Enermax Ostrog Giant Case Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

The Ostrog Giant is the latest mid-tower case from Enermax, featuring eight expansion slots. It should arrive on the market this December. Let’s see what this new case has to offer.

The Enermax Ostrog Giant is only offered in black, with red or blue trim.

Figure 1: Enermax Ostrog Giant case

Figure 2: Enermax Ostrog Giant case

The left panel of the Enermax Ostrog Giant has a big tinted window. You can’t install fans on this panel.

Figure 3: Left panel

[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]

The front panel of the Enermax Ostrog Giant is completely meshed, as you can see in Figure 4. There are three external 5.25” bays with meshed covers with air filters. The case comes with two 140 mm fans on its front panel, which glow in blue or red (depending on the color of the trim) when turned on. There is a switch on the top panel for you to turn off the LEDs of the fans. These fans use a standard three-pin fan power connector, and the case comes with adapters in case you prefer to connect them directly on your power supply. No technical specifications for these fans are provided. There is an air filter for these fans.

Figure 4: Front panel

Figure 5: Front panel

[nextpage title=”The Top Panel”]

The top panel of the Enermax Ostrog Giant is meshed, supporting one 200 mm fan, one 230 mm fan, two 120 mm fans or 140 mm fans. According to the manufacturer, the top panel supports a 240 mm or 280 mm radiator.

Figure 6: Top panel

The case comes with two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and the traditional audio jacks. The USB 3.0 ports use an internal connector. As mentioned, there is an on/off switch for the LEDs of the front fans.

Figure 7: Buttons and connectors

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

The bottom panel of the Enermax Ostrog Giant has air filters for the power supply fan and for the optional bottom fan.

Figure 8: Bottom panel

The rear panel and the interior of the Enermax Ostrog Giant are painted black.

On the Enermax Ostrog Giant, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.

The product comes with a 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel. This fan uses a three-pin power connector, and the product comes with an adapter in case you want to connect the fan directly to the power supply. No technical specifications for this fan are provided.

This case has eight expansion slots with vented slot covers. (Computer cases usually have seven slots.) There is one perpendicular expansion slot for you to install a blower (fan to remove hot air from inside the computer) or an I/O bracket.

There are three holes protected with rubber covers for hoses of liquid cooling systems. One of them is 0.5” (12 mm) in diameter, while the other two are 1” (25 mm) in diameter.

Figure 9: Rear panel

Let’s now take a look inside the Enermax Ostrog Giant.

[nextpage title=”Inside the Enermax Ostrog Giant”]

Both panels are attached to the chassis using 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, a few holes for you to route cables behind it, and several clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties.

Figure 10: Overall look

Figure 11: A view behind the motherboard tray

In Figure 12, we get another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using regular screws, but at least they are black. The Enermax Ostrog Giant supports video cards up to 11” (280 mm) long on its default configuration. If you install a 120 mm fan on the top hard drive cage, this clearance is reduced to 10” (255 mm). By removing the top hard drive cage, you can fit video cards up to 16.1” (410 mm) long.

Figure 12: Overall look

The case supports the installation of one 120 mm fan at each of the hard drive cages. See Figure 13.

Figure 13: Place for optional 120 mm fans

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.

Figure 14: Power supply compartment

On its default configuration, the Enermax Ostrog Giant comes with a cage for 2.5” hard drives and SSDs installed on the bottom panel. With this device in place, you can install power supplies up to 7.9” (200 mm) deep. This cage can be easily removed, as it is attached to the chassis using four thumbscrews. Without it, you can install power supplies up to 11.8” (300 mm) deep or can install a 120 mm fan on the bottom panel. With this optional fan installed, you can have power supplies up to 6.7” (170 mm) deep. As already shown, there is an air filter for this optional fan.

[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]

The Enermax Ostrog Giant has three external 5.25” bays, eight internal 3.5” bays in two cages, and two internal 2.5” bays. Installation of 5.25” and 3.5” devices can be done without the use of tools or screws, but installation of 2.5” devices require the use of regular screws.

Figure 15: Disk drive bays

The top hard drive cage can be removed for you to install longer video cards or to improve the ventilation inside the case.

Figure 16: Case with the top hard drive cage removed

Figure 17: The 2.5” cage

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

The main specifications for the Enermax Ostrog Giant include:

• Style: Mid-tower
• Application: ATX and smaller form factors
• Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body (0.6 mm thick)
• Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
• Available color: Black with red or blue trim
• Side panel: Window
• Dimensions: 19.1 x 8.7 x 19.5 inches (485 x 220 x 495 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 16.5 lbs (7.4 kg)
• Gross weight: 19.5 lbs (9 kg)
• Bays: Three external 5.25” bays, eight internal 3.5” bays in two cages, and two internal 2.5” bays in a separate cage
• Expansion slots: Eight plus one
• Maximum video card length: 11” (280 mm) on its default configuration, 10” (255 mm) if a 120 mm fan is installed on the top hard drive cage or 16.1” (410 mm) if the top hard drive cage is removed
• Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
• Fans: Two 140 mm fans on the front panel (blue or red LEDs with on/off switch, depending on the trim color) and one 120 mm fan on the rear panel
• Optional fans: One 200 mm, one 230 mm, two 140 mm or two 120 mm fans on the top panel; one 120 mm fan at each hard drive cage; and one 120 mm fan on the bottom panel
• Extra Features: Support for a 240 mm or 280 mm radiator on the top panel
• More Information: https://www.ecomastertek.com
• MSRP in the U.S.: USD 80.00

[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

The Enermax Ostrog Giant is not bad at all for its targeted price range. Although it uses lower-quality plastic parts compared to other mid-tower cases with the same set of features, it costs less, providing a good value for users who are looking for an affordable case with features usually reserved for more expensive products.

Strong Points

• Good value
• Eight expansion slots
• Additional slot for blower or an I/O bracket
• Air filter for the power supply, bottom, and front fans
• Supports eight 3.5” and two 2.5” devices at the same time
• Support for video cards up to 16.1” (410 mm) long if the top hard drive cage is removed
• Vented slot covers
• Supports eight fans, comes with three
• Support for a 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
• Clips for fastening cables using cable ties

Weak Points

• Could use thumbscrews for fastening expansion cards
• Plastic parts could be of better quality