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To start the build process we install our motherboard standoffs. NZXT provide black ones for the Phantom. The we placed the I/O shield where it belongs and then laid the motherboard in place before properly securing it. Next we install the PSU in it's bottom mounted position and hooked up the necessary cables to attach the drives.
When it comes to add our hard drives we use the provided drive caddies and then just slide the drive into place. Below we have pictures of the caddy on our WD 500 GB storage drive and our 64GB Kingston SSD and the WD drive being inserted into their drive bay.
The cables that connect to the hard drives attach on the back side as they did in the Vulcan, again helping with cable management.
When it comes to optical drives NZXT have managed to refine the method they use to secure these drives. In many of their other cases there was a small removable locking device. This method worked but it was something that they felt could be improved on.
The procedure is as follows: We depress the portion of the mounting device that is rippled while lifting the tab. This unlocks the mechanism, then we insert our optical drive into the available bay and depress the tab to lock the drive in place.
Our first thought on this approach is positive, however it will be interesting to see how they hold up over time. It does a far better job securing the drive so we give it 2 thumbs up and hope it is a durable solution.
Next we have a shot with all the components in and cabled. As you can see it was easy even for me to keep the interior quite tidy. NZXT will score big points with both gamers and system builders for the excellent job on the cable management features of this case.
This is without doubt NZXT’s best chassis on the market, its a very good case.
Fantastic chassis, I worry about the build quality long term however. They are known to fall apart in places.
very impressed with this chassis, saw a review on several other sites recently. Not sure I would buy it mind you, but its impressive for such a small company.
As a Lian Li and Silverstone fan I gotta say this doesn’t appeal to me on a design level at all but it seems popular with our audience.
It is a pretty cool case, I love the accenting, very dramatic.
Excellent review Steve, how is noise, seems to be quite a few fans in it.
I almost bought this last week, still undecided. its a fantastic looking case, just not sure its the best for the money, very expensive in UK, £130.
Like the curves, but its a bit expensive for what you get.
Shame about lack of noise testing in this one, but I know steve hasn’t access to the lab. Can you give us some real world feelings about noise Steve please?
Thats most impressive, It appeals to the gamer in me 🙂
Quite a nice design, bit complex for my own tastes though.
I was not able to get access to the required tools to accurately measure the fan noise level but I dont find the case loud by any means
Steve, good review, and its a nice enough chassis. looks well.
How many cases are NZXT selling right now ?
For those of you that don’t frequent the forums I was not able to get access to the required tools to accurately measure the fan noise level but I don’t find the case loud by any means
I see about 22 cases listed on their site