CORSAIR Carbide SPEC-06 RGB Case Debuts CORSAIR®, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today unveiled the latest addition to its Carbide Series of enthusiast PC cases, the CORSAIR Carbide Series SPEC-06 RGB. A tempered glass side panel and RGB-lit front panel showcase and highlight your build, while Direct Airflow Path™ design delivers cool air to the […]
SilentiumPC Armis AR7 TG RGB Case Debuts Introducing the new mid-range chassis from SilentiumPC, the Armis AR7. Available with traditional all-black, solid panel or tempered-glass window, packed with RGB lights. This roomy full-tower cleverly blends minimalistic styling with performance features. With cooling being a major focus the front vents were specifically designed to provide high-volume, non-restrictive airflow, comparable to fully […]
Fractal Design Meshify C White TG Case Available Meshify strikes an aggressive pose in the Fractal Design lineup with unparalleled cooling performance and a defiant new look. Like diamond facets, the angular asymmetry of the Meshify C carves a space uniquely its own as a new dominant force in high-airflow design. Tempered glass completes the distinct, stealth-inspired aesthetic with exceptional […]
Thermaltake Core P90 Tempered Glass Mid-Tower Announced Truly Revolutionary System Display Thermaltake once again surprises the casemod and DIY community with the new Core P90 Tempered Glass Edition Mid-tower Chassis. The new member boasts a unique chassis design that divides the case into three compartments for graphic card, PSU and other cooling components. The triangular corners and two 5mm thick […]
The Define series is best known for quality construction that features customization, sound-dampening, and enthusiast level cooling options. Three years ago we awarded the Define R5 a strong 9.5 out of 10. What has Fractal done to improve and remain relevant as we head into 2018? In this article for Benchmark Reviews, I take a closer at the Fractal Design Define R6 Tempered Glass mid-tower computer case, detailing the latest features.
The premium Enthoo-series mini-ITX case developed as “Project 217” has a new name: the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv Shift X. Initially announced during CES 2017, the pair of small form factor computer cases have finally made their retail appearance in October 2017. Part of the Enthoo Evolv series, the Shift X showcases many of the same design elements in a fresh new form factor. Benchmark Reviews has been given the opportunity to take a closer look at the larger Shift X (Model PH-ES217XE_AG) – with room for custom cooling loops, 280mm radiators, high-end graphics cards and the looks to match, will the Shift X find a spot in your next build? Let’s take a look.
Tempered glass is all the rage right now in the custom PC market. As a result, many case makers are releasing new designs with tempered glass in an attempt to cash in. But tempered glass is often more expensive than options such as plastic. Seeing this, In Win has released the 301 mini tower, a smaller mATX version of their successful 303 chassis design. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we’ll take a closer at the In Win 301 SECC Tempered Glass Micro-ATX Mini Tower Computer Case, detailing the features included in this design, before delivering my final recommendation.
Available in matte white or matte black (each with or without an acrylic window), the Bitfenix Portal utilizes a dual frame and rail system to house enough components to power most single-GPU gaming rigs. Benchmark Reviews has the opportunity to test the new Bitfenix Portal (model BFC-POT-150-WKWKK-RP) – let’s see what it can do.
About a year ago, we reviewed the Phanteks Eclipse P400S case, an outstanding budget oriented computer case built for both beginners and enthusiasts. With the release of the Eclipse P400S Tempered Glass Edition, it shares many of the essential features carried over from its predecessor. Users can now game in style with a tempered glass side panel along with an RGB LED strip included in the box. The Eclipse P400 series comes in many different varieties. Benchmark Reviews will be taking a look at the Eclipse P400S Tempered Glass Special Edition in red and black, so let’s go over an overview in the next section.
The Phanteks Evolv Tempered Glass Case is the newest addition to the Enthoo series offered by Phanteks. This mid-tower case sports tempered glass side panels, a modular design, and an abundance of water cooling support. The Evolv Tempered Glass also features filtered ventilation, expandable RGB lighting, modular HDD/SSD options, PWM fan hub and three Phanteks Ph-F140SP 140mm fans pre-installed (two in the front, one in the rear).
