GAMDIAS TALOS E3 White Gaming PC Case Review UK 2026

The GAMDIAS TALOS E3 White isn’t a pre-built PC – it’s a case, and that’s caused some confusion with the product listing. This compact mid-tower chassis comes with three built-in 120mm ARGB fans, dual tempered glass panels, and a snowy white finish that’s become increasingly popular in 2026. I’ve spent the past fortnight building systems in this case to see if it offers genuine value or if you’re better off with alternatives like the Fractal Design North XL.

GAMDIAS TALOS E3 White Gaming pc case, Mid-Tower ATX Case, Tempered Glass Panel, 3 Built-in 120mm ARGB Fans, Tool-Free Installation Window, Supports Motherboards up to ATX, Power Cover Design

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.4 (1,274 reviews)

£46.73

• Elegant. Compact. Powerful.: The TALOS E3 WH is a premium compact mid-tower case with an elegant snowy white outlook. Featuring 3 built-in 120mm ARGB fans, tempered glass on both the front and side panels, and a PSU cover design for a minimalist look.
• 3 Built-in ARGB Fans: The case is equipped with 3 built-in 120mm ARGB fans to provide robust airflow and an RGB visual feast.
• Cooling Compatibility: The case supports three 120mm or two 140mm fans up front. Multiple mounting points for 360/280mm radiators up front, and at the top. The massive capacity also allows CPU cooler height up to 180mm.
• Interior Accommodation: Designed with a compact form factor, the case offers the option to house up to E-ATX motherboards and VGA cards up to 390mm.
• One Click. Sync All.: TALOS E3 supports ARGB connection to compatible motherboards in order to achieve system-wide lighting synchronization, making it easier to unite the case from chaos to calm.

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Price checked: 10 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

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What’s Inside the Box

Let’s clear up the confusion first – this is a case, not a complete system. When you order the TALOS E3 White, you’re getting the chassis itself with three pre-installed 120mm ARGB fans, an ARGB controller, mounting hardware, and a rather sparse instruction manual that assumes you know what you’re doing.

The case measures 450mm x 220mm x 465mm, making it reasonably compact for a mid-tower that claims E-ATX support. I say “claims” because whilst an E-ATX board will physically fit, cable management becomes a nightmare with larger motherboards. The white powder-coated steel feels thin – around 0.6mm by my measurements – which contributes to some flex when handling the case.

Build Quality and Design

The TALOS E3 White follows GAMDIAS’ design language with aggressive angular lines and plenty of RGB. The dual tempered glass panels are 4mm thick, which is standard for this price bracket. The front panel is particularly interesting – it’s full tempered glass with minimal ventilation around the edges, which immediately raised concerns about airflow that I’ll address in the thermal section.

Build quality is where the budget nature becomes apparent. The steel panels flex more than I’d like, the thumb screws feel cheap and stripped easily when I overtightened them during testing, and the plastic PSU shroud has visible mould lines. However, the tempered glass panels are well-fitted with rubber dampeners, and I experienced no rattling during operation.

Cable management is basic. You get 20mm of clearance behind the motherboard tray, three velcro straps, and a few rubber grommets. It’s adequate for a clean build if you’re patient, but don’t expect the cable management luxury of premium cases. The PSU shroud hides most sins, which helps the overall aesthetic through that side panel.

Cooling Performance and Airflow

I built three different systems in the TALOS E3 White to test thermal performance across different hardware configurations. The included 120mm ARGB fans spin at roughly 1200 RPM and move a claimed 45 CFM each, though my anemometer readings suggested closer to 38-40 CFM in practice.

The thermal results are acceptable but not impressive. That full glass front panel restricts intake significantly – I measured only about 15mm of gap around the edges for air to enter. The three front fans are doing their best, but they’re essentially pulling air through a narrow slit. CPU temperatures with a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE were 5-7°C higher than in the MSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW, which has a proper mesh front.

GPU thermals were more reasonable, likely because the RTX 4060 Ti isn’t particularly power-hungry. I’d be concerned about running a 300W+ GPU in this case without adding exhaust fans. Speaking of which, the case supports up to six fans total (three front, two top, one rear), but only the front three are included. Adding two 120mm exhaust fans to the top dropped CPU temperatures by 6°C in my testing, which I’d consider essential for any serious build.

Noise levels sit at 42 dBA during gaming loads measured from one metre away. The included fans aren’t particularly quiet, producing a noticeable whoosh at full speed. They’re not offensively loud, but if you’re sensitive to fan noise, budget for replacements or run them through PWM control to keep speeds down.

Building Experience

I’ve built hundreds of systems over the years, and the TALOS E3 White falls into the “it’ll do” category. The process isn’t painful, but it’s not enjoyable either. The motherboard standoffs were pre-installed correctly, which is always appreciated, and there’s adequate room for most components.

Installing the motherboard revealed the first issue – the I/O shield cutout has sharp edges that I managed to cut myself on (wear gloves, seriously). Cable routing from the PSU through the shroud opening is straightforward, but routing cables up to the motherboard requires some patience due to limited space behind the tray.

GPU installation is simple with plenty of clearance for cards up to 390mm. I tested with a 320mm RTX 4060 Ti and had ample room. The vertical GPU mount option that some competitors offer isn’t available here, which is understandable at this price point.

