Thursday, January 9th 2025
Cougar Debuts New Omnyx & Airface Cases at CES 2025
The TechPowerUp team was invited up to Cougar's Las Vegas suite where two new PC cases sat alongside a familiar product. A brand rep started proceedings by introducing the white Omnyx RGB case—featuring a symmetric design with two tempered glass panels (one on top and another across the front face). Cougar's engineering team has implemented a novel modular I/O system—users can reposition this panel around the enclosure's base. The Omnyx's lower chamber provides a convenient hideaway space for a power supply, while the spacious upper section is dedicated to displaying visually striking components.
Cougar's Omnyx RGB case is supplied with four pre-installed 160 mm RGB cooling fans—an additional three can be added aftermarket. The enclosure's cable management compartment resides behind the motherboard tray, thus keeping clutter away from the main interior chamber. The Omnyx is ready to support motherboards with back connectors—convenient timing, since hardware manufacturers are sending more of these products to market.
The new Airface 2 RGB case is placed below the already released Airface RGB Eco in Cougar's model chassis hierarchy—this lower budget/affordable alternative is smaller but still manages to cram in two front-mounted 180 mm PWM RGB fans. It shares the Omnyx's ability to support motherboards with back connectors. ATX and CEB board form factors are listed on its product placard. This model's name is marked down as being a working title.
Cougar first exhibited its Airface RGB Eco case (black and white variants) at Computex 2024, and another showroom example has made the journey to Las Vegas. Cougar expects to bring this model to market in Q1 2025. A special front panel was designed with unique coned vents in order to maximize airflow—two 180 mm PWM RGB fans do the hard work here.
Cougar presented two PSU models alongside their latest PC cases—product placards listed ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards, as well as various Cybernetic efficiency and noise level certifications. The GLE series was represented by a 1200 W unit—buyers can choose between that one or a 1000 W alternative.
The other power supply demo model was a GEX PRO 850 W unit. Cougar's product placard states that 750 W and 650 W variants also exist.
Cougar's Omnyx RGB case is supplied with four pre-installed 160 mm RGB cooling fans—an additional three can be added aftermarket. The enclosure's cable management compartment resides behind the motherboard tray, thus keeping clutter away from the main interior chamber. The Omnyx is ready to support motherboards with back connectors—convenient timing, since hardware manufacturers are sending more of these products to market.
9 Comments on Cougar Debuts New Omnyx & Airface Cases at CES 2025
MSI's Project Zero X shows a much better execution of that idea. Granted this is concept versus Cougar's retail release.
Link below is walkaround:
Downside 1: I/O panel down. This is very user-dependent. I don't think most mess with rear panel connections very often outside of situations when one is moving the case. With six FP USB connections available, the vast majority of use cases should have enough hot-plug ports for their needs.
Downside 2: Restricted blower card exhaust. Virtual non-factor. Blower cards are an endangered species, and AFAIK don't generally go much above 200W TBP. There looks to be a decent amount of space in the basement for hot air to escape. In addition, the intersection of owners of blower cards and potential buyers of this case has got to be vanishingly small.
Keep in mind that not all cases (or any product) need to be all things to all people. If you're a person that needs frequent access to the I/O panel or has one or more high-watt blower cards, there are plenty of options that serve those needs.I think I prefer the Cougar design due to lack of riser cable, though were I cross-shopping, the (apparently) smaller dimensions of the MSI would make the choice tricky.