ASUS Prime AP201 PC Case assessment

Final Up to date: August twenty sixth, 2022

ASUS is extra identified for its different elements like graphics playing cards, laptops, and computer elements. However it’s slowly increasing its PC circumstances, so we now have a look at the ASUS Prime AP201 PC case assessment.

Including to its lineup of ROG and TUF circumstances, it has launched a Prime choice. Revealed in June 2022, it brings the simplicity and extra inexpensive worth vary provided by the Prime sequence as seen in ASUS’ motherboards.

The case is an mATX case, a transfer away from massive large circumstances we’re used to seeing from ASUS. Shifting from grand to small, it has a quantity of solely 33L.

Additionally made out of pure mesh you don’t have to fret about airflow chance. Though with just one offered fan it would want a bit extra assist.

Nevertheless it does present loads of space for cooling, even with the facility provide mounted to the entrance. So we have a look at how effectively it does with it.

Important options

• 33 Litre MicroATX quantity
• Quasi-filter mesh panels
• Help for as much as 360mm radiators and/or 5 extra followers
• Device-free facet panels
• 1x Prime 120mm fan included in again
• 1x Drive sled, 3x storage mounts

The Exterior

Wanting on the case from the surface it’s arduous to make out something that stands out. Aside from the IO on the entrance, the mesh blends into one creating an nearly phantasm.

Not splendid, for somebody with trypophobia, it’s a good possibility for airflow with little impedance. The trims across the edges of the panels do break it as much as not make it one large unified mesh.

Additionally they cowl among the disgrace, however the again gained’t cowl your cable disgrace. It additionally is available in white which can provide some extra distinction to the remainder of the elements.

The Rear

There isn’t an excessive amount of on the rear of the case. It’s a reasonably easy again with out many options. That includes is a kettle plug connector, IO cutout, 120mm fan mount, and PCIe slots.

One of many modifications within the case is that away from the norm, the energy provide will not be within the again. As a substitute, you mount it on the entrance and have to make use of an extension. So be sure that to not depart your PSU off.

The one fan can also be mounted to the again. With some vertical area, there’s some adjustment, however you might be restricted to a 120mm fan in that area.

Then lastly you could have the PCIe slots. The place you’ll solely discover 4 full slots from the mATX case. No vertical mount both from the compact case.

The Sides

Wanting on the sides of the case there isn’t a lot that stands out. You get a meshed facet with a slither of trim on the high, prone to cowl any cooling on high.

The trim additionally options the phrases “ASUS Prime Case” to remind you of what your PC is in. However in all equity, it does break up the black gap of darkness model the case gives.

Since it’s all mesh you possibly can see by means of it to every of the perimeters. Unbuilt in, you will discover the pack of equipment, while with a construct, you possibly can nonetheless get a superb have a look at your RGB.

However that does additionally imply you possibly can see the disgrace within the again. So any unmanaged cables will doubtless stick out at a better look.

However the facet panels do simply come off when it’s worthwhile to type out the insides. You simply have to tug on the perimeters and the highest ball joints will come out and you may slide the underside out.

The High

From above you get largely the identical look as the remaining. There’s a trim across the outdoors however it’s in any other case crammed with a mesh.

There’s a easy tab on the again to assist with opening up the highest. Because the tabs holding it in could be on the stiffer facet.

That is additionally the place you possibly can match plenty of cooling elements into the case. The highest can maintain as much as two 140mm followers, three 120mm followers, or a 360mm radiator.

A radiator could be a fantastic selection as there’s loads of area till the elements beneath for clearance.

The Entrance

From the entrance, we do see some options to interrupt up the mesh. On the trim, you’ll discover the I/O ports. What’s included is:

• 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Sort C
• 2x 3.5mm jacks, one headphone, and one microphone
• 1x energy button
• 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1

Though you might be able to mount any followers to the entrance, that’s the place the facility provide goes. With a removable mount, there’s some flexibility in the place you possibly can mount it.

There are three peak ranges you possibly can connect it to. Offers you flexibility in case you plan to have a radiator on high or a storage drive mounted in direction of the underside.

It does restrict the dimensions of the PSU to between 140-180mm which is okay for almost all of picks. However does provide them the good air to maintain them moving into the long term.

The Backside

Aside from the included design mesh, there’s in truth a magnetic mesh included on the underside of the case. Protecting the entire space does present an additional barrier to mud in case you use it as an consumption.

Though the GPU is prone to already be taking in air from the underside. And the toes do stand tall to permit all that airflow., with a peak of two.7cm/1.06”.

The realm does additionally enable two 120mm followers on the backside. Or as much as two storage drives to increase your wants.

The Inside

Opening it up you do discover a spacious opening. There aren’t any separations and it’s all open, simply not as tall as some.

That’s why you’ll discover the motherboard tray solely assist Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards.

Extra centered on small dimension there’s all the time a priority for becoming in elements and good cooling. However right here you possibly can match a stunning quantity.

It helps a graphics card as much as 338mm in size. So even our MSI RTX 3080 Gaming X Trio matches in with some hole to the PSU.

