Can You Find Value In A Sub-$100 Case?
A high-quality case can outlast even the fastest build. Ironically, though, value-oriented enthusiasts spend money on components that improve performance and tend to cut back on those that don't. You already know that a $30 enclosure won't give you the durability, airflow, or room to expand that a smart upgrade should be expected to offer. But there's no guarantee that a $300 chassis will give you anything more in those areas than a far cheaper model. Sometimes, splurging on a case is simply wasted expense.
Knowing that there are a few solid enclosures out there available for under $100, we made that our budget for this month's round-up. As you read in In Pictures: Four Sub-$100 Cases For Your 2013 Gaming PC, we received 11 total submissions, all battling for supremacy. Today's story is a follow-up to our first picture-based exploration, designed to go beyond our initial visual inspection and lead to more concrete conclusions.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Cougar Evolution BO | Lian-Li PC-9N | Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 | SilverStone Precision PS06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||
| Height | 20.2" | 18.7" | 18.4" | 20.8" |
| Width | 8.7" | 8.3" | 8.2" | 8.4" |
| Depth | 20.6" | 19.7" | 24.2" | 20.0" |
| Space Above Motherboard | 0.0" | 0.5" | 1.3" | 1.2" |
| Card Length | 12.1" | 17.3" | 13.6" | 12.1" |
| Weight | 19.1 Pounds | 10.8 Pounds | 24.6 Pounds | 19.5 Pounds |
| Cooling | ||||
| Front Fans (alternatives) | 1 x 120 mm (2 x 120 mm) | 1 x 140 mm (2 x 140 mm) | 2 x 120 mm (None) | 1 x 120 mm (None) |
| Rear Fans (alternatives) | 1 x 120 mm (None) | 1 x 120 mm (None) | 1 x 140 mm (1 x 140/120 mm) | None (1 x 120 mm) |
| Top Fans (alternatives) | None (2 x 120mm) | None (None) | None (2 x 140/120 mm) | 1 x 180 mm (None) |
| Left Side (alternatives) | None (1 x 140 mm) | None (2 x 120 mm) | None (1 x 140/120 mm) | None (None) |
| Right Side (alternatives) | None (None) | None (None) | None (None) | None (None) |
| Drive Bays | ||||
| 5.25" External | Six | Three | Three | Five |
| 3.5" External | None | None | 1 x Adapter | 1 x HDD Bay |
| 3.5" Internal | Four | Three | Eight | Four |
| 2.5" Internal | Four* | Two | Eight* | Four* |
| Card Slots | Eight | Eight | Seven | Eight |
| Noise Dampening | ||||
| Sides | None | Plastic Covers | Cloth/Mat | None |
| Top | None | None | Cloth/Mat | None |
| Front | None | Plastic Cover | Foam | None |
| Price | $90 | $100 | $90 | $100 |
| *Shared on 3.5" Tray |
Quality is the primary consideration for our round-up, though unusually good or unusually bad performance could certainly set a single case apart from the pack. Features are next up for evaluation, primarily when comparing price to value. Let’s take a closer look at the quality and features each case offers.
