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APNX C1 Creator PC Case: hands on

Contemporary aesthetics, modular internal panels, high airflow, and sumptuous RGB

Updated: Jan 25, 2024 10:02 pm
APNX C1 Creator PC Case: hands on

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The APNX C1 Creator is a mid-tower case that, as the name might suggest, is chiefly built with powerful creator PCs in mind. That being said, it’s just as well-suited to gaming, given the ample space for airflow, nice cable management, and extensive room for additional fan cooling.

APNX are a new kid on the block when it comes to PC cases, and the APNX C1 Creator is their first foray. That being said, APNX is owned by the Pro Gamersware Group, who are also responsible for the noblechairs brand, so we were expecting something good from this product. Thankfully we weren’t disappointed!

*Sponsored article*

Aesthetic design

The case comes with three color options: black, white, and the more unique ChromaFlair, which costs slightly more than the other two, but boy howdy is it eye-catching – having a base gray-blue color with a color-shifting iridescent finish. 

The case has a clean, sleek design overall, whichever color you pick. APNX calls the aesthetic ‘Skandi’ – inspired by contemporary Scandinavian design, and the front and metal side panel are mesh. The front section wraps around part of the side of the case and comes away in one right-angle piece when removed.

The included case fans all look fantastic too: with a nice, simple contemporary aesthetic. The RGB on them is top notch – with the colors diffusing through the material of the fans blades in a nice even way, creating a very visually pleasing effect when they’re up and spinning.

Case & Fan specifications

The case is made of steel (rather than the aluminium you see more typically these days) with a tempered glass panel on the side. It can support up to 11 fans in total, though comes equipped with four as standard: three front-mounted 140mm APNX FP1 fans and one 120mm APNX FP1 fan on the back side of the case. Additional APNX FP1 fans are pretty reasonably priced: around $9-12 depending on the size, color, and where you buy them from, so it’s pretty easy to add new ones.

Below you can see a detailed list of the specs of both the case and the fans that come with it. Read further down the page for discussion of the features from user perspective.

APNX C1 Creator case specs

  • Case Type: Mid-Tower
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 230 x 502 x 464mm 
  • Colour options: Black / White / ChromaFlair
  • Motherboard Support: Mini ITX / Micro ATX / ATX
  • Storage: 3 x 2.5″ SSD max, 3 x 3.5″ HDD max
  • Max GPU Length: 395mm
  • Max CPU Cooler Height: 166mm
  • Max PSU Length: 270mm
  • Fan Support: 3x 120mm or 3x 140mm (Front), 3x 120mm or 2x 140mm (Top), 1x 120mm (Rear)
  • Pre-installed fans: 3 x 140mm ARGB PWM (Front) 1 x 120mm ARGB PWM (Rear)
  • Radiator Support: 360/280mm Max (Front), 360/280mm Max (Top), 360mm Max (Side), 120 (Rear)
  • Fan Expansion Slots: 7
  • Dust Filters: Top / Bottom
  • I/O ports: 1x Power Button, 1x Reset/ARGB Button, 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB Gen2 Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack

APNX FP1 ARGB 120mm PWM fan specs

  • Fan speed: 500-1600RPM (adjustable)
  • Static air pressure: max. 2.26 mmH2O
  • Delivery volume: max. 126.7 m³/h
  • Volume: 15.3 – 33.2 dB(A)
  • RGB: ARGB (16.8 million colours)
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 120 x 120 x 30mm 
  • Bearing: Hydraulic bearing
  • Misc: Reverse fan blades
  • Voltage: 12 V
  • Starting voltage: 5V
  • Current: 0.4A
  • Power Consumption: 4.8W
  • Connections: 1x 4-pin PWM, 1x 3-pin ARGB

APNX FP1 ARGB 140mm PWM fan specs

  • Fan speed: 500-1300RPM (adjustable)
  • Static air pressure: max. 1.67 mmH2O
  • Delivery volume: max. 147.64 m³/h
  • Volume: 15.9 – 33.9 dB(A)
  • RGB: ARGB (16.8 million colours)
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 140 x 140 x 30mm 
  • Bearing: Hydraulic bearing
  • Misc: Reverse fan blades
  • Voltage: 12 V
  • Starting voltage: 5V
  • Current: 0.4A
  • Power Consumption: 4.8W
  • Connections: 1x 4-pin PWM, 1x 3-pin ARGB

Main Features

The exterior panels all have rounded edges and corners, and although the internal panel sections require you to remove screws if you want to take them off, the exterior’s glass and steel panels utilise tooless quick-release brackets that are quick and easy to take off. 

The front of the case and the bottom are both equipped with dust filters that are relatively easy to remove and then snap back into place when you feel like it.

The various modular panels that you can remove include the radiator bracket in the top, a cable management back plate, and the PSU shroud at the bottom – all these can be taken out to provide more space for additional fans, should you wish to install them. There’s a PSU plate which makes removing the power supply easier should you need to.

The cable management section at the back offers ample room for all your wiring, with a gap of around 40-60mm depending on the exact location. Although it’s relatively niche, it should also be noted that this case is one of the few that are compatible with a Gigabyte Project Stealth motherboard – if you want the most cableless design currently possible.

There’s an in-built GPU support stand within the case that hinges outwards to help stop your graphics card from sagging if it’s got a bit of weight to it. Alternatively the stand can be folded away as needed. Although the case on its own does not support vertical GPU installation, you can buy a separate vertical GPU month should you wish which is fully compatible with the case.

There’s a 5-port PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) hub and ARGB header in the case, giving you direct control over the voltage to the fans and control of their RGB. For those who don’t know ARGB = Addressable RGB – basically more controllable than standard RGB with an integrated circuit that allows for custom color blending and dynamic patterns. This feature makes the fans look particularly great once it’s setup.


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