The Aerocool LS-5200 Case is a mid-tower case with three 3.5” bays, four 2.5” bays, a transparent window at the left panel, supporting up to three radiators, and costing only $35 USD. Let’s take a look at it.
The LS-5200 comes in black or white. Its left panel has a transparent window, and the right panel is solid.
Figure 1: Aerocool LS-5200 case
Figure 2: Aerocool LS-5200 case
Let’s take a closer look at the case in the next pages.
The front panel of the Couger LS-5200 is all meshed, as shown in Figure 3. Behing the mesh, there is a dust filter.
Figure 3: front panel
Removing the front panel (just pull it,) you see the room for up to three 120 mm fans or a radiator up to 360 mm. Here, there are two 120 mm fans with red LEDs (1200 rpm, 36.4 cfm, 26.5 dBA, 1.44 W.)
Figure 4: front panel removed
On the top of the front panel is the area with one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 ports, two switches that control up to four fans in two channels (off, low, and high positions,) earphone and microphone connectors, power button and status LEDs.
Figure 5: panel with LEDs, buttons, and connectors
The top panel has also a mesh with air filter.
Figure 6: top panel
Removing this panel you see room for two 120 mm or 140 mm fans, also fitting a radiator up to 280 mm.
Figure 7: top panel removed
[nextpage title=”The Bottom and Rear Panels”]
The bottom panel of the Aerocool LS-5200 has no openings for fans. However, it has an air filter for the power supply. This filter slides into a slot, being removable without the need to lift the case.
Figure 8: bottom panel
The rear panel of the Aerocool LS-5200 are painted in black. The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.
The product comes with a 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel (same of the front ones, but without the LEDs). This panel supports a fan (or a radiator) up to 140 mm.
There are no openings for external liquid cooling system hoses.
This case comes with eight expansion slots, with vented covers that must be broken in order for you to use them. There is a sliding system to hold expansion cards, but you still need to use regular screws to hold heavy video cards.
Figure 9: rear panel
Let’s now take a look inside the Aerocool LS-5200.
Each panel is attached to the chassis using two thumbscrews.
The motherboard tray has a huge cutout for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case, and holes for you to route cables behind it. There is a 1 inch (25 mm) clearance between the tray and the right panel to organize the cables.
The case supports ATX and smaller form factor motherboards.
There is a cover for the power supply compartment.
Figure 10: overall look
Figure 11: a view behind the motherboard tray
In Figure 12, we have another overall look inside the case.
The LS-5200 supports video cards up to 14.6” (371 mm) long. You can install CPU coolers up to 6.7” (170 mm) tall.
Figure 12: overall look
The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. It can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. As shown before, there is an air filter for the power supply fan.
You will be able to fit power supplies up to 7.9” (200 mm) deep.
There is no support for fan installation on the bottom panel of the case.
Figure 13: power supply compartment
[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]
The Aerocool LS-5200 has no 5.25” bays. There are three internal 3.5” bays (that can also fit 2.5” devices), and four internal 2.5” bays. The 3.5” must be installed (without screws) in plastic drawers shown in Figure 14.
Figure 14: 3.5” bays
Two 2.5” bays are located under the motherboard tray, as shown in Figure 15.
Figure 15: 2.5” bays
The other two 2.5” bays are located over the power supply compartment cover.
Figure 16: 2.5” bays
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
Figure 17 shows a complete PC built on the Aerocool LS-5200.
Figure
17: built
The Aerocool LS-5200 is roomy case, with nice look and excellent quality, focused on refrigeration: you can install up to three radiators, up to 360 mm on the front panel, up to 280 mm on the top panel, and up to 140 mm on the rear panel.
Being inexpensive for such a great case, we give it our Golden Award.
[amazon box=”B00VRKVTG6″][amazon box=”B01M1N0JPE”]
Strong Points
- Excellent cost/benefit ratio
- Great construction quality
- Good internal space
- Air filter for the power supply and front fans
- Supports three 3.5” and four 2.5” devices (or up to seven 2.5” drives if the 3.5” bays are unused)
- A huge cutout in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
- Holes and a good clearance for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
- Supports up to three radiators
- Fan controller
- Eight expansion slots
- Left panel with transparent window
Weak Points
- Only one USB 3.0 port at the front panel
- Expansion slot covers are not reusable
Leave a Reply