PC cases are available in countless variations, but only a few models combine aesthetics, functionality and innovative materials in a convincing way. With the Asus ProArt PA602 Wood Edition, the manufacturer is specifically targeting creative professionals and discerning users who value design and sophisticated cooling. The use of FSC®-certified ash wood on the front, combined with a side panel made of tempered glass, is particularly striking. But does the case offer more than just an attractive appearance? In this review, we take a detailed look at the build quality, features and practicality of the ProArt PA602.
Technical details
| Model: | ASUS ProArt PA602 Wood Edition – Tempered Glass Panel |
| Case type: | Midi-Tower |
| Dimensions: | 593 x 560 x 245 mm |
| Weight: | 15.8 kg |
| Material: | Ash wood, steel, plastic, glass |
| Available colors: | Black |
| Front connections: | 2x USB 3.2 / 1x USB Type C 3.2 / 2x USB 2.0 |
| Expansion slots: | 8 |
| Hard disk slots: | 5x 2.5″, 3x 2.5″/3.5″, 1x 3.5″ |
| Form factors: | EATX (12″ x 10.9″) ATX M-ATX ITX DTX Mini-DTX |
| Ventilation: | Front: 2x 200mm (included) Top: 3x 120 / 140 mm Rear: 1x 120mm (included) / 1x 140 mm |
| Radiators (top): | 120 / 140 / 240 / 280 / 360 / 420 mm |
| Max. CPU cooler height: | 185 mm |
| Max. Graphics card length: | 440 mm |
| Max. Power supply length: | 190 mm |
| Price: | € 249.04 * |
Scope of delivery
The contents of the packaging are limited to the essentials and contain everything necessary for assembly. The required screws are stored in separate bags, but without labeling. Sufficient cable ties are also provided to allow cables to be routed properly.
For users who prefer to mount the graphics card vertically, a special replacement part is included that adapts the expansion slots accordingly. However, a riser cable is not included and would have to be purchased separately.
The scope of delivery is rounded off with illustrated assembly instructions that clearly show the individual steps and explain the special functions of the housing.
External impression
Even at first glance, it is noticeable that the Asus ProArt PA602 Wood Edition is a massive and large case. The proportions make it look massive, which can be a relevant factor for users with limited space in particular.
The design is largely characterized by the wood applications. These can be found on the front, the I/O panel and the side edges of the lid. The wooden struts on the top also act as carrying handles and, according to the manufacturer, are designed for a load capacity of up to 30 kg. This is thermally treated ash wood. Asus explicitly points out that the color and grain can vary due to natural conditions. In our case, the wood appears significantly darker than in the official product images. In low light, it is more reminiscent of plastic, as the texture is barely visible.
The front section combines functionality with design. A large, open grill ensures a good air supply, while wooden struts visually break up the structure. There is a discreet ProArt logo at the bottom left, while the words “Power Up Your Imagination” are engraved at the top right. The rounded outer edges also give the case its own stylish touch.
The large, tempered glass side panel provides a view of the interior. A special feature is the integrated ventilation insert with a perforated structure on which the lettering “ProArt” appears in a gold-like color. Underneath, there are additional ventilation inlets that contribute to air circulation. The aforementioned wooden handle bars run directly above.
The right-hand side panel is almost identical to the left-hand one, although the glass element is missing here. Instead, it is closed throughout, which contributes to noise insulation, but also means that there is no major ventilation on this side.
The rear of the case is almost completely perforated to allow the air sucked in by the front fans to be efficiently removed. There is an opening mechanism for the lid at the top, which makes maintenance work easier. The eight expansion slots are located in the center, three of which are equipped with a special mounting clip. This can be opened to allow the graphics card to be mounted without tools, which makes installation easier and provides additional stability. The power supply slot is located directly underneath. A notable feature is the integrated castors at the rear, which make it much easier to move the large and heavy case on a table surface.
