Page 3 - Physical Look - Inside
The process of removing the side panels is actually quite different from other chassis. Rather than removing thumbscrews and sliding the sides off, the Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV ATX employs two side panels with hinges on the back. Opening the sides are like opening a car door, and it does so with a near 180 degree swing. To remove the side fully, just pull the side up and off the hinge after opening it. Of course, there are several pegs on the door to keep it closed and to ensure the sides do not open accidentally. Either way, I think this implementation is quite an awesome way to open your computer. The rim is lined with a thin foam to ensure the aluminum door does not clang against the steel casing. Unfortunately, this is the only foam present near the doors, as there is no kind of sound-dampening material on the side panel.
The interior of the Enthoo EVOLV ATX is similar to a recent case we reviewed, the Fractal Design Define S, as there is no dedicated drive bay in front of the motherboard. Unlike the Define S, however, there are actually two areas to the case. One is the main chamber you see, where the motherboard sits. The other is underneath for the power supply and a removable two-slot drive bay. E-ATX motherboards up to 264mm wide are supported in addition to ATX, micro ATX, and mini ITX form factors. Mounting risers are labeled “A” or “M” depending on the size of the motherboard you wish to install, but pre-installed mounts are placed for the standard ATX size.
Starting near the back, we see the 140mm Phanteks PH-F140SP fan in white. For your information, this fan is rated at running up to 1200rpm, with a maximum airflow of 82.1 CFM, and static pressure of 1.33 mmH2O. Just to note, this fan is a three-pin voltage controlled fan, but as you will see soon enough, this fan can connect to your four-pin motherboard header with a built-in fan hub. The motherboard back opening is also present here, and should be large enough to work with cooler back plates. Finally, at the top there is spacing for top-mounted fans. Rather than attaching the fan directly to the inside, there is a frame that slides out to allow users to attach up to two 140mm fans or three 120mm fans. In terms of liquid cooling, the top bracket can also support up to a 360mm radiator.
Near the interior backside, we have the usual things, such as the expansion slots, and a mounting slot for custom-loop liquid cooler reservoir. Once again, the steel divider between the PSU and the rest of the case is here, and it is meant to hide all the extra cables coming out of the power supply. This area is well ventilated, with many honeycomb holes for airflow. There are three cable routing holes at the back of the divider in addition to one near the front for a possible path to the graphics card. Otherwise, near the power supply there are four rubber feet for the unit to rest upon, which helps reduce any vibration noises between the PSU and the case. There is a vent underneath the power supply, with a removable filter as I have already mentioned.
At the front of the inside of the Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV ATX are a few more things to point out. For one, you can see one of the cabling areas, which is lined with rubber to hide extraneous cables. Two more of the 140mm Phanteks fans are visible here. You might be wondering where the drive bays are, and in response I will say you are actually looking at it. Each of the Phanteks-labeled plates are removable to create an opening where the drive can sit. The included drive caddies slide into place, and they are capable of holding a 3.5" or 2.5" storage drive. In addition to the five different mounting positions, there are three 2.5" drive slots, with one near the side-facing Phanteks logo, and two behind the motherboard. Then there is a drive cage in the separated chamber located at the front. As you can tell, this area is very flexible in accommodating different drive options. In addition, this area can be reconfigured for water cooling options. For example, the drive cage underneath the separator can be removed, and a reservoir or pump can be installed in this area. In addition, Phanteks includes a small mounting plate for users to mount their custom loop water cooling components. It is great to see manufacturers encouraging this type of modularity, but unfortunately it is also quite rarely found on other chassis.
The last place we can look at the Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV ATX is the back. Here, you can see the numerous cabling holes to give users the ultimate flexibility in wiring up their rig. Three Phanteks labeled Velcro straps are also here, and it really makes cabling a clean experience, which you will see on the next page. The real party piece found on the back is actually in the middle, and this is the integrated PWM fan hub. It is capable of powering and controlling up to seven different fans. You can either connect the hub to a PWM fan header on your motherboard, or to your power supply directly via an included power SATA connection. Otherwise, I should note Phanteks has given ample spacing for cables to run near the back. With almost 20mm at its narrowest area and up to 30mm at its widest gap, the Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV ATX is very easy to cable manage. I wish there were a few more cable tie down points, but it is not a huge deal. Otherwise, both externally and internally, the Phanteks is a treat, and it really is a top-tiered product. But the rubber only hits the road when we actually use Enthoo EVOLV ATX, so let us move to the installation process.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
