DeepCool CH160 PLUS test – a transportable mATX case

DeepCool is a PC hardware manufacturer that is very competitive in terms of price thanks to its own factories and therefore almost always offers top value for money. DeepCool manufactures air and water coolers and cases in particular. This also includes the DeepCool CH160 Plus from this test, which is a slightly larger version of the regular CH160 and therefore not only offers space for Mini-ITX boards, but also for mATX mainboards. In the DeepCool CH160 Plus review, we take a look at whether the price-performance ratio is actually right, what needs to be considered and how easy it is to use.

Specifications

Dimensions	375 x 195 x 323.5 mm
Weight	4.2 kg
Mainboard compatibility	mATX, Mini-ITX
Maximum air cooler height	164 mm
Maximum graphics card length	342 mm (without front fan in the housing)
Radiator sizes:	120 / 240 mm
Power supply compatibility	ATX (max 140 mm) / SFX / SFX-L
Price	€ 56.08 * (black) € 59.90 * (white)

Packaging and scope of delivery

• Brown cardboard box with additional colored print around one corner
• Plastic box with screws and cable ties and printed instructions included
• Protective film on the screen

The packaging of the DeepCool CH160 Plus is a bit like you would expect. The case is in a plastic sleeve, held in place by two foam trays and all of this is held securely together by a brown cardboard box. But from a visual point of view there is another surprise, because where most manufacturers leave it at a brown box with print, here there is a white corner with multi-colored print. Well done. I like the fact that the shells that hold the case are made of foam and not polystyrene. The foam is softer and doesn’t break so quickly.

In terms of accessories, the instructions are also included. There are also two plastic bags with additional accessories in the case itself: two brackets with four screws for mounting fans or hard disks and a box with various assorted screws. Also cool: You can of course keep the box and collect computer screws in it in case you need them again. Apart from the screws, the box also contains cable ties and three Velcro cable ties. These can then be used for cable management.

Last but not least, there is a protective film on the glass of the DeepCool CH160 Plus, both on the inside and outside. This should be removed before use. But to protect it from fingerprints, it is better to remove it after you have completed the rest of the installation.

Design

• Compact, black case
• Generously equipped with square mesh
• No lighting or fan available ex works

The design of the DeepCool CH160 Plus is very simple: A box with hard edges, square mesh at the front, back, top and bottom, a glass panel on the left and a tight rear cover on the right. And the stand-out feature: there is a handle on the top. Spoiler: If you don’t want it, you can unscrew it.

The square mesh grille on all sides is quite generous and a dust filter can be seen underneath everywhere except on the back.

The front panel cables can also be seen in the housing behind the glass, as the front panel is located directly under the glass. This consists of the power switch, two USB-A ports (USB 3.2), a USB-C port and a combined audio port.

No RGB components or fans are installed ex works. The case is simply a box that is kept as compact as possible, but is still large enough to accommodate large graphics cards and ATX power supplies.

Design add-on: Pixel

• Optional accessories available in individual colors or in a 10-color package
• A lot of fun and can become a meditative piece of work
• Unfortunately not quite cheap

Okay, this idea from DeepCool is really cool. Square elements have been a design feature of the brand for some time now. Square coolers, square mesh, even the logo is pixelated together from square elements. And it is precisely the square mesh on cases – including the DeepCool CH160 Plus – that now makes them a practical design element. This is because the “pixels” are offered here. These are colored silicone squares that can be inserted into the mesh openings of the case to “pixelate” your own lettering or images. These are not included as standard, but have to be purchased separately. But hui: they’re fun!

Sure – these are not an essential part of the case and yes: they do of course hinder the airflow a little. But I’ve rarely been so immersed in details when tinkering with a case test. It really has become a meditative task. And you can take the pixels out again at any time and let off steam.

If you are not sure how many pixels of which color you need and whether the desired artwork fits, you can select a suitable housing online in a pixel tool on the DeepCool website and play around. The number of pixels placed is also counted there. This makes it easier to buy the desired colors in the right quantity, because the “Pixel 10” set is not exactly cheap and two of these sets already exceed the cost of the DeepCool CH160 Plus itself – as long as no additional fans are included.

In addition to being fun to use, the pixels can also be used as practical markers, for example if you need several computers for events and want to mark them quickly and easily depending on their area of use. You can label them (name / purpose) or mark them in color.

