[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The new Phantom 410 is a mid-tower version of the NZXT Phantom. Let’s see if it is a good pick.
The NZXT Phantom 410 follows the same design concept as the original Phantom and is available in three different colors: white, black, and red. We reviewed the white version.
Figure 1: NZXT Phantom 410 case
Figure 2: NZXT Phantom 410 case
The left-side panel has a transparent window and a mesh supporting the installation of one 120 mm or 140 mm fan. There is no air filter on this mesh.
[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]
The NZXT Phantom 410 has a door, which opens to the left, covering its 5.25” bays. Based upon how they are implemented, doors can be an Achilles Heel for the case. For example, some products have the USB ports and on/off switch behind the door, so you must open the door every time you want to connect a USB device or turn on your computer. In such cases, we prefer that the case simply didn’t have the door. On the NZXT Phantom 410, however, all buttons and connectors are not located behind the door, so what we’ve just described doesn’t occur.
The case has three 5.25” bays. See Figure 5.
The reviewed case comes with one 120 mm fan installed at the bottom part of the front panel. This fan comes installed on the single-channel, three-speed fan controller available. No technical specifications are provided. You can install a second 120 mm fan or replace the 120 mm fan that comes with the case with a 140 mm model. There is no air filter on the front panel for these fans.
[nextpage title=”The Top, Bottom, and Rear Panels”]
The NZXT Phantom 410 comes with a 140 mm fan on its top panel, which glows blue when turned on. This fan is connected to the single-channel, three-speed fan controller available. No technical specifications for this fan were provided. You can install a second 120 mm or 140 mm fan on the top panel. The reviewed case supports the installation of radiators of liquid cooling solutions on its top panel (up to 240 mm), but in this case you will need to remove the top fan.
The reviewed case has two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, the traditional audio jacks, and a single-channel, three-speed fan controller. All fans are connected to this controller, and it can control five additional fans. Since this controller is a single-channel model, you will change the speed of all fans at the same time. The USB 3.0 port uses an internal connector, so make sure you install a motherboard with an internal USB 3.0 header.
Figure 8: Buttons and connectors
The bottom panel of the NZXT Phantom 410 has an air filter for the power supply fan, but there isn’t a filter for the optional bottom fan.
The rear panel and the interior of the NZXT Phantom 410 are painted white.
On the NZXT Phantom 410, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.
The case comes with a 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel, which is connected to the single-channel, three-speed fan controller available. No technical specifications for this fan are available.
This case has seven expansion slots with vented covers.
The NZXT Phantom 410 has two holes using rubber covers for hoses of liquid cooling solutions. These holes are 0.8” (20 mm) in diameter.
Let’s now take a look inside the NZXT Phantom 410.
[nextpage title=”Inside the NZXT Phantom 410″]
Both panels are attached to the chassis using black thumbscrews. The motherboard tray has a huge hole for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several holes protected with rubber covers for you to route cables behind it, and several metallic clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties.
Figure 12: A view behind the motherboard tray
In Figure 13, we have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using black thumbscrews. As mentioned before, you can remove the top fan for installing a 240 mm radiator of liquid cooling solutions. In its default configuration, the NZXT Phantom 410 supports video cards up to 12” (305 mm) long. If you install the optional 120 mm f
an on the hard drive cage, this clearance is reduced to 11” (280 mm), but it is increased to 16.5” (420 mm) if the upper hard drive cage is removed from the case.
The NZXT Phantom 410 allows the installation of a 120 mm internal fan on the side of the hard drive cage. Differently from other cases we’ve seen so far, this fan can be tilted, so you can aim the airflow to the exact component you want to cool down. See Figure 14.
Figure 14: Place for installing a 120 mm fan
The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case, and it can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it.
The case allows the installation of a 120 mm fan on its bottom panel. With this fan installed, you can have a power supply up to 7.7” (195 mm) deep. As explained before, the case doesn’t come with an air filter for this optional fan.
Figure 15: Power supply compartment
[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]
The NZXT Phantom 410 has three external 5.25” bays and six 3.5”/2.5” bays in two cages. All bays use tool-less installation mechanisms, except for 2.5” devices.
As mentioned before, the upper hard disk drive bay can be removed for allowing the installation of longer video cards.
Figure 17: Upper hard drive cage removed
Figure 18: The top hard drive cage
Each 3.5”/2.5” bay is actually a small drawer. The pegs that hold 3.5” devices have rubber rings to reduce the vibration and, thus, noise produced by hard drives.
Figure 23: One of the 3.5”/2.5” drawers
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the NZXT Phantom 410 include:
- Style: Mid-tower
- Application: ATX, and smaller form factors
- Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
- Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
- Available colors: Black, white, or red
- Side panel: Transparent window and mesh
- Dimensions: 20.3 x 8.5 x 21 inches (516 x 215 x 532 mm) (H x W x D)
- Net weight: 19.5 lbs (8.8 kg)
- Gross weight: 23.5 lbs (10.6 kg)
- Bays: Three external 5.25” bays and six internal 3.5/2.5” bays
- Expansion slots: Seven
- Maximum video card length: 12” (305 mm), 11” (280 mm) if internal 120 mm fan is installed, 16.5” (420 mm) if upper hard drive cage is removed
- Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
- Fans: One 120 mm fan on the front panel, one 140 mm fan with blue LEDs on the top panel, and one 120 mm fan on the rear panel
- Optional fans: One 120 mm or 140 mm fan on the left panel, one 120 mm fan on the front panel, one 120 mm or 140 mm fan on the top panel, one 120 mm fan on the bottom panel, and one 120 mm fan on the side of the top hard drive cage
- Extra Features: Single-channel, three-speed fan speed controller
- More Information: https://www.nzxt.com
- Average Price in the US*: USD 100.00
* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The Phantom 410 looks nice with its glossy automotive painting, and brings many features. Its construction quality is vastly superior to NZXT’s cases sold below USD 80, making it a good pick if you like its features and don’t mind its few drawbacks.
Strong Points
- Air filter for the power supply fan
- Vented slot covers
- Support for eight fans, comes with three
- Internal 120 mm fan can be tilted
- Single-channel, three-speed fan controller supporting eight fans
- Support for six 3.5”/2.5” storage devices
- Anti-vibration mechanisms for 3.5” hard drives
- Expansion cards are fastened using thumbscrews
- A huge hole in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
- Holes protected with rubber covers for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
- Metallic clips for fastening cables using cable ties
Weak Points
- Some users simply don’t like cases with front doors
- No air filters for the fans
Leave a Reply