Review of Cougar Airface ECO RGB Black/White case

As someone who has reviewed nearly all of the Cougar Duoface and Cougar Airface models, it was only a matter of time before I got around to reviewing the Cougar Airface ECO RGB. This case has THREE standout features, which I’ll break down in detail.

Video review of Cougar Airface ECO RGB

Specifications

• Case form factor: Mid Tower
• Motherboard Type: Mini ITX/Micro ATX/ATX/CEB/E-ATX
• Dimensions: 240×509×480 mm
• Peripheral panel: USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.0 Type-A ×2, 4-pin audio jack, RGB button
• 3.5″ slot: 2
• 2.5″ slot: 2
• Expansion slots: 7 (horizontal slots can be converted to vertical slots)
• Front fans: 120 mm ×3 / 140 mm ×2 / 180 mm ×2
• Fans on top: 120 mm ×3 / 140 mm ×2
• Fans at the back: 120 mm / 140 mm
• Front fans: 180mm ARGB PWM ×2, 300-1200 ±10% rpm
• Integrated fans at the rear: 120mm ARGB fan x1, 1000 ±10% rpm
• Maximum number of fans: 7
• RGB hub synchronisation with motherboard: yes
• Max. video card length: 390 mm
• Max. height of CPU cooler: 190 mm
• Max. length of the power supply: 200 mm

Market position and price

Let’s start with the price, as it’s the highest in the series. At least, the most expensive Airface I remember cost just under $120. The Cougar Airface ECO RGB, available in black and white, is priced at $170 or €155. Right now, the case is available at a 20% discount, but there’s no guarantee how long this price will hold.

Front panel

The question is—what are you getting for $170? As promised, there are three main points to cover. First, the front panel. It’s solid and thick, but it’s covered in mini nozzles that focus the airflow, resembling a rocket nozzle design.

Theoretically, if a negative pressure is created inside the case with the help of fans, the tight airflows would indeed be more directed and cause fewer disturbances. Fortunately, negative pressure is achieved even with the included 180mm fans.

Fans

Here’s a question for the manufacturer: why not use 160mm fans, like in the Cougar MX600 Mini RGB? In my review of the MX600 Mini RGB, I mentioned that the chances of seeing a 160mm replacement fan in retail would depend on sufficient demand. But how can we talk about sufficient demand when the very next model features 180mm fans? It’s a bit hard to focus on releasing non-standard sizes when there are two of them.

Here’s the good news— the 180mm fans, the CGR-180 model, have a power draw of over 5W, including both the motor and RGB lighting. For comparison, the newer 140mm SC140 ARGB model, which has side contacts for cable-free mounting, consumes about 3.5W with RGB. So, two 180mm fans draw roughly the same amount of power as 3 to 4 140mm RGB fans.

Next, a focused airflow is great, but it remains focused only until it meets the fan blades, after which it gets sliced up and continues as regular airflow. This happens even at the minimum speed of 300 RPM. The maximum speed is 1200 RPM, as these fans feature PWM control.

But what’s more important is this: the real effect of focused airflow can only occur where the air flows naturally through negative pressure, not through the fans. However, with the included 180mm models, there are no such spots, as the 180mm fans occupy the entire front panel.

More good news—unlike the MX600 Mini RGB, compatibility with standard-sized fans here is nearly perfect and doesn’t require any wizardry with 3D printers. The mounting plate is included separately in the package.

Read also: Cougar MX600 Mini RGB Case Review

In other words, up front, you can fit three 120mm fans or two 140mm ones. The top can accommodate the same amount. As for the rear, you can install either a 120mm or a 140mm fan.

A 120mm fan is included, by the way. This is one of the case’s weaker points, as it will likely be the loudest component in the cooling system.

Because, quite simply… my fridge is louder than the 180mm fans, even when they’re running at full speed. I’ll include a noise test in the video.

So, I’m not sure about the energy efficiency or eco-friendly angle, but the 180mm fans are the best I’ve seen included with a Cougar case. I wouldn’t replace them at all, because any other model would be less effective and noisier.

Cougar Airface ECO RGB peripherals

But let’s move on. The peripheral panel is the third unique feature of this case. Well, “unique” might be an overstatement—be quiet! has ONE case in the premium segment, priced about twice as high as the Airface ECO, where I’ve seen this feature. And even then, I haven’t seen it in person.

Yes, I’m talking about the ability to change the position of the front panel. It doesn’t just include a Type-C port, two Type-A ports, a 4-pin mini-jack, and two control buttons. The panel can also be installed either facing up or down on the side. Why?

Well, because you might want to place the case either on a desk or under it. Under the desk, it’s better to have the panel on top, while on the desk, it’s more convenient on the side. That’s all. The only catch is that the cables for the front panel of the Airface ECO RGB are directly mounted—they don’t connect via magnetic contacts or anything like that. So, think twice about whether you want to reroute all the cables through the case again if you change your mind and decide to place it, for example, on the desk.

Other features

Other nice features of the Cougar Airface ECO RGB include a 4mm thick glass panel and a symmetrical PCIe panel that can be flipped to mount the graphics card vertically.

Next, there’s a motherboard cable shroud and pre-installed support brackets for the graphics card.

The RGB control is also pre-installed. The 6-position hub only controls the lighting, not power or PWM. As usual, there are plenty of modes, and synchronization with the motherboard is supported. However, I’ll point out this: the front panel with turbo vents, even with the dust filter mesh installed, makes the RGB lighting modes quite polarized.

So, take a look at how the solid lighting looks through the front panel. It’s cool, stylish, contrasting, and bold.

And here’s how the RGB fading looks. Blurry, uncertain, timid. I’ve never seen something like this before, but I have to point it out.

When it looks as it should, it looks like a render from the website, not a real case. In other words, it looks absolutely amazing.

Next, the dust filter? It’s excellent from all sides. The bottom filter slides out, the top one is magnetic, and there’s a hard plastic frame that prevents the metal from bending when removing the filter. The front filter is pulled out by a tab, similar to the Zalman Z10. BUT! It’s done better here. First, it doesn’t fall out on its own. Second, notice the tab—it’s rubber, not plastic. So, when you lay the case on its side, you won’t break the tab.

As for other nice features, the hard drive setup is standard: two 3.5-inch drive bays in a sliding cage, and two 2.5-inch slots on the motherboard’s rear plate. The case supports motherboards in Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, CEB, and even E-ATX sizes. So, both large and small motherboards are supported.

CPU coolers up to 190mm fit here. For most models, that’s excessive, as even the largest Noctua coolers rarely exceed 170mm in height. The maximum PSU length is 200mm, and the maximum GPU length is 390mm.

Conclusions

This case isn’t revolutionary on its own. It’s not as “green” as the marketing campaign might suggest. But it’s definitely unique. It’s efficient. Silent—if you, of course, remove the 120mm fan at the back—and packed with features that justify its price, and even more. To fans of 420mm radiators, don’t worry. To everyone else, I recommend the Cougar Airface ECO RGB!

Read also:

• Cougar Uniface Mini RGB Mini Tower Case Review
• Cougar MX220 RGB Case Review
• Cougar Duoface Pro RGB Computer Case Review