ADATA XPG Valor Air Pro Review: A Quiet Case With a Cooling Caveat

Though it easily falls within the typical 17-to-21-inch height of mid-tower cases, the relatively short 17.25-inch depth and 7.25-inch width of the Valor Air Pro’s face tricks tricked me into thinking I was seeing something taller. Part of that illusion is down to beveled edges that cut an inch off both of those planes. (Rear hardware makes up the remaining 0.75 inch of charted depth.)

I found the height-to-depth ratio less visually impactful from the right rear, even though the beveled corner still visually shortens the sides. From this angle, functional details stand out: vents on the right side panel, knurled screws that secure both side panels, a 120mm exhaust fan with height-adjustable screw slots, and a removable slot panel that can be rotated 90 degrees to support cards vertically. (Just add your own PCI Express x16 riser cable, sold separately.)

(Credit: Thomas Soderstrom)

Slightly larger, noticeably heavier, and better equipped than the Valor Air Plus that preceded it, today’s Valor Air Pro adds the USB Type-C port that was missing from the Air Plus. The USB 3.x Type-A ports remain, as do the headset (headphone/mic combo) jack and illuminated power and reset buttons.

(Credit: Thomas Soderstrom)

A dust filter sheet covering the power supply air inlet on the Valor Air Pro’s bottom panel is secured by tabs around its periphery. While this type of attachment is often awkward to remove, a few small fingerholds have been added to make the process easier. I also spotted a knurled screw at the front of the bottom panel that secures a tab at the back of the face panel, dual rails designed to hold a removable internal drive cage, and four rubber pads on the feet.

(Credit: Thomas Soderstrom)

XPG installs three 120mm ARGB intake fans on a double-pattern mount that also supports up to three 140mm fans, with enough clearance behind the mount to accommodate a 420mm-format radiator. 

A plastic bar located above the front fan opening acts as a catch, allowing the front panel to hang in place during installation.

(Credit: Thomas Soderstrom)

A 66mm-deep gap at the front of the power supply shroud provides space for radiators up to 460mm long behind the front fan mount. A second radiator, up to 412mm long, can be mounted under the top panel, though builders should subtract the thickness of that top-mounted radiator from the maximum front-mounted radiator length, since the two spaces overlap. 

The power supply shroud is also drilled and tapped to support up to two 120mm fans using #6-32 screws (not included). Additional mounting holes secure the bracket at the end of a PCIe x16 riser cable, working in conjunction with the included riser screws for vertical graphics card installation.

(Credit: Thomas Soderstrom)

A dust filter covering the side panel vents is secured with flexible magnetic strips, while the filter inside the front panel uses permanent magnets. The front panel itself is also magnet-mounted, making the hook and screw at the top and bottom largely redundant.

The top panel filter, not shown, is the same type as the one shown covering the inside of the side panel below.

(Credit: Thomas Soderstrom)