The In Win 303 Case Review: Minimalist ATX with Tempered Glass for $93
by E. Fylladitakis on October 12, 2016 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- In-Win
- ATX
- Case
- In Win 303
- InWin 303
Conclusion
In Win has myriads of designs and tries to target each and every one of them towards a different type of user. The 303 can be described as an attempt to create a minimalistic, fully metallic design for users that like showcasing their advanced systems. Aesthetics are a subjective matter and the In Win 303 is a complex subject, as it jumps from complete plainness and austere geometrics to fancy neon-like lights. It could be construed that the panel with the company logo and the lighting at the front breaks the minimalistic cleanness of the design, reducing the potential buyers of the case instead of increasing it.
Perhaps the primary feature of the 303 is its excessive simplicity, inside and outside. There are no external drives and no internal drive cages - only four metallic removable trays for the installation of a small number of 3.5” and 2.5” drives. In Win kept the use of plastic to the minimum possible; only the feet of the case, the dust filter and the illuminated parts of the faceplate are plastic. There are no plastic parts inside the 303, not even rubber grommets on the cable holes. Such a basic design that revolves entirely around the metallic motherboard tray probably sounds interesting to a modder that mostly cares about building a good-looking system. The downside is that the 303 can hold a very small number of internal devices, no 140 mm fans/radiators and no external drives, which is disheartening for a case of this size. Finally, the “accelerated tool-less” design that the company advertises is misleading, as without a screwdriver one can only remove the side panels. The installation of each and every device requires the use of a screwdriver.
In terms of quality, the In Win 303 is an admirable case with excellent mechanical properties. The steel panels are very strong and excellently joined with each other, forming an admirably robust chassis. Some people may express concerns regarding the safety of using a tempered glass side panel, but tempered glass actually is very tough, possibly even tougher than acrylic (depending on its quality). Of course it is not impervious and it should not be hit with hard pointed materials, but it is typically advertised as surviving a fall from 1-1.2 meters or a reasonable bump. The weakest part of the case is not the tempered glass side panel but the plastic feet, which may be very large and strong but the severe weight of the case makes them its most vulnerable spot.
In summary, the In Win 303 is marketed towards users that enjoy simple products and want a unique design that will not cost an arm and a leg. With a retail price of $93 including shipping at the time of this review, we believe that the In Win 303 is reasonably priced for a metal tower with a tempered glass side panel. However, the In Win 303 relies heavily on its appearance to generate sales and the design does have certain shortcomings that the potential buyer needs to consider before purchasing it (such as cooling/fans).
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luca5 - Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - link
I'd not call a case "minimalist" if it sports a gaudy logo with bright, blue LEDs on the front panel.nathanddrews - Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - link
"Minimalist" now seems to mean "no external drive bays".Samus - Thursday, October 13, 2016 - link
I built a PC out of an Inwin case awhile back that had a similar backlit logo and button array. To my pleasant surprise, the logo can be removed and changed. The guy I built it for ended up using a clear piece of 3M film and a silver sharpie to inscribe his gaming handle. It looked really good and is a hit at LAN parties, everyone can find him without looking for his placard in the dark...YukaKun - Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - link
I agree with this. The design is "simplistic", and even that is an stretch. It's just a boxy and "clean" layout.That being said, I like it a lot, but the front LED feels like unnecessary bling to an otherwise great looking case.
Cheers!
Manch - Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - link
spray paint will fix that logo window easy enough.BurntMyBacon - Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - link
I think you are confusing "minimalist" with a simplistic, understated, or muted design aesthetic. In this case, minimalist is referring to the fact that there are no external drive bays, drive cages, fans, minimal HDD/SDD mounts, and little else in the way of extra features.Of course, their own description labels this as a prominent feature: "Exquisitely Modest Aesthetic Design". I might be inclined to agree if they didn't have the "gaudy" logo front and center. The fact that it lights up puts a permanent axe in the "modest" description.
Aerodrifting - Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - link
Instead of wasting time arguing what is minimalist what is not, You guys are forgetting one of the main purposes of the computer case: Providing good airflow to cool your precious components. And I simply don't see it's possible with this case regardless what kind of fan configuration you use.The price is not bad, But it has no stock cooling so you have to invest in 2-4 case fans that can seriously push some air which this case desperately needs. I have seen lots of In-Win cases, All looks no airflow (hello, 805, 901, 909...)
fireduckzilla - Thursday, October 13, 2016 - link
I actually have this case, I'm running 7 EK Vardar fans, with 2x360mm rads... The cooling is great.Could it be 5 degree's cooler in a case with better airflow? Yes most definitely.
The real question is does it make a real world difference. Overclocked and under load it doesn't hit 70c on the GPU or Processor - plus it looks stunning. (Apart from the retarded blue logo, which I will get round to dismantling at some point.)
Aerodrifting - Thursday, October 13, 2016 - link
And how much does a 2 x 360mm rad custom liquid cooling cost?johnny_boy - Friday, October 14, 2016 - link
Don't forget about the honeycomb thing on the side. Very unminimalistic.