BitFenix Colossus Review

Results Analysis

Because the BitFenix Colossus ships with only two 230mm fans (a front intake and a roof exhaust) we re-orientated the Gelid Tranquillo CPU cooler to exhaust air upwards, towards the roof exhaust fan. Even with this modification, we found that the Colossus delivered very poor cooling in comparison to the competition. With the fans at full speed we saw a CPU Delta T of a whopping 69°C under load. With the fans cut to their lowest speed via the front panel speed control, the temperature climbed further still to 73°C, only a few degrees below our overclocked CPU’s Tjunction maximum safe temperature.

Graphics card temperatures fared a little better thanks to the airflow from the front intake, but with a load delta T of 43°C with the case’s fans at full speed and of 45°C at minimum speed the Colossus is still some 9°C off the best cooling out there and puts the Colossus at the bottom of our cooling graphs.

However, while the thermal results were disappointing, those 230mm fans were very quiet throughout - even at full speed we struggled to hear them over the background hum of our labs. There’s always a compromise when balancing cooling and noise levels, and with the Colossus it’s clear that low noise has been prioritised ahead of chart topping cooling.

Conclusion

The best thing about new companies entering a market is the new ideas that they bring with them, and BitFenix has packed a fair few into the Colossus. The lighting in particular looks fantastic, and is on par with a top-quality mod - it gives the Colossus a unique image all of its own. Similarly, the little touches on the exterior such as the lockable cubbyhole that hids the front panel connections, and the cable routeing that makes sure you can still use those front panel ports, are great additions.

Crucially for a new case manufacturer, the build quality is very good too. The steel chassis is very solid (and very heavy to match) and the exterior soft-touch finish is a practical and well implemented choice. While some of the tool-less fittings inside aren’t perfect, the expansion slot retention levers are top notch and we came away from our time with the Colossus confident that it’ll last any owner through plenty of upgrades.

However, with a price tag of £130, the Colossus faces incredibly fierce competition. Silverstone’s £100 Raven RV02 remains a tempting choice, as does the NZXT Phantom, both of which offer individual looks and superior cooling to the Colossus. The Colossus is a 'look at it and love it' kind of case though, and with it’s solid feature set and great, back-lit looks it should draw a dedicated set of fans.

The Colossus is a strong first showing from BitFenix. The fantastic, unique looks, solid build quality and range of great little touches make it a fine début. Only the high CPU temperatures prevent the case from winning an award, but while you can add a fan to a case, you'd need to do a lot of work to make any other case look as striking as the Colossus.

• Cooling
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 5/10

• Features
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• 9/10

• Design
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• 9/10

• Value
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

• Overall
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• 7/10

Score Guide