BitFenix Ronin Case Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

The BitFenix Ronin is a mid-tower case with three 5.25” bays, six 3.5”/2.5” bays, support for 240/280 mm radiators, and a big transparent window at the left panel. Let’s take a look at it.

The BitFenix Ronin can only be found in black.

Figure 1: BitFenix Ronin case

Figure 2: BitFenix Ronin case

The BitFenix Ronin’s front and top panels have a “SofTouch” surface treatment, which gives them a rubber-like feel at touch.

Let’s take a closer look at the case in the next pages.

[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]

The front panel of the BitFenix Ronin has three 5.25” bays with solid covers. The lower half of the panel is meshed, and there are two strips of metal (also meshed) at the sides.

Figure 3: Front panel

The front panel can be easily removed just by pulling it. The front of the case’s metal structure can be seen in Figure 4. There is space for two 120 mm fans at the lower section, but only one of them (1000 rpm, 20 dBA, 43.5 cfm, 1.2 W) comes with the case, with an air filter. The case comes with a spare filter for use with the second fan, if you install one.

Figure 4: Front panel removed

Figure 5 shows the inner side of the front panel.

Figure 5: Front panel

[nextpage title=”The Top Panel”]

On the top panel, the case has the power and reset buttons, the audio jacks, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and status LEDs. The USB 3.0 ports use an internal connector.

Figure 6: Top panel

The top panel can also be removed just by pulling it. You can install one or two 120 mm or 140 mm fans under the plastic panel.

Figure 7: Top panel removed

[nextpage title=”The Bottom and Rear Panels”]

The bottom panel of the BitFenix Ronin has an air filter for the power supply fan and an optional bottom fan. This filter uses four small magnets to stay in place, which makes it easy to remove for cleaning, but on the other hand, makes it easy to fall off while you are transporting the case.

Figure 8: Bottom panel

Figure 9: Filter removed

The rear panel and the interior of the BitFenix Ronin are painted in black. The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.

This case comes with seven expansion slots (with vented covers), and two rubber-covered holes for external liquid cooling systems.

The product comes with a 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel (1000 rpm, 20 dBA, 43.5 cfm, 1.2 W). This fan can be replaced with a 92 mm model.

Figure 10: Rear panel

Let’s now take a look inside the BitFenix Ronin.

[nextpage title=”Inside the BitFenix Ronin”]

Both panels are attached to the chassis using black thumbscrews. After removing the left panel, you can see the “stealth cover”, which hides the drive bays and power supply area, leaving only the motherboard area visible. It is only a cosmetic accessory, and you can easily remove it just by pulling it.

Figure 11: Stealth cover

The motherboard tray has a huge cutout for you to access the backplate of the CPU cooler without having to remove the motherboard from the case, and three holes for you to route cables behind it. Another highlight of the case is the presence of a one-inch (25 mm) clearance between the motherboard tray and the right-side panel, allowing you to store thick cables behind the motherboard tray. The BitFenixRonin supports ATX and smaller form factor motherboards.

Figure 12: Overall look

Figure 13: A view behind the motherboard tray

In Figure 14, we get another overall look inside the case. Notice that the top panel supports the installation of two 120 mm or 140 mm fans. The top panel also supports the installation of radiators up to 280 mm in length.

Expansion cards are fastened using black metallic thumbscrews. The BitFenixRonin supports video cards up to 11.7” (297 mm) long on its default configuration or up to 16.7” (425 mm) if you remove the hard drive cage that is in front of the place where you want to install the video card. You can install CPU coolers up to 6.5” (165 mm) tall.

Figure 14: 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. There are also four rubber pads to support the power supply, which makes no direct metal-to-metal contact to the bottom of the case, reducing the noise generated by vibration.

The case supports the installation a 120 mm fan on its bottom panel. As already shown, the bottom air filter also covers this optional fan.

If you install a 120 mm fan in the bottom panel, you will be able to fit power supplies up to 7.2” (185 mm) deep, which is more than enough to accommodate most power supplies available on the market. Without a fan installed, the case is compatible with power supplies up to 12.6” (320 mm) deep.

Figure 15: Power supply compartment

[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]

The BitFenixRonin has three external 5.25” bays and six internal 3.5”/2.5” bays in two cages. You can install 5.25” and 3.5” devices without the use of screws or tools.

Figure 16: Disk drive bays

The three 5.25” bays use a simple locking mechanism, shown in Figure 17.

Figure 17: 5.25” bays locking mechanism

Three of the six 3.5”/2.5” bays are in a removable cage, as you can see in Figure 18.

Figure 18: Drive cage

Each 3.5”/2.5” bay is actually a small drawer, and they come with rubber rings to reduce the vibration and noise produced by 3.5” hard disk drives, and 2.5” drives must be attached to the drawer using simple screws.

Figure 19: One of the 3.5”/2.5” bays

The Ronin comes with an adapter that allows the user to install a 3.5” or 2.5” drive in a 5.25” bay. This adapter also allows the installation of an 80 mm or 140 mm fan under it.

Figure 20: 5.25” bay adapter

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

The main specifications for the BitFenix Ronin include:

• Style: Mid-tower
• Application: ATX and smaller form factors
• Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
• Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
• Available colors: Black
• Side panel: Transparent window at the left panel
• Dimensions: 18.9 x 7.9 x 19.5 inches (480 x 202 x 495 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg)
• Gross weight: NA
• Bays: Three external 5.25” bays and six internal 3.5”/2.5” bays
• Expansion slots: Seven
• Maximum video card length: 11.7” (297 mm) on its default configuration or 16.7” (425 mm) if the hard drive cage is removed
• Maximum CPU cooler height: 6.5” (165 mm)
• Fans: One 120 mm fan on the front panel and one 120 mm fan on the rear panel
• Optional fans: Two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the top panel, one 120 mm fan on the front panel, and one 120 mm fan on the bottom panel
• Extra Features: Air filters for front and bottom intakes, 3.5”/2.5” adapter for 5.25” bay, removable drive cage, support for radiators up to 280 mm long on the top panel
• More Information: https://www.bitfenix.com
• Average Price in the U.S.*: USD 100.00

* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.

[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

If you are looking for a case with great look, sturdy construction, support for up to six 2.5” drives, and good ventilation, the BitFenixRonin is an excellent choice.

Strong Points

• Excellent construction quality
• Rubber-like finishing at front and top panels
• Air filter for the power supply, bottom fan, and frontal fans
• Supports six 3.5” or 2.5” devices
• Support for 240 mm or 280 mm radiator on the top panel
• A huge cutout in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
• Holes for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
• Clearance of 1” (27 mm) behind the motherboard tray for routing cables
• Anti-vibration rings for 3.5” hard disk drives
• 3.5”/2.5” drive adapter for 5.25” bay supporting optional fan

Weak Points

• 5.25” bays locking mechanism does not lock the drive in place firmly
• Does not support 140 mm radiator on the rear panel