Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
Here at APH Networks, we are no strangers to Antec cases, specifically the FLUX series, having looked at the P10 FLUX and DF700 FLUX in the past. Like with these cases, performance is the focus here, with the Antec DF800 FLUX being designed to provide smooth airflow throughout the interior. The outer design has no curves, being very straight-edged and box-like. The color black is consistent throughout the entire outside of the chassis aside from the side of the front panel near the center area, which contains the Antec logo in white. The front panel is very geometric in design, employing a partial mesh design to allow for intake airflow and to let the RGB LED lighting of any front fans shine through. A small triangle-shaped glass window is visible on the right side to further help with displaying any RGB LED goodness.
This case contains tempered glass on the left side, like many cases these days. The DF800 FLUX is larger than your average ATX case with measurements coming in at 479mm depth, 220mm width, and 488mm height. While this is not crazy big, it is comparable in size to Antec's own P120 Crystal, which is already larger than most ATX cases. The DF800 FLUX weighs in at 7.58kg, which is about the average weight of a mid-tower unit.
At the top of the case, we can see the I/O panel, which is located on the eastern edge. Going from left to right, we have a square power button, LED control button, storage and power LED indications, USB 3.0 Type-A port, 3.5mm microphone jack, 3.5mm headphone jack, and another USB 3.0 Type-A port. The lack of a USB Type-C port is disappointing, given it is 2022, but not a deal-breaker by any means. On the positive side, I really like that the design employs two USB 3.0 Type-A ports. It is always nice to have two USB slots that offer fast transfer speeds. One noticeable change here is the lack of a reset switch, which has seemingly been replaced with an LED control switch. This is disadvantageous for users who find it easier to use a button to reset their PCs. It is true that the reset switch is not an essential I/O button, but I wish Antec has found a way to fit that extra button without sacrificing anything else. We know that it is possible to have a specialized button and reset button together as seen on the be quiet! Silent Base 802. This is also different from the Antec P10 FLUX and DF700 FLUX, which has both replaced their reset switch with a fan control switch.
The back of the case is exactly what you would expect from an ATX mid-tower. A pre-installed 120mm fan is mounted at the top right beside the cut-out for the motherboard I/O shield. Seven horizontal expansion slots can be seen directly below the fan and motherboard opening. All seven expansion slots can be taken off to make room for GPUs or any expansion cards that may take up an expansion slot on your motherboard. Vertical GPU mounting is not supported on the DF800 FLUX, which does not take away from this relatively competitively priced case. An opening for the power supply can be seen below the horizontal expansion slots held on by regular screws. The right side panel has ventilation holes near the bottom to draw in air for the reverse fan, which we will be discussing later on in this review. You can also find a magnetic dust filter here to keep dust from getting into your PC via this intake.
Two sets of large feet can be seen at the bottom of the case. There is a small pad in the middle of each feet designed to reduce vibration. Measuring approximately 5mm in width and 12.5mm in length though, I feel that there is only so much vibration that they would realistically reduce at such a small size. The feet are also removable with two Phillips head screws per foot. A large removable dust filter can be seen near the back. This dust filter will help maintain clean airflow for your power supply. I am also happy to see that the slits are not terribly thick, meaning they will not block a lot of the airflow.
I find the DF800 FLUX has good build quality, which is not a surprise given the build quality we have come to expect from cases by Antec. The steel and plastic material making up the case is very solid and does not feel cheap in any way. The surface and edges feel smooth on the fingers. The side panels fit very well and are tightly held in position by the thumbscrews. The power and LED control switches also have a crisp click when pressed. I think Antec did a great job with the outside build, taking what worked with their previous cases and applying these aspects here.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
