Msi mpg sekira 500x and 500g review in Spanish (full analysis)

This time we are going to carry out the joint analysis of the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G and MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X chassis. This is the new SEKIRA 500 series consisting of a total of 3 chassis, of which we have the most complete version (500X) and the least version (500G). Two impressive Premium chassis full of glass and aluminum that offer us practically the same benefits in terms of hardware capacity, although the 500X has no less than 5 fans included, of which 4 are ARGB and three of them are 200 mm.

Let's take this analysis calmly looking at the main points of each chassis, as well as the mounting on one of them. But before we start, we have to thank MSI for the trust placed in us and for giving us these two huge chassis for analysis.

MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G and MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X technical characteristics

Unboxing

The Unboxing of both MSI chassis is exactly the same, mainly because we are facing a series of three chassis of identical sizes in which only certain specifications of its interior and part of the external design change. In this case, we have had access to two of them as you have already seen, the 500X and the 500G.

Well, each of these chassis comes inside a huge thick cardboard box completely painted on the outside with a matte black color with a large and colored photo showing the exterior of the chassis, as well as the brand and model that we have in question. On the side of each box, we will have the technical specifications of each chassis, which are almost the same as we see in our previous table.

And what we are going to do is open the box to try to get the chassis inside out with all our strength. It is protected by a textile bag very common in MSI presentations and two high-density polyethylene foam molds that keep it safe. In this case it will be very important since they are based on external elements of aluminum glass.

The bundle of each chassis is exactly the same and consists of the following elements:

• Chassis MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G or MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X Upright graphics card bracket 4x HDD Covers HDD Mounting Screws & Screws Installation Guide

Reviewing the most interesting, we include the rear support of the chassis for vertical cards and some plates to cover and install hard drives.

Exterior design

As for the exterior design, we are going to see in detail what the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G chassis offers us, and then we will list the main differences with the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X to do it in a somewhat more agile way.

Well, these two, or rather, three MSI chassis have possibly the best finishes that we have seen so far in the brand for this type of product. And the truth is that they have little to do with the previous ones, because in this case noble materials such as aluminum have been used entirely for multiple external faces and tempered glass for many others.

The inner chassis in this case is robust, very robust in fact, because we are facing a weight of no less than 19.8 Kg for the 500G and surely more than 20 Kg for the 500X for carrying more glass. The measurements offered by these chassis are no less than 530 mm deep, 232 mm wide and 545.5 mm high. The three chassis are available in black with silver or gold details depending on the model.

Starting from the side of this MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G model, we have a design that a priori will seem sober, but that has many interesting details. The most obvious thing is that it has a 4 mm thick tempered glass panel that is also installed on a double tilt-and-turn door hinge. In turn, it has a front handle that serves to open it and to keep it closed.

And around this panel we have the air inlets towards the front, upper area and also lower area, since, if we observe, the legs are hidden from the user's view. Needless to say, all of them have fine-grained dust filters as I call them, which prevent smaller specks from entering.

And if we flip the chassis and position ourselves on the right panel, we will find exactly the same. And it is curious that MSI has not chosen to darken this glass that overlooks the cable compartment, leaving practically everything in sight. It certainly wouldn't have been a bad idea to obscure it.

Otherwise, we have the same support system using hinges and the same openings for air circulation. So we already anticipated that the air flow in this chassis is going to be relatively good.

And we say that it will be relatively good, because MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G has both the front and the upper area completely closed to the outside. Of course, the finishes are simply exquisite, premium aluminum on both sides with a shiny black brushed metal finish. And to top it off we have beveled edges and painted in gold in the purest GS family style of brand laptops. The logo on the front does not have LED lighting.

Returning to the issue of refrigeration, in normal terms, these two large side openings would be more than enough to ensure it, but not to squeeze the most of the system. Because here comes one of its advantages, and that is that we have two 200 mm fans pre-installed in this front area. The upper area also supports two of this size or three of 120 and 140 mm, identical terms as for the front.

But of course, here we also find the I / O panel that has abundant connectivity:

• 4x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C 3.5mm Jack port for HD audio 3.5mm Jack port for microphone LED lighting button (not used) Power button

Okay, let's explain this about the LED button. It is a series of towers that have fans with lighting in some cases, so in all of them they implement a button on the chassis in case we want to introduce the controller and these fans. But in the case of the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G we do not have an installed lighting system.

It is time to place ourselves in the rear area, and the first thing that stands out is the large upper casing that makes it a really tall tower, and also the side element that is in the 8 horizontal expansion slots. In this gap, what we can do is remove the plate that covers it, to install the new plate that is included as an accessory in the bundle and thus enable the installation of vertical graphics cards. Of course, only with capacity for one of them.

Otherwise, it's exactly the same, with a pre-installed 120mm fan and a compartment on the bottom to keep the PSU insulated.

