First time building a computer, but it doesn’t take an expert to realize where corners were cut and how this case could be improved in several areas.
First off, for the inflated price I paid ($100), I was expecting a lot more Out of this case. Yes, it’s normally a mid range $69 something case, but I needed one and heard great things about this one.
The build quality is definitely something I would have felt more comfortable about out of a $50 case. The fans that come with the case are three pin fans that I’m most likely going to throw in the trash in favor of something better for wiring and aesthetic purposes. The front case and fan wires came basically tied together, tangled, and shoved through a little slit in the back of the case haphazardly from the factory. The power supply shroud is not removable and is riveted in place which is very annoying but something I can live with. The two cable management cutouts for your standard 24 pin connectors, fan wires, usb hookups, etc are slightly too small. I just barely fit my 24pin connector through them due to the capacitors and shrink tubing. The glass side panel feels like it’s over tempered, if such a thing exists. It feels almost like a cheap plastic, yet is not. It feels very weak and moving the case is nerve wracking because just picking up the case wrong makes me feel like it’s going to shatter; it just has that frequency of glass that’s about to shatter if you look at it wrong. The other side panel would be fine, if not for the screw retention system that holds the two panel screws in the panel and makes for a terrible time threading the screws in or out. There’s no reason they shouldn’t just be clearance holes with removable hardware like the other side. Watch out not to cross thread them. The top of the case is extremely bland, something you can’t really pick up on in the photos, as from a distance and from the sides and front, the case looks okay....But in reality is completely flat and empty (good for setting stuff on I guess). The power button has a click to it that is really not pleasant and feels quite gross. The other buttons seem fine but are hard to get to as they are under the top lip on the front of the mesh panel. The mesh dust panel on top of the case is 1/16-ish inches too small all the way around the recessed portion on the top and slides all around since it doesn’t fit snug and the magnets are weak. The accessories screws that came with the case were in a plastic bag, not in an organizer like other Phanteks cases (This isn’t really a big deal).
The instructions are basically useless. As a first time builder, something I did not expect to have to do was have to research everything on my own about fan types, their connectors, speeds, etc. if they came already installed in a case from a reputable manufacturer. I would, however expect a few diagrams of the fan connections, their pin outs, their part numbers if I wanted to order more matching ones, etc. Yes, it’s something I should probably have researched more about, but wiring the fans properly is the hardest part about building this PC so far. Newer motherboards are almost all 4pin connectors and me being inexperienced am worried about burning things up on my Mobo or damaging other components in my pc.
There are a few things I do like:
The velcro straps for cable management are an awesome addition to the case and probably my favorite feature. I really like the cooling capabilities with this case and it’s front mesh panel. The HDD trays are really nice. This is probably a super common feature in most cases but I wouldn’t know. All I can say is they’re great and make installing hard drives a snap. I like that this case is up off the ground and will allow for good airflow to my psu. That’s about it.
This being said, I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to buy a Phanteks case again. I think I’m a little bit more picky than most consumers. Phanteks is a brand I’d give another shot based on what the community has been saying about them and their performance compared to other cases. The looks of the 600s have caught my eye, and I should have gone with that, and will most likely transfer everything over to one when it comes time to help my sister build a computer (she will get this case).
Would I recommend this case??? Eh... maybe for $69.... Just eh.
Looks: 2.5/5
Build quality: 3/5
Cooling: 4/5
Instructions: 1.5/5
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
|---|---|
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 2 |
