Cougar MX200 Case Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The Cougar MX200 is an inexpensive mid-tower case with two 5.25” bays, six 3.5″ bays and one 2.5” bay, offering one USB 3.0 port. Let’s see if is it a good case.
We already tested the Cougar MX300 case, which is superior in price to the MX200.
The Cougar MX200 only comes in black. Its left panel has room for two 120 mm fans. The right panel is solid.

Figure 1: the Cougar MX200

Figure 2: the Cougar MX200

Let’s take a closer look at the case in the next pages.
[nextpage title=”The Front and Top Panels”] At the front panel of the MX200, you see the panel with connectors and buttons, two 5.25” bays with air filters, and a meshed area in the bottom. When the computer is powered on, you can see the light of a red fan behind it.

Figure 3: front panel

At the top of the front panel are the reset and power buttons, one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 ports, the traditional audio connectors, and the status LEDs.

Figure 4: buttons and connectors

The plastic front panel can be easily removed. The bay covers have a thin foam behind them to work as air filters, and the bottom of the panel is meshed. Here you can see the 120 mm fan with red LEDs (model QH12025SE12M, 4 W, no more information provided) that is installed at the front panel of the case.

Figure 5: front panel removed

The top panel of the MX200 is solid, with no openings.

Figure 6: top panel

[nextpage title=”The Bottom and Rear Panels”]
The bottom panel of the MX200 has no openings for fans. However, you can see four openings for installing a 2.5” drive. The case has four small rubber disks that work as feet.

Figure 7: bottom panel

The interior and the back panel of the MX200 are painted in black. The power supply is installed in the top of the case.
The case has seven expansion slots, with covers that must be broken in order to install expansion cards.
The product comes with a 92 mm fan installed on its rear panel (model QH9025SE 12L, 1.2 W, no more info available). The opening where it is installed is also compatible with 80 mm fans.

Figure 8: rear panel

Let’s now take a look inside the Cougar MX200.
[nextpage title=”Inside the MX200″]
Each panel is attached to the chassis using two black 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. Besides that, there are holes that allow to pass the cables behind it. There is a 0.8” (20 mm) clearance between the tray and the right panel.
The case supports ATX (and smaller form factors) motherboards.

Figure 9: overall look

Figure 10 shows the case from behind the motherboard tray.

Figure 10: behind the motherboard tray

Figure 11 shows an overall look of the case interior. Notice that the case does not support liquid cooling radiators.
The expansion cards are held in place by common screws. The Cougar MX200 supports video cards up to 9.8” (250 mm) long, and CPU coolers up to 6.3” (160 mm) tall.

Figure 11: overall look

The power supply is installed at the top of the case, with its fan facing down. You will be able to fit power supplies up to 9.4” (240 mm) deep, but it is not recommendable to install big and heavy power supplies in this kind of case.

Figure 12: power supply compartment

[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]
The Cougar MX200 uses a “traditional” drive bay configuration. There are four 5.25” bays internally, but only two of them have openings on the front of the case. There are also six 3.5” bays and one 2.5” bay, all of them using traditional screws to hold the drives.

Figure 13: disk drive bays

Figure 14 unveils the 5.25” bays.

Figure 14: 5.25” drive bays

Figure 15 shows the 2.5” bay, which is at the bottom of the case.

Figure 15: 2.5” drive bay

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the Cougar MX200 include:

• Style: mid-tower
• Application: ATX and smaller form factors
• Material: zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
• Power supply: does not come with the product
• Available colors: black
• Side panel: meshed with room for two 120 mm fans
• Dimensions: 16.1 x 7.7 x 16.9 inches (410 x 195 x 430 mm) (H x W x D)
• Gross weight: 8.8 lbs (4 kg)
• Bays: one internal 2.5” bays, six internal 3.5” bays, and two external 5.25” bays
• Expansion slots: seven
• Maximum video card length: 9.8” (250 mm)
• Maximum CPU cooler height: 6.3” (160 mm)
• Fans: one 120 mm fan on the front panel, one 92 fan on the rear panel
• Optional fans: two 120 mm on the left panel
• Extra Features: none
• More Information: https://www.cougargaming.com/
• Average Price in the U.S.*: USD 30.00

* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The Cougar MX200 is a good case for its price range. It has some characteristics of a cheap “generic” case, like the place of the power supply and drives, but it has a good overall quality and the frontal fan with red LEDs is a nice touch.
It may not be as sturdy and solid as a more expensive case, but is certainly a good case for who do not want to spend much money on this component.
Strong Points

• Inexpensive
• Good quality, with no sharp edges
• Great cost/benefit ratio
• Good 3.5” drive bay count
• Offers a big cutout in the motherboard tray to access the CPU cooler backplate
• Has an USB 3.0 port at the front panel
• LED fan at the front panel

Weak Points

• Does not support 120 mm fans at the rear panel
• No ventilation openings at the top panel
• Has no support for liquid cooling radiators
• Expansion cards and drives are held using conventional screws