Raijintek Paean Review

The Build and Cooling

As always we mounted the PSU first.  In hind sight, it would have been easier to remove the strap bracket from over the top, but as it was we simply slid the PSU through the gap.  Once in place it sits on four adhesive rubber pads, and is screwed to the mounting bracket in the traditional way. 

  

 

With the PSU in place round the back we then attached the Motherboard, and brought the major cables through from the rear.  there’s absolutely stacks of space to work with here, and to some extent we thing Raijintek could have pushed the boat out and made provision for E-ATX boards.

  

 

The Paean will take rads up to 280mm or as seen below, 360mm.  It will take air coolers, but only up to 140mm in height, which is why we haven’t show in with our usual Havik 120, and to be honest, no one’s going to buy this case and stick an air cooler in it are they!  We think the Paean is primarily designed as a “Show off” Custom loop water cooling case, especially as provision is made between the motherboard and the radiator for cylinder reservoirs and pumps to be mounted.  Heck, not only is there space, but actual mounting holes.  Bizarrely though the Paean can’t take the majority of AIOs on the market, and this is because the distance between the CPU and the rad mounting area is greater than the amount of tubing on a most, if not all AIOs.  We think it’s a bit of a shame, and either an oversight or deliberate decision, either way Raijintek are further enforcing the Custom water part of the market for those looking to build into this case.

  

 

As you can see, the 5mm thick, smoked tempered glass panels are highly reflective.  The camera is making it look worse than it actually is, you can see though them, but we think the case would look best with some added internal lighting to make the hardware stand out.

  

 

 This angle gives us a more realistic idea of how the internals appear through the smoked glass.  We have to be honest, we’re really quite taken by the aesthetic. 

  

 

And finally a peek in from the side.  With 140mm of room on tap, give or take a little for air to pass, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to stick some super thick rads in push pull in here.