Unlike it’s predecessors in the Z-series line, the Z9 Neo comes with a full length front panel door. Now if your old school, as I am, you probably shutter at the mere mention of a computer case having a door. But over the years, especially with the rise in digital mediums and digital distribution, I find myself using 5.25″ drives less and less. So cases with doors have become attractive again, as they are pleasing to the eye and still offer the option of having a couple of 5.25″ bay devices at your disposal. In this article, Benchmark Reviews dives in deep to determine if this case is a worthy contender for your money.
The NZXT Manta computer case makes a great case for a water cooled mini-ITX gaming system. With enough room for two 280mm radiators at the top and the front, users can expect exceptional airflow thanks to its water cooling capabilities. NZXT’s new manufacturing process allows for the creation of curved panels, giving the user more work room for cable management while maintaining a sturdy construction all around. A 3.5″ HDD can also be installed behind the motherboard tray without worrying about it making contact with the curved side panels. The Manta mini-ITX can support any standard size ATX power supply unit with enough room for a single 3.5″ HDD in the power supply chamber. Benchmark Reviews is happy to review the NZXT Manta mini-ITX case in white. Let’s go over a quick overview of what this mini-ITX case has to offer.
The Phanteks Eclipse P400S is aimed towards people who are looking at building their first PC in a simple yet beautiful ATX chassis. It includes a large side panel window, RGB capable LED lighting, a fan controller, and sound dampening material on both side panels, the top ventilation covers, and the front panel to keep the system running as quiet as possible. The Eclipse P400S comes with two 120mm fans; one pre-installed at the rear and the other pre-installed at the front. Water cooling is possible with support for a 240mm, 280mm, or a 360mm radiator at the front of the case. It comes in three color variants: Satin Black, Anthracite Grey and Glacier White. Here at Benchmark Reviews, we will be taking a look at the Eclipse P400S in Satin Black. Let’s run through a quick overview of what this case has to offer.
The Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ATX is a beautiful aluminum case with lots of water cooling flexibility. It includes great features like the innovated radiator bracket, support for Phanteks modular 3.5″ HDD brackets, and swivel side panels to complement the elegant 3mm thick aluminum exterior. The interior frame looks almost identical to the Enthoo Pro M due to the 2.5″ drop-N-lock mounts behind the motherboard tray and on the power supply chamber and the lack of interior HDD cages. Built specifically to target water cooling enthusiasts, the top and front of the case can support up to a 360mm or a 280mm radiator with plenty of space for a large reservoir. At Benchmark Reviews, we will be taking a look at the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ATX case in Galaxy Silver. Let’s go ahead and go through a quick overview of the case.
The RAVEN line, SilverStone’s iconic and innovative line of gaming PC chassis, has become a staple in the gaming community for many years. Featuring unique designs, clean lines, and tough aluminum construction. RAVEN designers are expanding their approach to gaming in the SFF (Small Form Factor) market with the new RVZ02B-W. The -W stands for Window, as the regular RVZ02B only has black filters in place of clear vented windows. The RVZ02B-W is a Mini-ITX case that features a super slim design, and the ability to utilize full sized graphics cards.
The Phanteks Enthoo Pro M has a few similarities from both the Enthoo Pro and the Evolv ATX case but in a mid-tower form factor. The front of the case includes just one 5.25″ ODD bay and a large air intake similar to the Enthoo Pro. The interior frame looks almost identical to the Evolv ATX due to the 2.5″ drop-N-lock mounts and the lack of interior HDD bays. Built specifically to target water cooling enthusiasts, the top and front of the case can support up to a 360mm or a 280mm radiator with plenty of space for a large reservoir.