Though getting thicker playing cards might restrict what else you possibly can add to the underside of the case. As becoming a four-slot ASUS Noctua RTX 3080 goes to get proper near the mesh backside.

This does restrict the additional cooling and storage you possibly can put in nevertheless it shouldn’t hinder it an excessive amount of. As the cardboard will be capable of simply get good air in by itself.

One other dimension concern may very well be the CPU cooler peak. However the case helps a most cooler peak of 170mm. Which needs to be sufficient for many of your selections.

By way of cooling, one difficulty you may come throughout is the underside followers and clearance. The place putting in a fan on the backside can come throughout some points with the fan hitting the USB 3.0 cable. This will trigger some fear about breaking something.

There are additionally the GPU energy cables to fret about. We did route them on the backside, which is much less advisable, as there’s the opportunity of hitting the GPU followers whereas in use. 

So it could be simpler simply to route them excessive so long as you possibly can match them within the again channel.

Then on the entrance is the place we discover the largest distinction on this case to different choices. That is the place you possibly can grasp your energy provide.

There’s a bracket that requires the additional facet bracket to be eliminated and extra screws from the entrance. Then you possibly can connect the PSU and grasp it on three completely different heights. Permitting some play with the additional area above and beneath.

As it’s on the entrance, you do get an extension that’s right-angled and goals in direction of the case. Making it barely tougher to handle the cables.

One other factor to contemplate is the place the cables from the PSU should undergo the underside. And with an extended energy provide, you will see that it tougher to handle these.

The good thing about putting the element there although is the entry to contemporary air. With the fan identified entrance, it makes certain they’ll hold cool. Though then the new air has to go someplace and it will likely be expelled into the case except it could escape by means of the highest.

The Again Panel

Now wanting on the secrets and techniques of the again, there’s not an excessive amount of to take a look at. There are plenty of cutouts for administration with little else.

There may be one sled for a 2.5” drive within the backside proper nook, held in with a singular thumb screw. And that’s the one characteristic spherical there.

However you do get to see all of the cutouts and useful routing choices. In direction of the entrance, there’s plenty of possibility above and beneath the facility provide to convey the cables away from the PSU. Though it lacks devoted tie-down spots for the perfect administration.

Subsequent to that could be a devoted cable channel. 32mm in dimension it does provide you with someplace to cover away the cables. With included velcro ties it does assist with the mess, however with out rubber grommets, there isn’t any totally hiding it.

Though with mesh facet panels it will not be too apparent on the darkish facet. Nevertheless it does imply you may get a superb attain to a lot of the ports your cables want to succeed in.

Throughout the highest, you do get tie-down spots for the facility and energy extension. Together with one other row beneath for all the opposite cables, like in case you had extra cooling on high.

On the backside is the place we got here throughout some points. The SSD cables are routed with ease however the IO and different backside cables do get bunched up.

Tying them to the identical spot des creates a bundle, which strains up with the underside edge. That is the place the facet panel slides on to repair it so it may be a little bit of a battle to get it again on.

However with some extra effort and time, it may be unfold out to provide your self a neater time. However general it’s a tidy though cramped again.

Efficiency

Now wanting on the efficiency we see how effectively it does to maintain our elements cool. The primary take a look at (purple line on the graph) was simply with the one rear 120mm Prime fan. 

Then we added two Corsair ML120 Professionals to the construct. One consumption on high and an consumption on the underside. Introducing some extra airflow to see if it makes any distinction to CPU and GPU temps.

We use HWinfo to collect the data in addition to a thermal probe for the case temperature. One positioned beneath the GPU and one behind the CPU cooler.

From the graph, we see that the CPU stats roughly on the identical temperature at round 40°C. Placing on the load we see the temp shoot up, and each discover the identical restrict of 90.3°C.

The extra fan in entrance of the cooler doesn’t present any extra cooling. Even after the load is eliminated, there isn’t any actual distinction. Though the additional fan does clean out the expertise and barely improves the cool-down fee.

Though we didn’t file frequency, we see the CPU energy lower for the no single fan possibility. Which may imply it has throttled and wanted to scale back the facility consumption.

By way of the graphics card, we instantly see the distinction. With a 0db possibility, the additional fan blowing over the cardboard means it begins 12°C decrease than with out.

This additionally means it takes longer to succeed in the height temperature. Which is 1.5°C decrease than with out the fan. Providing simply barely higher cooling.

And general system energy we see the fan possibility common decrease than the inventory configuration.

Last Ideas

General, the ASUS Prime AP201 is an attention-grabbing and completely different PC case possibility that some may get pleasure from. With an open design, there’s loads of room for all of your elements.

And with all of the mesh on the panels, there are nice choices for airflow. Which we do advocate including. If not an AIO in your CPU you do need so cool air for it.

Because the singular again fan doesn’t fairly present sufficient air flow. Because the passive emissions gained’t minimize it, particularly with the GPU heating the CPU.

There may be some lack of cable administration choices on the again and it could get a bit tight in any other case there’s good consideration of cable routing.

For an mATX case, it’s a fairly good possibility. That’s so long as you will discover inventory for the proper retail worth of $79.99. As of the time of writing solely Newegg gives it for $330.