CPU cooler installation depends on your choice. The 180mm height clearance accommodates most tower coolers comfortably. I fitted a 165mm Thermalright cooler with room to spare. AIO installation is possible with 360mm radiator support at the front (replacing the included fans) or top, though top-mounting a 360mm rad with a tall motherboard creates clearance issues with RAM.

ARGB and Lighting

The three included ARGB fans connect to a basic controller that mounts behind the motherboard tray. You can either use the controller’s button to cycle through preset effects (there are eight) or connect it to your motherboard’s 3-pin ARGB header for software control through your motherboard manufacturer’s RGB software.

I tested with an ASUS motherboard using Armoury Crate, and synchronisation worked flawlessly. The lighting effects are reasonably smooth, though the LEDs aren’t individually addressable on each fan – you get zone lighting rather than per-LED control. The white case interior reflects the RGB nicely, creating a pleasant glow through both glass panels.

One annoyance – the ARGB controller button is mounted internally, so you need to open the case to change lighting modes if you’re not using motherboard control. Most competitors mount this button on the front I/O, which is far more convenient.

Front I/O and Connectivity

The front I/O panel sits on the top edge of the case, angled slightly forward for easy access. You get two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a single USB Type-C port, and separate headphone and microphone jacks. No USB 2.0 ports, which is fine – it’s 2026, after all.

The USB Type-C port is a welcome inclusion at this price point. It requires your motherboard to have an internal USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C header, which most modern boards include. The power button is large and clicky with good tactile feedback, whilst the reset button is recessed to prevent accidental presses.

One minor gripe – the front I/O cables are only about 400mm long, which can make routing to the bottom of the motherboard a bit tight on larger boards. They reached fine on my ATX build, but E-ATX users might find them stretched.

Storage and Drive Bays

Storage options are adequate for most builds. Behind the motherboard tray, you’ll find two 2.5-inch SSD mounting points with tool-free sleds – just slide your drive in and secure with the captive screw. These worked well in testing, holding drives securely without rattling.

For 3.5-inch drives, there are two mounting positions on the PSU shroud. These use a simple screw-mount system (screws included) and sit horizontally. The positioning is sensible, keeping drives away from the GPU’s hot exhaust air. However, if you’re running a particularly long PSU (over 180mm), cable clearance becomes tight around these mounts.

Most builders in 2026 won’t need extensive drive bays thanks to affordable M.2 storage, but if you’re building a media server or need mass storage, the two 3.5-inch bays feel limiting compared to older cases that offered four or more.

Upgrade Potential and Flexibility

The TALOS E3 White offers reasonable upgrade flexibility for future-proofing your build. The E-ATX support means you can upgrade to larger motherboards down the line, though as mentioned, cable management suffers with bigger boards. The 390mm GPU clearance future-proofs you for several GPU generations.

Value Analysis – Is It Worth Buying?

At £45.36, the TALOS E3 White sits in the budget category where every pound matters. To assess value, I compared it against both cheaper and similarly-priced alternatives available in the UK market.

The value equation changes based on your priorities. For builders who want white aesthetics and RGB without spending premium money, the TALOS E3 White delivers. You’re getting a functional case that looks more expensive than it is, particularly with the dual glass panels. However, enthusiasts who prioritise performance and build quality will find the thin steel construction and airflow restrictions frustrating.

Comparison to Similar Cases

The budget white case market has become crowded in 2026. The GAMDIAS AURA GC2 ELITE is GAMDIAS’ own competitor, offering similar features with slightly better airflow at a comparable price. The MSI MAG PANO 130R PZ WHITE costs about £20 more but provides superior build quality and a mesh front panel.

Against these alternatives, the TALOS E3 White distinguishes itself primarily through price. It’s usually £10-15 cheaper than direct competitors whilst offering similar features. That price difference matters in budget builds where every saving contributes to better components elsewhere in your system.

Who Should Buy the TALOS E3 White?

This case makes sense for specific buyer profiles. First-time builders working with tight budgets will appreciate the included fans and straightforward build process. The white aesthetic appeals to those building Instagram-worthy setups without premium budgets. It’s also suitable for office PCs or light gaming builds where absolute maximum cooling performance isn’t critical.

However, I wouldn’t recommend the TALOS E3 White for high-performance gaming builds with power-hungry components. The airflow restrictions become problematic with CPUs over 125W TDP or GPUs drawing 250W+. Serious enthusiasts will quickly outgrow this case and find themselves frustrated by the thermal limitations and basic build quality.

Content creators and workstation builders should also look elsewhere. The limited drive bay options and cable management challenges make this unsuitable for complex builds with multiple storage drives, capture cards, or other expansion requirements.

Warranty and Support

GAMDIAS provides a two-year warranty on the TALOS E3 White, which is standard for cases in this price bracket. Support is handled through email, and based on my experience contacting them during testing (I had questions about the ARGB controller specifications), response times averaged 48-72 hours.

The warranty covers manufacturing defects but not damage from modifications or improper installation. Given that cases rarely fail mechanically, the warranty is more relevant for issues like defective ARGB fans or cracked tempered glass panels during shipping.