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PHANTEKS Eclipse P500A
- Ultra-fine Performance Mesh front panel for the best optimal cooling performance; Tempered glass side...
- Spacious open interior: supports dual system (with PH-ITXKT_R01), vertical GPU mounting support (with...
- Easy accessibility to I/O featuring USB-C GEN2, 2x USB 3. 0, Microphone/Headphone, Power button
In the P300A and P400A, Phanteks had several excellent performers who focused on ventilation. They’ve now released an even larger case, the Eclipse P500A, to the market. It has a subtle design and subdued aesthetics.
The chassis is rather huge, but the P500A makes superb use of it. In this scenario, airflow is definitely a significant plus. The internal utility and convenience of wire management, on the other hand, are not to be overlooked. The swivel TG door is wonderful, and the build quality is excellent.
The front fans of the RGB model display amazing effects that will put you in a trance. It isn’t the quietest, but it does the job. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of this PC case is its size. This is a substantial mid-tower. And, if you’re not using the second system, it’s possible that it’s simply too big to be comfortable. And, depending on your preferences, the design may appear to be more utilitarian.
In the end, with the Phanteks P500A, there are no compromises to be made. You are getting a superb piece of gear for a reasonable price. In the closed mid-tower category, it offers one of the best airflow performances. It’s a no-brainer with this PC case.
be quiet! Pure Base 500DX
- High airflow intake front panel and top cover for maximum performance
- ARGB LED at the front and inside the case
- USB 3.1 Type C Gen. 2 for latest hardware
Be quiet! 500DX Pure Base Despite the fact that this case stresses cooling and thermal performance, it manages to make the build process enjoyable and attractive.This custom-built enclosure was created with the goal of providing efficient cooling and superior airflow. Three Pure Wings 2 x 140mm case fans pull in a lot of airflow through the mesh front. Because of the wide interior, huge hardware components can be used without blocking any airflow pathways, which can happen with smaller alternatives.
This case is a terrific alternative for builders that want the highest levels of airflow, and it comes with a slew of cable management options to boot. According to Be Quiet’s Pure Base 500DX spec sheet, this case can accommodate up to five 2.5-inch drives and two 3.5-inch drives, with one bay overlapping the two sizes. The two 3.5-inch drives are housed in a compact removable hard drive cage at the bottom of the case. Two 2.5-inch drives can be inserted directly beneath the motherboard mounting tray, while two more can be installed in the front of the case. The fifth 2.5-inch drive mount is inside the hard drive cage, and it takes up one of the 3.5-inch drive mounting spots when used.
Fractal Design Meshify C
- Streamlined high-airflow design: the performance and capacity of a larger tower in a remarkably compact...
- Remarkably compact mATX design: the performance and capacity of a larger tower. Motherboard...
- Distinctive new styling with stealthy black-on-black aesthetic: designed angular mesh front panel...
Fractal Design Meshify C Mini is the best airflow micro-ATX PC case you can get in a mini-tower form factor. The case has a high airflow streamlined design that offers pure quality and is beautiful and very spacious to accommodate high-end components to build a powerful gaming or work PC. For air circulation it comes with an angled mesh front panel with up to 5 fan mounting points on the front, top, back and bottom. Two 120mm Dynamic X2 GP-12 fans are supplied with the case, one at the front and one at the rear, and you can install more for greater air circulation. The top of the front panel has I / O ports including two USB 3.0 ports and audio ports. The case also features a tinted tempered glass panel that gives it a premium look and allows you to see all of its components from the outside.
Fractal Design is one of the most premium case manufacturers. They often design minimalist cases that give them a premium feel. Meshify C is a tribute to simplicity and performance. The mesh panel allows air to circulate without any reservation, the fan location ensures your CPU and GPU will receive cool and fresh air, and the design meets everyone’s needs. The Fractal Design Meshify C comes with two pre-installed 120mm fans (one intake and one exhaust), a full-size power cage that will help with cable management, strategically placed rubber grommets, and cutouts that will help a lot with cable routing. and a solid chassis.
Fractal Design really hit the mark with Meshify C. A revision of their Define series, the front panel is replaced with a blackened angular mesh to allow maximum intake airflow. The chassis itself is well made and includes quality of life features with a full set of air filters, thumbscrews for the power supply, side panel and GPU removal, and a power cover. that contains the power supply and mechanical hard drive bays. There is a range of sizes to suit all needs and configurations, from the mATX “Meshify C Mini” variants to the S2 variants that have greater depth to accommodate large graphics cards (over 300mm in length) or thick front heat sinks. . There are also options for the side panel with metal, tempered glass, and heavily tinted tempered glass.
The Fractal-Design-Meshify-C-Mini-mATX-Case is large enough to accommodate graphics cards up to 315mm long (with front fan installed), CPU coolers up to 175mm high, and 280mm radiators for water cooling. You can add a total of 5 storage units, which is quite reasonable. Other features include easy-to-clean dust filters, cable routing, and tool-free reader installation. The case is a bit more expensive than the aforementioned mini-tower cases, but it’s definitely worth it considering its superior quality, more space, style, and features it offers.
The tempered glass side panel and matte black coating make it a great option if you want to avoid all the RGB gamer aesthetic. You can install a 360mm radiator on the front panel (support for 3 x 120mm fans or 2 x 140mm fans) and a 280mm radiator on the top panel. You also have room to install a 120mm fan on the bottom panel, so you have a possible total of 7 fans. That plus the mesh front panel make it an amazing option for those who want to see themselves as their sole means of cooling.
