Torn between bitfenix colossus and nzxt phantom

H

heartspains88

New member
Friend/Roommate has the NZXT phantom, and I love the case, airflow is insane, and I've seen it in practice. Worked in it, and know I would be happy with it.

Tired of fighting with cable management in my coolermaster cosmos, and airflow just isn't what I would like it to be. Not without hard modding anyways.

However I'm torn, as I've always been eyeballing the bitfenix colossus.

The selling factor for me, would be can either of these easily, or at all have a side fan with the noctua NH-D14 installed?

I've read that you have a few options with the NZXT.. Thermaltake actually makes a 230x230x20mm fan, which will fit with minimal effort. Or you can put four 120mmx20mm fans in a 4x4 in the 230mm area.

I've seen the post here of the gentlemen who was using a 200x200x20mm fan with rubber mounts and it did not hit his noctua.

May not have been aware of the thermaltake or maybe it wasn't sold separately at the time.

The fan I'm referring to is this: http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1441&ID=1955#Tab1

~I hate LED's but I can always cut those
wink.gif


So if my research is true, which I believe it is.. I'm actually already sold on the NZXT as I've worked in it, and have seen it in practice.

Yet I cant help but look at the bitfenix colossus in all it's glory.

Anyone have anything to contribute to my thoughts?
 
BitFenix Colossus: Dimensions (WxHxD) 245mm x 558mm x 582 mm

NZXT Phantom: Dimensions (WxHxD) 222mm x 623mm x 541mm

The Colossus is bigger in terms of Width-by 23mm, so it should fit with side fans.

Airflow in the Colossus isn't as good as in the Phantom (at least with the front door closed), but you can get 2x 120mm fans on the side.

I'm buying the Colossus Window (Blue/White), not putting side fans in, replacing all default fans with Noctua ones.
 
So theoretically the bit fenix out of the box should fit standard side fans.

However do you know if my methodology is correct with the nzxt?

I would assume based on the post i saw here of the gentleman using the 200x200x20mm fan and it fitting, would tell me I'm correct. Just wanted confirmation if at all possible.
 
I'm not the one to confirm really :S , will look for that pic, find name/model and then you got dimensions. So you know what kind of depth the fan needs to be.
 
If its purely airflow, then the Phantom is going to come up trumps, the Colossus only has a 140mm side intake on the Windowed versions, while the Phantom has a 230mm or 4x 120mm fan capability on the side, so...

But the Colossus looks like a better case. That's why I chose it. Looks better too imo.
 
A.C makes such a difference. Especially to the comfort of the room itself. I have a conservatory about 9mx7m, it used to be a sauna in the summer, got the A/C installed, its a very nice room to be in now.

If airflow is going to be the deciding factor, I think the Phantom wins that. The Colossus has much better airflow if you open the door but that's slightly impractical. You have a 230mm front intake, 140mm bottom intake, a 230mm/2x140mm exhaust at the top and a 140mm exhaust at the back. You only get 2x230mm fans supplied.

Phantom has a front 140mm, rear 120mm, 2x 120mm on the side (bottom), 200/230/2x120mm fans on the side (middle), and 2x200mm at the top. So if you fully kitted out both, its clear the Phantom will have better airflow, using front/sides as intake, the top/rear as exhaust.
 
steve30x said:
Many good reviews would disagree including Tiny Tom Logan's review.
Click to expand...

well have you ever owned one? the side panels bend and scratch paint easily the drive bay locks brake, even the fans die sooner or later, the led button breaks i can go on for a while, the HDD caddys begin to bend this all comes from extended use not from a 35 minute review
 
ruthless_villain said:
well have you ever owned one? the side panels bend and scratch paint easily the drive bay locks brake, even the fans die sooner or later, the led button breaks i can go on for a while, the HDD caddys begin to bend this all comes from extended use not from a 35 minute review
Click to expand...

Of course I have owned one. I am after owning every case that was ever made. Didnt you know that
rolleyes.gif


Hell my 800D got great reviews , but its a lot worse than the antec P190 I had> The only reason I changed the P190 is because the motherboard area was cramped. Also I have my 800D since september last year and some of the paint is after flaking off on the top edge already.
 
steve30x said:
Of course I have owned one. I am after owning every case that was ever made. Didnt you know that
rolleyes.gif


Hell my 800D got great reviews , but its a lot worse than the antec P190 I had> The only reason I changed the P190 is because the motherboard area was cramped. Also I have my 800D since september last year and some of the paint is after flaking off on the top edge already.
Click to expand...

i had my phantom for.... 3 months + the 800/700D screams quality, just the side panel is almost as heavy as the phantom
biggrin.gif
 
Phantom is about 11kg.

Normal Colossus is 18kg or so.

Windowed Colossus is 10.8kg.

But the Colossus is made of better materials than the Phantom that is for sure.

Anyway, airflow only-Phantom, anything else-Colossus. Except WC.
 
I'll end up going with the phantom in a few weeks.

First step is AC unit which I'm getting tomorrow.

It's started getting hot, and yesterday my gpu hit 65c under load. Not even close to threshhold, but I know it's only going to get hotter.. outside and inside.
 
Got my AC installed today, that alone dropped my ambient temps so much (obviously), and my PC on average by over 10C..

End result, I may not require a new case afterall.. As I do love the look and feel of my Cooler Master Cosmos 1000. Anyone who's seen the case in person knows it's quality.

I've come to a pretty decent balance with airflow and cable management. I would like to upgrade but as it's not really a huge need at this time I may hold off.
 
ruthless_villain said:
the 800/700D screams quality, just the side panel is almost as heavy as the phantom
biggrin.gif
Click to expand...
The 800D that I own screams bad quality to me. The air flow is terrible and the HDD's resonate the whole case. The only two good things about my 800D is the cable management and the size of it. Just because the case is heavy doesnt mean its a good case. I cant wait to change my case , but I have other commitments I have before I can change my case.
 
OK, so both the Phantom and 800D may have bad quality. OP has satisfied his needs I think with the AC, which makes a massive difference.

I'm going for Colossus Window myself
tongue.gif
 
With the AC and the additional changes I was going to throw at my Cooler Master Cosmos 1000, before I scrapped it, I really should be okay..

And aside from fighting with cable management I'm pretty attached to the sheer quality of the cooler master cosmos.

May be keeping it afterall.

That being said, I do live in a very hot house, in California.. So proper air flow is KEY.
 
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