Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX Tempered Glass Edition
By Jason Maxfield
Manufacturer: Phanteks
Product Name: Enthoo EVOLV mATX Tempered Glass Edition
Model Number: PH-ES314ETG_BK
UPC: 886523300298
Price As Tested: $129.99 (Amazon | Newegg)Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Phanteks
Phanteks has sent us their Enthoo EVOLV mATX Tempered Glass Edition case for review. This model is a revision of their Enthoo EVOLV mATX case. The TG Edition of the case, gets a face lift, with form and function changes, along with tempered glass added on both sides of the case. This makes the TG Edition fall more in line with it’s bigger brother, the Enthoo EVOLV ATX chassis, but with a more simplified hinge mount for the tempered glass side panels.
The Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG Edition includes RGB compatibility with Asus Aura Sync and MSI Mystic Light Sync motherboards. The TG Edition carries over it’s great water cooling capabilities from the mATX version and comes in 3 colors: Satin Black, Anthracite Grey, and Galaxy Silver.
In this article for Benchmark Reviews, I will be going over the differences between the TG Edition and the mATX version of the case currently on the market. Let’s see how the Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG Edition holds up to scrutiny.
Features & Specifications
CASE SPECIFICATIONS
Dimension 230 mm x 453 mm x 400 mm (W x H x D)
9.1 in x 17.8 in x 15.7 in
Form Factor Micro tower
Material(s) Aluminum (3mm), Tempered glass (3mm),
Steel chassis
Motherboard support Micro ATX, Mini ITX
Front I/O 2x USB 3.0, Mic, Headphone, RGB LED control
Side window Yes, tempered glass panels (left and right)
EXPANSION & DRIVE BAYS
Expansion slots 4
Internal 3.5” 2x
Internal (dedicated) 2.5” 2x
*3.5” HDD brackets needs to be removed for 360 radiators.
(up to 126 mm wide)
COOLING
120mm fan 140mm fan
Front 3x 120mm 2x 140mm (1 included) 140mm
Top 2x 120mm 2x 140mm
Rear 1x 120mm 1x 140mm (1 included) 140mm
LIQUID COOLING
120mm radiator 140mm radiator
Front Up to 360* Up to 280
Top Up to 240 Up to 280
Rear 120 140
CLEARANCE
Graphic card 319 mm (12.5 in)
CPU cooler 192 mm (7.5 in)
Cable management 26 mm (1.0 in)
PSU (including cable) 216 mm (8.5 in)
PACKAGING
Model PH-ES314ETG
Net Weigth 9 kg (19.8 lbs)
Gross Weigth 10 kg (22.0 lbs)
Package Dimension 308 mm x 540 mm x 463 mm(WxHxD)
Container w/o Pallet Pallet
20 GP 380 288
40 GP 760 608
40 HQ 907 760
PH-ES314ETG_BK, PH-ES314ETG_AG, PH-ES314ETG_GS
UPC Code 886523300298, 886523300380, 886523300397
Color Satin Black Anthracite Grey Galaxy Silver
Warranty 5 years (all models)
Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG Edition Overview
Now we move on to the fun stuff. Here we’ll be going over the case as I point out some of it’s features.
Below is a shot of the TG Edition front panel. This panel is changed from the mATX version, as it now has the front panel access for power, headphones, mic, RGB lighting switch, and 2 USB 3.0 ports. Unlike the mATX version that had those mounted on the cable management side of the case. This brings the design more in line with it’s bigger sibling the Enthoo EVOLV ATX chassis.
Interestingly, Phanteks omitted a reset button with this version of the case. At the bottom of the front panel is an RGB light that can be changed with the push of a button in 1 of 7 colors, and matches the color of the power switch on top of the case.
The backside of the TG Edition is pretty much your standard fair, input-output cut out, 140 or 120mm fan mount with grooves that allow some positioning of the fan for better airflow, PSU mount and 4 expansion slots.
Also, you can notice the hinges for the tempered glass panels are held in place with screws. I’ll talk more about the panels in the details section of the article.
This is the cable management side of the chassis. Phanteks opted to black-out most of the glass, so you only have the SSD drive bays visible. I really like this feature, as it hides all the cables and you still have that sleek glass to gaze upon.
On the flip-side of the chassis, this panel is clear, so you can easily see inside the case to see all your hardware.
The top of the case is interesting. It’s held in place with metal tabs in slots and secured with a thumb screw on the back. You can easily remove the panel to gain access to the fan mounting tray by removing the thumb screw and sliding the panel to the rear and lifting up.
On the bottom of the TG Edition we have rubberized feet that grip very well. The PSU fan filter slides out of the rear of the chassis for easy cleaning.
Below is a shot to better illustrate how clear the side glass panel is. The tempered glass panel is held closed by a couple of magnets and the edge of the chassis is lined with foam to protect the glass from hitting any metal parts. The doors do tend to open very easily though with this design, so caution is advised when moving the case.
Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG Edition Detailed Features
Let’s move on to some more of the detailed features of the Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG Edition.
