NZXT Phantom, any good?
- Thread starter FragTek
- Start date
After being shown that Fractal R3 and XL I really kind of have my heart set on one of the two now. Probably going to be the R3 since the XL's are non existent in the USA right now.
That's if I decide to buy a new case at all, still trying to sort out funds.
As an alternative to the Phantom, Corsair has been making some great cases too. Not too expensive, but the build quality is all there. I think the Carbide series isn't bad for a medium sized case that won't break your wallet either.
Cool. R3 would most likely be a better choice unless you really need all the extra hard drive space at the bottom also. 8 is more than enough?
Definitely waiting for the USB 3.0 version of the R3 to arrive in the North American market.
ruthless_villain
New member
As an alternative to the Phantom, Corsair has been making some great cases too. Not too expensive, but the build quality is all there. I think the Carbide series isn't bad for a medium sized case that won't break your wallet either.
Cool. R3 would most likely be a better choice unless you really need all the extra hard drive space at the bottom also. 8 is more than enough?
Definitely waiting for the USB 3.0 version of the R3 to arrive in the North American market.
yeah the 400/500r look awesome but the 650d is awesome too imo, haf 932 and haf x look good and the 600t of course the cm 690 ii advanced is awesome and affordable
FragTek
New member
As an alternative to the Phantom, Corsair has been making some great cases too. Not too expensive, but the build quality is all there. I think the Carbide series isn't bad for a medium sized case that won't break your wallet either.
Cool. R3 would most likely be a better choice unless you really need all the extra hard drive space at the bottom also. 8 is more than enough?
Definitely waiting for the USB 3.0 version of the R3 to arrive in the North American market.
Yeah the R3 should be plenty. I am a hard drive whore, but not so bad that I need PCI SATA riser cards, hahaha.
peircevongoth12
New member
You won't be disappointed by Fractal. Still sucks that the only XLs in North America are in Canada and way over priced.
FragTek
New member
Agreed Peirce.
Ok so let's look at the best fan setup for the R3 given the fans that I currently have and not spending any extra on more fans.
So the R3 comes with one exhaust and one intake.
Fans I have here on hand are 2 x 120mm 133CFM Ultra Kaze (38mm), 3 x 120mm 110CFM Slipstreams, 1 x 120mm CM 85CFM.
I'm thinking 2 x Slipstreams for font intake. 1 x Ultra Kaze rear exhaust. 1 x Slipstream bottom intake (if it will fit with my PSU). Leave both top fan slots padded or replace one of the slots with one of the factory fans as exhaust. This should give me a bit of positive pressure to keep the dust out and the Ultra Kaze can kick out the heat off of the Silver Arrow, the rest can be pushed out thrpugh the vid cards and rear case vents.
Sound like a kosher cooling setup?
Ok so let's look at the best fan setup for the R3 given the fans that I currently have and not spending any extra on more fans.
So the R3 comes with one exhaust and one intake.
Fans I have here on hand are 2 x 120mm 133CFM Ultra Kaze (38mm), 3 x 120mm 110CFM Slipstreams, 1 x 120mm CM 85CFM.
I'm thinking 2 x Slipstreams for font intake. 1 x Ultra Kaze rear exhaust. 1 x Slipstream bottom intake (if it will fit with my PSU). Leave both top fan slots padded or replace one of the slots with one of the factory fans as exhaust. This should give me a bit of positive pressure to keep the dust out and the Ultra Kaze can kick out the heat off of the Silver Arrow, the rest can be pushed out thrpugh the vid cards and rear case vents.
Sound like a kosher cooling setup?
peircevongoth12
New member
I would forget the bottom fan and maybe go top back to help pull heat out from CPU cooler. Should be easy enough to mount the cover you remove from top over the bottom fan port to prevent extra dust intake.
Agreed. 2 in the front and 2 in the back is plenty enough. This kind of balances out the flow of intake and exhaust. The Ultra Kaze is pretty noisey, so I'm guessing the included expansion slot fan controller will be quiet useful just for the rear fans then?
Gelid fans are also very good too.
Shift87
New member
I just recently got a phantom and I agree with the most of that. I like the case but it does have its draw backs. The grommets, optical and hdd bay pins come out way to easy. The locks on mine don't actually lock on two of them they can still be opened when locked. That and the side panels bend very easy. I had one fall not 2 feet and it bent at the bottom, though that is more so carelessness on my part. Also if you get any colour but white expect a million finger prints all the time. All that said though I still do like the case for its looks and I find of the most recent rigs I've built it is actually the coolest running.
The last few rigs ive done have been mine in a Phantom, a rig in a 800D, a friends in a Define XL and another friends in an R3 (He really like the XL but not the size or weight of it). Of the three under $200 the R3 was my favourite. Almost all the features of the XL without weighing 40lbs empty. The XL it is abit of a hot box I've noticed, the R3 and the Phantom both have better temps. Could be choices of cooling options though.
to cocacola I'm also in the Vancouver area
sheroo
New member
I'm surprised at that. I thought that if you removed the top drive cage and had the 140mm fan blowing air over the gpu & a 120mm mounted in the top 3 bays for the cpu then it would run pretty cool? I'm sceptical as to how good the top 180mm fan is but still surprised that you think its a "hot box".
