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MSI isn't really a name that comes to mind when thinking of PC case manufacturers, however with such a large range of products it makes sense that MSI have now added cases to their lineup. The MAG Vampiric 010 is an odd name for a case but the black and and grey colouration is meant to be based on Dracula's castle. You might be disappointed to find that a set of fangs aren't on the features list, however this case does have tempered glass, RGB lighting and a decent amount of cooling support all for a price that doesn't bite. At only £49.99 is the Vampiric 010 any good or is it a pain in the neck?
Specifications:
- MAG VAMPIRIC 010
- Weight: 7.4 KG
- Size: Mid-Tower
- IO Port Connectivity: 1 x USB 3.0 + 2 x USB 2.0 + HD Audio / Mic
- Drive bays: 2 x 3.5″ (compatible with 2.5”) + 2 x 2.5″
- Expansion slots: 7
- Radiator compatibility: 120 / 140 / 240 / 280 / 360
- Lighting: Addressable RGB
- Cooling: Front: 3 x 120 or 2 x 140 mm Top: 2 x 120 mm or 2 x 140 mm Rear: 1 x 120 mm
- Fans: 1 x 120mm addressable RGB LED fan included
- Motherboard support: ATX / mATX / Mini-ITX
- Dimensions: 420(D) x 210(W) x 475(H) mm
Test build components:
- Processor: Intel i5 9600K (Buy from OCUK HERE)
- Motherboard: MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC (Buy from OCUK HERE)
- Graphics card: MSI Gaming RTX 2070 (Buy from eBuyer HERE)
- CPU Cooler: MSI Core Frozr XL (Buy from OCUK HERE)
- Memory: Hyper X Predator DDR4 2933MHz Memory (Buy from OCUK HERE)
- Power Supply: Seasonic Focus Platinum 850PX (Buy from OCUK HERE)
Acoustic Performance:
When idle, the fan noise coming from the MAG Vampiric 010 is just about audible at 37.8 decibels. The included 120mm RGB fan & 140mm BeQuiet! fans that I installed in the case to provide additional airflow don't create much noise at all. While under heavy load there is a slight increase in noise to 39.2 decibels but this is a lot quieter than some other cases we have tested. Noise levels will obviously vary depending on components but the closed-off design of this case prevents too much noise escaping.
Cooling Performance:
Idle temperatures are 14C-16C above ambient, with the CPU sitting at 35C and the GPU idling at 37C. This is pretty much as expected and is the same temperature I see regularly with my case reviews featuring the same or similar components. To test how hot the components got inside the Vampiric under heavy load they were stress tested using AIDA64 and the UNIGINE Heaven benchmark for 10 minutes.
This puts the CPU & GPU load up to 100% meaning they both produce plenty of extra heat. The temperatures maxed out at 73C for the CPU and for the 73C for the GPU. These temperatures seemed slightly higher than I would expect to see, so I also tested the Vampiric with the front panel removed:
With the front panel removed the CPU and GPU both ran about 10C cooler. This confirms that my suspicions with the front of this case were correct and, despite the side vents, airflow is restricted.
Pros:
- Good price.
- Mystic light RGB lighting.
- Tempered glass side panel.
- Good cable management space.
- Easy to install components.
- Attractive design.
Cons:
- No front dust filter.
- Airflow is restricted.
- Panels are awkward to remove.
- Only includes one fan.
- Snap-off PCIe slot covers.
