The Mountainmod's Ascension Crystal Ship CYO Case is an excellent choice for someone looking to build the ultimate dream machine, who wants to house a ton of hardware in one case. The Hyper-Modular design allows for easy assembly and disassembly and also allows you to order new replacement panels should you ever need a different layout for your components, which is a plus because you don't have to buy a whole new case. The manufacturer has tons of options that allow you to fully customize the case and make it your own. New additions such as the XL-ATX motherboard tray along with options for 140 mm radiator spacing put this case into a category of its own. The only limiting factor is the price. Depending on which options you select the case can be anywhere from $460 to $600, or even more. The price of a fully customizable case is hard to gauge, so perhaps this is right on the dot pricing wise.
Unboxing the case was like Christmas morning as I unwrapped each part. Although no assembly instructions are included, MountainMods has many downloadable PDF files if you find yourself wondering how to assemble the case. Assembly is however pretty much straightforward and simple. The mirror black powder coat and smoked black acrylic both look amazing but gather hand and fingerprints rather quickly. After a quick wipe down the case was looking better than ever. Installation of the PC components was a breeze. I expected a few snags with some of the hardware I decided to use but was quite pleased to see it all come together without any issues whatsoever. Because of the design of the case there are little to no places to hide wiring. This is where a good modular power supply and some sleeving would come into play nicely. The included wheels were a must because of all the hardware used in my build. The entire PC assembled inside the Ascension comes in at just over 68 pounds, not something you want to lug around the house. The final look of the case depends heavily on the components you choose to install in it. Overall the Mountain Mods Ascension Crystal Ship CYO case is an enthusiast's dream with an almost flawless implementation.