Cougar Panzer EVO RGB Review: Big Tower with a Lot of Glass

The Cougar Panzer EVO RGB offers you a lot of space and even more glass. The huge case has glass on four sides. The front, both sides and the lid are therefore freely visible. You want to showcase your hardware, but first want to know what the case has on or in the box – our test will tell you.

Scope of Devilery

The box of the Cougar Panzer EVO RGB already indicates a really big case, because you can find the specifications there – we’ll go into them in detail later.

Safety comes first, especially with a case that has so much glass surface. A dark fabric cover and a thick polystyrene layer are placed around the housing. The packaging protects the housing sufficiently against shocks and scratches are prevented by the fabric cover.

On the back of the Panzer EVO RGB there is a cardboard box with the accessories. In addition to various screws, the control of the RGB fans is of course also included. A small control unit for the remote control and for supplying the fans with power is also included in the scope of delivery.

• Instructions for use + product data sheet
• Cleaning cloth
• Slot diaphragm
• Headset holder
• Rubber studs for decoupling
• Motherboard, fan, data carrier screws, etc.

Design

A lot of tempered glass also means a lot of foil to peel off. Only then does the case really come into its own – at least when you stand on a mirrored case. The Cougar Panzer EVO RGB has, as you would expect from a Big Tower, a very massive structure and looks very stable. The materials used also contribute to this.

Rounded edges are a rarity in midi towers. With the Cougar Panzer EVO RGB all corners are rounded. To make the case look even better, the plastic is in carbon look. The carrying comfort was also provided by handles, with four glass panes and built-in hardware, a few kilograms already come on the scales.

The front panel is also optically adapted. In addition to the mandatory USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports, it also provides a USB 3.1 type C port. This is a small highlight in addition to the three-stage fan control. A microphone and headset can also be connected at the front. There is no need to mention that a power and reset button is attached.

A total of four RGB LED fans are already pre-installed. Three of them are located directly behind the glass front, the last one is at the back. With the included controller and remote control many different modes and colors can be freely set. Remote control with Cougar logo is of course mandatory!

Eight slot bezels can be found on the back of the Cougar Panzer. For external radiators are even three feedthroughs for hoses on the back. Cougar relies on the so-called “Air Guide” for improved cooling of hard disks. The air is guided into the case directly behind the motherboard via a feed-through with plastic cover.

A positive aspect is the tool-free assembly of the hard disks and data carriers. Both the 2.5-inch and the 3.5-inch versions can simply be inserted into the frame provided for this purpose. Four 2.5-inch data carriers can be mounted directly behind the “Air Guide”. The holding frames can also be removed if desired, only one screw has to be unscrewed. 3.5-inch data carriers are simply pressed with a little force into the mounting frame provided for this purpose. The two mounting frames are also compatible for the small version. A total of six hard disks can thus be installed – six 2.5-inch data carriers or two 3.5-inch plus four 2.5-inch storage media.

Power supply covers can spoil the mood of an enthusiast. Meanwhile, there are all possible hardware components with RGB lighting and there the cover can prevent the view. Just like the “Air Guide” we can also remove the power supply cover. We only have to loosen one screw and can remove both parts with a little pressure.

To protect against dust, several filters are built into the housing, three of which are even magnetic. Unlike other housings, however, we do not find the filters on the housing or directly on the front. To access the filter at the front, the glass pane must be removed from the hardware area. We also have to remove the glass pane for the filter in the lid. The last one is on the floor, so the case simply has to be tilted to the side.

System Structure in Cougar Panzer EVO RGB

There is always plenty of space in a big tower, including the Panzer EVO RGB, of course. For example, we are absolutely not limited when buying the graphics card, as it can be up to 440 mm long. A horizontal mounting is unfortunately not possible, there is no slot available.

The CPU cooler can be up to 185 mm high, so real monster coolers can be used. Power supply units with a length of up to 300 mm can also be installed without any problems. So it only remains to mention that there is really a free hand when buying the hardware. The same applies to radiators for water cooling. Open your eyes when buying hardware and any radiator will fit into the case.

There are enough openings to lay the cables without any problems. For the cable routing we would have wished for holders with Velcro or clip fasteners at this price. The complete hardware must first be installed and connected so that we don’t have to use countless cable ties. Also the exchange of hardware or the rebuilding in the case needs more time by opening the cable ties. Here cable ties could have been delivered, which can also be opened again.

Large hands in this large case are no obstacle, just like large hardware. Elaborately designed configurations with many fans or water cooling always find their place. Especially the RGB-illumination is a big advantage! The existing fans are connected to the supplied controller and can even be controlled via various solutions from other manufacturers, such as the Asus solution.

In the test system is a Ryzen 5 1400* and a Gigabyte GTX 1060 with 6GB from Aorus*. The MSI B360 PC Mate Motherboard* has 16 GB RAM from Ballistix* plugged in.

Cooling Capacity

The large, open housing lets you expect very good cooling and that’s exactly how it is. All components are cooled very well and above all evenly. The “Air Guide” also ensures that the data carriers or the power supply are not neglected, the air can circulate perfectly in the housing.

With so much glass, the insulation is of course more difficult, but the fans are only minimally audible at high speeds. The loudest in the case was the HDD, which is audible during a lot of work. Completely silent system in a housing with so much glass are difficult to achieve. However, Cougar was able to meet these expectations with the Panzer EVO RGB.

Conclusion on the Cougar Panzer EVO RGB Review

Unlike in the last test of a Cougar case the Cougar Panzer EVO RGB convinces us completely except for a small point of criticism. The material quality is very good and the housing has no workmanship defects.

The many possibilities offered also ensure a good evaluation. Up to eight 120 mm fans can be installed, and four radiators up to 360 mm in size are also possible. Due to the large proportions of the housing, there is no limit to the hardware configuration.

The only point of criticism with the 200 Euro case are two of the three magnetic dust filters. These can only be removed if the glass pane in front of it is removed. Otherwise the case is suitable for all lovers of large cases.