BitFenix Pandora Overview

We’ll start out with a tour around the outside of BitFenix’s Pandora. Keep in mind, this case is a “slim” micro-ATX form factor with a width not much wider than a 120mm fan (the Pandora measures 160mm at its widest point), so there won’t be as much room to play with as we’re used to. It is also the first case from BitFenix to use aluminum panels, so there’s quite a few new things to cover.

We received the windowed version of the Pandora (which can be configured in both black and silver, with or without a window). BitFenix had actually considered at one point using tempered glass for the windowed versions, but ended up sticking with acrylic to make sure the price point stayed reasonable (an understandable decision). Glass would have certainly enhanced the overall look and feel and accompanied the aluminum nicely, but this crystal clear acrylic window still provides a nice view of the internals of the Pandora. Interestingly enough, our sample arrived with a few scuffs on the interior of the window, presumably from the bundled USB and front panel header cables moving around in shipping. Even though the durability of glass would prevent this, I’m not sure if I’d pay the extra – especially not if a simple layer of plastic wrap would probably accomplish the same thing. Of course, the Pandora can be configured with a solid aluminum panel here instead, avoiding any potential scratches entirely.

Anyway, back on track – the alternate side of the Pandora showcases the all-aluminum side panel. It isn’t quite the same quality as the Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV’s panels, coming in one millimeter thinner (2mm vs 3mm of the EVOLV – and some of that might be due to the thick coat of paint on the EVOLV). Thankfully that doesn’t seem to compromise their rigidity too much; the brushed finish is very nicely done as well. As with any brushed aluminum finish it will show fingerprints pretty easily (although it isn’t hard to wipe down). Overall, the exterior is pretty good for BitFenix’s first use of aluminum.

The aluminum side panels wrap around in a smooth curve to the front, leaving enough of a gap for airflow to the vents concealed within. A glossy black front panel hides underneath, consisting of a plastic vented frame that covers two 120mm fan mounts and a magnetic dust filter. The aluminum also wraps around to the back panel where five PCI expansion slots and the motherboard I/O panel take up most of the real-estate. A standard ATX-size PSU just fits in the bottom, and a vented section should allow some heated air to escape even without the typical fan mount seen in this location.

Both side panels simply pull off, no thumbscrews or slots to worry about. Four aluminum posts per panel press smoothly into circular holes where a plastic retaining clip secures the panels with an appropriate amount of force. The slotted vents in the front panel are obscured by the side panel, but only visually – airflow didn’t seem to have much of an issue making its way through the chassis.

Perhaps a better perspective of that gap can be seen from above. It isn’t much, but the overall accessible volume is probably enough to feed any fans on the front panel (one 120mm Spectre fan is included here, with another on the top panel) with ample fresh air. Large power and reset buttons flank the headphone/mic jacks and two USB 3.0 ports, with the power and HDD activity LEDs illuminating the power and reset symbols with a soft white glow.

The wrap-around theme continues around the entire perimeter of the Pandora. The top portion primarily consists of a removable dust filter – most of the space up here is open to allow heat to escape. If you can imagine three 120mm fans sitting on the mesh, you’ll have an idea of the dimensions of the Pandora (the depth of the Pandora measures 465mm – a fourth 120mm fan wouldn’t quite fit). Only one fan mount hides under the mesh though, with the rest of the space taken by a 3.5″ drive mount.

The bottom of the Pandora again shows off those slim dimensions – a standard size ATX power supply barely squeezes between the side panels, with a removable dust filter over the intake an always appreciated feature. The series of eight holes towards the front are for 2.5″ or 3.5″ drives, and the slots can be used to tie down cables with the included hook and loop straps provided in the accessory box. Note the large open area behind the front plastic panel, allowing for easy access to the front magnetic dust filter (not to mention providing a source of cool air to the dual 120mm fan mounts in this location – one 120mm fan is included here in the Pandora’s stock configuration).

We’ll get a closer look at some of these features in the next section, so let’s take the side panels off and see what the interior of the Pandora holds.