InWin Case Monsters-A Lab Series-FRANK
Introduction
Today, your PCs are relatively uniform and illuminated metal boxes that don’t drastically differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Even though many manufacturers continue to try new things, they eventually bring up controversial cases. One of those manufacturers is InWin, who released some new cases during the meeting CES 2023, whose requirements differ from a child to a fanatic who loves the internet to space fetishists. Its aim is to encourage the development of hands-on skills to build not just the computer inside, but the case too! The Case Monsters cases are suitable for ATX or mini-ITX systems and can be personalized via an associated website. The Taiwanese manufacturer calls the line iBuildiShare and releases two computer cases for it. Those are the Case Monster A Lab and Case Monster E Animal. That stands for the personalization options. The cabinets have a large sticker on the front that young builders can personalize via a website with different characters in the form of animals or robots. Each character has its own unique personality, colors and style. In the website interactive playroom, young users can add their own custom flair and self-expression with the included emoji stickers that create fun faces. Each character also features its own headphone hangers that neatly attach to each side of the cases, giving you a helping hand, arm, ear, antler or wing to keep the desk tidy. The E series features four distinct and fun characters to choose from. The Case Monster A Lab Series is a mid-tower ATX case that can accommodate a 12x13" E-ATX motherboard, a 170mm heatsink, and a maximum 180mm ATX power supply. Four storage drives fit in the tower. InWin puts a front panel with a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port, two USB-A ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. InWin bundles three plus one Sirius Loop ASL120 ARGB case fans inside the chassis, ensuring the Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK provides excellent airflow performance and a soft radiating, glow right out the box.
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On paper, this reads like a special product and it’ll be interesting to see if it can offer the performance to match.
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Packaging & Contents
The InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK comes in a heavy cardboard box. The box is large and has handles on the sides for easy carrying. The exterior design is informative. A sticker on the box will let you know which Case Monsters-A:Lab Series character is inside.
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The features are printed on the right side.
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The specifications of the housing can be seen on the left side of the package.
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With the next step, the “magic of the arrangement of parts and packaging” begins: you open the box and in front of you are the neatly arranged elements of your future case.
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The inner packaging can be divided into three parts, the first layer is all components, accessories and fans, etc., the second layer is the central steel plate where the motherboard is installed, and the third layer is two transparent tempered glass side panels, each component All are protected by plastic sleeves, and the second and third layers of large components are fixed very tightly.
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External details of the body panels are made of high-quality glossy plastic. Every detail is molded very well, without any burrs or unevenness.
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Holding the part in your hands, there is no feeling that it will break from light compression. The color of the details is juicy, warm and pleasing to the eye.
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The parts on which the external panels are attached, are made of black-matt painted metal plastic.
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Frame parts.
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The back and mainboard tray are made of steel and painted matt black.
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The paint is flawless and the numerous mounting holes and feedthroughs are clean.
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Tinted glass panels.
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I/O panel.
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Two hard disk cages made of green plastic, in each of which a 2.5″ or 3.5″ hard disk can be installed. The two hard drive carriers clip together.
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Two feet made of black plastic with a non-slip surface, which can be clipped into the housing, complete the Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK.
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Front magnetic dust filter.
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Top magnetic dust filter.
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On top of the pieces for the enclosure, you will receive an assorted set of black screws, zip ties, a metal GPU support bracket, and the backplates for the chassis.
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In addition to the case elements, the kit includes 3+1 Sirius Loop ASL120 fans. This constitutes a $40–$50 value, which is packaged into the price. The outer box of the fan/s. While the FRANK includes a pack of three plus a single 120mm fan, the reason it’s packaged this way is that In Win wanted to include the addressable RGB (ARGB) controller that comes with its existing fan three-packs.
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The package also includes screws and an ARGB controller powered from a SATA connector.
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The anti-vibration pad needs to be pasted by yourself.
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The fans are Sirius Loop ASL120 models with a maximum speed of 1800 RPM, airflow of 50 CFM, pressure of 1.67 mmH2O and noise of 27 dBA.
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They have 4-pin PWM and ARGB connectors with male and female plugs.
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The fan and the fan's power supply and lighting effect wires can be connected in series to make the whole line process easier.