Interior impression
The interior of the Asus ProArt PA602 Wood Edition is generously proportioned throughout. The case offers enough space for extensive systems and is therefore clearly aimed at users who want to install powerful hardware. Mainboards up to E-ATX format are supported, while a maximum length of 440 mm is available for graphics cards – even with the pre-assembled bracket for the graphics card, which provides additional stability. A maximum height of 185 mm is provided for CPU coolers, which also allows the use of larger tower coolers.
The placement of the cable grommets is practical, even if they are not rubberized. The movable plastic cover on the right-hand side of the mainboard is a positive feature: This conceals the connected cables and can be flexibly slid to the side, which makes routing even easier.
In the lower section of the case, there is a separately partitioned power supply area, which not only contributes to thermal decoupling, but also makes the overall appearance of the interior look tidier. Two thirds of this area is made of metal, while the front part is made of a stable, wedge-shaped, flattened plastic element. This design serves a functional purpose: it ensures that the airflow from the large front fans is directed into the main interior instead of being trapped in the power supply duct.
The case comes with a solid cooling system as standard. Two 200 mm PWM fans at the front and a 140 mm PWM fan at the rear generate a constant airflow that is both efficient and quiet. Users with extended cooling requirements have the option of mounting radiators up to 420 mm on the top of the case. Additional fans can also be added in various positions so that even complex cooling concepts can be easily implemented.
The rear of the PA602 Wood Edition is just as well thought out as the main interior. There is enough space here for neat cable management – even if the system is equipped with many components. The generously dimensioned cable grommets make routing much easier, and several Velcro cable ties and integrated cable guides help to keep cables tidy and securely fastened.
The case is also versatile in terms of storage space. A total of five 2.5-inch mounting slots, three combined 2.5/3.5-inch bays and a further dedicated 3.5-inch bay are available. This means that both an extensive SSD and HDD configuration can be easily implemented – a clear plus point for users with high storage requirements.
A central fan hub is located in the upper area, which brings together the factory-installed fans. The fans can not only be managed together via this hub, but their speed can also be regulated directly via the front I/O panel, which enables manual fine-tuning without additional software. This feature is particularly practical for users who want to switch flexibly between quiet operation and maximum cooling performance.
Smart filter system
A key feature of the Asus ProArt PA602 Wood Edition is the smart filter system, which has been specially designed for long-lasting operation in productive environments. The main fresh air intake is located at the front, where large 200 mm fans ensure a constant airflow.
Dust is a critical factor, especially in workspaces with constantly running systems, which can impair performance and shorten the service life of components. To counteract this, Asus has integrated smart dust detection directly into the front panel.
A small sensor monitors the soiling of the front dust filter and recognizes when cleaning is necessary. As soon as a critical level of dust is detected, an inconspicuous LED on the side of the housing signals that the filter should be serviced.
This system relieves the user of regular inspection routines and ensures that the cooling performance remains at a consistently high level even over long periods of time – a practical detail that offers real added value, especially in professional workflows.
Processing
Overall, the ProArt PA602 Wood Edition leaves a convincing impression in terms of build quality. All components fit together precisely, there are no sharp edges or unclean transitions to be found. Doors and covers close cleanly, the opening and locking mechanisms – for example on the lid or side panels – appear robust and reliable. The pre-assembled components, such as fans or brackets, are also properly fastened and have no defects.
Despite these positive impressions, a closer look reveals a certain conflict of objectives between the design claim and the choice of materials. A significant part of the housing is made of plastic, both in the interior and in elements of the outer shell. Although this contributes to weight reduction and enables complex shapes, it still leaves a rather simple haptic impression in places, especially in a case of this price range.
A similar impression is created by the wooden elements: The idea of a “Wood Edition” initially promises an eye-catching and high-quality natural finish. In reality, however, the ash wood used looks quite restrained. In our test model, it appears dark, almost matt and low in texture – depending on the lighting situation, it looks more like plastic than real wood. Although Asus points out that it is a natural material and that the color and grain can vary, the actual effect is likely to fall short of the expectation of a striking design feature for many users.
All in all, the workmanship is solid and functional, but individual material decisions slightly tarnish the otherwise high-quality overall impression.