The NZXT Noctis 450 styling on the outside has undergone a major face lift. The Noctis 450 has taken a bit of the popular Phantom series styling queues and wrapped them around the Noctis 450 chassis, creating an attractive looking case. According to NZXT the Noctis 450 allows the case to have 10 times the ventilation surface with the use of floating plastic panels compared to the H440. The Noctis 450 isn’t just about style, but form with function.
The Fractal Design Core 2500 is in the sub-100 dollar category, which has some really heated competition at the moment. Computer cases are becoming less expensive, while adding more features. I’m going to put the Fractal Design Core 2500 through it’s paces in this article for Benchmark Reviews, and see how it stacks up to the competition.
SilverStone brings us the Precision Series PS11B-Q ATX case for the budget minded or entry level enthusiast. The Precision Series includes two variants, the PS11B-Q and the PS11B-W. This review will focus on the SilverStone PS11B-Q, which is the silent version of the Precision series.
The SilverStone PS11B-W is a versatile entry level enthusiast case, featuring bottom-mount PSU, USB 3.0, variable size fan mounts and locations, a variety of hard drive mount options, and space enough for the most gigantic of graphics cards on the market. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, I’ll be putting the SilverStone PS11B-W to the test. Can the SST-PS11B-W deliver on all it’s promises? Let’s find out.
Like many other popular Micro-ATX cases, Raidmax has opted for a dual chamber design. However, note that this is not as wide as others like the Fractal Design Node 804, but still manages to fit plenty of fans, 3.5″ and 2.5″ drives, and they even added a 5.25″ bay. The case is not exactly eye candy, however many HTPC users will find that the overall design is not flashy, but rather elegant and simple. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Raidmax Hyperion Micro-ATX computer case.
The Core series by Thermaltake launched with the E-ATX full tower Core V71 last year. Since then, Thermaltake has expanded into the mid-tower (V31, V41, V51) and mini-ITX (V1) form factors. The Core V21 that Benchmark Reviews will take a look at today rounds out Thermaltake’s lineup with their first micro-ATX Core offering. At first glance, the Core V21 shares many design similarities with the other Core chassis. As is true with many things in life, looks can be deceiving as the V21 is the first Core chassis to officially offer a multitude of motherboard orientations. While it arrives in stock format with a horizontal motherboard layout, it can be transformed in a matter of seconds to a traditional or inverted layout. We’ll see how this works as we build a system inside the Core V21 over the next few pages.
The Silencio series cases from Cooler Master are built for silent operation with sound dampening materials to help eliminate noise while maintaining excellent cooling performance with quiet fans. These cases feature elegant looks along with minimalist aesthetics to complement the silent design. Since the release of the Silencio 652, users wanted something quieter while keeping the same body design. Now, Cooler Master has released the Silencio 652S. Instead of a single 180mm front intake fan, they replaced it with three of their new Silencio FP-120mm fans that run at 1200+200RPM at just 11db; two of which are at the front and one at the rear. Everything else stayed the same, such as the front and top I/O ports, the removable cover for the side vent, and the overall body itself. Let’s jump into the features and specifications of the Cooler Master Silencio 652S.
It looks like BitFenix are at it again. Fresh off the manufacturing line, Benchmark Reviews has received something a bit different from the company known for cases like the Colossus, Shinobi and Prodigy. As their first case with aluminum panels the slim micro-ATX Pandora brings a sense of style that is a significant departure from some of their recent enclosures. Available in black or silver, with or without a window, and in Core or ICON versions (which contain a 2.4″ LCD display in the front panel) fans of the micro-ATX form factor will have quite a few possibilities to choose from. For those that are looking for something a little more elegant without sacrificing a large footprint, the Pandora may be just the thing. Are there any compromises made to keep this case slim? Let’s dig in and take a look.
Razer, creator of all things peripheral, has finally released their hotly anticipated entry into the chassis market. This is the NZXT H440 – Designed by Razer. With a completely new appearance featuring a matte black exterior and interior, four black NZXT fans, a large tinted window, and plenty of LED lighting, this chassis will be sure to make every Razer fan’s wish list, especially given that it retains the original H440 quality and simplicity.