CaseLabs has really made a name for itself with its cube MAGNUM cases, especially in North America. The company has been expanding their line-up on a regular basis, and the Merlin family includes cases that look much more like other available full-tower enclosures out there. At this level, the Merlin SM8 is in a way directly competing against the larger offerings from Lian Li, but it does play in a completely different league, or a totally different game. Clocking in at $380 in its most basic configuration, the SM8 can swallow some serious hardware, like loads of water-cooling gear, while offering a build quality still unmatched by anyone else in the case industry. That said, those who really want a more elaborate interior, or require more than just the included bays within the SM8, will quickly have their overall tally rise. While this can be seen as a negative, it is perfect for the user this chassis is meant for--the crazy enthusiast building a fully water-cooled, high-performance power house with multiple GPUs, blazingly fast memory, and an overclocked CPU. For those, the Merlin SM8 is an excellent choice because it has the ability to turn from beast into monster if need be.

The company's industrial and military background clearly shows in their case designs, but this is definitely a good thing. The case does have a few small aspects CaseLabs can improve upon, but none of those will keep you from smiling all the way from your first inspection to when you turn the system on for the first time. The Merlin series of cases ultimately redefines what is possible for the ultra high-end while also offering a viable option for those who consider $400 the absolute end of the line. Well done once again, CaseLabs, well done.