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The 7-piece moon-shaped fan blade design can provide a large air volume to enhance the system Heat dissipation.
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The Sirius Loop ASL120 are equipped with rubber buffers so that they don't pass on too much vibration to the housing.
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There is an assembly manual to get the case itself built. For those needing help with putting in the system components, InWin has placed a QR code on the back of this booklet that takes you to a digital copy.
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There are plenty of provided emoji-themed stickers to create a special face for FRANK.
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Characteristic Headphone Hanger x 2.
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Lastly, there is a Characters Card.
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A Closer Look Outside
Assembling Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK is according to the instructions that come with the kit. From myself, I can note that the assembly of the case is not difficult, moderately interesting and takes about 30 - 45 minutes. It does not make sense to describe each step, everything is intuitive, I will only note a point worth paying attention to: assembling the outer contour. The assembly begins with connecting the frame parts. These are simply placed on top of each other and screwed on from the front with two screws.
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The mainboard tray is then connected to the back of the case with three screws.
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We place one of the two finished frames on our work surface with the outside facing down and insert the front, cover and base elements together with the associated angle pieces into the openings provided in the frame. All elements slide easily into the opening and are then screwed together with a total of ten screws.
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The mainboard tray including the back can then be inserted directly into the housing. This is fixed to the lower part of the housing with two screws. The assembled pieces can now be rotated so the frame is facing up. Now we can connect it to the mainboard tray with ten screws and to the other parts with another 12 screws. Then we turn the housing to the other side, put the second frame on and screw it to the frame with 14 screws. The assembly of the feet of the housing is particularly easy, they are pushed in from below and then snap into the housing.
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Looking at the underside of the InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK, you can see that this is the same shell piece as in the front and top of the chassis. InWin did not include a dust filter as it would not be easily removable due to the feet getting in the way. While that is understandable, one could argue that it would still be better to have a non-removable filter than none at all. Before being able to stand up the Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK, you have to clip on the feet, which come with pre-installed rubber pads.
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The front I/O is just as easy to mount as the feet. This is pushed from the front into the opening provided and then snaps in very gently. You have to make sure to connect the grounding wire to the metal housing as the plastic around the I/O component is essentially insulating it otherwise. The I/O panel is angled 45°, so reaching it should be alright regardless of whether the system is on the floor or on top of the chassis. A bright, square and green power button adds a colored element next to two USB 3.0, one USB-C, and dual audio headers. This panel is also made of black plastic and has a black frame and the InWin logo.
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The glass panels are held in place nicely by two plastic components which are taped to the panel with heavy-duty double-sided adhesive. Each plastic strip on these comes with a silver color element for a bit more "splash".
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Spring-loaded plastic clips in the top secure it to the chassis itself and allow for a quick, tool-less release.
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InWin opted for a 4-mm thick, noticeably tinted glass panel, which adds some nice contrast to the FRANK version.
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The front of the chassis as we built it sports the FRANK magnetic dust filter. You may take it off to reveal mounting for three 120 mm fans, using the plastic shell structure.
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At the top is that second magnetic dust filter you may remove the same way as the one in the front, once again revealing three 120 mm fan-mounting possibilities.
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In the rear, the PSU bay at the bottom offers two sets of mounting holes, so point the fan of the unit point upward if you'd like. Above that are the eight expansion slots, each with their own removable cover. In the very top is the 120 mm fan mount with slightly elongated screw holes, so you can adjust its placement a bit to best fit your needs.
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With the chassis fully assembled, I have to say the color mix is very refreshing to look at. This could certainly be a fun chassis for a teenager who wants a superhero themed system, for example.
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Both sides are identical and it is tempered glass. However, it does not press down on the housing itself and there are visible gaps.
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Both windows are not very translucent and you will be able to see everything that has a backlight through them. So there is no big concern that the cables on the right will be in the way.
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Don’t hesitate to hang your headphones. FRANK will safely protect/display them with bolts (hangers) in his head.
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A Closer Look Inside
The InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK is then already fully assembled, so that the usual interior work can begin. Diving into the interior of the FRANK, we are presented with a classic layout that only lacks the shroud usually found in modern cases these days. The metal motherboard tray has lots of openings for cable routing, as well as a large cutout for easily accessing the CPU cooler mounting plate you may employ. Identical grommets could have been used to cover them for an even cleaner look.
