Radical looks and decent cooling, but there are better cases out there for the same money
Written By
Published on 2 March 2012
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Our rating
Reviewed price £84 inc VAT
NZXT’s Phantom 410 case has looks that are sure to divide opinions. Some may love its asymmetrical shape and angular lines, but others may be put off by the excessive amounts of glossy white plastic.
A hinged door covers three 5.25in external drive bays, but the power button and the I/O panel (which is comprised of two USB2 ports, two USB3 ports, 3.5mm audio jacks and a three-stage fan controller) are within easy reach at the top of the case.Underneath, the case is built of steel, although build quality is only average. As an example of this, there’s a lot of flex in each side panel. There is, at least, a decent amount of room to manoeuvre when building, and there are several pre-cut holes for cable management. A large cut-out in the motherboard tray makes it easier to replace a CPU cooler’s backing plate.Six internal drive bays accept both 3.5in and 2.5in hard disks, and they’re mounted sideways in an effort to keep cable clutter to a minimum. You’ll need to remove them to add a second 120mm front intake fan, but there are mounts for a further four fans if the included three aren’t sufficient. We didn’t need to add any more; our reference kit stayed cool at the medium fan setting. There are also pre-drilled holes for a water cooling loop and radiator if more high-end cooling is necessary.
The Phantom 410 is a decent case, but a few issues with build quality stop it from winning an award. For a similar price, the Corsair Carbide 500R is a much better choice.
Written by
Tom Morgan
Tom started writing about technology right after graduating from University, but has been a games and gadget fan for as long as he can remember. Beyond photography, music and home entertainment, he's also the first port of call for all reviews content on Expert Reviews.
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