BitFenix Outlaw: When Inexpensive Doesn't Mean Cheap

Conclusion: Only What You Need

It's probably pretty evident from the preceding pages that I came away from my experiences with the BitFenix Outlaw as a fan. I've made mention in previous reviews of BitFenix as a hungry company: they're still small, their enclosures aren't available on NewEgg (yet) so you'll have to order them from MicroCenter or work some of that sweet Google Shopping voodoo, but their designs are worth actively seeking out. I still love the Shinobi, but BitFenix has outclassed their own Merc Alpha with the Outlaw. At just $10 more, it's totally worth the expense, even if you're on an extreme budget.

BitFenix's engineers have done some intelligent design and essentially culled everything that wasn't absolutely necessary in order to hit the $49 price point, and what we're left with is a small midtower with exactly enough space to produce a clean and modest build. The complaints I have are few. I would've moved the fan from the back to the front, and I would put the power supply in the top of the enclosure, inverted. It's hard to argue with the results SilverStone obtained with their Temjin TJ08-E, and the same principles could be applied easily enough to the Outlaw.

As things are, as an end user I'd probably add two fans: an intake at the top or side and an intake in the front of the case. Depending on whether or not your motherboard has good fan control, you should be able to find a decent deal on a pair of 120mm fans...when you're ready. The Outlaw is quite capable on its own, but there's definitely room for an end user to spruce it up.

It's hard not to recommend the BitFenix Outlaw as an extreme budget enclosure. For a stock or mostly stock build, it's going to be one of the coolest and quietest enclosures you can find. Cable organization is remarkably clean, with BitFenix successfully executing what Rosewill only attempted in the Ranger, and doing so at $20 cheaper. With so few complaints and so much upshot for modest builds, it's easy to see why the Outlaw earns our Editor's Choice Bronze Award.