Cougar FV270 Review

CONS

• Heavy to lift
• EATX installations preclude using card brace
• Noisy when placed to left of user
• Just one fan included, and no controller or hub

COUGAR FV270 SPECS

The Cougar Gaming FV270 PC case is spacious enough to accommodate a 13-inch Extended ATX (EATX) motherboard, but it lacks the necessary provisions to secure its front edge. This chassis offers a unique two-piece wraparound glass design, adding a twist to the typical premium-market case. While it provides ample room for most premium PC builds, the unconventional airflow aesthetic may not be immediately appealing. However, if you are drawn to high-visibility cases, the FV270 may be a suitable option.

Design: A Turn for the Better?

The standout feature of this design is the three-quarters wraparound-glass front panel. Cougar’s case engineers strategically angled the side-panel air inlet towards the center of the case’s interior to minimize airflow turbulence. Additionally, the chassis is supported by a tapered foot that tilts the face and top of its predominantly rectangular shape towards the rear. The lower part of the front section is also inclined upwards, resulting in a greater distance from the angled foot.

The upturned nose, so to speak, has been created to facilitate the opening of a hinged dust filter. The area above it is distinct from the remainder of the enclosure and will become more intricate as we explore the other characteristics of the FV270.

The upper ports consist of a pair of USB 3 Type-A ports connected by a Gen 1 cable and a single Type-C port connected by a Gen 2×2 cable. Next in line is a four-pole headset combo jack, along with reset and power buttons. An opening in the power button allows the light from a power-on indicator LED to shine through.

The port section of the top panel does not have the same inward angle as other parts of the case’s nose. This is somewhat disappointing as the top of the case slightly tilts away from the user.

The port section of the top panel lacks the inward angle seen in other areas of the case’s nose. This is a bit disappointing considering the slight tilt of the top of the case away from the user.

There is a 140mm/120mm fan mount located at the rear with slots that provide up to 1.5 inches of vertical adjustment for the fan. In the PCI Express card area, there is a removable seven-slot expansion-card panel that can be rotated to accommodate vertical placement of graphics cards. The PSU mount is a dual-pattern mount that enables full-size ATX PSUs to be flipped over and re-mounted as needed. Additionally, there is a pull tab extending from the power supply inlet’s dust filter.

At the back, you will find a 140mm/120mm fan mount with slots that offer up to 1.5 inches of vertical adjustment for the fan. In the PCI Express card section, there is a removable seven-slot expansion-card panel that can be rotated to support vertical placement of graphics cards. The PSU mount is a dual-pattern mount that allows full-size ATX PSUs to be flipped over and re-mounted if necessary. A pull tab protrudes from the power supply inlet’s dust filter.

The steel side panel features vents along the bottom, all of which are protected by an internal dust filter. The same goes for the vents on the right front panel.

The air intake dust filter previously discussed is of considerable length, as illustrated below.

Lifting the ventilated top panel exposes a metal mesh dust filter attached to the case below using magnetic strips. Taking out the mesh filter exposes a fan mount with three different patterns, capable of accommodating either two 140mm fans or three 120mm fans. The third pattern allows for extra motherboard space to accommodate 360mm radiator systems.

Despite the fact that the top-panel mounting surface of the case measures only about 410mm in length, there is sufficient space below the removable fan mount to accommodate radiators up to 438mm long, provided that the builder is willing to forgo the mount’s removability. This setup offers approximately 57mm of radiator and fan space above the top edge of the motherboard, and utilizing the outer mounting pattern also grants builders 57mm of horizontal clearance. This is crucial as our endeavor to utilize the inner mounting pattern resulted in our liquid cooler’s radiator interfering with our EPS12V cables.

The FV270 features a motherboard tray designed to accommodate reversed cable connectors for both ATX and MicroATX motherboards, such as the Asus BTF or MSI Project Zero boards. Additionally, there is an extra row of cable passages located behind a cable shroud. However, if you decide to install an enthusiast-class EATX board with a standard depth (typically 10.6 to 10.8 inches), you will need to remove the cable shroud. Unfortunately, this means losing the slot mount for the case’s pre-installed graphics card brace that the shroud provides.

