Product: MSI MPG SEKIRA 500P
Type: PC Case (Mid-Tower)
Price: ~ $259
Availability: Out Now
Link: msi.com/product/PC-case/MPG-SEKIRA-500P.html

When you’re deciding on a new PC case, especially if it’s to accompany a brand-new build, there are several factors that play into that decision. Airflow, size, and nice-to-have features like proper cable management and larger radiator support for liquid cooling. When it comes to making that walk-to-the-cash-register decision though, most of that takes a temporary backseat to the actual look. The aesthetics of the rectangular box that will become home to all manner of circuitry and chipsets and spinning fans -- the look of a case is the first thing that grabs you. And looking at the current trend in PC gaming where RGB accents can be found everywhere and what’s inside a case being something to be proudly displayed – the case is one area where personal taste plays a major role in the final decision.

And on that note the minimal but stylish design that makes up the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500P is something that we can get wholeheartedly behind. A simple rectangular shape, brushed metal finish, two glass-panel doors (that open via handle), and ample room for not only your gear but more drives and cooling than you’d ever need -- with room to spare. Easily one of the most impressive mid-tower cases we’ve seen in a while (and this kind of pushes the concept of the mid-tower to its absolute limit due to its overall size), the sturdy and solid build make it the sort of case you can carry over multiple generations of hardware. Thanks to the excellent support for most gear of any size and the future proofing that comes from the top panel featuring both USB-C and USB 3 ports.

The Look

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There’s no RGB that comes as part of the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500P (for that MSI offers the similarly-sized MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X) – so, when we paired it with the equally RGB-free MSI MEG X570 Unify motherboard it allowed us to choose just how much RGB inside the case we wanted to display. Tinkering around with the decision to go with RGB system-fans or not (we tried out both and then landed on the latter) this led to a final look that you can see above. With AIO CPU cooling (for the AMD Ryzen 3800X) and 32GB of HyperX FURY DDR4 RGB set to a nice blue/white to compliment the green logo of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition.

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“The sturdy and solid build make it the sort of case you can carry over multiple generations of hardware."

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Much of what the modern case represents is a visual representation of your hardware and a presentation of sorts for your PC, so we threw in the limited-edition Cyberpunk 2077 figurine in there for good measure (after removing one of the 3.5” bays). One of the reasons behind the new build was to have a rig ready to play Cyberpunk 2077 in April, then September, and now November. Like Lando trying to make sense of how things got this way whilst walking through Cloud City, we’re praying that the Dark Lord of Delays doesn’t alter the arrangement any further.

There’s functionality to match the form with MSI allowing both glass doors to be removed without the need for tools alongside the top and front panels to allow for hassle-free installation. The minimal approach extends to the I/O where on the top of the case you can find the power switch, multiple USB ports, and headphone/mic jacks. The Sekira doesn’t skimp here either, matching the very generous and well-placed six 3.5” drive bays with five USB ports covering 2.0 – 3.2. In fact, it’s this focus on storage capacity in addition to cooling support that position the SEKIRA line from MSI as perfect for content creators or those that need more than a few terabytes in their PC rig.

Fitting Room

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Form Factor: Mid-Tower (E-ATX / ATX / mATX / Mini-ITX)

Maximum GPU/CPU Cooling Length: 400mm/170mm

Drive Bays: 6 x 3.5" (compatible with 2.5") + 3 x 2.5"

Expansion Slots: 8+2

Dimensions: 530(D) x 232(W) x 545.5(H) mm

Product Weight: 19.85 KG

I/O Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A / 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C / 2 x USB 2.0 / 1 x HD Audio / 1 x Mic

Okay, so the whole MSI MPG SEKIRA 500P pushing the concept of the Mid-Tower case to its absolute limits is not a joke or an exaggeration, you’ll need ample room to house the just shy of 20Kg that make up the unit. The depth and room inside the case is great for those that struggle to fit everything in or have issues when it comes time for 'cable management'. In fact, on that front both the size and the design of the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500P make it very friendly for PC builders of all skill. More than enough vents (in addition to several Velcro straps located on the back) in addition to SSD bays and drive bays all located in areas where you can quite easily manage device specific cabling speaks to a well thought out case.

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“The depth and room inside the case is great for those that struggle to fit everything in or have issues when it comes time for 'cable management'."

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Our only issue really comes down to the single 120mmm exhaust fan located on the back, which doesn’t feel like enough for a case with this much room inside. Air-flow comes in via grills located on the side of the front panel with exhaust air flowing through similar vents on the top and out the back. When we first opened the box, we were half-expecting to find two fans on the back ala the front, which makes the SEKIRA’s out-of-the-box temps a tad hotter than the competition. One or two fewer drive bays and more cooling and this could be an all-timer. In its current state the SEKIRA is still wonderful, and if you like a case with a bit of chunk, some thickness, then this just might be the way to go.