Cougar OmnyX
Type
PC CaseRegular mid-towers are a thing of the past. Most PC case manufacturers are now experimenting with unusual designs, stuff that most people would never even think of. Surely, PC cases do not hold as big of a status in our minds as a CPU or GPU, but they can indirectly influence the performance of a computer.
Case manufacturers are becoming more creative when it comes to airflow and we have seen so many of them that it feels like there is no limit to unique designs. Once such a design is seen on the OmnyX mid-tower chassis by COUGAR, which recently also developed the Airface ECO RGB, which I reviewed a few months ago.
Today, we will look at the OmnyX, which is much different in design from the Airface ECO RGB and aims more at offering better support for larger components, cooling, and has a symmetric design that enables it to be highly versatile on the desk when it comes to orientation.
Technical Specifications
| Product Name | OmnyX / OmnyX (White) | |
|---|---|---|
| Case Form Factor | Mid Tower | |
| Motherboard Type | Mini ITX / Micro ATX / ATX | |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 300(W) x 520(H) x 470(D) (mm) 11.8(W) x 20.5(H) x 18.5(D) (in) | |
| I/O Panel | USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C x 2, USB 3.0 Type-A x 4, 4 Pole Headset Audio Jack x 1 | |
| 3.5" Drive Bay | 2 | |
| 2.5" Drive Bay | 2 | |
| Expansion Slots | 7 (horizontal slots can be converted into vertical slots) | |
| Cooling Fan Support | Front | *120mm x 2 / *140mm x 2 / 160mm x 2 |
| M/B Side | 120mm x 3 | |
| Rear | *120mm x 2 / *140mm x 2 / 160mm x 2 | |
| Pre-installed Fans | Front | 160mm ARGB PWM fan x 2 (Forward Blade) |
| Rear | 160mm ARGB PWM fan x 2 (Reverse Blade) | |
| Speed | 300-1200 ± 10% RPM | |
| Connector | 5V 3 Pin (ARGB) / 4 Pin PWM (Fan) | |
| Maximun Number of Fans | 7 | |
| Water Cooling Support | Front | *280mm / *240 mm / *140 mm / *120mm |
| M/B Side | 360mm / 240mm | |
| Rear | *280mm / *240 mm / *140 mm / *120mm | |
| RGB Hub Sync with M/B | Yes | |
| Max. Graphics Card Length | 380(mm) / 15(in) | |
| Max. CPU Cooler Height | 170(mm) / 6.7(in) | |
| Max. PSU Length | 200(mm) / 7.9(in) | |
A Quick Look
OmnyX is a mid-tower case, but is quite large as it has an additional chamber at the back where all the PSU and stuff go. It's quite wide but the length and height are on par with standard-size mid-tower cases. The case uses two tempered glass panels, and while one gives you a full access to the interior view from the front, the other is on the top, offering a seamless view, which looks as impressive as cases with dual tempered glass side panels.
Both sides have ventilated panels and pre-installed 2x 160mm ARGB fans in each side. The Airface ECO RGB comes with 2x 160mm ARGB fans as well, but here you are getting four of them in total, which can be easily accessed by removing the side panels. At the back, there is a fully-ventilated panel that gives you access to the PSU area, fan hub, storage drives, and cable management. All the panels are magnetic and are of high quality. You just have to snap them back to their place but this also makes it difficult to carry since you have to know exactly where you are putting your hands when lifting it or you will get a panel or two removed from the case easily.
For connectivity, the case gives you 4x USB Type A 3.0 ports, 2x Type C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack on the front I/O. So, if you hvae a motherboard with dual USB 3.0 headers and two front Type-C headers, this is going to be excellent for adding a lot of peripherals.
Symmetrical Design is the Focus
After checking out its features, it felt that COUGAR went for a highly symmetrical design in mind that could make it a versatile option for however you want to place it on your desk. Whether you want to put the case on the left, right, or in the center of the desk, it's hard to tell the difference in what has changed, as the side panels are not just identical in appearance, but you can actually swap their components.
The case looks the same from each side, and if you are thinking about the front I/O area at the bottom, then yes, you can slide that too. The I/O panel is actually movable, and the cables move along it. You just need to remove the small plastic plate beside it, slide the I/O panel to either left or right and then put the plastic plate back on the other side.
The areas on both left and right panels at the base are identical too, and they both allow a clear access to the bottom of the case where you can do all the cable management and put the covers back at their place. So, all in all, the symmetrical design is done thoughtfully, but of course, there are a few things which you can't change like the motherboard plate orientation, which decides how your system will look in different orientations.
