For probably the most half right here at KitGuru we evaluation {hardware} aimed toward gaming, nevertheless there are some exceptions. A brand new case for evaluation as we speak is a kind of exceptions. The APNX Creator C1 is aimed toward content material creators, with its “Skandi” or Scandinavian exterior designed to enchantment to inventive professionals. However that doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t use it for a gaming system, as the corporate suggests its excessive airflow design and assist for high-end {hardware} will enchantment to extra than simply content material creators. What we’re right here to search out out is that if it’s any good and if it’s definitely worth the $160 price ticket.
Watch the video through our VIMEO Channel (Beneath) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Timestamps:
00:00 Begin
00:58 APNX Creator C1 / pricing / colors
02:00 Predominant options – overview
02:53 Equipment and shut up look
05:02 Entrance I/O and panels
06:07 Inside / filters / followers
07:30 Clear look and efficiency mode
08:26 General cooling assist
10:23 Cable administration cutouts / rear
11:11 Reverse aspect / lackluster design
12:42 GPU/ drive assist / area / hub
13:55 Energy provide assist
14:08 Ground of case
14:57 {Hardware} for the construct
17:20 Time Lapse Construct
20:24 Construct is completed
21:20 Thermal testing and noise output
22:45 James ideas
23:52 The Cons (its an extended record)
28:07 Does James suggest it?
Should you assume this case appears to be like acquainted then you might be right, the entire inside construction is similar to the Sharkoon Insurgent C50 that was reviewed by Leo just some weeks in the past, which implies that many of the inside options and specs of the APNX Creator C1 corresponding to {hardware} and cooling assist are the identical because the Sharkoon Insurgent C50. The 2 circumstances have very completely different exterior panels and aesthetics plus the C1 is obtainable in three completely different colors, white, black and particular ChromaFlair.
The case helps as much as ATX motherboard set up, twin 360mm radiators, as much as 11 followers in whole, 4 followers come pre-installed in addition to a 5-port PWM and ARGB hub. There isn’t a vertical GPU mount included with the case however one might be bought individually for extra price. The worth of the APNX Creator C1 relies on the color you select, black is the most cost effective at £139.99, white prices round £10 extra at £149.99 and the ChromaFlair has a premium value of £167.99 virtually £30 greater than the black model. All can be found from OverclockersUK.
APNX Creator C1 Options:
- A contemporary “Skandi” (within the phrases of APNX) or Scandinavian exterior design with a number of paint choices accessible together with Black, White and the particular ChromaFlair pearlescent paint.
- ANPX Creator C 1 is provided with a variety of inside cooling choices with 11 fan mounts and consists of twin 360mm radiator assist.
- Toolless exterior tempered glass and metal panels with quick-release brackets.
- Distinctive 90-degree font and aspect panel mesh design wraps across the entrance of the chassis exterior.
- The case comes with 4 x APNX FP1 followers pre-installed, three 140mm within the entrance and a single 120mm within the rear – APNX FP1 followers normally price $10.99 USD every.
- The motherboard tray is technically suitable with Gigabyte’s Undertaking Stealth motherboard, that includes back-facing connectors for an ultra-clean look. Making it one of many few circumstances available on the market that helps Undertaking Stealth.
