Cougar Challenger Case Review: Is Competitive Performance Enough?
by Dustin Sklavos on October 29, 2012 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Cougar
- ATX
Introducing the Cougar Challenger
It's fun to review the big enthusiast-class cases like the NZXT Phantom 820 and the Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX custom marvels like the BitFenix Prodigy and SilverStone SG09, but the fact is that cases like those aren't doing the grunt work on the market. That job is usually handled by standard ATX cases in the sub-$100 bracket, where bang for the buck matters most. Hovering around the $80 price point there are often good deals to be had, and that appears to be true again with the Cougar Challenger we have on hand today.
Selling for $86 on NewEgg, the Cougar Challenger is capable of offering a pretty healthy performance profile along with a couple of added perks like the hotswap SATA tray on the top of the case. But what was sacrificed to reach the sub-$100 price point, and might you still be better off spending up a bit on a different mainstream enclosure?
.jpg)
Cougar got in touch with us to see if we'd be interested in reviewing the Challenger; they're a fairly young company based out of Germany, and I have a very soft spot for underdogs and startups. I championed BitFenix pretty hardcore and still do, because these smaller companies are often very hungry for your business and are typically willing to take risks. The result is that oftentimes you can find diamonds in the rough and bring to light a product that people might otherwise miss.
| Cougar Challenger Specifications | ||
| Motherboard Form Factor | Micro ATX, ATX | |
| Drive Bays | External | 3x 5.25”, 1x 3.5" |
| Internal | 7x 2.5"/3.5" | |
| Cooling | Front | 1x 200mm intake fan; supports 2x 120mm/140mm |
| Rear | 1x 120mm exhaust fan | |
| Top | 2x 120mm/140mm fan mounts (or 1x 180mm/200mm) | |
| Side | 1x 120mm/140mm fan mount | |
| Bottom | 1x 120mm/140mm fan mount | |
| Expansion Slots | 7 | |
| I/O Port | 2x USB 3.0, 1x Headphone, 1x Mic, SATA hotswap bay | |
| Power Supply Size | Standard ATX | |
| Clearances | HSF | 170mm |
| PSU | 220mm | |
| GPU | 16" / 410mm | |
| Dimensions |
10.6" x 20.2" x 20.6" 268mm x 514mm x 523mm |
|
| Special Features |
USB 3.0 connectivity via internal headers Toolless 5.25" drive bays and 3.5" drive sleds Integrated SATA hotswap tray Removable drive cage |
|
| Price | $86 | |
Feature-wise the Cougar Challenger is fairly strong, particularly thanks to the SATA tray. Stock cooling is also healthy, with a 200mm red LED intake fan and a 120mm exhaust fan, allowing for a basic positive pressure design. For all intents and purposes, this is a modern ATX enclosure. So why am I feeling kind of underwhelmed by it?
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
40 Comments
View All Comments
geniekid - Monday, October 29, 2012 - link
If they were targeting the younger market, they should have at least been consistent. The front and the main body look like they're from two different cases. They should've at least made gratuitous use of non-right angles, plastic, and jagged edges on the main body if they were selling this to young children building their own rigs.Geraldo8022 - Monday, October 29, 2012 - link
I like the looks of it and I might buy one. After all I almost bought a Pontiac Aztek.piroroadkill - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 - link
Don't knock the Aztek! The ideal vehicle for the budding meth cook..just4U - Monday, October 29, 2012 - link
Perhaps it's time to start sharing with these companies what are views are on a perfect case.For me I'd like something smaller along the lines of Silverstone's Temjin TJ08 but with a window to show off the build. Must have dust filters.. a removable motherboard tray would be nice (like the older lian-li's) Antec's usage (and coolermaster's) hard drive mounting system) generous space behind the motherboard for hiding wires.. Looks wise? should be more refined and tastefull. I like lighted fans but their something I prefer to put in myself if the build warrants it.
Hits in the past for me were:
Lianli PC60A
Antec Super lanBoy (original not those horrors they released last year)
Antec Sonata 1/2/3 (no .. it wasn't silent)
CoolerMaster Storm Scout
Corsair Carbite 600T
just4U - Monday, October 29, 2012 - link
oh btw.. it doesn't have to have alot of fans.. front back top make them easily accessable to.piroroadkill - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 - link
So get a Fractal Design Define R4 with the windowed side panel. Done.piroroadkill - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 - link
Here, even did the work to find it on newegg for you.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
just4U - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 - link
lol.. there was no need. I am aware of Fractal Design's cases. We just started getting them here. The R4 is a nice case and priced fairly well but it has the door which is a star off in my opinion. I do however like their mini. It's very much on par with the Temjin from Silverstone. Both lack windows and while the silverstone does have a removable mb tray it's not really up to what some might be used to with older Lian-Li designs.eBob - Monday, October 29, 2012 - link
I can only come up with one word for my reaction to this case. I didn't even bother to read the rest of the review. I can't see anyone over the age of 14 wanting this.Telset - Monday, October 29, 2012 - link
Seriously are these the same people that made the cool cougar evolution case?I have the cougar evolution its awesome. But this is kinda ugly but probably looks better with 2 fans on the top to make it more uniform.