Asus Prime AP201 MicroATX case evaluation: Cool, compact, and clear

My quest to seek out the “good” PC case ended after I stumbled upon the Asus Prime AP201 a couple of weeks again. Good airflow and compact type issue had been excessive up on my listing of issues to contemplate after I got down to construct my new gaming PC, and this specific MicroATX enclosure lived as much as these expectations and delivered extra for simply $80. It is not with out its flaws, although, and it is from the most effective deal on this planet of PC circumstances the place choices just like the MSI MAG Forge 112R and the Corsair 4000D Airflow exist, however it affords loads of nice options that — for my part — make it an awesome small tower in 2023.

With help for as much as 360mm radiators, tons of mesh fittings for airflow, and loads of clearance for contemporary coolers and GPUs, the Prime AP201 is among the many finest small towers in my books. Oh, it additionally is available in white and has each tempered glass and mesh facet panels choices, so it additionally provides you a wide selection to match your aesthetics.

About this evaluation: Asus didn’t present this pattern for the evaluation, nor did it have any enter into what was printed.

Asus Prime AP201 MicroATX case: Pricing and availability

Inexpensive and simple to purchase

The Asus Prime AP201 case begins at $80 within the U.S. for the black variant with a mesh facet panel, however it may be had for as little as $70 with reductions. That makes it cheaper than most PC circumstances on the market, so it is an awesome choice to contemplate even in the event you’re on a decent finances. The white variant with mesh facet panel that is featured on this evaluation retails for $85. You may as well decide them up with a tempered glass (TG) facet panel, if that is your type, however these variants will price a further $5 over the bottom costs. Each Amazon and Newegg have it in inventory in each colours and side-panel choices on the time of drafting this evaluation, so remember to test them out.

Design and options

Wonderful spatial effectivity

At first look, the Asus Prime AP201 seems to be similar to the Cooler Grasp NR200P, which is an especially widespread mini-ITX enclosure. The resemblance is uncanny right here, particularly on this white colour, and it was, in actual fact, one of many essential the explanation why I picked up this case for my construct. I all the time wished to construct inside an NR200P, however simply the considered placing collectively a mini-ITX construct put me off. The AP201 being an mATX case, nonetheless, has extra quantity than a typical SFF case, so it is quite a bit simpler to work with. The enclosure, as you possibly can see, has a really minimal design, with a easy mixture of mesh panels and stable borders on all the perimeters. The tempered glass model simply replaces the one facet mesh with a TG panel, so I would say it seems to be simply as clear and easy.

The Asus Prime AP201 case is ideal for each non-RGB and RGB-enabled builds.

One factor I like concerning the mesh facet panel is that it is good for each non-RGB and RGB-enabled builds. Builds with no RGB lights in anyway will, clearly, look clear and minimal, however even those that do have some lights in it is going to look nice on this enclosure because it permits for the sunshine to peek by the air flow patterns. This is a side-by-side picture to indicate you the way the lighting seems to be with and with out the mesh facet panel put in (ignore the distinction in lighting colour):

Talking of air flow patterns, Asus says its mesh design contains over 57,000 precision-machined 1.5mm holes on your complete enclosure for nice airflow. The holes within the mesh sample, as you possibly can see, are all large enough for correct airflow, and so they additionally offer you form of “pixilated” view of the elements when you will have RGB lights. And the truth that these air flow patterns are on all panels of the case, together with the underside one, means you do not have to fret concerning the airflow.

The Asus Prime AP201 has a 33-liter footprint, which is quite a bit lower than your common mid-tower circumstances. Regardless of the smaller footprint, nonetheless, the case affords nice clearance and stable help for cooling. Firstly, it helps ATX PSUs as much as 180mm lengthy, which means it is ok for many, if not all, ATX PSUs on the market available on the market. The truth that you do not have to fret about grabbing an costly SFX PSU for this case is nice. Notably, the case additionally affords clearance for graphics playing cards as much as 338mm lengthy, together with CPU coolers that as much as 170mm tall. Sure, it may possibly accommodate the Noctua NH-D15 simply wonderful, so that ought to offer you an concept of how spacious it’s.

Relying on the variant you decide, you get a mesh-ventilated metal panel or a tempered glass for the principle facet panel. The opposite facet stays a metal panel with mesh patterns no matter whether or not you decide the common or the TG variant. The highest mesh panel has help for as much as 360mm radiator, which you can too use to mount as much as three 120mm or two 140mm followers. The rear panel has an ordinary MicroATX format with cutouts for the I/O, a single 120mm fan mount on the high, and 4 enlargement slots. There is no PSU cutout right here, as a result of it is mounted on the entrance panel, which additionally has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 and a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort C port, together with headphone and microphone jacks and an illuminated energy button. Lastly, the ground of the case has mounting factors for 2 120mm followers with a detachable mud filter on the backside, however you can too use this house to put in your drives.

Another noteworthy options of this case embody house to put in three 2.5-inch/3.5-inch drives on the ground, a tasteful array of entrance I/O ports, house for as many as six 120mm followers, a detachable mud filter on the backside, some included velcro strips, cable ties, and extra. The one factor I do not like about this specific case is that it comes with only a single 120mm exhaust fan out of the field, which means you undoubtedly must spend extra money so as to add lively cooling for high-end elements.

