MSI MAG Forge 100R Case Review

1. Introduction2. MSI MAG Forge 100R: Exterior3. MSI MAG Forge 100R: Interior4. System Installation5. Testing Methodology: Thermals/Acoustics6. Performance and Comparisons7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

With its two pre-installed addressable RGB fans, RGB hub, tempered glass side panel and support for multiple radiator installation, you would be forgiven for thinking that the MSI MAG Forge 100R case may come sporting a premium price tag. This is not so, in fact, the MAG Forge 100R is an extremely cost-effective solution when you consider all these features.

We have come across many affordable PC cases around the price range of the MSI MAG Forge 100R with features such as tempered glass panels and integrated RGB lighting. However, with many of the other cases in this price bracket, there is usually an area of the design that lets the case down, such as poor build quality or a lack of hardware support.

The Forge 100R doesn’t suffer from these issues and is a genuinely very impressive compact mid-tower chassis. Building a system inside the Forge 100R was a pleasure, there was only one or two very minor issues we came across during the installation and these were easy problems to overcome.

As well as offering a solid platform to build a PC inside, the MAG forge 100R also provides excellent support or a wide range of hardware. The spacious interior allows the installation of up to standard ATX size motherboards and high-end graphics cards. Both the front panel and roof of the case support the installation of radiators/AIO CPU coolers up to 240mm long or multiple 120mm and 140m fans.

MSI has not skimped out on cable management either, there are several cable cut-outs around the motherboard tray and all these cut-outs are placed exactly where you would expect them. At the back of the motherboard tray, there is approximately 20mm of space for cable management which was more than enough for us to neatly tie down cables, which in turn produced a tidy looking end product.

The addition of two addressable RGB fans adds a little style to the front of the case and an integrated RGB hub allows the connection of more RGB components, which can then be directly synchronised with the pre-installed fans and lighting colours or patterns controlled by a simple button on the front I/O panel, something that is very convenient.

With the huge mesh front panel design, it is pretty obvious that MSI set out to prioritise airflow and internal temperature of components with the MAG Forge 100R. During our thermal performance testing, we found that the MAG Forge 100R keeps system temperature well under control in its default configuration and removing panels has no real effect on system temperature, which is proof that the front panel is doing its job perfectly.

Taken as a whole, the MSI MAG Forge 100R is a genuinely good all-round compact mid-tower chassis. Its appearance may not be suitable for a workstation type build, but we would certainly recommend this case for a budget or mid-range gaming PC, and think it would be very well suited to this type of scenario while being friendly on the wallet too.

The MSI MAG Forge 100R is available now and can be purchased from Overclockers UK for £59.99 HERE. Additionally, MSI is running a promo where you can review the Forge 100R and receive £15 in Steam vouchers HERE.

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Pros

• Great value for money.
• Integrated RGB hub.
• Pre-installed RGB fans.
• Spacious interior.
• High flow front panel.

Cons

• Slight misalignment of PCIe screw holes.
• Limited to two 3.5-inch HDDs.

KitGuru says: The MSI MAG Forge 100R offers everything you should expect from an affordable mid-tower chassis and more, with the added bonus of RGB components, great radiator support and a very spacious interior that makes building a system inside it a joy. 

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