And we end with the lower area, which in this case we have a double opening for air suction protected with separate fine-grained dust filters installed on removable plastic frames. Of course we also have the legs which are basically four rubber stickers attached to the side rails . A little basic we can say.

Differences in the design of the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X

As we promised, it's time to see what are the differences in the design of the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X compared to the 500G model that we have explored in detail. And the truth is that they are not too many, but they are notorious.

And in this previous photograph we can see how we now have half of the front area provided with a tempered glass that will let us see the 200 mm fan installed, which in this case does have ARGB lighting. Right above it has been decided to install another normal 200mm fan. The separating band between metal and glass also has built-in lighting.

Exactly the same happens in the upper area, since it has the entire area provided with a glass panel except the part of the I / O panel. And the good news is that in this part we have two other 200mm ARGB fans pre-installed.

Otherwise, we do not have any more changes, the same side windows, the same quality finishes and the same rear area and ventilation holes. In fact, even the measurements are exactly the same, as is the I / O panel that also has the same controls and ports. Although in this case the LED button does work.

Interior and assembly

We go to see the interior area of these chassis, specifically we will show the images of the empty MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G, and then we will assemble our hardware in the 500X version as it is the most spectacular visually speaking. Also note that the hardware capacity will be exactly the same on all three SEKIRA 500 series models.

These chassis are divided into a total of three compartments, namely the main space for hardware, the cable management area and the area for the installation of the power supply and in this case, the bays for mechanical storage units or SSD. The presentation is really neat, with all the wiring holes covered by rubber covers, a large space to work with a heatsink on-site and the spaces for fans located external to the main compartment.

They are chassis with enormous dimensions, and therefore offer compatibility with ITX, Micro ATX, ATX and E-ATX motherboards, that is, the full range. We must indicate that in these cases, we have no possibility of removing the PSU cover, since it is anchored with rivets. By contrast, hard drive bays can be removed.

Hardware installation capability includes CPU coolers up to 180mm high and 420mm graphics cards long, without cluttering the hard drive enclosure. We are not offered a specific size for PSU, but with the disk bays in place, we will have a space with around 200 mm, expanding to the entire length of the box if we remove these cabinets. Then we will not have a problem installing high-end hardware.

The cable management area provides more than enough space to store a large number of cables, it would be about 30 or 35 mm depending on where we are. In all models we have a central trunk provided with velcro straps capable of holding a large number of cables.

Storage space

Now it's time to explore the storage options we have for these chassis, which will also be practically the same. We will see again images of the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G for being the one with the highest capacity.

We start with one of the differential characteristics of these new chassis. And is that a total of 6 hard drive bays compatible with sizes of 3.5 and 2.5 inches have been installed. These bays are provided with removable trays where to install the units in a simple way.

And its situation is also very accessible, since the main area is where we can install these units. If desired, it is possible to remove them by unscrewing them from the rear of the chassis. Each of the three bays are anchored with two screws, plain and simple.

If we move towards the cover of the power supply we have a bracket to install a 2.5 inch unit. And finally, in the back area and anchored to the base plate holding plate, we have two other brackets that support 2.5-inch units.

In total we will have a capacity of 6 3.5 "HDDs and 3 2.5" SSDs expandable to 9 if we use all the bays in the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G chassis. And if we go to the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X chassis, this capacity is reduced by 4 units of 3.5 ”with one less cabinet.

Cooling capacity

The cooling capacity is a rather differential element in these two chassis, perhaps their main difference, although in terms of the capacity of fans and radiators, it is practically similar in both.

Let's see the capacity of fans that have:

• Front: 3x 120mm / 3x 140mm / 2x 200mm Top: 3x 120mm / 2x 140mm / 2x 200mm Rear: 1x 120mm / 1x 140mm

Spectacular, we see that those 252 mm wide are more than enough to enable a hole and support fans of up to 200 mm inside. The MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G tower has two pre-installed 200mm fans at the front and a 120mm fan at the rear. None of them has RGB lighting.

On the part of the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X tower, it is much more interesting, since we have the complete ventilation system. On its front, a 200 mm ARGB fan has been installed in front of the glass panel, and a normal 200 mm fan on top, which is not in sight. Two other 200mm ARGB fans are included in the upper area, and the last 120mm ARGB fan in the rear area. The truth is that few towers give us this complete system as standard.

And if out of curiosity we want to know the capacity of the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500P, in it we will have a total of 3 fans of 120 mm in the front and 1 of 120 mm in the back, all of them normal.

Regarding the cooling capacity, we will have:

• Front: 120/140/240/280 mm Upper: 120/140/240/280/360 mm Rear: 120/140 mm

We are surprised in this case that compatibility with 420 mm radiators has not been incorporated in the front, since theoretically they should be able to be installed due to their ability to incorporate 3 140 mm fans. But the reason for not being able to do it is very simple, we have the hard drive bays located in this area and the fan tray does not provide enough space or width for them.