Constructing a PC and efficiency

Very simple to work with

Constructing contained in the Asus Prime AP201 mATX PC case was quite a bit simpler than I assumed. Sure, the cable administration may very well be a little bit of a difficulty because the pre-installed velro strips aren’t sufficient to tame all of the cables, and there is not a lot room behind the motherboard tray to tuck the extra cables. That being stated, I did not face any points whereas making an attempt to mount the elements. This case presently has an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti WINDFORCE OC GPU, and a Gigabyte B650M Gaming X AX motherboard. I’m cooling the CPU with a CoolerMaster MasterLiquid 240L Core AIO cooler, with its radiator put in on the highest. Whereas the chassis is not as spacious as a daily ATX case, I would say there’s loads of room for actions, and you will not have any points mounting the elements.

I like to recommend eradicating the beauty cowl plate on the facet whereas putting in the elements to get simpler entry to the inner chamber. Remember to place it again after ending the construct, although, because it helps conceal the cables that run from the PSU and entrance I/O ports. All it’s important to do from there may be merely mount the PSU on the included bracket and route the cables. I extremely advocate getting a modular energy provide for this case, in any other case you’ll have a tough time making an attempt to route/conceal the cables throughout the enclosure.

The most effective factor concerning the PSU bracket of this case is that you may transfer it up or down relying on how a lot respiratory room you need for the cables, radiator, or the GPU. I secured it on the highest mounting factors to create space for my 261mm GPU, however you might not have room for it in the event you’re utilizing a 360mm radiator. So I like to recommend spending some planning your construct forward of time earlier than placing collectively and even shopping for all of the elements. That is a great rule of thumb for any construct, and never simply this one, so hold that in thoughts. Lastly, the marketed help for graphics playing cards as much as 338mm in size ought to be good for many GPUs. I used to be capable of pack my 4070 Ti within the case somewhat simply, although you’ll have points whereas coping with higher-end RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 GPUs.

Transferring over to the thermals, I would say the marketed airflow design makes a powerful case right here because the temperatures had been effectively underneath the suitable limits inside it. You will undoubtedly want extra case followers in the event you’re planning to make use of comparatively high-end elements within the case, although. I put in two further 120mm consumption followers on the backside of the case to push extra recent air into the chassis. The detrimental air stress in my construct helped hold the inner temperatures low, so the GPU wasn’t struggling at any given level with excessive temperatures. I like to recommend stopping by our PC airflow information in case you are questioning the right way to preserve a constructive or detrimental air stress inside your case.

The marketed airflow design makes a powerful case right here because the temperatures had been effectively underneath the suitable limits.

Even underneath sustained masses, I recorded a peak CPU temperature of solely about 62 diploma Celsius, whereas the GPU was hovering at round 74 levels throughout an prolonged session of Cyberpunk 2077 with RT Overdrive mode. The M.2 and the chipset temperatures had been additionally recorded at round 65 levels, which is nearly what you’d see throughout a stress take a look at. Noise ranges, as you’d anticipate in case of an airflow PC case with a ton of mesh panels, had been a bit on the upper facet. It peaked at round 50dBA with all of the followers blasting at comparatively excessive speeds to push and pull extra air.

Asus Prime AP201 MicroATX case: Must you purchase it?

You can purchase the Asus Prime AP201 if:

• You need a clear and minimal-looking case in your setup.
• You need a good airflow case with out denting your pockets.
• You wish to construct a comparatively high-end PC in a compact case.

You should not purchase the Asus Prime AP201 if:

• You need a mid-tower or a spacious case with loads of room.
• You are making an attempt to construct a quiet PC.
• You might have high-end elements and customized cooling loops.

Not like the TUF and ROG circumstances, the Prime AP201 enclosure from Asus is geared in the direction of each avid gamers and informal customers alike. It is good those that are on the lookout for a clear and minimal mATX case, be it for a gaming or a traditional work setup. So long as you propose your construct and decide the suitable mixture of elements that may go into the construct, you may be glad with what this case affords. Merely put, it is laborious to go improper with a case that prices $80, seems to be good in each black and white colours, affords nice airflow to chill even some high-end elements, and has loads of clearance for a wide range of cooling options.

Seems to be good in each black and white colours, affords nice airflow to chill even some high-end elements, and has loads of clearance for a wide range of cooling options.

The included 120mm exhaust ought to be sufficient to manage the temperatures throughout the case for comparatively low-end builds. However I like to recommend including the price of not less than a few case followers to your finances in case you are planning to make use of this case for a mid- to high-end gaming or a manufacturing construct. There’s house to mount a few 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives on the ground, however you’ll have to go simple on them in the event you add followers on the backside like I did. Cooler Grasp’s Q300L V2 is an efficient various to contemplate in the event you’re looking for an mATX case that goes simple in your pockets. It is out there for $60 on Amazon, however it solely is available in one colour and does not supply the most effective clearance or radiator help. Lian Li’s O11 Air Mini can be a great various that comes with loads of bells and whistles, however it retails for over $100 and can be comparatively larger. You’ll be able to all the time contemplate shopping for an ATX case as an alternative, however remember that ATX/mid-towers will occupy much more house in your desk.