Corsair Carbide Spec-02 Gaming Case
- Tons of fan mounts: Front - 2 x 140/120mm (1 x 120mm LED included), Top - 2 x 120mmo Rear - 120mm...
- 2 x USB 3.0 front ports with internal connector
- Large side panel window
Corsair Carbide Spec-02 is a low budget mid tower gaming case that can support ATX size motherboards. It’s a well-built case that offers a good amount of space, but it’s not suitable for building a water-cooled PC as it can only support a 120mm radiator. The case comes with a metal mesh front panel on the front and fan mounting points on the front, top, back and bottom. A 120mm red LED fan is supplied with the case. Airflow and ventilation are pretty good in this case, and it includes two USB 3.0 ports and audio ports at the top of the front panel. The case can hold 420mm long graphics card, 157mm tall CPU cooler and 288mm power supply. It has two 5.25-inch bays, three 3.5-inch bays, and two 2.5-inch bays. Other features include the clear window side panel, cable routing, and tool-free reader installation. So if you are looking for an inexpensive airflow mid-tower case to build a budget gaming PC, I highly recommend it.
For cooling, it can support 2 120mm front fans, 1 120mm rear fan, 2 120mm upper fans and 1 120mm bottom fan, all with a total of 6 fans providing balanced airflow. Unfortunately it doesn’t have a slot in the side panel to install more fans, but the 3-3 fan configuration for intake and exhaust is commendable. The case comes with 2 pre-installed fans only. One is on the front with RED LEDs and the rear has no LEDs. Both fans are quality and if you want to increase the quantity you should consider installing an equal number of intake and exhaust fans for better air circulation. The case also has good ventilation on the front. Like many cases, despite having 2 or 3 ventilation slots in the front they do not have adequate ventilation, these have spaces for air circulation on the sides or on the top / bottom, but it limits the air flow to the same as the Phanteks P400. But this one has a well-ventilated dust filter on the front panel. At the top or bottom, it has no dust filter, so it will easily collect dust.
When it comes to compatibility, it supports long graphics cards, tool-free hard drive installation, and a good slot for SSD bays found in the hard drive cage. Cable management is excellent too. It’s not that spectacular as there are a few flaws like not having a separate cutout to route the processor cable, but there is a little gap at the back of the motherboard tray, but don’t expect it to be the cleanest.
LIAN LI LANCOOL II MESH RGB Black
Lian Li was once known as the only manufacturer to only make full aluminum cases, which were wonderfully high-end but also weighed down on our wallets. Then some time ago the company began using painted steel to cut costs and appeal to a general audience, a philosophy from which the original Lancool II was born. Now Lian Li launches Lancool II Mesh, of which we have the Performance variant on hand. This chassis is a new variant of the original Lancool II, which we gave 4.5 stars but was a bit lacking in the performance department. With a new mesh front, performance is a thing of the past. With three PWM fans, a well thought-out interior, and good looks despite the lack of RGB, I’d expect a price to match the old Lian Li, but this chassis is remarkably affordable at just $ 90. Of course, the real question is, Will it climb to a place on our best PC case list? You should definitely read on for all the details, but spoiler alert: Oh yeah, it does.
As far as we are concerned, the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh is a direct upgrade from the original model. The original differs with the ARGB lighting, but the Mesh has much better thermal performance, retains all the other features of the original, and adds an additional fan controller. The downside of changing so little from the original is that its flaws are also reflected. These are fully detailed in our original Lancool II review, but the biggest flaw was the airflow, which has now been fixed. However, we suggest gluing the bottom of the front panel as it will get dusty. Adding a 120mm fan to the top of the PSU shroud is an inexpensive way to further improve the case’s airflow, and it takes advantage of the mesh side panel that Lian Li has added.
We’ve seen quite a few $ 100 mesh boxes recently, including the be quiet! 500DX, Phanteks P400A Digital and Cooler Master TD500 Mesh. The P500A and P300A are similar in spirit, but the P400A is the most appropriate comparison for price. All of these enclosures include a full and usable complement of fans as standard, unlike previous pioneers of the current mesh front trend like the Meshify C and NR600. In terms of performance and airflow, Lancool II Mesh is a valuable addition to this group.
Cooler Master MasterCase H500M
- Four Tempered Glass Panels : Edge to edge glass side panels on both sides, a glass top panel, and a glass...
- Glass & Mesh Options Included : Choose between the glass front panel for a balance of aesthetics and...
- Rich Connectivity : The I/O panel comes with a USB 3.1 (Gen 2) Type C port, and 4 additional USB 3.0...
Dual 200 mm RGB fans are included in the Cooler Master MasterCase H500M (as well as the standard H500) for truly excellent air intake and stunning RGB aesthetics. If the major selling feature you want is “it has RGB,” then congratulations: it does, as well as excellent thermals. What’s not to like about that?
Well, there’s the price. Despite the fact that it’s essentially the same chassis as the H500 (which costs about half as much), adding addressable RGB fans adds a hefty price premium. The ability to address individual LEDs within the RGB device distinguishes addressable RGB from standard RGB, which can only address the complete device. Addressable lighting enables for even more control of your RGB lighting, but it comes at a cost.
If addressable RGB isn’t important to you, the H500 is a good choice. It’s essentially the same situation, but with a weaker RGB implementation. Aside from the RGB and cost nitpicks, this is a genuinely stunning case that performs admirably…as long as you use the provided mesh front panel.
Both H500 cases come with two front panels: a glass panel that restricts airflow and a mesh panel that does not. In the context of this article, the choice should be self-evident: mesh is always the better option.The rest of the case is massive, but very adaptable and builder-friendly. Congratulations to those of you who desire an Extended ATX build: this is absolutely the case for you.