A Case of Getting What You Pay For

The Mercury S8 is pricey, but worth every penny

AS OFTEN AS I’VE TRIED to stop fiddling with a PC, I just can’t—it’s in my nature. I’ve built countless computers, from the very simple to the incredibly complex. And I’ve come to realize that the chassis you build in affects the entire experience from beginning to end.

In 2015, I built the Dream Machine using a giant CaseLabs chassis that was amazing to work in. Just a few weeks ago, I decided to try my hand again at another CaseLabs chassis that was smaller, but no less astounding.

Coming to customers in a flat-packed box, CaseLabs products are incredibly easy to assemble, and as you put them together, you’ll notice nuances that make you think, “Wow, someone is really paying attention to the details.” The drive cages, for example, in the Mercury S8 I worked on, mount on rubber rings to the whole frame, and the frame itself snaps together, including the panels. Everything is clean and exact. While some competitors have similar features, CaseLabs, to me, seems consistent in its design and attention to detail.

Every CaseLabs chassis can be optioned and customized to your liking before order, and CaseLabs makes this readily apparent on its website. Some of its products are modular, and can be extended if need be. The Mercury S8 I ordered even comes with integrated radiator mounting, and plenty of room to spare if you want to go all-out on custom loops. Some of the best customloop systems use CaseLabs, and it’s easy to see why.

Despite all the good things I can list about the Mercury S8, there is a caveat: price. CaseLabs products aren’t cheap. In fact, the Mercury S8 will set you back $470, but you get what you pay for. Serious builders only.