In case you are a daily reader of KitGuru you’ll know that we normally convey you critiques and showcases of a number of the newest high-end {hardware}. However not everybody needs the most costly, premium parts so there are occasions that we dial it again a bit and have a look at some extra inexpensive and finances gear. Right this moment’s assessment is of a type of cheaper bits of {hardware}, It’s a case that prices underneath 80 Euros, it comes with 4 ARGB followers and helps some high-end {hardware}. However is the Chieftec Hunter 2 actually good worth for cash? Let’s discover out.
Watch the video by way of our VIMEO Channel (Beneath) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:51 Pricing and availability
02:06 Options
02:57 Entrance I/O & RGB lighting
03:58 Adjustments between V1 and V2
04:23 A more in-depth look – stripping it down
06:19 The Followers
06:36 Dimensions / radiator help
09:11 PSU space / cable administration
10:25 Motherboard tray / house
10:51 Rear and flip aspect of case
11:57 Energy provide shroud storage
13:15 Ground of the case
14:29 Take a look at System
15:50 Thermal Efficiency
16:50 Equipment
17:45 James ideas on the case
20:38 Total high quality dialogue
The Chieftec Hunter 2 is an up to date model of the unique Hunter that includes some delicate modifications and additions. The entrance panel has been reworked to incorporate a bigger centre mesh part with added brushed aluminium panels on both aspect. One of many entrance panel USB Sort-A ports has been sacrificed for USB Sort-C and the PSU shroud window cut-out has been changed with a full cowl PSU shroud. These all sound like worthwhile modifications and additions.
Some options stay the identical within the Hunter 2 that have been within the unique, such because the ARGB followers, there are 4 120mm ARGB followers included with the case, and they’re branded as Chieftec SF1225RGB-C1. Additionally included with the Hunter 2 is a five-port ARGB hub which has two further LED strip ports, an Aura Sync port, 5 fan energy ports and is powered by a SATA energy connection. It’s a compact mid-tower that helps an honest array of {hardware} comparable to graphics playing cards as much as 320mm lengthy, CPU coolers as much as 170mm tall and motherboards as much as ATX format.
Chieftec Hunter 2 Options:
- The Hunter 2 comes outfitted with 4 rainbow ARGB followers, three pre-installed within the entrance panel and one within the rear exhaust mount.
- A full-length mesh panel masking the centre of the entrance panel with brushed aluminium aspect trim accents.
- The tempered glass aspect panel is hinged for straightforward entry and requires no instruments to open or take away fully.
- Included is an ARGB fan Hub with 5 ARGB Ports, two RGB strip connections, one Aura Sync port and fan velocity by way of voltage management with 5 ports.
- USB Sort-C entrance panel connectivity has been added as an improve from the unique Hunter which had two USB Sort-A ports solely.
Specs:
- Case Sort: Compact Mid-Tower
- Dimensions: 408mm x 210mm x 464mm
- Materials: 0.5mm SPCC and tempered glass panel (aspect)
- Motherboard Help: ATX, mATX, Mini ITX
- Enlargement Slots: 7
- Storage Bays: 2x 3.5” (or 1x 2.5” , 1x 3.5”) and 2x 2.5”
- Max GPU Size: 170mm
- Max CPU Cooler Peak:
- Max PSU Size: 320mm
- Fan Help: 2x 140mm or 3x 120mm (Entrance), 2x 140mm or 2x 120mm (Prime), 1 x 120mm (Rear)
- Pre-installed followers: (Entrance): 3x 120mm A-RGB rainbow, (Rear) 1x 120mm A-RGB Chieftec SF1225RGB-C1
- Radiator Help: as much as 360mm / 280mm (Entrance)
- Mud Filters: Prime, Backside
- Font I/O: 1x Sort-C, 1x USB3.1 Gen 1, Audio-out (AZALIA / HD-Audio), Mic-In, RGB Brightness Button, RGB Modes Button
Thermal Efficiency Testing
To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Pace Manner stress take a look at concurrently in a loop for 60 minutes to totally load the system. This provides the CPU and GPU sufficient time to achieve fixed steady-state temperature. With this information, we are able to examine how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise ranges.
Thermal efficiency is measured with the case in varied 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 offered as Deltas – that means the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Information proven within the charts characterize the common element temperature over the size of the take a look at as measured by HWiNFO after which the final quarter-hour of the info are calculated to get the common. The ambient temperature throughout thermal assessments is between 19-21⁰C.