FragTek
New member
Agreed. 2 in the front and 2 in the back is plenty enough. This kind of balances out the flow of intake and exhaust. The Ultra Kaze is pretty noisey, so I'm guessing the included expansion slot fan controller will be quiet useful just for the rear fans then?
Gelid fans are also very good too.
I forgot to mention noise is of no concern to me, the Ultra is a noisy fan but it won't be on a controller. Full bore all the time.
I really want to combat dust this go around so I want to make sure that the fan setup I choose creates a slight positive pressure.
peircevongoth12
New member
Must of been your cooling options, cause my XL is anything but a "hot box"
I forgot to mention noise is of no concern to me, the Ultra is a noisy fan but it won't be on a controller. Full bore all the time.I guess you could call it one of the few positives of having severe hearing loss? lol.
I really want to combat dust this go around so I want to make sure that the fan setup I choose creates a slight positive pressure.
If your going for positive pressure you might need to go with the bottom intake fan.
I forgot to mention noise is of no concern to me, the Ultra is a noisy fan but it won't be on a controller. Full bore all the time.I guess you could call it one of the few positives of having severe hearing loss? lol.
I really want to combat dust this go around so I want to make sure that the fan setup I choose creates a slight positive pressure.
You've mentioned that a few times. I guess I've got hearing problems too.
Yup, Silverstone Air Penetrators for the 2 front intakes will give you a decent amount of positive pressure. The other 2 fans at the back, 12cm and a 14cm, should have similar or the same fan speeds. That way, you'll have plenty of air pushed out the back as well. 4 fans total won't have a problem keeping your system cool, unless your graphics gets really really hot. Otherwise, you probably won't need a 2nd fan at the top or the fan at the bottom of the case.
You don't have to worry about the hard drive cage being in the way of air being pushed through. I've tested it with both Noctuas and the Air Penetrators. They are both sufficient for cooling your components.
Or, you can go crazy by fitting all the fan mounts with Ultra Kazes.....system turns into a fighter jet.
FragTek
New member
I just don't feel like dropping any more money on fans, being a cheapskate and already having some brand new Scythe's laying around.
I'm thinking 3 x Slipstreams for intake (2 front, 1 bottom) for a total of 330cfm intake. Exhaust would be 1 x UK (rear) and 2 x 140mm's (roof) for a total of ~257cfm exhaust.
That's a nice little bit of positive pressure to keep the dust out while keeping a butt-ton of air flowing through the case.
I'm thinking 3 x Slipstreams for intake (2 front, 1 bottom) for a total of 330cfm intake. Exhaust would be 1 x UK (rear) and 2 x 140mm's (roof) for a total of ~257cfm exhaust.
That's a nice little bit of positive pressure to keep the dust out while keeping a butt-ton of air flowing through the case.
Shift87
New member
At the time the case has all the stock cooling options and we found it runs from 4-7 degrees warmer at idle and under load its between 10-12 degrees warmer then both mine and the R3. I think its a mix of the sound deadening not enough airflow and both a cpu and 2 gpus that all run fairly warm, in this circumstance it is a very warm case. Also I'm not sure about the top 180mm exhaust fan as it doesn't seem to move enough air to exhaust much. Maybe with changes to his fan setup my opinion on it will change.
An R3 with the fans you would be using would be excellent for cooling and work pretty well as a space heater as well moving that much hot air out.
I just don't feel like dropping any more money on fans, being a cheapskate and already having some brand new Scythe's laying around.
I'm thinking 3 x Slipstreams for intake (2 front, 1 bottom) for a total of 330cfm intake. Exhaust would be 1 x UK (rear) and 2 x 140mm's (roof) for a total of ~257cfm exhaust.
That's a nice little bit of positive pressure to keep the dust out while keeping a butt-ton of air flowing through the case.
Fully loaded with fans. Your system will be on constant afterburners. Awesome!
Will you be planning on the black R3? If you're not concerned about noise at all, you can also take a look at Fractal's Arc Midi case. That case offers more fan options and a similar internal design as the R3.
Shift87
New member
I think the XL works better as a server case. It's definitely going to be much warmer with 2 video cards in there. The noise absorption materials shouldn't be a big impact on higher temps. There's adequate room for all the fans to breathe. That 180mm fan at the top will bring the heated air out slower since the orientation of it isn't directly blowing it out from vents. The warm air gets pushed out through a gap and then through the vents. I recall that there's an extra 120mm fan space in the front mounted right in the optical bays. So you get about 6 fans total in the case?
Yeah, having just the stock fans (3 included fans) may be a bit harsh on the cooling as the stock fans are low speed fans. They're great for a quiet system though.
