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Test equipment, method, and results
CPU |
|
CPU Cooler |
|
System Fans |
Pre-installed (if needed, Cooler Master Masterfan M120) |
Motherboard |
Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Elite Wifi7 Plus |
GPU |
|
PSU |
Our thermal tests are presented to give you more information about the product’s performance, but aren’t intended as the sole basis for judging the chassis. The style, price, features, and noise levels of a case should also be considered, and we all have different preferences. What I might like in a case, you might not, and that’s OK. Our goal with these reviews is to give everyone, regardless of their preferences, enough information to decide whether a case is right for them.
To get heat into the system, we stress the CPU with Cinebench R26 (multi-threaded test) and the video card with Furmark 2 (1080p). CPU and GPU tests run concurrently for 30 minutes, allowing the air-cooled system to reach saturation and stabilize over that period. We then let the system idle for 15 minutes, adjust the fans to 100%, and test again.
Noise-normalized (42dBA) Maximum thermal Performance
This set of tests is designed to appeal to those who love quiet PCs, with both system fans and the CPU fan noise normalized to 42 dBA. Consider this a measure of the case’s thermal efficiency when noise levels are set to run quietly. It is audible, but just (at least for my old ears).
As far as noise-normalized performance goes, the Montech TG3 did well, matching CPU temperatures with the likes of the Cooler Master HAF II 500, and its massive fans at 90 degrees Celsius. Video card temperatures averaged 79 degrees, the highest so far, and tied with one of the Fractals. Adding more exhaust fans (alone or an AIO) to the top of the case should improve airflow and cool the GPU by a couple of degrees. Or, if you’re really concerned about keeping GPU temps low, mount two fans on top of the PSU chamber. We’re not at all worried about what you can put inside and keep cool.
Maximum thermal performance - fans at full speed
Our noise-normalized results are designed for folks who prefer silence, but what if you don’t mind additional noise and just care about maximum performance, or maybe you have to run things at high settings to keep high-powered devices cool? This testing is for you. Obviously, when you add fans or an AIO up top, things will change a bit, but this gives you a great idea of ‘out-of-the-box’ performance, noise be damned.
After setting the fans to 100%, the CPU only dropped four degrees Celsius and was on the higher end of the temperature range. The video card dropped six degrees, but still ran the warmest of our current data sets by a couple of degrees Celsius over the Corsair 3200D, which we covered a couple of months ago.
Maximum Noise Levels
We measure the noise levels with a sound meter from one meter away from the computer case, with the pre-installed fans running at their maximum RPM. If a case does not have enough included fans for airflow (intake and exhaust) as configured, we add a Cooler Master M120 ARGB, since we expect most users will add at least one more fan in situations like these.
When we cranked the included fans to 100%, the TG3 was actually the quietest of our five data sets, at 48 dBA (only 6 dBA above our testing point), beating out even one of the Fractal units that comes with sound-damping panels. Impressive.
Conclusion
When I think about a $60 PC case, the words cheap, flimsy, and ugly come to mind. But lately, there’s been a push for cheaper cases in the market, likely due to the AI apocalypse that’s sent memory, storage, and video card prices to the moon over the past several months. Montech’s TG3 at $59.90 breaks that mold in my head, offering users a well-built and good-looking case that includes four (OK, technically two because one is a full-frame 360mm) ARGB fans, and it doesn't feel cheap, flimsy, nor is it ugly.
The case performed well overall, with good noise-normalized CPU performance, and was one of the quietest with the fans at 100% so far. It had good overall CPU cooling performance, but the GPU ran a couple of degrees warmer than most other chassis so far. The showcase space is cool if you plan to use it, but could otherwise be used to improve GPU cooling and for additional cable management space. I like the PSU chamber’s ARGB strip. It looks cool, and the silver color adds some contrast inside the all-black interior, but some may prefer matching black. I’d also like to see a 20 Gbps-capable Type-C port on the front panel, but I need to remind myself that this is a budget case and 10 Gbps is common at that tier.
Overall, Montech’s TG3 is a very good case for $60. In fact, I liked the overall value so much it found a place on our best cases list, knocking off the more expensive, longstanding Lian Li Lancool 2007 ($82.99) for best budget case. If you’re in the market for a new case and don’t have a huge budget, you get a lot of bang for your buck with the Montech TG3.
