BitFenix is company I'd never heard of before recently, but it looks like they're going for the mainstream case segment jugular. If nothing else, it's nice to have an inexpensive case with competence standard and not optional.
Not to mention the lack of gaudy and cheesy over the top "gamer" case bling on the outside and lack of fail on the inside like alot of other cases. I can't stand all the BS most new cases come with. I got a FT2 for a reason though my old case is a Thermaltake Armor+
I just bought a Diablotek EVO case for $45, and I must say I was surprised at how nice it was. It has a few minor design flaws, but quality was pretty good (solid feeling) at the price point. In fact, it has a lot in common with this model on the inside, and it doesn't look like a nerd warrior case on the outside.
This is really a nice looking case (although I prefer a solid, rather than vented or windowed, side panel). None of the gaudy, flashy bits that usually mar inexpensive cases.
I've never had a truly tool-free case, so maybe I don't know what I'm missing, but I don't mind having to break out the screwdriver to replace a drive.
Also, fuck, those cases were basically scrap metal. No rolled edges. Hope you like bleeding all over your new machine, and then blowing it up after plugging in the tin-pot POS PSU.
This case actually looks pretty decent, and they even bothered coating the inside instead of leaving it bare. Damn fine for $39, no matter how you slice it.
Oh, you still can. You can get a case + PS for as little as about 25 dollars.
You would want neither case nor power supply, though. The lowest cost power supplies worth having, even for a budget build, seem to start around 40 dollars (Antec and Corsair both make very nice 400-watt class power supplies in that range).
With the extra $20 spent on a better PSU, we're not only saving the environment a little, but helping to ensure longevity of our motherboard and components by going higher end. Yep, around $40 is my minimum, as that's basically the starting point for a 300w 80+ Bronze certified from Seasonic. Most systems don't use that much, and amps are much more important than total wattage anyway. There need to be better standards regulating power supplies. In fact, they should have to list certain factors on every OEM PC sold as well. The big mass market PC builders should be unable to fool consumers by not listing the gpu specs for instance.
Yea, as soon as I finished this review, I tried to look it up on Newegg, very surprised that they aren't on there...maybe they are "too" cheap for the egg, can't make any profit on the resale...
I bought a Rosewill Blackbone from the 'egg on THG's recommendation last year, and it was a genuine pleasure to build in. Cheap too, I think it was like $50.
It may be $39.99 MSRP, but the lowest price I can find including shipping to the east coast is ~$55 from the BitFenix store. FrozenCPU wants $30 for ground shipping.
As a previous poster mentioned, I think that for a little bit more $$, the Coolermaster HAF 912 is a stellar budget case. The detachable middle bay that allows room for big video cards along w/decent width--allowing for larger/taller heatsinks--makes this case an easy choice for most installs. I was previously an antec 300 fan, btw.
to the Thermaltake V3 Black Edition that I picked up for my wife's desktop not too long ago. They are in the same price range (the V3 was $29.99 from the Egg a month or so ago, usually $39.99 or $44.99). There are some nice improvements on this one over the V3 though: the motherboard doesn't require standoffs to be installed for normal installations, the PSU can be mounted normally or inverted, and I think I prefer the simplicity of the front panel design on this one a bit more.
"At just $39 it would be reasonable not to expect much, but as you'll see this case can hang with enclosures at twice the cost or better."
We've been trying to tell computer case reviewers this for years...we don't need $200 cases to house our PCs. It isn't worth it when you replace a PC every 3 years. Yesterdays prized system is tomorrow's too slow to use piece of junk.
I don't understand why everyone likes the Merc. I've messed around with one and the front is very plasticky (it's not the same soft-touch the other cases had), while the guts aren't anything special. Don't get me wrong, I love Bitfenix cases. It's just that the Outlaw puts the Merc to shame for about $10 more. The Outlaw has the proper soft-touch finish, an inverted motherboard and nicer build quality - not to mention how much better the outside looks.
Guys, if you can talk Bitfenix into it, review an Outlaw, instead. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
35 Comments
Back to Article
ckryan - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
BitFenix is company I'd never heard of before recently, but it looks like they're going for the mainstream case segment jugular. If nothing else, it's nice to have an inexpensive case with competence standard and not optional.Dustin Sklavos - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
They really are. I'm fond of saying they're young and hungry, but it's true. Their stuff is stellar.SunLord - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Not to mention the lack of gaudy and cheesy over the top "gamer" case bling on the outside and lack of fail on the inside like alot of other cases. I can't stand all the BS most new cases come with. I got a FT2 for a reason though my old case is a Thermaltake Armor+MonkeyPaw - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
I just bought a Diablotek EVO case for $45, and I must say I was surprised at how nice it was. It has a few minor design flaws, but quality was pretty good (solid feeling) at the price point. In fact, it has a lot in common with this model on the inside, and it doesn't look like a nerd warrior case on the outside.venomblade - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Bitfenix is awesome! The White Shinobi Window is such a sexy case.futurepastnow - Thursday, October 6, 2011 - link
Yeah, same here.This is really a nice looking case (although I prefer a solid, rather than vented or windowed, side panel). None of the gaudy, flashy bits that usually mar inexpensive cases.
I've never had a truly tool-free case, so maybe I don't know what I'm missing, but I don't mind having to break out the screwdriver to replace a drive.
