[section_title title=Conclusion]Conclusion
When it comes to the Comrade it is designed to be a budget friendly case while still offering some of the higher-end features. Taking a look back at the overall design and the aesthetics of the case aren’t bad at all. It isn’t until we get in the case and start trying to build into it we see some of its shortcomings. While it was very easy to get all the hardware in and situated the back side of the motherboard tray doesn’t offer a whole lot of room for cable management. Also, the big cutout at the bottom of the case means all of the cables from the PSU are easily going to be on display for all to see. Now this won’t be much of a big deal if you go for the non-windowed version but for those who like to show off this is just something to consider.
Taking a look back at the performance and looking at our benchmarks the Comrade was unfortunately the worse performer in the thermal tests but there is a good reason for this. The Comrade does not come with any front intake fans installed so there is nothing pushing air into the case to help and keep things cool and circulating. For testing purposes as the Comrade didn’t come with any front fans the only ones available where those on my H80i I use in all my case benchmarks. We can’t complain too much when talking about the performance when we consider the price and there is no doubt in my mind that adding a couple fronts intake fans will reduce the temperatures quite a bit.
When it comes to the price of the case, which is £30 and similar to the BitFenix NEOS you really can’t go wrong. For the price the Comrade offers a sturdy chassis to put all your components in and will keep them safe and secure. There should also be enough room to put most and hardware you desire inside of it. While at stock it may not be the best performer it does offer some good options and will no doubt get the job done and for £30, you really can’t complain or go wrong.
At the end of the day as mentioned the BitFenix Comrade is designed to be a budget friendly case and is not suppose to have the most room or offer all the belles and whistles as some cases costing 3x its price. If you are looking for a cheap case to get you by for whatever reason, the Comrade can be a fine choice and comes in black or white and either standard or windowed versions giving users just that extra bit of personalization.
I would like to thank BitFenix for sending the Comrade in for review and look forward to seeing more from them in the future.
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Performance
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Design
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Value
Summary
Pros:
– Budget friendly
– Plenty of room in front for most hardware
– Simple design
– Compact size
Cons:
– Not many options for cable management.
– No front fans included
– Doesn’t offer the best airflow
