Antec ISK600 Review

Performance Analysis

The CPU delta T result of 56°C isn't too impressive and places the ISK600 towards the bottom of our charts. It is on par with the older Cooler Master case, the Elite 120 Advanced, but the upgraded model is cooler by a whole 7°C. The same is true of the Fractal Node 304, which also has a similar shape and design. That said, the ISK600 is very quiet, and with the Node 304 on low speed it was actually a little warmer. The downdraft cooler we use also isn't optimal for the ISK600's rear exhaust fan – with a tower cooler directing air towards the rear exhaust would likely net you better performance here.


On the plus side, the GPU delta T of 51°C is much better, though the Node 304 still just about has it beat. Even so, it's a good result given that the GPU has no direct cooling, relying instead on its own fan to pull air through the vents. By this metric, it's the better case that the Cooler Master Elite cases, including the Elite 130, which runs 4°C warmer.

Conclusion

With a single quiet fan, you'd be silly to expect the ISK600 to be the coolest case around. We do wish Antec would have included a better and more versatile fan controller, but even so there's still enough cooling potential here to build a powerful mini-ITX gaming PC that looks the part too thanks to the aluminium shell and soft blue front LED. There's also room to install fairly hefty coolers in the case, so the CPU cooling performance really shouldn't be of much concern. The ISK600 also happens to be very well built and remarkably easy to work with, especially for a mini-ITX case – we particularly like the storage bays at the top.


Competition is stiff from both Cooler Master and Fractal. The former's Elite 130 costs less than £40 and has, but it lacks aluminium and is more cramped and harder to work with. Fractal's case has the better cooling, but it's also more expensive. The choice between them will come down to budget, looks and the exact hardware configuration you're using. However, specifically with the ISK600, Antec has produced a fine mini-ITX case at a reasonable price point, making it easy to recommend.