As for details to highlight in this chassis cooling system, both the 500X and 500G have trays for the installation of removable fans. This however is evident in these models, since we do not have the possibility to remove the outer casings, at least not easily. So the manufacturer allows us to remove the trays and work on them in a comfortable way.

Finally, it is worth noting that the 500X's top fans are installed in such a way as to introduce air into the interior. The most natural thing would be to locate them just the opposite, and take advantage of natural convection to draw hot air out. It would be a matter of testing which is the most effective way.

RGB lighting in MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X

In this sense it is also important to take a look at the lighting options we have, since we have seen that in all these chassis we have the button for lighting control, although we only have a microcontroller in the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X chassis. Let us understand then that it is a way to support possible extensions of systems by users.

In any case, we must focus on this commented chassis, because it is the one that has up to 4 fans with addressable RGB lighting, three of them being 200 mm. The system consists of a controller with capacity for 8 addressable RGB fans. We can choose to connect it to the motherboard to obtain compatibility with MSI Mystic Light and thus manage these fans using the corresponding lighting software. In any case, with the button we will have a total of 7 Mystic Light effects.

Installation and assembly

As we have already announced, we will mount it on the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X chassis, as it is the most striking in terms of final result, due to its 4 ARGB fans and a greater number of crystals in its external area. The assembly we have made consists of the following components:

• AMD Ryzen 2700X with stock heatsink MSI MEG X570 ACE16 GB G.Skill Sniper boardNvidia GeForce RTX 2060 FEPSU Corsair AX860i

The assembly is always recommended to start with the power supply, since in this way we can see if all the cables reach the correct place and in the best possible way. With so many holes to pull cables we have not had any problem. Also, a standard cable will be long enough to reach corners.

As for space for main hardware, we have not had any problems. The width is more than enough for standard sizes (and we are releasing friends plate). We must also install the corresponding cables from the I / O panel ports. Keep in mind that your board will need to have at least two USB 3.0 slots to connect the 4 front ports and a connector for the available USB Type-C. A USB 2.0 connector will be added to the 500X chassis to manage the lighting controller through software.

For the rest, we need not take into account anything else that we have not yet said. Remember that we have the possibility to install vertical GPUs, although the riser cable is obviously not available in the bundle. If it will be important to indicate that, with these four 200 mm fans, the chassis will be somewhat noisy, it is inevitable, although we can always manage its RPM through the motherboard.

Final score

Here we have the impressive final result with the assembly made and the chassis fully operational.

Final words and conclusion about MSI MPG SEKIRA 500G and MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X

We reached the end of this review, and we hope that everything has been well explained between the differences between the two chassis. And it is that, if we stop to think, there are not too many, especially in regards to hardware capacity. These chassis have very large measures that will allow us to install practically any type of high-end component, with the possibility of installing vertical GPUs.

MSI has taken care of its design to the maximum, it is a range built using aluminum and glass for the most part, together with an extremely robust chassis and reaching weights of about 20 Kg. Of course we highlight the 500X model, for having tempered glass elements in front and upper area which is obviously the most aesthetically complete chassis of the three.

We also recommend our article on the best chassis of the moment

And it is also if we stop to see its ventilation section, because in the 500X we have no less than 4 pre-installed 200 mm fans and a 120 mm rear one. Four of them (except one of 200mm) have ARGB lighting that can be managed by microcontroller and a button on the panel, or also by software. Nor should we underestimate the 500G, with three pre-installed fans, although without lighting. We only need capacity for 420 mm radiators.

The I / O panel is also very complete, with USB Type-C from Gen2 and no less than 4 USB 3.1 Gen1. All the chassis come prepared for lighting with their respective LED button on top. Storage is also one of its strengths, with an elegant system of removable metal bays that allow us to install up to 6 3.5 ”/ 2.5” disks and another 3 with brackets scattered around the chassis.

We also really liked the high quality of the dust filters it has installed and the wide space for cable management with central fastening using velcro strips. It is undoubtedly the MSI range of chassis with the best design and features it has built, without a doubt they have raised the level a lot in this generation. For us, the most recommended chassis is the MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X, due to the fact that it has a very complete ventilation system and ARGB.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ HIGH QUALITY ALUMINUM AND CRYSTAL DESIGN	- COULD HAVE INCLUDED LIGHTING CONTROLLER IN ALL MODELS
+ GREAT REFRIGERATION CAPACITY, WITH 5 FANS FOR THE 500X	- DOES NOT SUPPORT 420 MM RADIATORS
+ VERY WORKED AND HIGH CAPACITY INTERIOR SPACE
+ ARGB LIGHTING AT 500X
+ VERY COMPLETE I / O PANEL
+ THREE MODELS TO ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF EACH USER

The professional review team awards him the platinum medal.

MSI MPG SEKIRA 500X AND 500G

DESIGN - 92%

MATERIALS - 94%

WIRING MANAGEMENT - 89%

PRICE - 87%

91%