Airflow and Cooling Support
COUGAR calls it Omnidirectional Dynamic Flow System or ODF, which is why the case is named OmnyX. The airflow is going to be 100% balanced in this case as both sides have an equal number of fans with all of them being the same size. COUGAR says that it is the first ever chassis to feature quad 160mm fans and it's indeed the only one I have seen till now that gets the perfectly balanced airflow system. Usually cases don't have enough space to deploy equal number of fans or bigger-sized fans at the rear but since the motherboard orientation is going to be different than the rest, you can have an equal fan configuration on both sides.
Apart from these two locations, a dedicated area is allocated on top of the motherboard tray, where one can install up to 120mm fans but it's best suited for 360mm AIOs to cool your CPU. Of course, you can replace the 160mm fans on the side with a 280mm or 240mm AIO on either side but if you want a perfectly balanced airflow, then we recommend leaving the default configuration as it is.
Component Compatibility and Some Unusual Mount Locations
The OmnyX supports mini ITX, Micro ATX, and the standard ATX motherboard sizes there is quite a good amount of clearance on both sides (top and bottom of the motherboard). The top already has two routing holes with rubber grommets for an easy and clean cable routing like EPS connector and fan connectors, and the bottom has two big cutouts that make it easy to bend the cables and plug them to the connectors present at the bottom of the motherboard. This is much more convenient than what we saw on the Airface ECO RGB, where it could be a hassle to connect the connectors in some ports if the cables are thick.
If you take a look, you will see that the motherboard orientation is different in the case with its I/O section going at the bottom. Therefore, the expansion slots are also at the bottom and you will have a vertical GPU mount instead of horizontal. Thankfully, the expansion slots can be oriented in a different direction as well, giving you the flexibility to either have your GPU's side facing towards you or the front side with fans. Since the GPU clearance is 380mm, most triple-fan GPUs will have no problem in installation and the same goes for the CPU cooler, which in this case, can be as tall as 170mm if you are considering an air cooler.
At the back, we have the dedicated 2.5" SSD bay, which is removable using a thumbscrew and you can install two SSDs there. However, when you take a look at the PSU area, then it will seem awkward. The PSU goes just behind the motherboard tray, blocking access to the back of the motherboard, which can make installation/uninsatllation of CPU coolers difficult. Surely, you can remove the PSU with a single thumbscrew but it's going to be a bit more time consuming.
Not to mention, the cable clutter will be real at the back, particularly when we already have a dedicated fan/ARGB hub. It can be a little bit difficult to explain this without building a PC in it and being able to build it but unfortunately, this time, I couldn't do it for some reasons. Nonetheless, except for the weird PSU location, I think the entire case has enough space for easier assembly, but there is one more issue, which I will talk about in the next section.
Great Clearance, but Accessibility Can Be a Problem
I loved the spacious design and cable management in this will be a breeze, particularly at the bottom where there are dedicated routing channels, which keep your cables properly organized. You will get those both at the back and one of the sides, and you can just remove the magnetic covers to adjust the cables however you want. But, there is an issue, similar to what we saw on the Thermaltake Tower 600. Thankfully, it's not as difficult as on the Tower 600, but it can be pretty inconvenient.
Since the motherboard I/O and GPU I/O will be available at the bottom, the only way you can connect cables to those is by laying down the case on its side. While you won't necessarily change cables or connect new ones every day, it's still a hassle to go through such a process, while regular cases just give you full access to the rear I/O. Now, I understand that this design offers a much cleaner look, where you can hardly see cables coming out of the case. But I personally prefer convenience over this.
The Verdict
OmnyX is not only impressive in looks but is also unique in its approach to achieving high airflow. The case's symmetrical design is one of the biggest selling points, and COUGAR has done it the right way. The pre-installed four 160mm ARGB fans totally eliminate the need for adding more chassis fans and COUGAR also offers dedicated brackets for downgrading them for either 120mm or 140mm fans.
The spacious interior can accommodate large components, enabling you to deploy beefy GPUs and coolers, but it's best with 360mm AIO, since it won't block the airflow. The only bigger concern is the accessbility to the I/O area, and while the PSU location isn't very ideal as well, one won't typically have to access the rear compartment as frequently as the I/O section.
The magnetic snapping panels are also convenient and it looks like a lot of case manufacturers these days are going tool-less for making it easier to access the hardware inside. It has its pros and cons, but overall, I like it since it presents a neater and more aesthetic look. COUGAR has priced OmnyX at $139, which is a fair price, and I think it will be my go-to choice for my upcoming gaming build.
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The Cougar OmnyX chassis is innovative in design, offering more than just looks but can also be a bit overwhelming for beginners. Its excellent airflow system, tool-free accessibility, and symmetric design makes it a wonderful choice for high-end gaming builds.
- Symmetric design
- High airflow
- Great clearance for components
- Good cable management
- Tool-less design
- Built-in fan/ARGB hub
Pros
- Poor portability
- PSU area can be a mess
- Access to motherboard I/O is difficult
