Phanteks EVOLV X review - Final Words & Conclusion

Final Words & Conclusion

The Phanteks Evolv X is a really good chassis with great looks. No revolutionary changes have been made to the external appearance (as they were not necessarily needed), apart from the LEDs added in the front and on the PSU shroud. However, what has really changed is the interior, especially on the “dark side”. The silver version of the Evolv X feels really premium with its aluminium look. The capabilities of this chassis should satisfy most customers. A GPU anti-sag bracket is provided as well. You can mount up to 420 mm radiators inside (in the front, whereas the maximum for the top is 360 mm), but if you prefer air cooling for the CPU, you’ll fit even a 190 mm one (nothing as high as that is currently available on the market). It’s possible to mount up to ten 3.5” and nine 2.5” drives (brackets for 4 and 6 respectively are included).  

Aesthetics

Looks are always a subjective matter. The design of the Evolv X will likely appeal to most customers. There are three color variants, and the reviewed silver one looks very elegant, for example. We found that the RGB application in the Evolv X has been done very well. The strip along the PSU shroud makes the interior more attractive, and the two front strips create a crisp effect. One small drawback is the lack of a removable plastic cover for the front part of the PSU shroud, but the cut-out in the side wall (to view the power supply unit) is a nice touch.

Features

The Evolv X provides a humongous amount of space for high-end components. The side panels open in a very convenient way, without the need to unscrew them. A PSU shroud is the standard for most cases nowadays, and it makes it easier to hide the wires coming out from the power supply unit. As for the PSU itself, installing it is simplified owing to a bracket that is inserted from the rear of the case. There is no length limit in a typical set-up (without additional HDD brackets). Dust filters are located at the bottom and in the front of the chassis. They’re easily removable. Even E-ATX form factor motherboards will fit. The cut-out for the cooler’s backplate is big, and there should be no interference in this respect during installation. The Evolv X will house air coolers of up to 190 mm in height. If you prefer liquid cooling, you can fit a combo of radiators of up to 420 + 360 mm. Graphics cards can measure up to 435 mm in length, or less with HDD cages installed, but you’re will likely want to hide your drives in the PSU shroud area anyway.

 The Verdict

Phanteks released a really good-looking chassis with the Evolv X. It’s definitely not a small one, but you need to keep in mind that it can fit E-ATX mainboards, 420 + 360 mm radiators, or 190 mm air coolers, and last but not least – up to 435 mm graphics cards. Even with the default storage setup, you can install four 3.5”/ six 2.5” drives. If you need more, you have to buy the additional brackets separately. This chassis is a pleasure to use; installing the components was very straightforward and quick. There is also a GPU anti-sag bracket included in the package, which can be helpful for the users of bigger air-cooled cards. The Evolv X delivers extraordinary performance with liquid cooling (AIO), keeping the noise levels in the top tier as well. With air cooling, it’s still good, but not outstanding. The combination of features and performance is well above the market average. You can’t forget about the front I/O panel, which is located conveniently (on the front, not on the top) even if you put the chassis on your desk. Among the other, standard ports, you’ll find a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C connector, which is not something that many other cases can boast. The right side of the chassis behind the motherboard tray has a unique solution. There are two metal covers to hide the cables under. It’s a fantastic idea, as it allows to use a tempered glass panel also on this side as well, with nothing to be ashamed of in the looks/cable management department. There are some (very) minor drawbacks, like the lack of a plastic cover for the front part of the PSU shroud, but that won’t be an issue if you use a thick radiator, or lack of handles in the cardboard box (they would be nice to have, as the chassis weighs 15 kg). Also, there is about 20 mm of clearance for cables behind the motherboard, which is not an excellent result but should be enough for typical setups. Summing it up – the whole package deserves a “Top Pick” award. It does come with quite a hefty price tag, though. An MSRP of 199 € is not a cheap offer, but you get all the premium stuff here, so it’s definitely worth to consider taking the plunge (especially given that e.g. a GPU’s can cost several times that).

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