Kolink releases their Observatory and Stronghold series of budget mid-tower cases
Kolink releases their Observatory and Stronghold series of budget mid-tower cases
Both cases offer a similar internal design, with the Observatory providing a more rounded aesthetic while the Stronghold delivers a more rigid rectangular structure. The more expensive Observatory chassis has a front tempered glass side panel, and four RGB LED fans with an integrated controller within the enclosure. Both cases have a tempered glass side panel, which allows the components within the frame to be viewed with ease.Â
In the case of the Observatory, the chassis offers a familiar external design aesthetic which is wrapped around a budget-oriented core. Those of us who are more familiar with the current PC case market will see where Kolink received their inspiration, though its budget-oriented pricing acts as a huge differentiating factor when compared to similar chassis designs. Under its skin, these are both budget cases, which appear to have minimal space behind the motherboard and that awkward budget case PCIe lockdown bracket. The case looks good on the outside, but users will need to be aware that the inside will be more challenging to work with. Â
Kolink Stronghold and Observatory Shared Technical Specifications
– Type: Midi Tower Case
– Colour: Matte Black with brushed aluminium effect front panel.
– Case Material: 0.6mm Steel/Tempered Glass/ABS
– Power Supply Orientation: Bottom
– Motherboard Support: E-ATX/ATX/Micro-ATX/Mini-ITX
– External 5.25″ Bays: 0
– Internal 3.5″ Bays: 3
– Internal 2.5″ Bays: 3
– Expansion Slots: 7
– Front Ports: 1 x USB3.0, 2 x USB2.0, HD-Audio x 1, Mic x 1 – Cooling
– System: Front – 3 x 120mm Fans, Rear – 1 x 120mm Fan, Top – 2 x 120mm (optional)
– Radiator Support: Front – Up to 240mm
– Dimensions: 435 x 201 x 435mm
– Box Dimensions: 491 x 256 x 486mm
– Clearance: VGA – 380mm, CPU Cooler – 160mm, PSU – 200mm
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The Stronghold is Kolink’s budget-oriented chassis, offering the same internal features as the Observatory with a more straightforward brushed aluminium effect front panel without the RGB features included within Kolink’s more expensive observatory model.
Both cases have space for two 2.5/3.5-inch drive bays which fit under the case’s PSU shroud. Fan wise, the Stronghold comes with two 120mm fans at stock, with the Observatory offering four total RGB LED fans out of the box.Â
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The best that can be said about these cases is that they offer a clean external aesthetic for their respective price tags, though in our eyes they are cheap imitations of what is already available elsewhere. Even so, some people will want to work through the case’s more lacklustre internals to get those external features at a low-cost, which is precisely why these cases exist in the first place.Â
Both of these cases are now available at Overclockers UK, with the Observatory shipping for £62.99 while the Stronghold ships for £35.99.Â
You can join the discussion on Kolink’s budget Stronghold and Observatory series cases on the OC3D Forums.Â