Tom's Hardware Verdict
MSI’s MAG Pano 100R PZ is a well-built wrap-around case that supports back-connect motherboards, vertical GPU installation, and features one more PCIe expansion slot than most cases.
Pros
- +
Great thermal performance with pre-installed fans
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Lots of space for large components
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Supports back-connect motherboards
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Eight PCIe expansion slots supported
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Four slots supported for vertical GPUs (many cases only support three)
Cons
- -
Noise-normalized CPU-only performance could be better
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No GPU riser cable included
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The latest wrap-around case from MSI to land on our test bench is the MAG Pano 100R PZ. As its name implies, it supports Project Zero and other back-connect motherboards. It also supports four-slot vertical GPUs, or eight PCIe slots in a standard configuration. Regular readers of Tom’s Hardware might recognize this case from my review of Arctic’s Liquid Freezer III Pro – I’ve elected to use this case for testing coolers with AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
Will MSI’s MAG Pano 100R PZ make our list of best PC cases? Let’s take a look at the specifications of the case, then we’ll go over the features and wrap up our review with thermal testing.
Product Specifications
Standard Motherboard Support | ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX |
Back Connect Motherboard Support | ATX and Micro-ATX |
Color | Black or white |
Type | Mid-tower |
Case Dimensions (D x W x H) | 518.7 x 290 x 482 mm / 20.4 x 11.42 x 19 inches |
2.5-inch Drive Support | Up to 5x 2.5-inch drives supported |
3.5-inch Drive Support | Up to 2x 3.5-inch drives supported |
PCI-E Expansion Slots | Eight in standard configuration Four in vertical configuration |
Fan Support | Up to ten fans |
Pre-Installed fans | 3x ARGB reverse-blade intake fans 1x ARGB exhaust fan |
CPU Cooler Clearance | 166mm |
GPU Clearance | 400mm |
Vertical GPU Support | Yes, 4-slot GPUS supported |
PSU Length | Up to 200 mm |
Radiator Support | 360 mm supported in top, side, and bottom of the case |
MSRP | $159.99 US |
Other features | GPU holder included |
Features of MSI’s Pano 100R PZ computer case
▶️ Build quality
The build quality of the Pano 100R PZ is sturdy, with no obvious weaknesses.
▶️ Side view and customization options, GPU holder, and vertical installation support
When I first looked inside the case, the two features that stood out the most were vertical GPU support as the default configuration, and support for back-connect motherboards. Otherwise, the insides resemble the typical look of a case with side-mounted intake fans.
We wouldn’t necessarily expect a GPU riser cable to be included given the case’s price. But the fact that one doesn’t come in the box feels strange given the case comes pre-configured for a vertical mount. We did our testing with the GPU mounted in the traditional horizontal orientation.
▶️ Radiator and fan support
This case can be equipped with up to ten fans. Up to 360 mm radiators can be installed at the top, bottom, and side of the case.
▶️ Dust filters, bottom view
The case is raised on the bottom, with strips to prevent the case from sliding or moving unintentionally. The dust filter is easily removed and attached via magnets. The top of the case also includes a dust filter, but this is not removable – you’ll have to take the top off to clean it.
▶️ Rear side view, storage, and cable management features
The default look of this case’s backside is very clean, with panels hiding most of the cabling. These panels also double as disk storage, supporting SSDs and hard drives.
Opening the panels reveals the cable routing paths and pre-installed velcro straps. The fans of the case are pre-installed to a hardware PWM and ARGB hub to simplify the setup. You’ll notice a piece of metal about halfway between the case, above the bottom panel. That’s where the PSU is installed, as shown in the image below.
▶️ Front view
As this is a wrap-around case, there’s not much to say about the front of the unit. It is simply a clear glass panel, allowing for a full view of the internal components of your PC build.
▶️ IO panel
The included IO panel is located on the display side of the case, near the front. You get one USB-C port, two USB-A ports, an audio jack, a lighting control button, and a power button.
▶️ Rear view
The rear view of the case is pretty standard; the main thing to point out would be the vertical GPU support as the default configuration, which you can swap out if you want to install your GPU horizontally.
▶️ Included accessories
In addition to the main parts of the case, MSI includes additional velcro cable straps, zip ties, pads, a GPU holder, spare tabs, and a standard (horizontal) PCIe bracket.
CPU | Intel i9-14900K |
CPU Cooler | Ocypus Iota A62 WH dual-tower cooler, configured with a single fan |
System fans | Default Pre-installed fans Ocypus Gamma F12 BK ARGB |
Motherboard | ASUS Z790-P Prime Wifi |
GPU | MSI RTX 4070Ti Super Ventus 3X OC |
Our thermal tests are presented to give you more information about the product’s performance, but aren’t intended as the sole judgment of 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. My goal with these reviews is to give everyone, no matter their preferences, enough information to decide whether or not a product is right for them.
With today’s review, I’ve updated the configuration and testing methods I use for testing compared to previous reviews. For example, I used to use a single-tower air cooler, but I’ve decided to use a dual-tower air cooler in case reviews going forward.
I’ve benchmarked this case focusing on the efficiency of the case’s thermal transfer.
We’ll test the system with its pre-installed fans at full speed and noise-normalized at 38.9 dBA. For standardized testing, we’ll also show one set of benchmarks with Ocypus fans set at full speeds for maximum potential. The other benchmarks will show performance with fan speeds set to 30% for those who prefer silently running systems.