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We also assemble the hard drive cages, which can be installed without tools using the appropriate locking lugs.
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The two separate, but identical HDD cages may each hold one 2.5" and one 3.5" drive. Any such drive will have its connectors facing towards the motherboard tray. While it is nice to have the ability to add an SSD to each of these parts, it feels a little bit like an afterthought.
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Above that are the aforementioned mounting positions for the fans. You may also install a radiator setup of up to 360 mm here without worrying about losing any storage capabilities. Looking a bit over to the left, you can make out two more 2.5" mounting positions with well-placed openings in the motherboard tray for clean cable routing.
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Taking a quick look at the ceiling of the FRANK, you can see ample room for active cooling purposes, with the mounting for the fans or radiator centered. With the 45° angled corners of the case, the added height doesn't feel super bulky, but provides the benefit of additional space. At this angle, you can also see that there is loads of space above, so putting a second 360 mm radiator setup into the ceiling won't interfere with any components, either.
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In the rear, the PSU bay almost blends in completely with the frame of the FRANK. Above that are the eight expansion-slot covers we added during the build process, with the already mentioned fan placement in the very top.
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All the leads within are sleeved black and should present no issues, connecting properly to any modern motherboard. What is weird is the very old school case connector wiring. These days, power LED wires come in individual pins to ensure compatibility for both two or three-pin motherboard headers, though the vast majority of boards use the same header layout. On top of that, there is no +/- labeling on these LED leads, so you have to take the odds of these working once the system has been turned on.
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On the back there is space for cable ties and enough space for the glass to fit everything nicely.
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I'll tell you about cables and space for them. Initially, I thought that I would have to neatly organize the cables and make beautiful wiring, as I was afraid that I would not be able to close the side panel. But the space between the glass side wall and the metal part of the case turned out to be enough. I agree that it does not look aesthetically pleasing, but it clearly shows how much space there is.
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It is a pity that the manufacturer has not included a hub that would allow you to connect fans with their backlight, which would certainly facilitate the organization of cables.
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Installation Process & Finished Looks
We start with the installation of the mainboard. The InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK is able to accommodate motherboards in E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX format. Installing an ATX motherboard does not cause any difficulties and any problems, everything is installed normally. Cable routing holes are conveniently located.
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This runs absolutely smoothly, since we installed all the mainboard spacers ourselves in advance, everything fits here immediately and the rear I/O also slides well into the recess on the back.
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From the top panel to the top edge of the motherboard there is a free space of 6 centimeters - this should be taken into account when installing a radiator from a liquid cooling system. As much as possible, a 360 mm radiator can be installed on the top panel of the FRANK case. You can also install a 360 mm radiator on the front panel. The cooler can go up to 170 mm in height.
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When installing a graphics card, the maximum length of the graphics adapter must not exceed 390mm. If fans and heatsinks are installed on the front panel, their thickness should be taken into account when installing the video card. You may also install the GPU support bracket at this point.
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At the back, our GPU takes up the equivalent of two PCIe brackets.
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All that remains is to install the other six (supplied with the accessories).
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Installing the power supply is just as easy and effortless, but if you don't have a modular power supply, you won't be able to hide the extra cables. This case does not provide a power supply cover, so I recommend installing modular power supplies with a beautiful braided cables.
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The maximum length of the power supply can be 180mm.
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The two hard drive cages supports that we saw when unboxing the case, will each be able to accommodate a 2.5″ disk on the top and a 3.5″ disk. Adding drives is done with classic screws. Once filled, simply slide and clip it back into place. In addition, it will be possible to install two 2.5″ hard drives on the main wall to the right of the motherboard. There are therefore a total of four 2.5″ and two 3.5″ discs that will be able to travel on board the Air Force. To mount an SSD to the motherboard tray, screw it down with the connectors facing the opening—that's it. The four included InWin Sirius Loop AL120 fans can now be mounted, whereby we decide to mount three fans in the front and one on the back. Also, when installing a 360 mm radiator, you need to take into account that the control panel is located on the upper end. Cables coming from the control panel can interfere with the installation of an oversized custom coolant heatsink.
