A Closer Look - Outside

Out of the box, you would be forgiven to think that the Montech XR is some sort of Sky Two derivative. It features a similar two glass panel design with a mesh element on the side. Looks aside, there are several differences between the two models, which is to be expected when looking at the large price difference as well.


The front glass is framed in black on three sides with the corner transitioning nicely into the side glass to make it all look like one big window. You may pull this panel off with a light tug as it is held in place by push pins. If you look closely you will notice that these panels have a bit of a tint to them as well. Below that front glass, you will find the I/O consisting of a USB-C and two USB-A ports. While it is fantastic to see a USB-C port on a case of this price segment, it is unfortunate that the USB 3.0 ports are not color matched to the case, which is a bit of an eyesore. Looking at the back, the Montech XR provides that modern, traditional layout we have come to expect from mid-towers these days.


Looking at the main side, there is that second glass panel which is also held in place by push pins. Underneath of it is a metal mesh segment which is meant to provide access to some fresh air, in case you install fans on top of the shroud. On the other side, the metal panel sports a vent which comes equipped with a magnetic dust filter on the inside. Interestingly enough, that vent extends all the way to the floor of the case, even though there is no way to install a fan here. That said, any 3.5" drive in this part of the case may benefit slightly from this in a passive fashion. Unlike the glass side, this panel is held in place by two thumb screws.


In the rear, the PSU bay comes with two sets of mounting holes, so you can have your PSU installed in either direction. Above that are the seven expansion slots with a basic cover to close the hole that is created during tooling. It is nice to see a case of this price point offer reusable covers. In the very top, there is a 120 mm, ARGB equipped fan set to push air out the back of the chassis. You may also install a 140 mm unit here instead. Montech does not list this placement opportunity for radiators, but you clearly have room to opt for a 120 mm unit here. There is little room above the fan, so you will likely have to plan the assembly order properly so that you don't block access to the motherboard headers if going for liquid cooling in the ceiling. This is the first very tangible difference to the Sky Two as well, which offers a lot more headroom.


As the I/O is located in the front, Montech is able to keep this case slimmer as well and provide a larger vented area on the top cover. A magnetic dust filter covers the cutouts which can hold either two 140 mm fans or three 120 mm units. For those wanting to use liquid cooling, the space will fit a 120, 240 or 360 mm AIO. Due to the compact dimensions of the case, you will not be able to fit a 280 mm variant here.


On the bottom, you will find another magnetic mesh dust filter for the PSU bay. While this is functional, in reality that filter will fall off more often than not. A simple pull-out variant would have been the better option here.