Assembly of the test system
The test system:
| Processor: | Ryzen 7 7800X3D* |
| Mainboard: | MSI B650 Tomahawk* |
| Memory: | Corsair Vengeance RGB 32GB 6000 MHz* |
| Graphics card: | AMD Radeon RX 6900XT |
| Power supply: | Corsair HX850 |
| Case: |
ProArt PA602 Wood Edition – Tempered Glass Panel* |
| AiO cooler: | ASUS ProArt LC 360* |
For the practical test, a system based on an ATX mainboard was installed in the Asus ProArt PA602 Wood Edition. One of the biggest advantages of this case becomes apparent during installation: the generously dimensioned interior. All components can be installed without any tightness or fiddly handling – even larger graphics cards or tower coolers do not cause any space problems.
The illustrated assembly instructions proved to be helpful, especially when it came to understanding the individual functions and removable elements. Even though the assembly is largely intuitive, it is worth taking a quick look at the manual so as not to overlook any assembly details.
Only the installation of the power supply unit was a little more complex than the rest of the assembly. In order for it to be inserted correctly, the insert in the power supply slot must first be removed – it is secured with four screws. This additional step seems somewhat cumbersome compared to the otherwise very well thought-out design and could certainly have been solved more elegantly with a tool-free solution.
Apart from that, the installation went smoothly and quickly without any significant complications.
Performance test
For the performance test of the Asus ProArt PA602 Wood Edition, a practical setup was selected that is designed for everyday scenarios. The fan speeds were deliberately kept at a moderate level in order to reproduce a realistic background noise and to avoid distorted results due to extreme cooling performance. The aim was to assess the thermal properties of the case under typical conditions – both in idle mode and under load.
A system with Asus ProArt LC360 AiO water cooling, which belongs to the same product family and can be optimally integrated into the case, served as the test platform. The radiator was mounted in the lid.
In idle mode, i.e. immediately after booting the system, the temperatures for both the CPU and GPU stabilized at a non-critical level – the good air circulation provided by the factory-installed 200 mm front fan already had a positive effect here.
Under load conditions, the system was tested with a session of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – a current title with high demands on the graphics card and CPU. The cooling design of the case also proved itself here: the temperatures remained stable without the fans having to turn up to disturbing volumes. The combination of a spacious interior, effective airflow and additional AiO cooling ensured a good balance between cooling and noise level.
Overall, the PA602 demonstrated a powerful cooling performance in the test that is suitable for everyday use and does not reach its limits even during intensive use.
Conclusion
The Asus ProArt PA602 Wood Edition presents itself in the test as a well thought-out and functionally strong case with a clear focus on creative and demanding users. The generous dimensions offer excellent conditions for powerful systems and extensive cooling concepts. Particularly noteworthy is the very good airflow, which is made possible by the large front fans and the open design of the ventilation inlets – supported by an intelligent filter system, which even includes automatic dust detection.
In practice, the case impresses with plenty of space, clever details such as the movable cable duct, a solid fan controller and a well thought-out layout of the interior. Assembly is also largely problem-free, apart from the somewhat awkward installation of the power supply unit.
However, the choice of materials must be viewed critically: The widespread use of plastic – both inside and out – means that the case does not look as high-quality everywhere as its claim and price would suggest. The visual effect of the wood accents also falls short of expectations, especially if you are hoping for a striking “Wood Edition” with visible grain.
Despite these drawbacks, the PA602 offers a consistently solid overall package with strong functional features. Anyone looking for a powerful, quietly coolable and particularly spacious case will find a good basis here – especially if function comes before show effects.
VORTEILE
- Excellent airflow
- Very spacious interior
- Smart filter system with dust detection
NACHTEILE
- High proportion of plastic
- Rather inconspicuous wood accents
- Somewhat awkward power supply installation
Fazit
Spacious housing with strong airflow, smart filter system and solid workmanship. Weaknesses in the choice of materials and design of the wooden elements slightly tarnish the high-quality overall impression.
