ASUS ProArt PA401 Wood Edition Review: Computer Case for Connoisseurs

I won’t beat around the bush – the ASUS ProArt PA401 Wood Edition case turned out to be so unusual and puzzling to me that I only realized its main feature, as stated in the name, towards the end of my experience. This doesn’t mean the case is bad; in fact, it has a lot of features – not just pleasant ones, but some that are nearly unique. It simply means that its format will be hard for me to explain and position properly for the right audience.

Specifications

• Expansion slots: 7
• Upward radiator support: up to 240mm
• Cooling support (front): 2×160 mm/2×140 mm
• Cooling support (top): 2×140 mm/2×120 mm
• Cooling support (rear): 120 mm
• Pre-installed fans (front): 2×160 mm
• Pre-installed fans (rear): 120 mm
• Maximum height of the CPU cooler: 160 mm
• Maximum length of the GPU: 315 mm
• Maximum length of the power supply: 170 mm
• Removable dust filters: bottom, front, top
• Dimensions: 412×225×503 mm
• Weight: 8.61 kg

Price and equipment

And the target audience does need to be the right one, because it’s very specific. Like all products in the ProArt line, this case costs more than typical alternatives – it’s aimed at specialists and professionals who are willing to pay around $250 for a mid-tower chassis. That puts the PA401 among the most expensive mid-tower cases I’ve reviewed.

The case comes packaged in a box with foam spacers for protection. There’s a separate external box that includes additional accessories – among them, a vertical GPU mounting bracket, screws, motherboard standoffs, and cable ties.

External appearance

The design of the ASUS ProArt PA401 Wood Edition was recognized with a Red Dot Award in 2025 – and rightfully so. It strikes a balance between functionality and elegance. Like most ProArt components, it features rounded edges and a dark gray base color. ASUS doesn’t shy away from branding either, using both text and graphic logos prominently.

And let me say right away – the elevation of the feet is higher than I expected. Subjectively, it feels nearly twice as tall as on many Full Tower cases I’ve reviewed in the past. Both the I/O panel and the top mesh (made from a single sheet of perforated metal) are elegantly executed. The pattern on the front panel is also easy on the eyes – refined, and you can immediately spot the fine dust mesh behind it.

Oddly enough, it’s the design of the case that gives me the biggest issue. Just take a closer look at the reinforcement ribs on the front panel – they’re made of wood. Very very dark wood, specifically ash, which – even under studio lighting – looks 99% like regular plastic. But as you can imagine, it costs significantly more.

In my opinion, if you’re going to make the front panel out of wood, then make it look like wood – because telling ash apart from plastic is incredibly difficult. If they had used a lighter type of wood, like oak or white acacia, it would have added both uniqueness and elegance to the PA401. And that would’ve been a real advantage, considering that wood itself doesn’t offer any practical benefit, say, for cooling performance.

Fans and compatibility

It’s not like the ASUS ProArt PA401 Wood Edition needs any help in the cooling department – the thermal performance here is actually quite solid. Let’s start with the fans: you get two 160 mm units on the front panel and one 120 mm unit at the rear. The 160 mm models are labeled ASUS DF1603212RFMN and spin at up to 1400 RPM, while the 120 mm fan is a DF1202812RFLN with a max speed of 1600 RPM.

There isn’t much public information available about these fans, but at maximum speed, they are relatively loud – though the hum is low-pitched and not piercing. What really stands out is the impressive airflow they generate, which contributes significantly to the case’s overall cooling efficiency.

Also included is a 5-port PWM hub powered via SATA, allowing you to control fan speed either from the front panel or directly through the motherboard. However, there’s no RGB control – neither via a dedicated button nor through the hub itself.

Fan compatibility is fairly standard: you can mount two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans on the top, and two 120 mm or 140 mm fans in the front (if you remove the included 160 mm units). The bigger limitation, however, is liquid cooling support – radiators longer than 240 mm or thicker than 30 mm simply won’t fit. And even the 240 mm radiator can only go on top; the front panel offers no mounting options at all. That’s a surprising drawback, especially considering the overall relatively modest component compatibility for a case in this price range.

The case has 7 PCIe expansion slots, with the option to install a vertical GPU module. It is compatible with ATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX motherboards. The maximum height for the CPU cooler is 160 mm, the maximum PSU length is 170 mm, and the maximum GPU length is 315 mm.

Pleasant details

Now, onto the genuinely positive aspects. Where ASUS could have thought through the design carefully, they did. For instance, the tempered glass has polypropylene spacers attached – the same type are also affixed to the case itself to prevent any damage to the glass.

The bottom dust filter is mounted on rails, making it easy to slide in and out. The rear panel is fully perforated, ensuring unrestricted airflow, and there’s an air vent below the front fans to help direct the air. There’s plenty of space and options for cable management at the back, although I wouldn’t mind seeing some silicone grommets for added neatness.

There are even two mounting spots for 3.5-inch drives in the bottom cage, along with a perforated mount for a couple of 2.5-inch drives. The case also features release buttons for the left and right panels. However, the most unique feature of the ASUS ProArt PA401 Wood Edition, in my opinion, is the set of locking buttons. I found three of them – one locks the side panel, another locks the top panel, and the third locks the power and reset buttons.

I’ll highlight the front panel separately, and not without pleasure. It features two USB-A 5Gbps ports, as well as a 20Gbps Type-C port. Additionally, there’s a hybrid mini-jack, a reset button, power button, a lock switch for the two latter buttons, and a fan speed switch, allowing you to toggle between maximum and automatic settings.

Another nice feature is that the control buttons are integrated into a single module, rather than being split into multiple small contacts like in most other cases.

Recommendations

Since the ASUS ProArt PA401 Wood Edition is designed for a very careful and thoughtful selection of components, I’ll share my recommendations for what I personally see as suitable for this build. First of all, forget about liquid cooling, and premium tower coolers might present issues due to limited clearance for high-end models – the sweet spot starts at 161 mm.

In my opinion, at least a horizontal tower cooler will be necessary, preferably one with two fans. We’ve previously reviewed such a model. As for the top section, instead of radiators, I recommend installing two 140 mm fans, but not for exhaust, rather for intake.

The reason for using intake fans at the top is that if you set them for exhaust, the airflow might not reach the CPU cooler properly. Additionally, this setup will provide more airflow to the GPU. With the ASUS ProArt PA401 Wood Edition, I recommend building a PC focused primarily on the GPU. For example, you could go for a B650E-E Gaming Wi-Fi motherboard, with multiple SSDs and other peripherals, creating a rendering station.

Conclusions

This case is not universal and could certainly be better, especially when considering its price. As I mentioned earlier, the audience for this case is small but serious.

That said, this audience will greatly appreciate the compactness, overall design, thoughtful features, and tricks that make assembly much easier, as well as the excellent pre-installed fans. For this specific group, I can confidently recommend the ASUS ProArt PA401 Wood Edition.

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