By David Shields
Manufacturer: In Win Development
Product Name: SECC Tempered Glass Micro-ATX Mini Tower Computer Case
Model Number: 301 WHITE
UPC: 827955023027 (white), 827955023010 (black)
Price As Tested: $69.99 (Amazon | Newegg)Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by In Win Development.
Tempered glass is all the rage right now in the custom PC market. As a result, many case makers are releasing new designs with tempered glass in an attempt to cash in. But tempered glass is often more expensive than options such as plastic. Seeing this, In Win has released the 301 mini tower, a smaller mATX version of their successful 303 chassis design. For $69.99 (Amazon | Newegg), the 301 is one of the cheapest options on the market. But, what does the design sacrifice to make way for that price?
In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we’ll take a closer at the In Win 301 SECC Tempered Glass Micro-ATX Mini Tower Computer Case, detailing the features included in this design, before delivering my final recommendation.
| Model | 301 |
|---|---|
| Color | Black, White |
| Case Type | Mini Tower |
| Case Material | Tempered Glass, SECC |
| M/B Compatibility | Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX |
| Expansion Slots | PCI-E x 4 |
| Maximum Compatibility | VGA Card Length:330mm CPU Heatsink Height :158mm |
| Front Ports | 2 x USB 3.0 HD Audio |
| Internal Drive Bays | 1 x 3.5″/2.5 2 x 2.5″ |
| Thermal Solution Compatibility | 2 x 120mm Front Fan / 240mm Radiator 1 x 120mm Rear Fan / 120mm Radiator 2 x 120mm Bottom Fan(Occupy a PCI-E slot） |
| Power Supply Compatibility | PSII: ATX12V – Length up to 160mm |
| Product Dimension (H x W x D) |
365mm x 188mm x 370m 14.3″ x 7.4″ x 14.6″ |
| Product Dimension (H x W x D) with screw & handle height |
365mm x 208mm x 370mm 14.3″ x 8.1″ x 14.6″ |
| Package Dimension (H x W x D) |
450mm x 272mm x 458mm 17.7″x 10.7″x 18″ |
| Net Weight | 6.57KG / 14.4lb |
| Gross Weight | 7.63KG / 16.8lb |
As of June 2017, the In Win 301 mini-tower computer case was offered online for $69.99 (Amazon | Newegg), and came in black or white finish.
The In Win 301 is almost entirely steel, with just a few plastic pieces (i/o ports, feet, bottom dust filter). The front panel is non-descript, with power and reset switches, dual audio jacks, and an In Win logo. The logo and i/o ports are illuminated (our sample has white lighting, but a black case with red accents is also available).
The top panel is totally bare. No ventilation, no markings, nothing to detract from the beauty of the case.
At the back we find a slightly different arrangement, with the power supply mount at the top and PCI slots at the bottom. A single 120mm fan mount (no fans included) and motherboard i/o cutout round out the features.
The bottom of the chassis sports the only dust filter found at any ventilation point. It is both easy to remove and clean, and the feet provide a decent amount of clearance for the vent itself.
The side panel is a gorgeous, thick panel of glass about 3mm thick. How reflective it is depends largely on what angle you view it at. It’s not entirely unmarred, with a decorative strip on the front side and plastic at the top and bottom. The whole panel is secured by a latch at the top, and lifts away easily.
Finally, a wide look at the interior without the window panel. The motherboard cutout is nearly 6 inches across at it’s widest point, but due to the small form factor you are limited to a max 160mm PSU, 330mm GPU, and 158mm CPU cooler. In total, you can fit five 120mm fans in the 301.
In Win has created a clean, but beautiful design with this case. But what lies beneath that tempered panel? In the next section, we’ll take a look at the finer details of the 301.
The front of the 301 features a pair of 120mm fan mounts, which can also mount a 240mm radiator.
The problem with the front mounts however, is air flow. The only vents are the ones shown here, on the side of the chassis. They are not filtered, and while seemingly providing enough ventilation for air to flow through, are choked by another design flaw.
Directly behind the vent is where the only real cable management area exists, a small cutout 1.5″ deep and 3″ wide. Already filled with the front i/o cables, you’ll have to route the main power, SATA, GPU and most other cables through this one slot.
On the flip side is what In Win has provided for cable management. There are no cable tie points, no rubber grommets. Instead, you can bend these flaps to channel cables through specific points. There is no room between the side panel and the backplate for cables, meaning that the only place extra cables can go is inside the PSU shroud itself. I think it goes without saying you’ll want a smaller, modular PSU for this case.
One removable hard drive tray is included between the PSU and front panel. In total, the 301 can accommodate one 3.5″ or 2.5″ drive in this bay, and a pair of 2.5″ drives can be mounted underneath the bay.
At the beginning of the article, we asked what features were sacrificed to make way for the $69.99 price tag. From this, it’s clear that that In Win sacrificed on the interior; cable management, cooling, and expansion all take a hit. But what does this mean for the case as a whole? Read on to the conclusion.
In Win is best known for it’s handcrafted, high quality, but expensive cases. The 301 is not expensive, but it maintains In Win’s dedication to high quality chassis design. Priced at $69.99 (Amazon | Newegg), it’s one of the cheapest cases with tempered glass available today. However, in return for this the 301 shows less consideration towards its functionality and overall interior design. I wonder if this is a sign of things to come in the custom PC industry. Are builders putting less overall equipment in their cases in favor of aesthetics?
You can’t beat this price for an artistic, tempered glass design. Functionally, if you prefer cooling, expansion, and gaming over aesthetics, then you can definitely do better. But that’s not the point of the In Win 301. When it comes to being an aesthetically pleasing, high quality build, this product pulls few punches. Tack on those high quality materials, and the In Win 301 will last you for a good long while.
I award the In win 301 an 8.7 out of 10 for a quality product.
+ Great aesthetic design.
+ Tempered glass for less than $70!
+ Quality steel construction.
– Intake for front fans limited to side panel and choked by cables.
– Only one channel for cable management.
– Fans installed in bottom block lower PCI slots.
– Limited cable management.
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Performance: 8.00
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Appearance: 9.75
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Construction: 9.50
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Functionality: 7.75
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Value: 8.50
