BitFenix AEGIS mATX Case Review - PAGE 1

Looking near the bottom on the BitFenix website ‘About’ page we find the motto “BE INVINCIBLE” to explain their commitment to "[creating] state-of-the-art computer hardware and peripherals that blur the line between man and machine". BitFenix does this by listening to user comments, applying these ideas to in-house design concepts and using prior experience to create innovative peripherals with features and performance for work or play.

It's from these users comments, design concepts and years of prior experience in providing competitive products that BitFenix introduced the AEGIS Micro-Tower Case earlier this February 26, 2015. Although designed for small form factor motherboards, the AEGIS case is still able to hold seven 120mm case fans (one rear fan included) and liquid coolant radiator setups up to 360mm (and even configurations with two slim style 360mm radiators).

With three modular drive cages and two specific SSD mounting points, the AEGIS case can be configured by the user for many drive setups; or they can remove the drive cages for free interior air flow with maximum cooling potential. Air filters at the top, bottom and behind the front face plate help keep the case interior dust free, and are easily removed for cleaning.

There is no external drive access which allows for a smooth front panel for the AEGIS case, and hidden behind the black front panel is another innovation from BitFenix that I first saw when reviewing the Pandora case. Called the ICON, this programmable 2.8” TFT LCD can display graphic images provided by BitFenix or customized by the user.

Available in 5 colors (the typical black or white, and the more colorful blue, red or yellow), BitFenix presents the AEGIS micro-tower case as suitable for work or playing games. So lets have some fun with this AEGIS case that BitFenix provided in the vibrant yellow color, and see what sort of experience awaits us after installing our computer components and checking out the programmable ICON unit.

Packaging

In keeping with my previous experience of BitFenix packaging, the AEGIS box front has a simple informational layout design of black stripes along the top and bottom edges. The front has the BitFenix logo, an image of the case and its name, then the company website URL.

Staying with the simple layout format, the rear of the packaging has the same two black stripes to outline the information provided through two more case images with pointers to several possible water cooler setups, and the location of the ICON programmable display. Below are four more images of the power supply cover, reservoir bracket and pump bracket.

The two side panels follow a similar informational layout as the front and back panels. In the middle of one side panel is an image of the case front panel with a specification listing below it. The other side panel confirms which model/color of the AEGIS is contained in the packaging.

Contents

The inner transparent plastic bag and foam protection kept the AEGIS case clean and free from damage. Removing the foam protection and plastic bag, we find the case is further protected by an applied plastic protection, further sign of BitFenix's attention to detail.

In the bottom of the packaging box we find the quick installation guide, a booklet of heavy card stock A4-size paper. Divided into several sections over 12 pages, the booklet shows a breakdown of the case and how to install the different options of hard drives, fans, radiators and computer components.

Now we get to remove the accessory box from the bottom modular hard drive of the AEGIS case. Opening the simple cardboard box we find: two rubber band bundles of hard drive mounting brackets, several plastic bags of screws (for the power supply, fan, motherboard and hard drives), 8 tie wraps, and a water pump mounting bracket.

Specifications:

Information courtesy of BitFenix http://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/chassis/aegis/