Havn BF 360: A Mid-Tower PC Case Review Emphasizing Airflow and Aesthetics

The Havn BF 360 PC case emerges as a notable contender in the market, meticulously engineered to provide exceptional airflow and streamlined cable management within a visually appealing design. Released nearly a year after its predecessor, the HS 420, this mid-tower chassis maintains Havn's distinctive style while delivering a brilliant user experience. Its thoughtful construction ensures that components stay cool and organized, a crucial aspect for any high-performance PC build.

Havn has introduced the BF 360 in two classic color options: black and white. While the white variant of its larger sibling, the HS 420, was highly praised, the black version of the BF 360 stands out due to its striking contrast with the textured, speckled front panel. This panel, a signature design element first showcased at Computex, not only contributes to the case's unique aesthetic but also plays a functional role in promoting superior airflow. The overall design incorporates rounded corners and extended vents on the front, top, and rear, a testament to Havn's extensive prototyping process aimed at optimizing thermal performance. This attention to detail ensures that the case is not just a housing for components, but an integral part of the system's cooling efficiency.

Despite lacking the rear panel venting found in the HS 420, the BF 360 retains a very attractive profile, offering a cohesive and modern look without the panoramic window design popular in some contemporary cases. The internal layout deviates from the increasingly common 'fishtank' style, opting for a more traditional mid-tower configuration that prioritizes efficient front-to-back airflow. A cleverly sloped PSU shroud is integrated to guide air from the front fans directly towards the graphics card, further enhancing cooling. This spacious design accommodates a wide array of high-end components, including liquid coolers up to 420mm, GPUs up to 410mm, and air coolers up to 195mm, offering significant flexibility for builders.

The BF 360 is available in two configurations: the Flow version, which includes pre-installed H18 (180mm) and H14 (140mm) fans, and a standard version without fans. The included H-series fans are highly efficient, providing excellent airflow at reasonable noise levels, especially the larger H18 units that can move substantial volumes of air at lower speeds. While the Flow version comes with pre-installed fans connected to a built-in controller, the standard version requires separate fan purchases. It is worth noting that the Flow version lacks a front fan bracket for alternative fan sizes, a feature that might benefit from being standard across both models, given the case's premium pricing.

Comprehensive testing of the BF 360's airflow capabilities revealed impressive thermal performance. Initial tests with a liquid cooler and a high-performance CPU yielded excellent results. Further configurations using an air cooler and various fan setups confirmed that strategic fan placement significantly impacts CPU and GPU temperatures. Specifically, setting one top H18 fan as intake and the other as exhaust provided the most balanced temperatures, effectively directing airflow past both the CPU and away from the GPU. Even with the front panel installed, airflow measurements indicated efficient performance, and removing it only marginally improved the flow, demonstrating the effectiveness of the vented design. Adjusting fan speeds can further optimize cooling, though maximizing speeds may lead to increased noise. Overall, the BF 360 effectively manages thermal loads without requiring additional top fans.

Cable management in the Havn BF 360 is exceptionally user-friendly, featuring wide channels behind the motherboard tray and sliding cable tidies on rubber grommets. The design eliminates clutter, making the build process straightforward even for novices. The integration of 3.5-inch drive bays alongside the motherboard tray, rather than beneath the PSU shroud, contributes to a cleaner internal aesthetic and better space utilization. Additionally, the adjustable graphics card support bracket is a highlight, offering robust stability for GPUs with easy, tool-free manipulation. Despite a minor design quirk with the USB 3.0 header placement on some motherboards, the overall cable management system is highly effective.

While the BF 360 is a heavy case, weighing nearly 15 kg without components, its robust build quality justifies the heft. This premium offering, priced around $180/£170/€190 for the Flow version, positions itself against other high-end cases. Its unique aesthetic and superior functional design make it a compelling choice for those seeking a sophisticated and high-performing enclosure. For minimalist PC builders, the BF 360 offers a refined alternative to more flamboyant designs, delivering a satisfying balance of form and function.