A generation ago the only way to tell the difference between a high end gaming PC and a beige office box was by looking inside. Today PC gamers want to brand their gear as fashionable as gaming consoles, so everyone knows what’s up. There are no shortages of gaming computer cases, and because there are so many there are lots of bad choices. From my own personal experience I have discovered that an innovative design does not directly translate into a quality chassis. You really want to pick a case from a company that has been around the block a few times.
Enermax is one of those companies that have been around for a while, and consitently produce quality computer components, so you can be pretty confident that any case you buy from them isn’t going to be crap. One of their new cases geared for the PC gaming enthusiast is the Phoenix Neo, and it not only looks good but sports some interesting features that deserve a double take.
The Enermax Phoenix Neo is the ideal mid-tower case for the modern gamer. The iconic 250mm monster fan can be adjuststed in either intake or exhaust direction with the flip of a switch, ensuring maximum versatility for any cooling system, while maintaining a low temperature with whisper-silent acoustics. An eSATA port on top assures hassle-free high speed data transfers to external drives, while two massively curved aluminum wings in the front give it a very stylish look with just the right touch of aggressiveness. To anyone looking for a stylish case with great cooling performance and functionality, the PHOENIX Neo is truly Performance Reborn!
- 3.0mm hair-brushed aluminum curve design
- Openings for external water cooling
- CD/DVD drive flip covers integrated
- External SATA port in front for fastest data transfer (up to 3GB/s)
- On-top interface for the easiest access (eSATA, 4 x USB 2.0, HD Audio I/O)
- Tool-free drive bay design with removable HDD cage for easy assembly
- Superior airflow with 12cm fan slots in front and rear
- Cleanable front micro-dust filter
- 25cm LED monster fan
- Airflow direction switch
- Fan speed control (600-900rpm)
- LED on/off function
| Model | ECA3162-B-BL |
| Type | ATX mid tower |
| Dimensions | 216(W) x 503(D) x 448(H) mm |
| Material | SEC & Aluminum |
| Motherboard | ATX & Micro ATX |
| Drive Bay | 5.25″ (5) 3.5″ (1 exposed, 4 hidden) |
| Power Supply Type | PS3 |
| Front I/O | 1 x eSATA 4x USB 2.0 High Definition Audio I/O |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
On the next page we look down the Phoenix’s throat…
The Enermax Phoenix Neo gaming case is black, just like many other gaming cases today. The main part of the chassis is steel that has been painted black, and the drive bay covers are black plastic. The front bezel is flanked by interesting flares, which are made from thick aluminum which has been anodized black. The front bezel has fve exposed 5.25″ drive bays, and has two stealthed optical faceplates. The optical faceplates flip down and use straight springs rather than hinge springs, and in my opinion just looks sloppy. Every optical drive faceplate should have hinged springs… period. There is a single 3.5″ faceplate, and below that is a circular hole covered with black mesh for the inside 120mm intake fan.
The left side of the case is one of the more noticable features, as it has a big honkin’ 250mm fan integrated into it. The fan is covered with black mesh, and has a contoured shape which looks like a phoenix, including a blue “eye”. To the right of the fan are external controls that allow you to adjust how this monster fan operates. There is a variable knob that allows you to adjust the fan speed from 600 to 900rpm. Below that is a switch that toggles which way the fan spins, thereby making it an intake or exhaust fan. Below that is a pushbutton that toggles the fan’s integrated blue LEDs.
Very noticable and stylish 250mm side fan!
The top of the case is featureless except for the very front, which has all of the external ports many gamers look for. This front panel has an illuminated power button, four USB ports, an eSATA port, microphone and headphone jacks, hard drive activity light, and a reset switch. The power button glows blue when the PC is powered on to fit the rest of this case’s theme.
The front panel and straight-springed faceplate
The back of the case is pretty standard fare. There is a cut area for a standard power supply and motherboard I/O panel. Above the IO panel is a stamped grate for either a 92mm or 120mm fan. Below this are seven standard slot covers, each of which have a turquoise tooless fastener. Above these slots are two rubber-grommeted holes that can acommodate tubes for an external watercooling unit.
The next page we take a look at the innards…
The case is opened by loosening two thumbscrews and sliding the side panel back and then lifting out, just like most standard cases. Looking inside we see a very simple design that many PC builders should be comfortable with. The 250mm fan is integrated into the side panel that we just took off, and we see that the fan’s cable ends at a standard 4-pin molex connector. I absolutely HATE being forced to use this connector. Every manufacturer should have fans that use the standard 3-pin fan connector, and give the option of a molex adapter.
All of the connection wires are attached to the front I/O panel, and drop down into the main area of the chassis and are tied together at the top. The other side of the top area has two steel shelves to support the weight of a power supply. The main area has all of the standard screw holes to accomodate just about every type of motherboard.
Simple internal design
The motherboard tray is not removable, but does feature a tooless slot mechanism. In my experience these plastic pieces never hold up heavy cards against gravity, and many PC gamers utilize heavy third-party heatsinks on their video cards. I would seriously recommend using thumbscrews instead. Above the motherboard I/O panel is a fan exhaust port with an innovative design that allows you to install an 80mm, 92mm, or 120mm fan. Not only does this allow flexibility with an exhaust fan but allows you to mount an external watercooling radiator. Enermax has included a 120mm fan, but it is powered by a 4-pin molex plug, which I hate (as mentioned at the top of this page).
The drive area is not a single column, although it looks like it at first glance. The 5.25″ drive bays are riveted to the motherboard tray, and feature a tooless fastening system. Three plastic turquoise sliders are pre-installed. When pushed towards the front of the case, the fastener pushes any installed drive against the other side of the drive cage, thus securing it. While this allows for quick installation (and eliminates the necessity to remove the other side panel to access screws), it is my experience that drives are more prone to rattle when secured in this way. There are slotted areas to secure your drives with screws, if that is your preference.
The 3.5″ drive cage is secured to the front, and drives are fastened in the same manner as the larger drive bay. While one drive bay is exposed, there is room in this cage for an internal 3.5″ device (aka hard drive).
The bottom drive cage is meant for three hard drives, and is oriented 90 degrees so you can slide your drives in and out from the side using included plastic rails. You can remove the drive cage completely, but it requires loosening a few screws from the motherboard tray. The case’s “goodie box” includes six plastic hard drive rails, which you can attach to your drives, and then just slide into the bottom drive cage, which lock into place. These rails do not “screw” into your drives, so you must hold them onto the sides as you slide in. Just squeeze the plastic tabs to unlock them and slide them back out as needed. There is room between the hard drive cage and the front panel for an intake fan (which would double as a drive cooling fan), but none is included.
You ready for our verdict? I thought so… click on the next page…
Overall the Enermax Phoenix Neo is a pretty good mid-level gaming case. The exterior looks simple but very good, and has a few great features that make you take a second look. The huge side fan is not only attractive, but extremely functional. The top-front I/O panel is also a feature that gamers will dig, and is implemented well.
Another look at that awesome fan
The inside of this case has features intended to make installation smooth and easy, and mostly succeeds. You may find the tradeoff between ease of installation at odds with the vibration of your internal components, however. The case has pretty standard but solid features which makes for a good build. The only major flaws aren’t dealbreakers by any means, such as straight springs on the faceplates and fans that use molex connectors. Other than my minor gripes, the case has some great features that the PC enthusiast or budget gamer can appreciate, and its quality exceeds its price point.
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