The side radiator mount features a central flat that measures 317mm from top to bottom. Builders with 280mm-format radiators that are longer than this measurement can utilize the fans as spacers to reach the full height of 355mm inside the interior.

The lower part of the case is divided into two separate sections, one for the PSU and the other for the front vent. Each section has its own dust filter. The steel panel of the PSU section can be removed with a single thumbscrew and has holes for installing the vertical card brace, as well as slots for fans and cable passage. On the other hand, the front section has a plastic cover that holds an intake fan, with the frame on the intake side. The front face is attached using tabs on the closed side and a push latch on the open side.

The Cougar utilizes pogo-style connectors to facilitate the removal of its intake fan holder, showcasing its user-friendly design. Additionally, the hidden 2.5-inch drive mount in the PSU compartment becomes visible when both panels are removed.

At the rear of the motherboard tray, there is a drive tray with numerous perforations that is designed to accommodate either a single 3.5-inch drive or two 2.5-inch drives, covering the access hole for the CPU cooler’s support plate. Another tray, located over the power-supply bay’s exposed side, is capable of holding either a single 2.5-inch drive or a 3.5-inch drive.

Building With the Cougar FV270.

Cougar included an additional accessories package with this case, which we opted not to utilize for several reasons. Initially, the fans were similar to those found in a more expensive version of this device (the Cougar FV270 RGB), but they did not come with the FV270 RGB’s pre-installed fan hub. Additionally, the temperature rise resulting from swapping out the default intake fan for the alternative rotating platform could have been problematic if we had not installed the extra fans.

The base model FV270 comes with a riser-cable bracket for vertical-graphics-card installation, although the riser cable itself is not included. The standard kit includes six cable ties, four additional motherboard standoffs, a standoff hex-to-#2 Phillips screwdriver adapter socket, nine #6-32 and four M3 screws, and four shoulder screws with white grommets to reduce vibrations from mechanical drives in the PSU compartment. Additionally, the box contains two self-adhesive foam pads, a tear-open pack with M3 and Phillips/Hex power supply screws, a spare drive-cage screw, and an extra screw for the vertical-graphics-card bracket. There is no shortage of screw hardware included.

The cables are comprised of a PWM fan and ARGB lead connected to the pogo connector, a nine-pin power/reset button/LED group, HD Audio for the front panel’s headset combo jack, a 19-pin USB 3.x header cable for the Type-A ports, and a Gen 2×2 lead for the Type-C port.

Upon examining the buildout using our test components, it is evident that there is ample space in the FV270’s interior for additional components. The full ATX motherboard and 12-inch-long triple-slot graphics card do not take up all the available space, allowing creative builders to incorporate other elements seamlessly.

The FV270 model does not come with built-in lighting, however, the air guide surrounding its one ARGB fan effectively spreads light across the front section. Incorporating extra RGB fans will enhance the overall aesthetic appeal within a case of this scale and interior transparency.

Testing the Cougar FV270.

The Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero has been integrated into our recent case reviews to update our current case testing platform. Here is an overview of the components we utilize.

Despite having only one intake fan, the FV270 managed to maintain a CPU temperature that closely follows the fan-packed Cooler Master MasterBox 600. The lack of factory fans has a greater impact on graphics cooling, causing both it and the fanless Thermaltake CTE E600 MX to struggle. (The solution to this issue is straightforward: Install additional fans.)

The FV270 stands out as the quietest case we have tested from this perspective, thanks to the wraparound glass section that deflects fan noise away from our SPL meter. On the contrary, the vents on the opposite panel produce high decibel numbers when measured from the other side. Those who enjoy viewing their internal components will appreciate the transparent side panel that helps block out a significant amount of operating noise.

Verdict: Throwing a Curve.

Compared to other cases we have tested, positioning the FV270 can be a bit challenging. Most cases at a similar price point have supported at least one 420mm-format radiator, but using a 360mm radiator instead is still suitable for most builds. The wraparound glass is a nice feature that complements the FV270’s price. If you are willing to invest in this premium chassis and like its appearance, there is little reason to not give it a try. However, keep in mind the additional cost of more fans or consider Cougar’s pricier RGB version of the case to enhance the interior visibility.