Specs:
- Case Sort: Mid-Tower
- Dimensions: 230 x 502 x 464 mm (W x H x D)
- Color: Black / White / ChromaFlair
- Materials: Metal, Plastic, Tempered Glass
- Motherboard Assist: Mini ITX / Micro ATX / ATX
- Growth Slots: 7
- Storage: 3 x 2.5″ SSD max, 3 x 3.5″ HDD max
- Max GPU Size: 395mm
- Max CPU Cooler Top: 166mm
- Max PSU Size: 270mm
- Fan Assist: 3 x 120/3 x 140mm (Entrance) 3 x 120 /2 x 140mm (High), 1 x 120 (Rear)
- Pre-installed followers: 3 x 140mm ARGB PWM (entrance) 1 x 120mm ARGB PWM (Rear)
- Radiator Assist: 360/280mm Max (Entrance), 360/280mm Max (High), 360mm Max (Aspect), 120 (Rear)
- I/O Ports: 1 x Energy Button, 1 x Reset/ARGB Button, 2 x USB 3.0 Sort-A, 1 x USB Gen2 Sort-C, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio
- Mud Filters: High / Backside
- Font I/O: Energy and reset button, 2 x USB 3.0 Sort-A ports, USB 3.0 Sort-C port, 3.5mm audio jack
Thermal Efficiency Testing
To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Velocity Approach stress check concurrently in a loop for 60 minutes to completely load the system. This provides the CPU and GPU sufficient time to achieve fixed steady-state temperature. With this knowledge, we will examine how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise ranges.
Thermal efficiency is measured with the case in numerous configurations, such because the default, with the tempered glass left-hand aspect panel eliminated and with the entrance panel eliminated to see how these configurations have an effect on the CPU and GPU temperature. Throughout testing, solely inventory case followers are used except in any other case specified. All water pumps are set to most RPM and followers are set to a customized RPM curve by the Motherboard software program/BIOS.
All temperature measurements are introduced as Deltas – that means the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Knowledge proven within the charts signify the common element temperature over the size of the check as measured by HWiNFO after which the final quarter-hour of the information are calculated to get the common. The ambient temperature throughout thermal exams is between 19-21⁰C.
Check System Specification:
Thermal Efficiency:
Thermal efficiency of the APNX C1 appears to be like strong with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X working at round 90°C in both configuration with aspect panels put in or eliminated, which is what we’d anticipate from this CPU working Precision Increase Overdrive. Transferring the AIO to the aspect mount brought on a minor lower in CPU temperature so with an AMD Ryzen 7000 CPU on this case AIO placement isn’t too vital.
It’s an identical story with GPU temperature, with the case within the default configuration common GPU temperature is round 35°C delta which is regular for this GPU in a excessive airflow case. As we regularly see with case testing, eradicating the tempered glass aspect panel reduces GPU temperature however it isn’t as extreme as in some circumstances with the C1. So total the excessive airflow design of the APNX Creator C1 appears to work high-quality.
Noise:
Noise output isn’t considerably lowered or elevated by altering the case from its default configuration, nevertheless there’s a slight drop in noise output when eradicating the tempered glass aspect as extra airflow means the GPU temperature is decrease, fan pace is lowered and subsequently noise output is decrease.
Closing Ideas
With any new case or every other {hardware}, there are all the time execs and cons. The APNX Creator C1 is not any completely different however the cons outweigh the professionals this time, and and by a great distance. Let’s begin with a number of the good issues about this case corresponding to the provision of it in several colors. Customers can select between black, white or the particular ChromaFlair blue/purple pearlescent color to go well with their model. White prices round £10 greater than black and the ChromaFlair choice calls for fairly a hefty premium of round £28 which appears a bit extreme.
The case comes with 4 ARGB followers pre-installed, three 140mm on the entrance of the case and a single 120mm on the rear. The followers present respectable airflow for case followers and have good RGB lighting results, colors are vivid, there isn’t a main gentle bleed coming from the RGB LEDs and they’re nicely subtle by the fan blade. The Creator C1 additionally features a 5-port PWM and ARGB fan hub which provides to the worth of the case.
Though not formally supported, we discovered that with the case in its efficiency configuration with the cable administration panel eliminated, an E-ATX motherboard the scale of the X670E Aorus Grasp will match into the case with out points. Putting in the cable administration panel and working the case in what APNX name the “clear look” configuration means the cable panel interferes with the EATX boards however you’ll be able to merely pass over the highest mounting screw and the E-ATX board will match, which is beneficial as plenty of boards use this format these days.
