FOIFKIN F1 PC Case Review UK 2026: Budget Dual-Chamber Case Tested

The FOIFKIN F1 PC Case arrives in a crowded budget market promising dual-chamber design, panoramic glass panels, and five pre-installed ARGB fans for under £70. After building two complete systems in this chassis, I can tell you it’s a mixed bag that delivers impressive component support and decent airflow, but with some frustrating compromises that budget builders need to know about before ordering.

FOIFKIN PC Case - Pre-Installed 5 PWM ARGB Fan, ATX Mid-Tower Gaming PC Case, F1 (White, F1)

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.2 (114 reviews)

£53.29

• 【270° Panoramic Dual Chamber Design】 Practical and beautiful co-exist in the rectangular structure of the mid-tower chassis body shape, does not take up extra space on the desktop, both beautiful and simple texture. atx chassis consists of two pieces of high-transmission tempered glass, clean and simple, light transmission natural, and can better display your powerful hardware components, sound insulation, for office / gaming environment to provide a great degree of comfort, no tools required, the Easy to disassemble.
• 【High-performance cooling】 The F1 comes with five ARGB PWM reverse blade fans pre-installed, and the glass side panels feature a snap-on design that allows for quick removal without tools, making for a convenient installation and cooling experience. The side, top and PSU fan mounting points of the case can accommodate up to 9 120mm fans,Ensure that you don't have to sacrifice cooling for the stunning look of a glass panel.
• 【Ultra Large Capacity】 The chassis space is configured for each component and will be fully compatible with your new PC components. ①Support ATX/M-ATX/ITX motherboards ②Support 360MM cooler ③Height of CPU cooler 165MM ④Limit of GPU length 400MM ⑤Power supply type ATX up to 210MM ⑥Equipped with 1* HDD and 3* SSD installation ⑦Expansion slot 7pcs.
• 【Input/Output Ports】 1 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, Microphone and Audio, LED On/Off Button, Power Button, Restart Button
• 【Purchase without risk】Product quality is guaranteed, if you have any problems with your box, please feel free to click ‘S0ld-by-FOIFKIN’ to contact us, we will try our best to help you! FOIFKIN endeavours to provide the best support to our customers!

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Price checked: 10 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

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FOIFKIN F1 PC Case Specifications Overview

The FOIFKIN F1 positions itself as a budget dual-chamber case with mid-tower dimensions that don’t sacrifice component compatibility. On paper, the specifications look impressive for a case at this price point, particularly the generous clearances and included cooling.

The 400mm GPU clearance is genuinely impressive and exceeds many cases costing twice as much. I tested this with an ASUS TUF RTX 4080 (348mm) and had room to spare for cable routing. The 165mm CPU cooler height accommodates most tower coolers, though you’ll want to check RAM clearance with larger dual-tower designs. The case officially supports up to nine 120mm fans across all mounting points, though realistically you’ll run five to seven for optimal airflow without excessive noise.

Physical dimensions aren’t provided by FOIFKIN, but measuring my review unit shows approximately 480mm height, 220mm width, and 450mm depth. It’s a proper mid-tower that requires adequate desk space. The dual-chamber design separates the main component area from the PSU and cable management section, which helps with aesthetics but adds width compared to traditional layouts.

Airflow & Thermal Performance Analysis

The FOIFKIN F1 takes an interesting approach to cooling with its dual-glass panel design. Unlike pure mesh front cases, this relies on side and bottom intake with top and rear exhaust. The five included reverse-blade ARGB fans (three front intake, two top exhaust) provide adequate airflow for mid-range builds, though high-end systems will benefit from additional fans.

Testing with a Ryzen 7 7700X and RTX 4070 Ti showed respectable thermal performance. CPU temperatures under sustained load (Cinebench R23) peaked at 78°C with the stock fan configuration, whilst the GPU maintained 72°C during a 30-minute Heaven benchmark loop. These aren’t class-leading numbers, but they’re perfectly acceptable for this price bracket.

The glass panels feature ventilation slots along the edges rather than traditional mesh, which restricts airflow compared to dedicated airflow cases like the Lian Li O11 Vision Compact. However, the trade-off is better aesthetics and noise dampening. If you’re running high-TDP components (Ryzen 9 7950X, RTX 4090), I’d recommend adding bottom intake fans and ensuring your AIO or tower cooler has strong static pressure.

