Cougar Dark Blader G Review

 

Up Close:  Exterior

I’ve never previously shown any images of cases as they’ve been taken them out of their packaging, and although this kind of set up isn’t unusual, It’s more commonly associated with high end expensive cases, so let’s just say that the first impressions are now very good indeed. 

  

 

The Blader G, here-after refereed to as the Blader has a full length, full width Smoked tempered glass side panel.  Appended to this is a half width angled tempered glass front panel, with the remaining portion being of 3mm thick Line brushed Aluminium.  How’s that for a good start?

 

 

The right hand side of the case also sports a full size tempered glass panel, so you’d better be sure to make that cable management neat and tidy, as all will be on show. 

  

 

The front I/O has the usual power switch and audio sockets, long with a pair of USB 3.0s There’s also a button that enables you to control the RGB LED Lighting within the case, which as it happens also manifests itself in the surrounds of the I/O switches, and the rebate between the front glass and the Aluminium panel. 

  

 

The top of the case breaks with the tempered glass theme, and instead presents a solid metal panel, perforated with increasingly dense square ventilation cut outs as you approach the middle.  We’d be lying if we didn’t suspect this wasn’t linked with some corresponding cooling credentials.

  

 

A couple of retained thumb bolts release the top panel, revealing a magnetic filter covering a pretty substantial fan and rad area.  For full details, please see the tech spec or water cooling section of this review, but let’s just say, you’re not going to be disappointed.

  

 

The rear of the case will take a 120mm fan in a slotted installation.  The two thumb bolts above are released to enable the removal of the top section.

  

 

The Rear PCI area has support for up to eight horizontal, and two vertical expansion cards.  The blanks are both vented and gapped so as to enable maximum ventilation, should they be retained.

  

 

The base of the case has a full length filter panel.  While this may not be interesting in itself, what is quite unique is that it is removable from the side, as opposed to the front or the rear.  How simple is this solution, and how is it that no other manufacturer that we’re reviewed has come up with this?