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Turning the InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK on feels very much like having a bulky, functional, larger than average mid-tower case. With everything installed, the interior of the InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK makes a pretty clean impression even though there are no grommets. While such an addition would have certainly helped, thanks to well-placed cutouts, all leads are hidden from view quickly. That said, we could have in hindsight wired the audio and fan cables on the bottom edge of the motherboard slightly better. Owing to all the hooks for zip ties on the backside, all cables are secured.
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The three Sirius Loop ASL120 ARGB fans in the front are clearly visible through the mesh, and a green power LED lights up in the I/O panel to let you know things are up and running. Each fan is symmetrically framed by the shell structure, and looking closely, some of the details of the hardware behind these can be made out, which bodes well for cooling performance.
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In the rear, everything is where you would expect it in a modern ATX mid-tower case. Thus, no surprises here.
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The noticeable tint on the glass side panels does considerably mute any ARGB elements of your components, but you can still make out the hardware owing to white surroundings. All the wires behind the motherboard tray, on the other hand, will benefit from both the tint of the glass and the all-black case variant.
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The entire assembly went smoothly, all components fit together well, so that nothing wobbles or rattles on the InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK after tightening the screws.
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Happy, angry, cheerful, serious… There are plenty of provided emoji-themed stickers to create a special face for each characters.
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Performance
Testing
To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an Intel Core i5-11600K, Radeon RX 6800 XT and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK‘s cooling capabilities. For stress testing we use 3DMark Time Spy to create a workload that replicates game play.
Test System:
Processor: Intel Core i5-11600K
CPU cooler: InWin Nebula NR24
Motherboard: MSI MAG B560M Mortar WiFi
Memory: 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3600MHz
Graphics card: Radeon RX 6800 XT
Power supply: InWin 850W Gold
SSD: 500GB Sabrent Rocket 4.0 M.2 NVMe
OS: Windows 10
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The InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK did a fine job in our Time Spy Stress Test while drawing 425W from the wall socket. So you can safely count on very low temperatures of the installed equipment.
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Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of a really high volume. In this case, it is worth considering turning the fans to a lower speed, even if it will result in slightly higher temperatures.
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Final Thoughts
With the Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK, InWin has developed a case that stands out from the crowd. The self-assembly, the individual design options, the good airflow and last but not least the (in our case) special color scheme are definite plus points of the InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK. Its assembly process is complicated somewhat by the higher part count, with the assembly manual providing ample detail to get it done if you read the documentation properly. This is a classic scenario of not ignoring the documentation and winging it, especially as InWin does at times bunch up several of the smaller steps into a larger one, and some of the parts are very similar but need to be placed in their right spots. The result is a spacious and capable E-ATX case. There are a few elements that are slightly irritating, like the lack of a dust filter on the floor and grommets or feet that could be attached better, but the end result is a fun, colorful, uniquely different case. The cable management system is simply good, and the box can fit even large components, including the AiO 360. The test results are very good in terms of cooling. Our components were thrilled to stay aboard the Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK and stayed cool throughout the trip. But what about noise in normal use? The lack of airtightness linked to the design of the case and this space between the walls and the frame of the case lets through a more frank sound from the fans. But, and we've said it many times, soundproofing efficiency doesn't seem to be the primary feature of the InWin Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK. The goal was playful and it succeeded! When you get all the details of the case, you are transported a little to childhood. A bunch of different beautiful details and the anticipation that in the near future you will enjoy the assembly. The case is unusual and attracts attention, but it has the features that were mentioned above. If you like it, take it without hesitation. If you approach buying a case from a practical side, then it's up to you.
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The current price of 229 euros sounds like a lot, but if you consider the enormous fun with creative assembly, the unique design and the included fans worth 39.98 euros, the price is put into perspective and seems quite reasonable. InWin also includes four retail-packaged Sirius Loop ASL120 fans with the Case Monsters-A:Lab Series-FRANK. This constitutes a $40–$50 value, which is packaged into the price. What we get for this money: a light, beautiful, and most importantly ventilated case and 4 bright fans with a controller included. A lot or a little - everyone decides for himself. But in addition to material value, there is also emotional value. The entire review is as objective as possible, but this time we talk about emotions. Therefore we give our Special Recognition Award.
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