BitFenix Merc Alpha: Just How Much Can $39 Buy?
by Dustin Sklavos on October 5, 2011 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- mid-tower
- bitfenix
Noise and Thermal Testing, Stock
Honestly I'm not expecting miracles from the BitFenix Merc Alpha. It has one whole fan, a 120mm exhaust fan, and then ventilation in the side and top panels. That said, there's nothing about the internal layout that strays too far off the beaten path, so hopefully the fairly sensible design pays off.
That one exhaust fan is doing the best it can and by and large, the Merc Alpha's middle-of-the-pack thermals really aren't bad at all. Ambient temperatures look to be a bit high, but at least the Merc Alpha can hang.
Noise is in the same category. Surprisingly that single 120mm fan responds well to the fan control of our test motherboard, and is remarkably quiet on its own. Individuals looking for a quiet enclosure on the cheap might actually be well served by the Merc Alpha's slightly more closed off twin, the Merc Beta.
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ckryan - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
BitFenix is company I'd never heard of before recently, but it looks like they're going for the mainstream case segment jugular. If nothing else, it's nice to have an inexpensive case with competence standard and not optional.Dustin Sklavos - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
They really are. I'm fond of saying they're young and hungry, but it's true. Their stuff is stellar.SunLord - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Not to mention the lack of gaudy and cheesy over the top "gamer" case bling on the outside and lack of fail on the inside like alot of other cases. I can't stand all the BS most new cases come with. I got a FT2 for a reason though my old case is a Thermaltake Armor+MonkeyPaw - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
I just bought a Diablotek EVO case for $45, and I must say I was surprised at how nice it was. It has a few minor design flaws, but quality was pretty good (solid feeling) at the price point. In fact, it has a lot in common with this model on the inside, and it doesn't look like a nerd warrior case on the outside.venomblade - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Bitfenix is awesome! The White Shinobi Window is such a sexy case.futurepastnow - Thursday, October 6, 2011 - link
Yeah, same here.This is really a nice looking case (although I prefer a solid, rather than vented or windowed, side panel). None of the gaudy, flashy bits that usually mar inexpensive cases.
I've never had a truly tool-free case, so maybe I don't know what I'm missing, but I don't mind having to break out the screwdriver to replace a drive.
StealthX32 - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Party like it's 1999!Glad to see someone is interested in serving the budget segment (again).
StealthX32 - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Although come to think of it, $39 used to get you a power supply with the case...dertechie - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Mind, those PSUs would likely explode if you actually tried to pull anything close to their rated power.MarkLuvsCS - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
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