Below is what you get inside the parts box. We have a manual that is very well done with nice glossy pages. You’ll also get a metal case badge with Phanteks logo on it, some zip ties, water pump mount, and a box of screws in a nice plastic container to keep them all orginized.
Under the front panel cover you can see the 2 USB 3.0 ports, headphone and mic jacks, and the LED button, which also has an HDD indicator light surrounding it. Odd location of the HDD indicator light considering most will leave this panel closed unless they actively use any of the connectors on the front of the case.
This is a shot with the front panel removed giving you access to the generous front fan mounting assembly. You can see Phanteks included 140mm fan already pre-installed.
Below and to the right of the picture you can see a tiny LED. This is an RGB LED and the color can be selected using the button at the top of the case cycling through 1 of 7 colors.
The difference between the TG Edition and mATX chassis is the I/O has been moved from the side of the case to the front panel on the TG Edition.
Here is a look at the front panel when removed from the chassis. It is held in place with metal pins that feel very sturdy. This gives me hope that it will last through many removals, since getting to the dust filter requires this panel to be removed.
At the bottom of the front panel you’ll notice this odd white metal bracket. This bracket directs the LED light so it can shine through at the front of the panel. It’s a bit of an odd design, but works and it’s understated on the front of the panel as to not be annoying and take away from the rest of the aesthetics of the case.
There is another notable change from the mATX to the TG Edition with the front panel fan layout. The mATX version had a pre-installed 200mm fan and could only accommodate up to a 280mm radiator, while the TG Edition can now handle a 360mm radiator setup.
You might also notice this leaves no room for an optical drive. This is becoming more and more common as thumb drives are cheap and people download or stream most of their content / software these days, all of which are usually much faster than optical drives, making them almost obsolete for modern PCs.
The top of the case has enough space to mount a 240mm or 280mm water cooling radiator, or just extra fans for more cooling options. The nice thing about this mounting area is that it’s offset giving you plenty of space to the motherboard, keeping those VRM heat sinks out of the way of most radiators or AIO water coolers you might install.
Toward the front, you’ll notice all the wiring for the power/LED system. I was not able to take advantage of the LED system since I do not own a compatible motherboard, so I’ll have to assume this function works as advertised with a compatible motherboard from Asus or MSI.
We have a look at the top panel after it’s been removed from the chassis. The power button is held in place with 2 screws, while the panel mounting is accomplished with metal pins that slide into slots on the chassis. You’ll also notice meshed vents that should allow enough venting for any fans in the top of the case.
Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG Edition Details Continued
Moving into the cable management area of the TG Edition we have very good options for cable management, including 4 pre-installed Phanteks velcro straps to help keep the mess of wires in check.
Cable grommets in this case are thick and stiff, so they won’t easily pop out of their grooves. Also, there is enough tie-down points to help keep things flowing nicely.
The LED system is powered by a SSD cable, which is nice to avoid using unnecessary use of Molex connectors to keep that cable count down.
Lastly, we have the drive mounting locations. There are 2 SSD mounts on the motherboard tray itself, and 2 3.5/2.5 tool-less mounting sleds at the bottom front of the chassis.
One thing left out on the TG Edition compared to the mATX version is the included PWM fan hub. Phanteks sells this as an option, but I would of liked to see it included, as this would of helped me out when hooking the fans up (more about this in the system build section).
Inside the case we have a partial PSU mount shroud that allows a partial view of your PSU. I’d rather have a full shroud myself, or not at all, but that’s just personal taste.
On top of the PSU shroud we have some venting holes and a removable plate, to allow room for a custom water cooler, pump and reservoir, but you lose out on the 2 HDD trays to make room for them. A gripe I have about this arrangement is Phanteks missed out on adding a grommet for PCI-E power cables for GPUs. This feature would of made cable management just a bit easier and cleaner looking.
One note about the PSU area, there is a optional plate hidden behind the shroud that will need to be removed if you use a longer PSU. Clearance is 8.5 in. but I would recommend using as small of a PSU as possible, specially if it’s a modular design to give you extra clearance for your cables.
Another notable feature that is missing in the TG Edition versus the mATX chassis is the HDD mounting plate. This mounting plate allowed you to attach either 2 SSD drives or 1 HDD drive, and also had mounts for water pumps or reservoirs. I’m not sure why this option was removed as it added more drive mounting options and appears to make water cooling easier to install. At this point, it looks as if you would need a pump/reservoir combo to mount a custom loop and radiator in the front of the case, since it only has the pump mount bracket included with the TG Edition, and I’m not certain if the HDD mounting plate from the mATX chassis is sold for the TG Edition.
Below is a close up look of the tool-less HDD drive mount. Phanteks has a simple swing arm design that you open and drop the HDD into the tray, align the screw holes, then simply close the arms into place.
The PSU dust filter is has a nice dense mesh that should keep out bigger pieces of dust and lint. It slides into the back side of the chassis and locks into place.
Here is a shot of the front panel dust filter. It has a pass-through for the LED on the front of the case and snaps into place on plastic pins. It seems sturdy enough, but time will only tell how long those pins will last after quite a few cleanings.
Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX System Build
Building with the Panteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG Edition case was a breeze for the most part. Usually small form factor cases give me fits when trying to build in them because everything is cramped. Not so with the TG Edtion. Even with my big hands I didn’t have any issues building in this case.
One minor gripe I have is with the tempered glass panels. With them being hinged and only held closed with magnets, they tend to flop open at a whim while moving the case around to build in. I would suggest removing the panels while building by removing the 4 screws attached to the back of the chassis. I didn’t do this, and wish I had. I came close to smashing the panels a couple of times on components laying on the table as I worked on building in this case.
Test System
Before I list the specs here, I just want to point out this is an older system. I do not have any mATX motherboards I personally own. I decided I would give this case to my mother for her birthday, since she has an older system with an mATX motherboard. We do, however, plan to upgrade her PC soon, so no worries the case won’t be going to waste!
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Motherboard: Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM3)
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System Memory: 3GB 1×1, 512×512, DDR-2 533
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Processor: AMD Athlon 64×2 4200+ 2.2Ghz
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Audio: Onboard
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Video: Onboard
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Disk Drive 1: WD Caviar Blue SATA 2 500GB
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Disk Drive 2: Seagate Barracuda ATA/100 160GB
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Enclosure: Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG Edition
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PSU: Rosewill Capstone 450-M Gold PSU
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Operating System: Win7 64-bit
Results
Without a GPU installed in this build we have a clear view of just how much room there is in this case. There is plenty of room for a nice water cooling unit at the top or front of the case. The cables are kept decently hidden, with the exception of the fat IDE cable, but anyone building a new PC won’t be dealing with those old cables.
I installed a couple of Antec 120mm fans from the case I pulled this system out of because the motherboard only has a CPU and Sysfan headers so the included 140mm front fan had to go. The Antec fans have built in speed switches and use Molex connectors to power them, so I was ok with the trade-off.
As usual, my cable management looks like it was handled by a rabid hamster. That IDE cable definitely does not help matters any, but this is what I had to work with.
All the other cables were tucked nicely away, and it’s a good thing too, because you have 1 inch of space to work with and if you don’t manage your cables well, the side panel door can’t be forced closed, since it’s only held closed by magnets.
mATX Case Final Thoughts
Phanteks did a great job with the Enthoo EVOLV mATX Tempered Glass Edition case. It brings their product stack in line with their other tempered glass case offerings, and is different enough from their mATX edition case to warrant the changes.
One gripe I really have with this case is the tempered glass panels. Since they are just held closed with magnets they can open easily. I would of liked to see Phanteks implement some kind of open hinge design to allow them to be removed easily while installing so they don’t get in the way, and have some kind of latch system to make sure they stay closed if you need to move your computer around.
Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX Conclusion
Phanteks has done a great job with this case. It’s built solidly. Even the mounting pins being metal is a step above most other cases I have reviewed before. This gives me hope nothing is going to break, and Phanteks must be confident as well, since they have a 5 year warranty on this product. You don’t see that very often for PC cases. Usually you get a 1 or 2 year warranty and that is. This is commitment to the consumer and Phanteks quality making this case a good contender if you are in the market for a mATX case.
Performance of the Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG Edition is outstanding. The only gripe I had was with the glass panels while building and it wasn’t that huge of a problem, just more of a minor annoyance than anything. Phanteks could make a minor change at some point to the hinge system to improve this down the road, so hopefully they’ll listen to feedback on this.
Appearance of the TG Edition is sleek and modern. Nothing too blingy and shiny to detract from it’s simple but pleasing aesthetics. I absolutely love the Enthoo design no matter what form factor of the case. Phanteks really came up with a good looking chassis design!
Construction is of top notch quality. From the thick aluminum plates to the metal pins used to mount the top and front panels, Phanteks really took the time to engineer this case to last.
Functionality is just about perfect. Other than the PSU mounting plate not having grommet pass-through for the PCI-E power cables. But that’s only a minor issue. For some it might be a deal breaker.
Value of the TG Edition is speculative at this point. Phanteks has set the MSRP of $129.99 (Amazon | Newegg) at the time of this writing. If you compare that price to the mATX chassis retailing for the same price on Newegg, I would say it’s a good value, considering you get tempered glass panels at no extra cost, but you do lose out on the included PWM fan hub, which isn’t a bad trade-off in my opinion.
Despite the negatives (which are very minor), I would recommend this case to anyone looking to build an HTPC or mATX gaming PC with a single GPU. The TG Edition has some serious cooling options and is wide enough to handle most fan load-outs of mid tower ATX chassis while keeping a bit smaller of a foot print on your desk.
Pros:
+ Solid construction
+ Sleek aesthetics
+ Water cooling options
+ Plenty of space to build in
Cons:
– No optical drive bay
– Limited HDD space
– Glass panels open easily
– No PCI-E pass-through on PSU shroud
Ratings:
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Performance: 9.5
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Appearance: 10
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Construction: 9.5
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Functionality: 9.0
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Value: 8.75