Dust filtering is basic. The bottom PSU filter slides out easily for cleaning, which is excellent. However, the front intake area lacks proper magnetic or removable filters, meaning dust accumulation on the fans requires removing the glass panel for cleaning. After three weeks of testing, visible dust had settled on the front fans, which would require panel removal to address properly.

One pleasant surprise: the reverse-blade ARGB fans are quieter than expected. At 100% PWM they’re audible but not offensive, and at 60-70% speeds (adequate for most gaming scenarios) they blend into background noise. The RGB lighting is vibrant and connects to standard motherboard ARGB headers, though the included controller is basic.

Component Compatibility & Clearance Testing

This is where the FOIFKIN F1 genuinely impresses. The generous clearances accommodate modern high-end components without the spatial Tetris required in many budget cases.

The 400mm GPU clearance is the standout specification here. Modern flagship cards like the RTX 4090 (typically 304-336mm depending on AIB model) fit comfortably. I tested with an ASUS TUF RTX 4080 at 348mm length, and there was still 50mm of clearance before hitting the front fans. Even chunky cards like the Gigabyte Gaming OC models with their oversized coolers won’t pose problems.

CPU cooler clearance at 165mm is adequate but not exceptional. The Noctua NH-D15 fits, but if you’re using tall RAM modules (40mm+), you may need to offset the front fan or choose low-profile memory. The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 at 163mm installed without drama. For AIO users, both 280mm and 360mm radiators mount on top or front, with top mounting being preferable for RAM clearance and easier installation.

The dual-chamber design means PSU installation is straightforward, with the power supply completely separated from the main component area. Cable routing from the PSU chamber to the motherboard uses generous rubber-lined grommets, though the routing channels themselves could be better designed (more on that in the build experience section).

Build Experience & Cable Management

Building in the FOIFKIN F1 revealed both the benefits and limitations of its budget positioning. The dual-chamber design helps with cable management conceptually, but execution leaves room for improvement.

The tool-less glass panel system works once you learn the technique: align the top clips, press firmly, then push down until the bottom clips engage. However, the first few times feel uncertain, and I was concerned about cracking the glass with excessive force. The panels are 4mm tempered glass with reasonable clarity, though not the premium low-iron glass found in expensive cases.

Cable management is where budget constraints become apparent. The rear chamber provides 25mm of space between the motherboard tray and side panel, which is workable but not generous. Modern PSU cables, particularly the chunky 12VHPWR connector for RTX 40-series cards, require careful routing. The case includes four velcro straps, but you’ll want additional cable ties or straps for a truly clean build.

Routing channels are basic. Large rubber-lined grommets handle the main power cables, but there’s no dedicated routing for smaller cables like USB headers or fan cables. I spent extra time organizing these to prevent them from interfering with the glass panel installation. The Lian Li A3-mATX offers superior cable management at a higher price point if that’s a priority.

Sharp edges are present but not terrible. The PSU chamber cutout has one particularly sharp edge that caught my hand during PSU installation. Some ventilation slots on the rear panel also have burrs that should have been deburred during manufacturing. This is typical for budget cases, but worth noting if you’re building without gloves. I’ve built in worse (looking at you, early Thermaltake cases), but it’s not the refined experience of premium chassis.

Motherboard standoffs come pre-installed for ATX boards, which is convenient. However, if you’re installing mATX or ITX boards, you’ll need to remove standoffs, and the included tool is basic. The standoffs themselves are brass and good quality, threading smoothly without cross-threading issues.

The five pre-installed ARGB fans are already wired to a basic controller that connects to your motherboard’s ARGB header. This is convenient, though the controller is mounted with adhesive tape in the PSU chamber, which feels cheap. The fan cables are neat length, but if you want to rearrange fan positions, you may need fan extension cables.

Front I/O Panel & Storage Configuration

The front I/O is located on the top edge of the case, which is standard for modern chassis. However, the port selection feels dated for 2026.

The port selection is disappointing. Only one USB 3.0 port in 2026 feels stingy, and the two USB 2.0 ports are borderline useless for modern peripherals. The absence of USB-C is a notable omission, especially as many motherboards now include front USB-C headers as standard. If you’re using VR headsets, external SSDs, or modern peripherals, you’ll be reaching around to rear I/O frequently.

The combined audio jack is adequate for headsets but won’t satisfy audiophiles who prefer separate mic and headphone jacks. The LED on/off button controls the ARGB lighting, which is convenient if you prefer dark gaming sessions or need to disable lighting for content creation work.

Button quality is acceptable. They have reasonable tactile feedback without feeling mushy, though they’re not the premium metal buttons found on expensive cases. The power button is recessed slightly to prevent accidental activation.

