Xigmatek Utgard Case Review

Performance Analysis

We'll start of with an important note to those who are considering purchasing this case. As we alluded to earlier, the position of the fan on the hard disk caddy module makes a massive difference to GPU temperatures.

With the hard disk module placed out of line of the graphics card, the delta T was up to 10°C hotter - about the same as switching the fans from high speed to low speed. If you can, install the module directly in front of your graphics card.

Idle temperatures were a little on the warm side at both fan speed settings, but were within tolerable levels. With fans on full speed we saw an extra few °C of cooling and they were still pretty quiet. With the fans at low speed, the Utgard was extremely quiet indeed.

The CPU stress test was slightly below par, but even the best performing case here, the Silverstone FT01, only managed a delta T of 20°C - the Utgard was 7°C hotter with the delta T of 27°C with a majority of other cases falling between 23°C and 27°C. The difference between high and low speed was slight, so the case for using the fan controller to quieten those pretty fans a bit is valid.


Finally, the GPU stress test proved to be an easier ride for the Utgard. The GPU delta T of 42°C at high fan speed wasn't quite up there with the likes of the Antec Nine Hundred Two (35°C deta T at low speed), but it was a long way ahead of the Cooler Master CM 690 II (53°C delta T) and the Silverstone FT01 (48°C delta T).

Dropping the fan speeds to minimum saw the GPU temperature increase by 11°C - a significant amount, which saw the Utgard tumble down the results graph. Thankfully, the Utgard has two fan channels so we'd be tempted to have the front intake fan on one channel and set at full speed, and the two exhaust fans turned down a bit on the other channel. That configuration should provide the best balance between cooling and noise, though the fans were hardly loud, even at full speed.

Conclusion

At £69.99, the Xigmatek Utgard is great value, and would be a fantastic upgrade from a generic case or something that's showing its age. In terms of features, cooling and looks, the Utgard punches well above its price tag. It's a shame that fitting radiators in the roof cavity (which is designed to house them) isn't straightforward, thanks to the wrong 20mm fan spacing, but 15 minutes with a Dremmel can solve that problem.

There's room amongst the nine 5.25in drive bays for another radiator too, so if the fan spacing issue wasn't there, the Utgard would be one of the best sub-£100 cases for water-cooling. However, we'd have liked the option to install additional fans at the front of this case. Moving the hard disk caddy module and it's associated 120mm fan to accommodate large graphics cards means that graphics cooling is hampered.

The Utgard wasn't great at cooling, but has plenty of empty fan mounts for you to add more - there are two in the side panel and one in the floor. Thankfully, the Xigmatek XLF-F1253 120mm LED fans used in the Utgard cost less than £10, so adding a couple more isn't prohibitively expensive. As it stands though, the fact that you get two decent 120mm fans and an effective 170mm roof fan as standard is excellent for such a keenly priced case.

In fact, it's easy to forget that the Utgard costs only £70. Build quality is excellent, all its features work as advertised and it's not totally adverse to water cooling either. The list of advantages goes on; good looks, solid cooling and a two-channel fan controller make this a fantastic all-rounder with a very attractive price tag. It only loses points for a few fiddly features.

While the Antec Nine Hundred Two might have better cooling by default, and the Cooler Master CM 690 II Advance might be better at accepting a water-cooling loop without voiding its warranty, both of these cases cost £15-20 more than the Xigmatek Utgard. If you're looking for a bargain midi-tower case, this is it.

• Features
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• 9/10

• Build Quality
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• 9/10

• Ease of Use
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• -
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• 8/10

• Performance
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• 7/10

• Value
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• 10/10

• Overall
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• 9/10

Score Guide