinion.
If I had the case, I don't think I'd put a fan on the side panel. I'd be more inclined to install some stand-offs and install a larger baffle, allowing passive airflow but still keeping things quiet.
Of course, if I needed more fans, I'd fill all the other slots with Noctua NF fans...
http://www.quietpc.com/na-ds2
Bottom line: I think this would be an excellent choice to replace my 14-year-old In-Win Q500 case. -
BVKnight Why does the Nanoxia look (inside) like a chopped-in-half version of the Rosewill Thor V2? Design characteristics, materials,and layout are almost exactly the same. Seems like both companies may have sourced from a Chinese general supplier in making these cases.Reply