The divisive RGB trend has trickled down from what used to be a high-end luxury towards reasonably priced mid-range systems in recent years, making competition rather fierce. Keen to stay ahead of the curve, Antec leaves the option to its fans, introducing its new budget-conscious DF500 and DF500 RGB mid tower chassis.
Built around aesthetic, the dark chassis is complimented by a gunmetal frame, while the 4mm darkened tempered glass side panel helps users showcase system internals.
Measuring at 470 x 280 x 480mm, the DF500 range of mid towers gives Antec fans plenty of room to pack hardware on an ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboard while tucking away into an office without prompting a second glance.
It has enough space to support graphics cards up to 380mm in length, while CPU air coolers can breathe up to a height of 165mm tall. Watercooling is an option, with room for a 360mm radiator in the front of a smaller 120mm radiator tucked away at the rear of the case.
General cooling is important, with the more expensive DF500 RGB shipping with three RGB-enabled fans in the front of the case. While users of the base version of the DF500 will have to supply those fans themselves, both chassis allow for a further three 120mm or 140mm fans at the top and a single 120mm fan at the rear.
HDD cages are built with flexibility in mind, allowing for tool-less mounting of up to two 3.5-inch mechanical hard drives and a further four 2.5-inch solid state drives. Ports are standardised at two USB 3.0 slots, MIC/HD Audio jacks and, of course, the power button.
The only other difference notable between both the £70/£70/€79 RGB variant and the cheaper £50/$50/€59 base model is that the former sports an additional RGB button that enables users to change between single colours, pulsing, breathing, or even sync with the motherboard easier.
KitGuru Says: The DF500 RGB seems like a good cost effective solution for those in the market for versatility and style while not wanting to break the bank. Would you consider a case from the Antec DF500 series?