[section_title title=Conclusion]Conclusion
So now the test system has been chugging along inside the Ronin for a couple of days and I have put it through its paces, what are my final thoughts on this particular chassis from BitFenix? Is it a true testament to the BitFenix ethos or does it fall short of the mark?
Starting with the general aesthetics of the Ronin, although it has quite plain and minimalist style, I really do like the overall design. I do have a partial soft spot for white cases and although the Ronin is only available in black, this doesn’t deter to my personal opinion and I really do like the exterior as well as the internals. The huge plus point for me is the included plastic carbon effect PSU/drive bay cover; if other manufacturers took this on-board then they would be onto a winner. I have to applaud BitFenix for implementing such a design and I would like to see it over the entire range of cases as it not only allows you to keep cables hidden, but it makes the installation of a system look so much neater and cleaner.
If I had to pick out negatives, then the thumbscrews need to go! I despise cheap plastic parts and a thumbscrew to me should be metal, especially if you are like me and are constantly opening panels and installing new hardware; will plastic be as robust and reliable as metal? Not a chance. With that being said, other than the SofTouch coating that inhabits some of the external panels/edging which I don’t really feel the need for personally, the Ronin has a lot going for it in terms of simple but elegant.
Internally, there is support for water cooling but I have to stress that this case is a mid-tower and isn’t design for those thick radiators; I had trouble trying to fit my 45mm 240mm radiator in and although it is possible in the front, it certainly isn’t in the top and a 30mm slim radiator with push or pull is the most you will get in (without some modding of course!) One thing I was disappointed to see with the Ronin is the lack of rubber grommets to help with cable management. With the included cover to help with neatness, why not go all out and add a little bit of rubber? This is a huge factor to me when choosing a case and it might sound crazy, but it just helps with the overall look inside of the build, especially with such a huge viewing window such as the one including in the Ronin.
Touching more on the cooling capability, if you don’t plan on water cooling or using an AIO cooler then of course the other option is air cooling. Now with my Noctua NH-U12S, there was ample clearance from the windowed side panel but if a super tower such as a DH-14, Silver Arrow SB-E and possibly even a Dark Rock Pro 2 might have potential problems due to their sheer size. In saying that, you have to remember this is only a mid-tower case and there is obviously going to be small pit falls compared to say full towers etc.
Actual performance wasn’t the best we have seen but I can really attribute this down to the stock fans. They are silent, literally silent and is probably the quietest case overall that we have tested but the fans don’t really shift much air and I can confirm with slightly better fans, you will have no problems in shaving a couple of degrees off those temperatures we got today. With that being said, it wouldn’t be fair if we tested cases with different fans when the stock ones weren’t sufficient so the results are as they are. It didn’t do too bad thought and was certainly not the worst in terms of performance and with plenty of expansion for fans such as 2 x 140mm fans in the top, 1 x 120mm in the bottom and an extra 120mm fan you can install in the front, then you could potential have a very cool running system indeed.
The positives brutally outweigh the negatives and with the fantastic innovation of the carbon effect cover, support for the biggest graphics cards on the market and capability of water cooling then the price should surely be the negative? Well it isn’t! The Ronin can be had for £69.99 from Overclockers UK and with all the features of USB 3.0, good build quality and plenty of expansion room, the BitFenix Ronin has all the boxes ticked and is no doubt a contender for the best case in its price range. It is in the same price range as the likes of the Cooler Master 690II which is an extraordinary case but having owned both, I have to say the Ronin ticks my box!
Overall the price is good, the design is great and my overall feelings on the Ronin are that BitFenix have a serious contender for mid-tower of the year but how will the other manufacturers respond to the innovation shown in 2014? Time will tell but for now, this case certainly deserves not only an award, but a crash course in modding done by yours truly in the upcoming months.
Big thanks to BitFenix for sending the Ronin in for review and I look forward to seeing more in near future.
