COUGAR Intros Dust 2 Mini-ITX Case with Grab Handles

[btarunr]

COUGAR today introduced the Dust 2, a compact, tower-type case for Mini-ITX gaming PC builds, characterized by fixed grab-handles along the top. The case comes in three 2-tone trims—gold, silver, and gray. Inside, you'll find a vertically partitioned layout despite its narrow width. This is because it relies on a PCIe riser cable to orient your graphics card vertically in the left chamber, while the right chamber has just enough room for a Mini-ITX motherboard with an AIO CPU block, or a low-profile (<70 mm tall) fan-heatsink. Next to the motherboard tray, toward the front, is the case's PSU bay (max clearance 16 cm length). The right chamber is exclusively for the graphics card, up to 33 cm in length. There's enough room for an RTX 3090 Founders Edition.

Storage options in the COUGAR Dust 2 include one 3.5-inch bay, and two 2.5-inch trays. Ventilation options include two 140 mm top exhausts, with the ability to hold a 280 mm x 140 mm radiator. Front panel connectivity includes one each of USB 3.x type-A, type-C, and a 4-pole analog headset jack. Including the 36 mm-tall handles, the case measures 175 mm x 335 mm x 403 mm (WxHxD). The company didn't reveal pricing.



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[Crackong]

That's some overkill mechanism just for holding the top panel

 

[tabascosauz]

At 23.7L this thing is bigger than an ATX Cerberus X, and the latches and the handles just look like they wanted to copy the Corsair C70 from 9 years ago (unique btw, but that was 9 years ago). If the coloured panels are metal, it can't be cheap. If the coloured panels are plastic, then it's just terrible.

Maybe got a point if it's priced aggressively at $100-150 or below, but then again, isn't the Geeek G1 SE like $100 and fits the same 3090? Literally half the size of this abomination @ 11L.

Their own QBX is a great mass-market, affordable SFF case. And then there's the NR200, literally a more sensible choice all around.

edit: 21.1L without the handles...still way too big for a sandwich - also Dust 2 lmao

 

[PLAfiller]

HANDLES....OH BOY yes! I've been waiting! Not exactly what I imagined, but hey I haven't seen anything handle-wise on mass market since NZXT Vulcan.

 

[SN2716057]

It's different, I'll give 'em that. And, tbh, handles are great, I even made one on my Mercury S3.

 

[Operandi]

Has sort of an industrial look to it. Not sure it will cool that great even with two 140mm fans but I like the look of it.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Maybe would of been better with wheels and builtin luggage handle feature lol

 

[Mistral]

I really love how out there some of COUGAR's designs are.

 

[Franzen4Real]

If it were a matte olive green it would look like an ammo crate. Someone could probably make a neat C.O.D. or Battlefield themed case mod out of it.

 

[MentalAcetylide]

Has sort of an industrial look to it. Not sure it will cool that great even with two 140mm fans but I like the look of it.

Two words: space heater

 

[odaniel]

It's not optimized for RTX 30 cards. The flow through fan will blow against the motherboard tray.

 

[5 o'clock Charlie]

HANDLES....OH BOY yes! I've been waiting! Not exactly what I imagined, but hey I haven't seen anything handle-wise on mass market since NZXT Vulcan.

I miss my NZXT Vulcan. A case that served me well for almost 10 years. The handle was useful for my needs. Unfortunately, it wasn't designed to support many water-cooling options. I had a 92mm radiator from Asetek cooling a 3770k. Did a decent job. Top fans did not have clearance for a radiator though.
The sideview and clamps of this cougar reminds me of the Corsair Vengeance C70.

 

[bonehead123]

Definitely different, I'll give them that.

I like the industrial look and the black & gold color scheme, but am undecided on those latches..... seems a little un-techie to me but oh well... AT LEAST IT HAS FRIGGIN USB-C on the front I/O panel, unlike sooooo many other so-called "new" cases these days

 

[EpicGlitch]

At 23.7L this thing is bigger than an ATX Cerberus X, and the latches and the handles just look like they wanted to copy the Corsair C70 from 9 years ago (unique btw, but that was 9 years ago). If the coloured panels are metal, it can't be cheap. If the coloured panels are plastic, then it's just terrible.

Maybe got a point if it's priced aggressively at $100-150 or below, but then again, isn't the Geeek G1 SE like $100 and fits the same 3090? Literally half the size of this abomination @ 11L.

Their own QBX is a great mass-market, affordable SFF case. And then there's the NR200, literally a more sensible choice all around.

edit: 21.1L without the handles...still way too big for a sandwich - also Dust 2 lmao

As someone who recently downsized a C70 (still have) into a QBX with a 320mm GPU, I agree with your assessment. And I will definitely be buying this. It's like this case was made for me...