It’s been some time since we’ve checked out an E-ATX case with each SSI-EEB and SSI-CEB motherboard type issue assist. However at present on our take a look at bench we’ve a mid-tower case from Montech that advertises assist for these greater boards – and at an attractive beginning value of simply $75 USD – the Air 903 Max. As its identify implies, this case is designed for customers who prioritize most airflow and the bottom temperatures doable. Its $75 beginning value is for the black model of this case, with a white mannequin promoting for $4 extra.
We just lately examined Montech’s funds Hyperflow ARGB AIOs and located them to be among the many greatest available on the market, so my expectations for Montech’s Air 903 Max are excessive. Will it make our listing of greatest PC circumstances? Let’s check out the specs of the PC case straight from Montech, then we’ll go over the options and any construct considerations, then we’ll wrap up our overview with thermal and acoustic benchmarks.
Cooler specs
| Motherboard Help | EATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ATX |
| Shade | Black or White |
| Kind | E-ATX Mid-Tower |
| Case Dimensions | 478mm (L) x 493mm (H) x 230mm (W) (18.82 x 19.41 x 9.06 inches) |
| 2.5-inch Drive Help | As much as 5 |
| 3.5-inch Drive Help | As much as 2 |
| PCI-E Growth Slots | 7 |
| CPU Cooler Clearance | 180mm (7.09 inches) |
| GPU Clearance | 400mm (15.75 inches) |
| PSU Size | 240mm (9.45 inches) |
| Radiator Help | As much as 360mm |
| Value (Black/White) | $75 USD/$79 USD for Air 903 Max |
| Row 12 – Cell 0 | $65 USD/$69 USD for Air 903 |
Options of the Montech Air 903 Max Case
*️⃣ Construct High quality
The case is constructed largely of metal components. The standard of the development is stable, with no obvious weak factors. There’s a small quantity of plastic used for the ft of the unit and entrance cowl.
*️⃣ Facet view
Trying on the within the Air 903 Max, the design is pretty normal. The three 140mm consumption followers are on the entrance of the case, with the PSU shroud on the backside. The highest may be assist as much as a 360mm radiator, and there are seven PCI-e growth slots.
Between the followers and the cable routing, there are mounts to assist two 2.5-inch drives – which brings us storage assist.
*️⃣ Storage assist
Montech’s Air 903 Max helps as much as 5 2.5-inch drives and as much as two 3.5-inch drives, in three separate areas: 2x 2.5-inch drives subsequent to the motherboard, 2x 2.5-inchers behind the motherboard, and 1x 2.5 and 2x 3.5-inch drives on the backside of the case within the drive bay. I’ve highlighted these areas with blue traces within the image beneath.
*️⃣ Radiator and fan assist
Within the high and entrance of the 903 Max, you possibly can match as much as a 360mm AIO, or three 140mm followers. The entrance cowl of the unit has a porous steel grille. A mud filter above the radiator assist bracket helps to guard from mud.
The again helps a 140mm fan, included with the unit. Lastly, subsequent to the PSU you possibly can match as much as two 120mm followers.
*️⃣ {Hardware} ARGB and PWM fan hub
Pre-installed on the bottom of the case is a {hardware} ARGB and PWM hub, supporting as much as six connections of each varieties. This may be very helpful for people who need to add additional followers to their system.This hub additionally helps on-the-fly adjustment of ARGB lighting settings, managed by way of the entrance IO panel. Out of the field, this can work with the three included entrance ARGB followers.
*️⃣ IO Panel
The IO Panel on the high is populated by two USB-A ports, one USB-C, and separate audio and microphone jacks. Energy and reset buttons are right here as nicely, alongside a button to regulate ARGB lighting settings on the fly.
*️⃣ Entrance view
The entrance cowl of the Montech Air 903 Max has a mesh filter, which Montech advertises as having 51% porosity. There’s additionally a 2cm hole on the aspect protected by the identical mesh filter materials to permit most consumption.
*️⃣ Rear view
The rear-side is pretty normal. From the highest, we’ve an air exhaust exhibiting the pre-installed 140mm fan behind it. Taking place, we’ve the exhaust fan adopted by seven PCI-e growth slots, and on the backside is house for an influence provide in addition to a mud filter for the PSU consumption.
*️⃣ Again aspect view and cable administration options
The again of the unit consists of primary cable administration assist, with three Velcro strap factors. On the high, you’ll discover the {hardware} ARGB and PWM hub talked about earlier. The equipment field is packed contained in the drive bay. It consists of cable ties, screws, and additional motherboard standoffs for E-ATX motherboards.
*️⃣ Backside
On the best aspect of the underside is the PSU’s mud filter. On the left aspect you’ll see the securing ends for the three.5-inch drive bay. On every of the 4 corners you’ll see the 2CM ft of the unit, with rubber to maintain the case from sliding round on the ground or your desk.
*️⃣ Pre-installed 140mm ARGB followers
A pc case is greater than only a field of steel (or plastic) that you just set up your parts in – the included followers have a major affect on element thermals and noise ranges. Included with the Air 903 Max are three 140mm consumption followers and one 140mm exhaust fan pre-installed within the case.
Montech lists the mannequin of those followers as HP140 PWM, however sadly doesn’t listing their specs, so I’m unable to offer any extra technical details about them. The three consumption followers assist ARGB lighting. The rear exhaust fan is stable black, with out lighting.
What I didn’t like about Montech’s Air 903 Max
❌ Customary (non-unified) F-Panel header
Montech’s Air 593 Max has a regular, non-unified, front-panel header. Whereas this has been the usual for many years, I discover them to be annoying. Whereas I all the time keep in mind the place the facility button connection goes, I generally have problem remembering the precise positions of the facility LEDs and different connections. This isn’t an enormous challenge, however I believe most trendy circumstances ought to have unified front-panel connectors to make set up less complicated.
❌ Oscillation at 40-49% PWM
When utilizing the followers of the case in PWM mode, between 40% and 49% PWM, the noise ranges oscillate, continually going up and down. I skilled comparable noise issues with Noctua’s NH-D15 G2 – although it was extra extreme with that product. This may hassle some folks greater than others, however I discovered it fairly noticeable.
Thermal Checks, Take a look at Setup, and testing methodology
| CPU | Intel i9-14900K |
| CPU Cooler | Akasa Soho H4 Plus |
| Motherboard | ASUS Z790-P Prime Wifi |
| GPU | ASRock Metal Legend Radeon RX 7900 GRE |
These thermal assessments are offered to provide you extra details about the product’s efficiency, however aren’t supposed as the only real judgment of the chassis. The type, value, options, and noise ranges of a pc case also needs to be thought-about – and every person has completely different preferences. What I would like in a case, you won’t – and vice versa. That’s OK. My aim with these opinions is to provide everybody, irrespective of their preferences, sufficient info to resolve whether or not or not a product is true for them.
The measurements I’ve benchmarked this case towards deal with:
- Most cooling efficiency on the CPU when followers are normalized to a reasonably low noise degree; the GPU is idle for this take a look at. This primarily reveals the effectivity of the followers included with a pc case.
- Most noise ranges
- Most cooling and thermal efficiency in a worst-case-scenario take a look at that totally stresses each the GPU and CPU. We’ll cowl the temperature of the motherboard VRMs, CPU, and GPU in separate charts.
- Evaluating CPU temperatures in a workload that’s comparable in energy consumption to Far Cry V. This stresses each the CPU (roughly 150W) and GPU (275W).