Processing quality

• Solid build quality
• Front panel connection as individual plug
• Lightweight, thin glass panel

Given the low price and low weight of the DeepCool CH160 Plus, I had rather lowered my expectations in this test. But I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t find any sharp edges and the gaps are very good. The paintwork is neatly finished and looks good, even if I did manage to scratch the paintwork on the back of the case during the test.

Nevertheless, the material thickness is such that the construction doesn’t feel cheap and you have to apply a bit of pressure to attach the pixels – and here all areas held up very well. The thickness of the metal also feels good on the inside.

As you would expect, the glass pane is made of tempered glass, which is rather thin. This is hardly surprising, as glass can become heavy very quickly. And especially with a case that comes with a handle for easy transportation, it is an advantage if the weight is kept low.

I was only briefly surprised by the knurled screws that hold the front glass pane and the cover on the back of the case, as I suddenly found myself holding them in my hand when I unscrewed them. With many newer cases, you’re used to them sticking to the side panels. But good – a detail.

It is very positive that the front panel connection is kept simple with a single plug that is not split, as you see on many cases.

Component compatibility

• Even large air coolers can be installed
• Space for radiators up to 240 mm
• The installation of 2.5″ and 3.5″ drives is very limited, but possible

Despite its compact dimensions, the DeepCool CH160 Plus surprisingly has space for even very large air coolers, such as the DeepCool Assassin IV. Water cooling is a little more limited, but with radiators you can at least rely on models up to 240 mm.

As far as drives are concerned, you should rely on M.2 as far as possible, provided you have a sufficient number of slots on mATX boards. In the area of 2.5″ or 3.5″ drives, you are limited to one model on brackets, which, however, collides with a fan slot. You can also screw a 2.5″ drive to the mainboard tray.

Mainboards can be installed in mATX and Mini-ITX format, whereby DeepCool also offers an even more compact version especially for ITX boards with the CH160 (without Plus). When installing the mainboard, it is convenient that two of the spacers have a raised center. This means that the mainboard sits firmly in position during installation and does not slip or rotate before the screws are fitted.

This is very convenient and makes the otherwise somewhat strenuous installation a little easier.

Installation

• The top must be removed to install the power supply unit and the handle can also be removed if required
• Front panel cover can be removed for better accessibility
• Different power supply units possible

To install the DeepCool CH160 Plus, you must first remove both side panels and unscrew the top cover. This is necessary to access the power supply bracket and to screw on a fan or radiator at the top. If necessary, you can now also unscrew the handle if you don’t need it.

The position of the power supply unit is interesting, as it is located at the front of the housing. In order to still have a connection at the back, there is an internally routed extension cable. This allows the power supply unit to use the space that would otherwise remain empty in most cases, as modern, long graphics cards require a certain case length that is far longer than the regular mainboard width. Ergo at the top front.

The power supply bracket is plugged in from above and secured with two screws, also screwed in from the side with two screws and offers screw positions for different mounting orientations of ATX and SFX power supplies. I installed an SFX power supply in the DeepCool CH160 Plus test.

Now you have to put the construction back into the case, screw it down, connect the power cable extension and switch on the power supply unit before screwing the top cover back on – otherwise you won’t be able to reach it.

Cable management

• No space behind the mainboard tray
• Power supply and connections visible behind the glass panel
• Everything is a bit cramped and the front panel cables are also visible in the interior

Cable management in the DeepCool CH160 Plus is rather “rustic”. The case is designed for compactness and you can see that here: The space behind the mainboard tray is largely non-existent. The cables therefore all remain in the main compartment and this is also where the power supply unit is housed. So you have to get a little creative here to keep the cables out of sight to some extent. The use of modular power supply units is of course particularly worthwhile here, as you can simply leave out superfluous cables.

But no matter how you look at it: The power supply unit and its connections are in full view and the cables, which have to be routed directly from the front under the screen to the rear, are not in short supply either and are therefore quite long and almost impossible to hide. In most cases, the area at the front under the power supply unit will therefore be difficult to keep “visually clean”.

It would be an advantage here if DeepCool had designed the cover under the pane differently and not placed it at the bottom, but at the front (then not horizontally, but vertically) as a privacy screen in front of the power supply unit.

In any case, cable management in this case was no fun, especially as the compact design quickly made the interior quite cramped. However, SFX power supplies help with shorter cables and a more compact design.