Take a look at System Specification:
Thermal Efficiency Overview
The Chieftec Hunter 2 does an OK job of maintaining high-end parts cool. The Core i7-12700K sits fortunately at round 50-55°C common delta underneath heavy load with the case in varied configurations. It is not so good as a number of the instances that we have now examined with this CPU, however contemplating it is solely a 240mm AIO cooling the CPU it is high-quality.
GPU temperature is suitable with the case in its default configuration, nevertheless, eradicating the tempered glass aspect panel permits for extra GPU airflow which signifies that GPU runs cooler and quieter. Including followers to the PSU shroud additionally gives a major enchancment in GPU core temperature however total, the Hunter 2 does an honest job of cooling the high-end system that we used.
Closing Ideas
Priced at round 70 – 80 Euros the Chieftec Hunter 2 simply squeezes into the finances PC case market however it’s priced on the excessive finish of the finances vary. There are instances less expensive than this, they might not all include as many followers and an ARGB fan hub that’s as succesful because the one discovered within the Hunter 2 however that is the Hunter 2’s competitors. I’ve checked out a number of finances instances through the years and I wasn’t overly impressed with the construct high quality and formally supported specs of the Hunter 2 in contrast with options which might be on the market.
The construct high quality of the Hunter 2 isn’t nice, the sheet metal that the chassis body and aspect panels are manufactured from is kind of skinny at simply 0.5mm. This implies that there’s a lot of flex within the chassis body and the metal aspect panel. The tempered glass aspect panel is hinged and requires no instruments to open or take away fully which is sweet however it has an affordable really feel to it. The glass thickness is roughly 2-2.5mm and the magnetic catch mechanism is kind of weak. In case you shut it a bit of too briskly it bounces again and doesn’t maintain on to the magnets.
After we obtained the assessment pattern of the Hunter 2, the official specs sheet listed solely as much as 280mm entrance radiator help and no high radiator help. After testing a number of 360mm AIO radiators within the entrance of the case I discovered that all of them match high-quality with out inflicting any interference with different parts, so it appears odd that 360mm radiator help was not formally listed. I reached out to Chieftec about this, they investigated it internally and have since up to date the official specs on their web site to incorporate 360mm entrance radiator help.
So as to add to that, I additionally discovered that putting in a 240mm AIO within the roof of the case is feasible however could rely on the AIO, motherboard and reminiscence configuration. Connecting EPS energy and different cables to the highest of the motherboard should be carried out earlier than putting in a high AIO, however it does match fairly comfortably and causes no interference with different parts. Additionally lacking from the official specs is help for PSU-mounted 120mm followers, there are fairly clearly two 120mm fan mountings on high of the PSU however it’s not listed within the official spec or on the Chieftec web site anyplace.
However with these negatives apart the Hunter 2 does provide some good factors comparable to respectable thermal efficiency, 4 included RGB followers and the ARGB/Fan management hub. Nonetheless, the followers are solely 3-pin voltage velocity management, not PWM, the number of completely different RGB lighting results from the hub is sweet however the implementation of the RGB within the followers is the very best, there’s a variety of mild bleed and you’ll see the construction of the fan blade hub too so it doesn’t look nice. So there’s nonetheless heaps to enhance on in a possible Hunter 3 for Chieftec.
The Chieftec Hunter 2 is not out there within the UK proper now, however it may be picked up throughout Europe for round 70-80 Euros. You’ll find the very best value HERE.
Focus on on our Fb web page HERE.
Professionals:
- Comes with 4 ARGB followers and a five-port ARGB and fan management hub.
- Helps extra options than what’s listed within the official specs.
Cons:
- Minimize out on the high proper is small – troublesome to get two EPS cables by.
- Construct high quality is poor – very skinny metal means there may be a variety of flex within the chassis and exterior panels.
- Tempered glass panel is skinny – approx 2-2.5mm, swings closed very abruptly and does not maintain nicely on the magnetic catches.
- Alignment of motherboard standoffs just isn’t good.
- Aspect cable minimize out small – solely simply in a position to push the 24-pin cable connector by.
- Value is excessive for the standard.
- Necessary options lacking from the spec sheet however are potential – comparable to 360mm entrance radiators and high AIO set up.
- Motherboard standoff interferes with the ARGB hub.
KitGuru says: I might not contemplate the Chieftec Hunter 2 as a real fanatic case with the problems, construct high quality and lack of official {hardware}/cooling help however it might be one which we see used usually by system integrators as it would provide higher worth to them with the included equipment such because the followers and RGB hub, however it’s not one which I might contemplate shopping for in its present state.
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