StealthX32 - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Party like it's 1999!Glad to see someone is interested in serving the budget segment (again).
StealthX32 - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Although come to think of it, $39 used to get you a power supply with the case...dertechie - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Mind, those PSUs would likely explode if you actually tried to pull anything close to their rated power.MarkLuvsCS - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
++1piroroadkill - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
But would you want to use that?Also, fuck, those cases were basically scrap metal. No rolled edges. Hope you like bleeding all over your new machine, and then blowing it up after plugging in the tin-pot POS PSU.
piroroadkill - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Not I don't mean this case of course!This case actually looks pretty decent, and they even bothered coating the inside instead of leaving it bare. Damn fine for $39, no matter how you slice it.
aguilpa1 - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Aw the good ole days, when you weren't hacking unless your fingers were bleeding...., wait maybe not so good.Thermalzeal - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
This ^Spazweasel - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Oh, you still can. You can get a case + PS for as little as about 25 dollars.You would want neither case nor power supply, though. The lowest cost power supplies worth having, even for a budget build, seem to start around 40 dollars (Antec and Corsair both make very nice 400-watt class power supplies in that range).
JonnyDough - Thursday, October 6, 2011 - link
With the extra $20 spent on a better PSU, we're not only saving the environment a little, but helping to ensure longevity of our motherboard and components by going higher end. Yep, around $40 is my minimum, as that's basically the starting point for a 300w 80+ Bronze certified from Seasonic. Most systems don't use that much, and amps are much more important than total wattage anyway. There need to be better standards regulating power supplies. In fact, they should have to list certain factors on every OEM PC sold as well. The big mass market PC builders should be unable to fool consumers by not listing the gpu specs for instance.CloudFire - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Good budget case indeed, the only other one I would recommend near this price range is the CM Haf 912.CrystalBay - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Coolermaster 690's were 30-40 back a couple/few years .Thanks Dustin, keep posting the deals!
Vepsa - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Would make a great case for my home server (so I could swap its 80mm fans out for 120mm fans) but Newegg doesn't have any BitFenix cases :(xcomvic - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Yea, as soon as I finished this review, I tried to look it up on Newegg, very surprised that they aren't on there...maybe they are "too" cheap for the egg, can't make any profit on the resale...AssBall - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
I think they are not available for retailers yet; I can't find them to buy anywhere so far except Australia.Airwick - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
They've been available here for a little while now.http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=...
TrackSmart - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
They sell $20 cases on Newegg. So it's not a price issue.blckgrffn - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...Same internals, right down to where the SSD mounts.
Bozo - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
The inside of that case looks like an Antec 100. HmmmTyphoidMary - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
I bought a Rosewill Blackbone from the 'egg on THG's recommendation last year, and it was a genuine pleasure to build in. Cheap too, I think it was like $50.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
crimson117 - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
It may be $39.99 MSRP, but the lowest price I can find including shipping to the east coast is ~$55 from the BitFenix store. FrozenCPU wants $30 for ground shipping.iamezza - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Thanks Dustin for another excellent Case reviewI too dislike those non-recessed slot covers, it's something I have only really seen on either very-cheap cases or OEM cases.
hrbngr - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
As a previous poster mentioned, I think that for a little bit more $$, the Coolermaster HAF 912 is a stellar budget case. The detachable middle bay that allows room for big video cards along w/decent width--allowing for larger/taller heatsinks--makes this case an easy choice for most installs. I was previously an antec 300 fan, btw.Samus - Thursday, October 6, 2011 - link
This thing costs less than two 'hotswap adapters' for my Silverstone FT01!dac7nco - Thursday, October 6, 2011 - link
Agreed. By the time I'm done a $150 case is $300.Daimon
mrcaffeinex - Thursday, October 6, 2011 - link
to the Thermaltake V3 Black Edition that I picked up for my wife's desktop not too long ago. They are in the same price range (the V3 was $29.99 from the Egg a month or so ago, usually $39.99 or $44.99). There are some nice improvements on this one over the V3 though: the motherboard doesn't require standoffs to be installed for normal installations, the PSU can be mounted normally or inverted, and I think I prefer the simplicity of the front panel design on this one a bit more.JonnyDough - Thursday, October 6, 2011 - link
"At just $39 it would be reasonable not to expect much, but as you'll see this case can hang with enclosures at twice the cost or better."We've been trying to tell computer case reviewers this for years...we don't need $200 cases to house our PCs. It isn't worth it when you replace a PC every 3 years. Yesterdays prized system is tomorrow's too slow to use piece of junk.
Zoomer - Saturday, October 8, 2011 - link
How about adding in numbers for the antec 300? It'll be useful as a basis for comparison.On that note, how about asking Antec when they'll update the 300?
EthanW - Thursday, October 13, 2011 - link
I don't understand why everyone likes the Merc. I've messed around with one and the front is very plasticky (it's not the same soft-touch the other cases had), while the guts aren't anything special. Don't get me wrong, I love Bitfenix cases. It's just that the Outlaw puts the Merc to shame for about $10 more. The Outlaw has the proper soft-touch finish, an inverted motherboard and nicer build quality - not to mention how much better the outside looks.Guys, if you can talk Bitfenix into it, review an Outlaw, instead. You'll be pleasantly surprised.