Phanteks has put collectively a mighty sturdy proposition within the Phanteks Eclipse G400A. It is inexpensive, straightforward to construct into, and importantly comes with 4 massive followers for loads of airflow.
To provide the Eclipse G400A a correct check, I set about constructing an inexpensive PC inside it. Simpler mentioned than accomplished in right now’s financial system, however I nearly managed to get it accomplished for a cheap finances. You may learn all about that in our finances construct information, however I took away from that have a really optimistic outlook on every thing the Phanteks G400A has to supply.
The G400A’s body is machined effectively with few sharp edges and clear corners. The case I acquired had no seen marks on any of the panels, which you’d assume could be a given with a model new case, however scratches can and do occur in transit with poor packaging. There’s solely a small field of equipment included with the G400A, although Phanteks has been extraordinarily beneficiant by placing 30 zip-ties in there—depend ’em, 30! It additionally has the prerequisite screws for the motherboard, PSU, HDD, and a pair extras.
It is a equally priced unit, at $110/£85, to the Corsair Body 4000D with followers. Each have their professionals and cons. The Corsair is a better-looking case for my part, although it additionally has panel flex (which I am instructed may go away quickly as Corsair strikes to thicker steel). The Phanteks is constructed like a tank and has yet one more fan than Corsair they usually’re all of the bigger 140 mm selection.
Eclipse G400A specs
Kind issue: Mid-tower
Motherboard help: E-ATX (as much as 280 mm), ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Storage bays: 2x 2.5-inch, 2x 3.5-inch
Entrance IO: 2x USB Kind-A, 1x USB Kind-C, 3.5 mm, energy + reset
Fan help: 7x 120 mm/6x 140 mm
Radiator help: 360 mm max (high), 120 mm max (rear)
GPU clearance: 415 mm
Weight: 8.63 kg
Dimensions: 495 L x 230 W x 522 H mm
Value: $110/£85
The place this case actually shines as an inexpensive, virtually finances, chassis is in fan choice. There are 4 M25-140 Gen2 D-RGB followers included on the G400A. These will not be your primary case followers. Working example, a single fan would value you round £10 should you had been to purchase it individually. These are a few of Phantek’s newest, with sturdy stats and lit as much as the nines with RGB-lit blades and an infinity mirror impact on the central fan hub.
These followers are linked collectively utilizing a proprietary connector, which mixes PWM fan management and RGB management collectively. It is fairly straightforward to daisy chain extra of those followers collectively, terminating in the usual PWM and A-RGB headers utilizing an adapter cable, although you should not have to fret about that. The case comes pre-wired and able to go, and the 4 followers fill out the case with sufficient cooling that you simply should not have to fret about putting in any extra.
A mud filter covers the entrance of the case for all three followers. It has a comparatively small influence on the airflow by way of the entrance of the case when put in, nonetheless, as soon as mixed with the mesh entrance panel does stack as much as change into a bit extra of a hindrance. Utilizing an anemometer, I measured airflow to be at round 1.9 m/s with the mud filter and entrance panel fitted, 2.2 m/s with solely the mud filter, and a couple of.3 m/s with out both. That is greater than some I’ve examined, besides, I am not too frightened about airflow on this case with these three 140 mm followers loaded within the entrance.
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I opted for an air cooler for my check construct, Arctic’s Freezer 36, although you could possibly simply as simply match as much as a 360 mm radiator inside the highest of the Phanteks G400A, and with out transferring round any followers. The highest mesh panel pops off the case for simpler entry and there is simply sufficient room for the standard thickness radiator between it and the highest of the motherboard as soon as fitted. The Phanteks is kind of generously sized all-round at 495 L x 230 W x 522 H mm. It did not really feel fairly as spacious because the Be Quiet! Shadow Base 800 FX, nevertheless it’s as straightforward to construct into.
Alongside the underside of the case is a PSU shroud with loads of room for cables. The PSU sits within the rear and in entrance of it’s the storage bracket for any 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives you may need. I did not have any, which implies I may have eliminated this storage bracket fully if I wished to, however I had such a gluttony of room underneath the shroud that I left it in.
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The PSU shroud is the place Phantek’s sought to use the one dab of aptitude to all the construct, bar the RGB followers. There is a gentle strip that runs the size of the PSU shroud. It is subtle, which appears to be like so significantly better than a strip with apparent LEDs, and it is simply controllable in-line with the followers by way of the motherboard. In my case, by way of ASRock’s RGB software program.
The cable administration on the rear is an actual boon to the G400A, too. It is a good system that ditches the standard channels and ties for a velcro loop system. It sounds fairly pedestrian, however the way in which the velcro loops round makes it a lot simpler to string by way of new cables or take away it and substitute, with out undoing all of your arduous work cable managing. That is nice for newcomers, particularly should you’re susceptible to operating a couple of additional cables or remodeling your system to get it excellent.
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Purchase if…
✅ You need high airflow for much less: This case comes with 4 M25-140 Gen2 D-RGB followers, and should you ignore most of that identify, the essential bit is the ‘140’, for 140 mm. Meaning slower spinning followers, much less noise, however loads of airflow.
Do not buy if…
❌ You need the *aesthetic*: The G400A is a fairly standard-looking case. There’s an RGB gentle strip, positive, however in any other case it is one thing you stuff elements into and recreation on. No frills, no shiny glass field, each of which you could possibly get for slightly more cash.
My solely concern with the rear cable administration is that the right-most aspect of the chassis, historically the place your CPU energy cables go, solely presents a couple of tabs to loop a zip-tie round to safe any cables going that approach. Nevertheless it’s occasions like these the place it is essential to not neglect the 30 zip-ties included within the field of these within the field so you possibly can minimize and reconnect many occasions over with out operating out.
The G400A is actually not the flashiest case available on the market. You might spend an identical quantity on only a case, no followers, on the likes of the Phanteks Evolv X2 or Lian Li O11 Imaginative and prescient Compact. Each of that are a number of the best-looking glass bins round. However you will not fairly get the affordability of 4 140 mm followers included within the field, and that is what Phanteks has obtained completely proper with the G400A. It is a splendidly straightforward possibility for first-time consumers.
That is actually the strongest argument for the G400A: should you’re set to courageous your first PC construct ever (don’t fret, it is not that dangerous), it is a excellent selection. You may have all of the case cooling you want already wired up and able to go, there’s ample room for an influence provide and no tight connections or corners to work with within the uncommon prevalence it’s important to troubleshoot.