So the place can we begin with the negatives? Nicely, one of many fundamental points with this case for me is its inside design. It doesn’t really feel significantly fashionable or modern, in truth internally many of the options are fairly fundamental and have been seen earlier than. The inside has hints of Corsair 4000D with the detachable cable administration panel – don’t get me mistaken, the Corsair 4000D was an incredible case when it launched… three years in the past. However that’s a very long time within the PC {hardware} world and case design has moved on since.
The answer for eradicating the modular panels corresponding to the highest radiator bracket, cable administration panel and PSU shroud entrance part may be very old style. Nineteen screws must be eliminated manually with a screwdriver to detach the modular panels from the case, and not one of the screws are thumbscrews or captive so it’s a painfully sluggish course of. Fast-release fittings, slot-in brackets, captive thumbscrews and different fashionable options can be faster and simpler for the person, that is simply sub-optimal design.
The case does not really feel prefer it’s prime quality both, the metal aspect panels take away fairly simply however they’re awkward at finest to put in again to the case, significantly the curved entrance/aspect panel. The selection of metal over aluminium isn’t nice for the outer panels, they’ve an inexpensive and tinny really feel, they rattle lots and the paint end may be very tough, it virtually feels as tough as moist and dry sandpaper in some locations. Among the modular panels corresponding to the highest fan bracket are very weak and versatile, additionally there aren’t any rubber grommets in any of the cable administration cutouts.
The shortage of entrance 360mm radiator assist is an odd design alternative and the positioning of the highest radiator bracket implies that the radiator sits too near the motherboard parts. Fan blades find yourself being extraordinarily near the EPS energy cables and the place of the radiator bracket means you’ll battle to put in push/pull followers on a 360 or 280mm radiator, as there can be interference with motherboard parts corresponding to VRM heatsinks and EPS connections.
That mentioned, the thermal efficiency from the APNX Creator C1 appears to be nearly as good as another respectable excessive airflow circumstances that now we have examined not too long ago, the case was in a position to preserve the temperature of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU and RX 7900XT graphics card nicely beneath management and once you get your system put in within the case it appears to be like OK, with good RGB lighting results from the included followers so not all is dangerous.
One final thing to say is that the interior construction of the case is similar to the Sharkoon Insurgent C50 that we reviewed not too long ago, each circumstances share many of the similar options and specs however have an opposing exterior aesthetic. The Sharkoon is significantly cheaper although so if you would like a case with these options and you aren’t bothered concerning the C1’s appears to be like then it could be higher worth to purchase the Sharkoon, nevertheless, the Sharkoon suffers from a number of the similar issues because the C1 which might put me off shopping for both case and selecting one thing just like the Lian Li Lancool 216 as a substitute.
The APNX Creator C1 ChromaFlair is obtainable to buy now from OverclockersUK priced at £167.99 HERE.
Professionals:
- Three completely different color decisions together with the premium ChromaFlair.
- 4 followers come pre-installed.
- 5 port PWM and ARGB fan hub included.
- Helps a number of 360mm Radiator set up.
- ETX motherboard set up is technically potential.
Cons:
- Detaching modular panels means eradicating a lot of screws -19 in whole none of that are thumbscrews or captive.
- Doesn’t really feel like a very new or modern design internally, simply the identical fundamental options now we have seen for years.
- The End on the paint is extraordinarily tough it virtually looks like moist and dry sandpaper.
- Some modular panels are very flimsy – High radiator bracket.
- Aspect panels usually are not significantly nicely aligned and tough to put in.
- No official assist for entrance radiator set up.
- The highest radiator mount/bracket places the rads/followers near motherboard parts – no probability of working push-pull followers on a radiator.
- Utilizing the aspect mount for followers/rad means the GPU assist is misplaced.
- Vertical GPU mount metalware is an non-compulsory additional that provides to prices.
- No grommets on the cable cutouts across the motherboard.
- Not sufficient area to attach the HDAudio cable as soon as the facility provide is put in.
KitGuru says: The APNX Creator C1’s distinctive exterior will definitely enchantment to some however beneath that Scandinavian-style exterior lies a fairly fundamental chassis that does not do plenty of issues nicely, which is a disgrace.
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