BitFenix Aurora Review

Performance Analysis

The CPU delta T result of 52°C is very good for a single-fan chassis. We've long said that the rear exhaust fan mount is the best one to use if you only have one fan to play with and with a half-decent CPU cooler you shouldn't have any issues with this case. Better yet, the rear fan is very quiet even at full speed.


The GPU result, meanwhile, is nothing special, although the Aurora is joined by many other cases with its 53°C result, which suggests that while it isn't doing a whole lot to boost GPU cooling, it's not getting too much in the way of it either. A slight negative pressure setup will help to draw air in from the front and again if you have a good GPU cooler you shouldn't be concerned.

Conclusion

BitFenix's attempt to bring tempered glass to a lower than usual price point has had mixed results. Those panels are easily the case's best feature, but even there we have concerns about their scratch-resistance and believe the left side panel is too heavily tinted, although it could look great with additional lighting. This brings us onto our main criticism, which is the lack of RGB lighting compared to what you might expect. It just seems odd to have only a tiny SSD light in a case with a lighting-based name, RGB LED control and Asus Aura certification. Thankfully, Overclockers UK seems to agree, and its bundling of a 30cm RGB LED strip boosts the case's appeal and value for money considerably. Given how dark the side panel is, you really do need more internal lighting to make the most of this case, and this offer saves you having to shell out extra for this.


Another issue is that build quality is pretty average or poor when you discount the side panels. Perhaps it's a little unfair to do that since they are a key feature and selling point, but truly without those panels the case feels like it should cost about £30 less. Non-removable front and roof dust filters, a fussy system for the filter on the bottom, foam feet and relatively thin steel and plastic all contribute to this impression. That said, in terms of design and usability the Aurora does a lot right, although nothing revolutionary – the removable drive cages, consideration for custom water-cooling and cable routing are all positives.

In the end, the Aurora feels like a case that doesn't quite know what it wants to be, or rather is trying to be too many conflicting things at once. Tempered glass and RGB lighting are neat features, but they seem to have been shoehorned awkwardly into a considerably less expensive chassis than these features would normally be suggestive of. We were not going to recommend this case, but Overclockers UK has thrown a spanner into the works. While there are sacrifices in having tempered glass and RGB lighting in a sub-£100 case, as outlined above, the Aurora does offer a fairly unique proposition aesthetically speaking for its price. As such, while it's not our usual approach, the Recommended badge below applies only if you're buying the specified bundle through OCUK - and, of course, if the case's style appeals. Otherwise, the Aurora doesn't make much sense given the extra money you'd need to spend to maximise its potential.