Fan

• No fans included
• Recommendation for inexpensive fans
• Even though 140 mm fans are theoretically possible at the front, 120 mm fans fit better

No fans are installed in the DeepCool CH160 Plus ex works. You can therefore choose whether to purchase fans, continue to use existing fans or rely purely on the fans of a cooler. This also gives you the full choice of whether you want to use RGB fans or non-illuminated models. The case offers space for up to four 120 mm fans, whereby one or two slots are already occupied depending on the radiator size if a water cooling system is purchased.
If you are also looking for inexpensive fans to match the affordable case, you will find that DeepCool also has very good fans on offer, such as the FK120, which also performed well in the large fan test for case fans and are not too expensive. The Arctic P12 fans are also popular, powerful fans that are available at a reasonable price. But of course, you can get even better value if you continue to use existing fans. If you want to use the case for features other than the low price, you can of course also use more expensive fans. But these two already play in the premium segment in terms of performance.

If you are not using an ATX power supply but an SFX power supply, you can alternatively place a 140 mm fan in the front of the DeepCool CH160 Plus. The other positions are limited to 120 mm. But in my test of the DeepCool CH160 Plus, this seems to remain more in the realm of theory. The 140 mm fan didn’t work for me even with the SFX power supply. The 120 mm fan was not a problem.

Airflow

• Good ventilation thanks to lots of mesh
• Graphics card can operate its own fan as a case fan

The mesh on four sides of the case provides good ventilation. In addition, the DeepCool CH160 Plus has quite large feet, which also leave enough space to draw air from below. Although no fans can be fitted at the bottom, the graphics card can draw in fresh air with its own fans. With fans at the back and top, you can create a certain negative pressure in the case, which also passively draws in air from below and supports the supply of the graphics card.
Ultimately, the effect of the front fan is rather small. So you don’t have to worry too much about significant temperature differences if you need the space at the front for a longer graphics card or want to mount a hard disk or SSD in the front.

Transportability

• A handle is screwed onto the top
• The low weight helps with transportation
• If transportation is planned, you should also pay attention to the weight of the components

The outstanding feature of the DeepCool CH160 Plus is the transport handle, which I also put to the test. In keeping with this, the case is kept quite light at around 4 kg. To put this into perspective: I recently tested a different and completely differently designed mATX case, the ASUS AP202, which weighed more than twice as much. And with modern ATX cases, the 10 kg mark is quickly reached.

Where the case itself is relatively light, you can of course still install heavy components. It can therefore make sense to pay attention to the weight of coolers and graphics cards if you want to design a computer that is actually easy to transport. And of course, SSDs, for example, are not only lighter than hard disks, but also more resistant to movements and impacts that a computer might be subjected to during transportation.

The handle is also quite wide and is made of flexible plastic without sharp edges. It therefore makes a very secure impression without cutting too much into the hand during transportation. However, depending on the components installed, the total weight can quickly reach 8-10 kg. In the test of the DeepCool CH160 Plus, I ended up with 9.5 kg in this case. Although the CPU cooler used is quite heavy, I didn’t install any hard disks and the graphics card could also have been somewhat larger and heavier.

A look at the price

• Low price
• If not already available, you have to factor in the price of a few additional fans
• The Pixel accessories are optional

The DeepCool CH160 Plus is really not an expensive case. It is therefore fitting that most inexpensive motherboards are in the mATX range. And you also get good value for the price. Sure – fans are not included in the scope of delivery, but with a maximum of four and usually two sufficient fans, you can still get away with it quite cheaply or use existing fans.
The Pixel accessories are not quite so cheap, but they are a lot of fun and can be added to later if you want to.

With this case, you definitely get a solid part with special features, such as the robust transport handle, at a good price for computer cases of today.

Conclusion

I like the DeepCool CH160 Plus. The installation is not quite as simple as with some larger cases and you should allow a little more time for the assembly, but even here I would only classify this as a medium level of difficulty. And from a visual point of view, you can hardly get the cables out of sight. But the overall package is coherent and you get an effective, transportable case with good compatibility, a generous mesh grille for good ventilation even with few fans and a certain fun factor.

The build quality also leaves nothing to be desired. Despite the high proportion of mesh, the panels are robust and everything can be securely screwed down so that the case can withstand transportation. It should also be noted that this case is one of the most compact mATX cases on the market. And you are playing in a size class where you would expect mini-ITX formats. This makes it even more compact, lighter and cheaper than the BitFenix Prodigy M, which I would have previously chosen for requirements in this area (i.e. compact mATX case designed for transportability). And the DeepCool case is also better balanced thanks to the central handle.

So if you are looking for a compact PC case that will be used regularly in different locations, for example in your main and second home or in the event sector where desktop hardware is required, the DeepCool CH160 Plus is a good solution at a very fair price.