BitFenix Merc Alpha: Just How Much Can $39 Buy?
by Dustin Sklavos on October 5, 2011 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- mid-tower
- bitfenix
Introducing the BitFenix Merc Alpha
While we've had a chance to check out a few cases in the $200+ club and the majority of the enclosures we've tested have floated around the $99 price range, we haven't really put the screws (so to speak) to a truly budget case. That changes today, when we tackle the least expensive case we've yet tested: the BitFenix Merc Alpha. At just $39 it would be reasonable not to expect much, but as you'll see this case can hang with enclosures at twice the cost or better.
BitFenix has generously provided us considerable lead time to check out the Merc Alpha ahead of other sites, and the time was well spent. The Merc Alpha is one of a pair of twin models under the "Merc" brand; the Merc Beta has the same shell and costs the same amount, but loses the top vents. Given our generally positive experience with the Shinobi (another budget contender), I was looking forward to sitting down with the Merc Alpha and I wasn't disappointed by it.
| BitFenix Merc Alpha Specifications | ||
| Motherboard Form Factor | ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX | |
| Drive Bays | External | 3x 5.25", 1x 3.5" |
| Internal | 6x 3.5", 1x 2.5" | |
| Cooling | Front | 2x 120mm fan mount |
| Rear | 1x 120mm exhaust fan (3-pin header) | |
| Top | 2x 120mm fan mounts | |
| Side | 2x 120mm fan mounts | |
| Bottom | 1x 120mm fan mount | |
| Expansion Slots | 7 | |
| Front I/O Port | - | |
| Top I/O Port | 4x USB 2.0, headphone and mic jacks | |
| Power Supply Size | ATX | |
| Clearance | 12.5" without hard drive/10" with hard drive (Expansion Cards), 170mm (CPU HSF), 300mm without bottom fan/160mm with bottom fan (PSU) | |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs. (4.9 kg) | |
| Dimensions | 17.3" x 7.5" x 19.3" (439mm x 190mm x 490mm) | |
| Price | $39 MSRP | |
As you can see the bones with the BitFenix Merc Alpha are pretty bare, but I was pleasantly surprised at just how much functionality BitFenix was able to pack into it. The Merc Alpha has plenty of room for adding fans and improving cooling much like its older sibling, the Shinobi, and indeed the internal design of the Merc feels in many ways like a Shinobi that's lost some weight and some zazz.
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AssBall - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
I think they are not available for retailers yet; I can't find them to buy anywhere so far except Australia.Airwick - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
They've been available here for a little while now.http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=...
TrackSmart - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
They sell $20 cases on Newegg. So it's not a price issue.blckgrffn - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...Same internals, right down to where the SSD mounts.
Bozo - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
The inside of that case looks like an Antec 100. HmmmTyphoidMary - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
I bought a Rosewill Blackbone from the 'egg on THG's recommendation last year, and it was a genuine pleasure to build in. Cheap too, I think it was like $50.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
crimson117 - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
It may be $39.99 MSRP, but the lowest price I can find including shipping to the east coast is ~$55 from the BitFenix store. FrozenCPU wants $30 for ground shipping.iamezza - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Thanks Dustin for another excellent Case reviewI too dislike those non-recessed slot covers, it's something I have only really seen on either very-cheap cases or OEM cases.
hrbngr - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
As a previous poster mentioned, I think that for a little bit more $$, the Coolermaster HAF 912 is a stellar budget case. The detachable middle bay that allows room for big video cards along w/decent width--allowing for larger/taller heatsinks--makes this case an easy choice for most installs. I was previously an antec 300 fan, btw.Samus - Thursday, October 6, 2011 - link
This thing costs less than two 'hotswap adapters' for my Silverstone FT01!