Today, we're reviewing this budget-friendly mid-tower Air A903 Max from Montech. It's like the Clark Kent of cases – it's physically lighter, weighing about half as much as the more expensive alternatives, and won't break the bank, currently coming in at around $74 USD. Check out the video to see the unboxing and my first impressions about the case.
With the build complete, I've got to say - this looks pretty good. The 3 ARGB fans at the front are bright enough and the whole system was pretty easy to build in. There's plenty of room at the top after mounting the motherboard to still plug in all the cables, so as long as you're not installing a radiator at the top, you won't have to worry about cable management at all.
I really like the RGB and fan controller, especially when you consider the price point of this case. In all honesty, there are numerous features included that you wouldn't typically expect at this price range. The included fans, the controller, the adjustable hard drive cage as well as both USB 3 and USB Type C connections. This case clearly hits above its class.
It is not without its flaws or should I say just imperfections. For example when setting up the PSU, the little anti vibration pad was loose and sticking up, but considering that the PSU's weight ultimately will keep it in place, it's not a significant concern.
Another point to keep in mind is that the cable grommets tend to come loose when threading cables through them, so be mindful of this as you will need to put them back in place.
I would have liked one of the motherboard standoffs to use pin type support so you can mount the motherboard safely while in vertical position. Unfortunately, this feature is not included in this case.
On a positive note, the manual is highly detailed and well-crafted, and the labelling on the screws is a nice touch. There's room for improvement in using reusable or better-organised boxes for the screws and providing additional examples and tips for the building process in the manual, but these are relatively minor enhancements that might increase the overall cost and may not be essential for the average user.
There are several notable advantages to highlight. Firstly, the case's tolerances are remarkable. Typically, installing a graphics card requires some effort, regardless of the case's price, as you often need to manoeuvre and tug at the case to align the screws properly. However, this case was an exception. The graphics card slid in smoothly, and the screws aligned perfectly, which was a pleasant surprise. Additionally, for our ITX-sized test system, it was a relief to see that this case supports the GPU in the top PCIe expansion slot without obstructing the connection.
In terms of cable management, the abundance of cut-outs at the front provides a lot of options, especially the one designed for the GPU cable. This results in a clean and easily manageable cable setup. At the back, the three included Velcro cable ties do a good job, and there are additional cable tie-down points throughout the case for further organisation. However, if you have more cables, simply tossing them into one spot won't suffice. While there is still some space at the back, you'll need to be mindful of how you arrange them.
That pretty much sums up the build process, so let’s get into a few quick tests. For this we used our standard testbench, and do note that we are checking for temperatures above ambient which is about 22 degrees Celsius.
Starting with noise-normalised results - here we see very good results for the CPU. Thanks to the presence of those four 140mm fans, it even matched the results we got on an open bench setup. However, when it comes to GPU temperatures, there was a slight decline in performance.
For users who aren't bothered by noise, it's worth noting that these fans are capable of pushing a substantial amount of air. When we cranked the fans up to 100%, we measured a noise level of 51 dBa. In this mode, CPU performance was superb, and interestingly, the GPU temperatures now matched those of the Fractal North case, which costs twice as much.
I am actually surprised by the value proposition of this case. It really does have everything a normal system needs: good IO, reasonable fans with RGB lighting, a well-established layout with great cable routing spots, and the added bonus of an RGB and fan controller. In some ways I would actually recommend getting this case over some higher end alternatives. And if you do decide to invest extra money down the line, consider upgrading the fans or even opting for a 360mm liquid AIO and adding two quiet fans below the GPU for an even more enhanced cooling solution.
Considering the price point at which this case is available and the range of features it checks off, it's challenging not to recommend it. If you're in the market for a high-quality case priced under 100 US dollars, this one should definitely be on your radar. We'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share your opinions in the comments below.
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