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One of the most striking features of the MSI MAG Forge 100R is the large unrestrictive mesh front panel that almost spans the entire length of the case front. This certainly looks like it will flow air very efficiently, so internal system temperature should be easily kept under control.
The front panel unclips from the chassis with a sharp tug from the bottom and ventilation is manufactured from perforated metal sheet mesh. There is no additional dust filtration behind the mesh and it doesn’t seem as though the front panel has been designed to easily remove the mesh for cleaning.
Behind the mesh front panel are two 120mm addressable RGB fans equipped with 4-pin PWM cables for fan speed control and standard 3-pin 5V motherboard ARGB connections. The addressable RGB fans have white opaque blades, a black outer frame with rubberised anti-vibration mounting points.
At the top of the case, set back from the front panel is the front I/O. This consists of two USB 3.0 ports, 3.5mm HD audio jacks for headphones and microphone, power and reset buttons, as well as a simple LED button for controlling RGB lighting.
Positioned further back from the front I/O is a large vented area covered with a magnetic perforated metal mesh dust filter. Removing the dust filter reveals an air vent with larger perforations and allows access to the top panel fan/radiator mounts, with spacing available for fixing either two 120mm or 140mm fans here.
Approximately 80% of the left-hand side panel is made up of mildly tinted tempered glass, which is attached to the chassis via four thumbscrews. These thumbscrews have quite a shallow head which makes them little difficult to remove by hand from the factory.
The thumbscrews have rubber anti-vibration grommets to reduce any potential noise coming from the glass panel, this also helps to locate the panel in the correct position when fitting. Below the tempered glass panel is the power supply shroud which has an MSI MAG logo design in a darker shade of black with a slight satin effect sheen to it.
Around the back of the case are seven PCIe expansion slots, typical of mid-tower chassis, as well as a power supply mount at the bottom. Towards the top of the rear panel is a cut out for the motherboard rear I/O and a 120mm fan mount with adjustable sliding positioning.
The underside of the chassis features four large plastic feet with anti-vibration rubbers, this should allow ample airflow to the power supply. Access to the 3.5-inch HDD cage mounting screws is available toward the front of the underside, and at the rear is a vent for the power supply fan which is equipped with a removable perforated metal mesh dust filter.