Storage configuration is basic but adequate for most modern builds. The single 3.5-inch HDD bay mounts in the PSU chamber and uses a tool-less sliding tray that works well. For budget builders still using mechanical drives for mass storage, this is sufficient, though enthusiasts with multiple HDDs will need external solutions.

The three 2.5-inch SSD mounts also use tool-less trays located in the rear chamber. They’re easy to install and remove, which is convenient for drive swapping. However, most modern builds rely primarily on M.2 NVMe drives mounted directly to the motherboard, making these mounts less critical than they were a few years ago.

Cable routing for storage drives uses the same grommets as power cables. SATA power and data cables route cleanly through the PSU chamber, though you’ll want right-angle SATA connectors to minimize cable bulk in the tight space.

Alternative Cases Worth Considering

The FOIFKIN F1 competes in a crowded budget mid-tower segment. Here’s how it stacks against obvious alternatives:

The Montech X3 Mesh is the closest competitor at similar pricing. It offers better pure airflow with its full mesh front panel and includes four ARGB fans (one fewer than the F1). However, GPU clearance is 20mm shorter at 380mm, which matters if you’re planning for flagship graphics cards. Build quality is comparable, with similar cable management limitations. If airflow is your absolute priority, the X3 Mesh edges ahead. If you want maximum GPU compatibility and prefer the dual-glass aesthetic, the F1 is the better choice.

The Corsair 4000D Airflow costs approximately £25 more but delivers noticeably better build quality. Panel fitment is superior, cable management is more refined with better routing channels, and the mesh front provides excellent airflow. However, it only includes two fans (versus five in the F1), and GPU clearance is 40mm shorter at 360mm. You’re paying for Corsair’s reputation and refined execution, but you’ll need to budget for additional fans and accept less GPU clearance.

The NZXT H510 Flow sits between the F1 and 4000D in pricing. It offers excellent build quality, clean aesthetics, and good airflow with its mesh front. GPU clearance at 381mm is generous but still 19mm shorter than the F1. Cable management is better executed, and NZXT’s build quality is more consistent. However, it only includes two fans, and the minimalist design may not appeal to RGB enthusiasts. If you value refined build experience over included fans and maximum GPU clearance, the H510 Flow is worth the extra investment.

For those considering other FOIFKIN options, the FOIFKIN K6 offers a different aesthetic approach at a similar price point, though without the dual-chamber design.

The F1’s value proposition becomes clear when you factor in the five included ARGB fans. Buying five quality ARGB fans separately costs £40-60, which effectively makes the case itself £20-30 when comparing to alternatives. If you’re building on a tight budget and need RGB lighting, the F1 delivers exceptional value despite its build quality compromises.

Who Should Buy the FOIFKIN F1 PC Case?

After building two complete systems in the FOIFKIN F1 and living with it for several weeks, the ideal buyer profile becomes clear. This case makes sense for budget-conscious builders who prioritize component compatibility and RGB aesthetics over refined build experience.

If you’re planning a build with a large graphics card (RTX 4080, 4090, or AMD’s flagship RX 7000 series), the 400mm GPU clearance eliminates compatibility concerns that plague many budget cases. Combined with support for 360mm radiators and tall tower coolers, you can build a genuinely high-end system without spatial compromises. The five included ARGB fans mean you’re not immediately budgeting for additional cooling, which matters when every pound counts.

The dual-chamber design with panoramic glass panels delivers visual impact that punches above its price point. If your build sits on your desk where you’ll see it daily, the F1 looks considerably more expensive than it is. The RGB lighting is vibrant and motherboard-controllable, satisfying enthusiasts who want customizable aesthetics without investing in separate RGB ecosystems.

However, experienced builders and those prioritizing pure performance should consider alternatives. The HYXN H1 offers better airflow in a similar price bracket, whilst the Corsair 4000D Airflow provides superior build quality if you can stretch the budget. The F1’s cable management limitations and build quality compromises are acceptable at this price point, but they’re still compromises.

First-time builders should be aware of the sharp edges and basic cable management. This isn’t a case that makes building easy through clever design. You’ll need patience, gloves, and possibly additional cable management accessories to achieve clean results. If you’re nervous about your first build, the extra £20-30 for a Corsair or NZXT case might be worthwhile for the refined experience and better documentation.

For context on how PC case design has evolved, Gamers Nexus provides excellent case testing methodology that highlights what separates budget from premium chassis.