Review on Phanteks Mid Tower PH EC400ATG_DBK01 Tempered Digital RGB by Joseph Hamilton

This is my first time building a computer, but it doesn't take an expert to figure out where the corners have been cut and how this case can be improved in several areas. First for the inflated price I paid ($100). ), I expected a lot more from this case. Yes, it's usually a mid-range $69 case, but I needed one and have heard a lot about it. The build quality is something I would feel more comfortable with in a $50 case. The fans that come with the case are three-pin fans, which I'll probably throw in the trash to use for something better for wiring and aesthetic purposes. The front case and fan cables were basically bundled together, tangled, and tucked randomly through a small slot on the back of the case at the factory. The power supply cover is firmly riveted, which is very annoying, but I can live with that. The two cable cutouts for standard 24-pin connectors, fan cables, USB ports, etc. are too small. I barely got my 24 pin connector in because of the capacitors and heat shrink tubing. The side glass panel appears to be tempered if present. Almost feels like cheap plastic, but it's not. It seems very flimsy and moving the suitcase is frustrating because just lifting the suitcase wrong feels like it's about to break; It just has such a glass frequency that it almost shatters if you look at it the wrong way. The other side panel would be fine if it wasn't for the screw locking system that holds the two plate screws in the plate and makes screwing the screws in or out awful. There's no reason why they shouldn't just be gaps with detachable hardware like they're on the other side. Be careful not to mix them up. The top part of the case is very soft which cannot be seen in the photos as the side and front of the case look normal from a distance. But it's actually completely flat and empty (good for setting up I think). The power button has a really uncomfortable click and feels pretty rough. The other buttons have a nice feel but are difficult to reach as they are under the top hem on the front of the mesh panel. The mesh dust plate at the top of the case is 1/16" smaller than the entire recessed portion at the top and slides everywhere as it isn't tight and the magnets are weak. The accessory screws that came with the case were in a plastic bag, not an organizer like other Phanteks cases (doesn't really matter). The instructions are mostly useless. As a beginner, I didn't expect to have to research fan types, their connections, speeds, etc. myself if they were already installed in a case from a well-known manufacturer. However, I would expect multiple fan schematics, fan pinouts, part numbers if I want to order more matching ones, etc. Yes, I should probably learn more about that, but getting the fan wiring right is the hardest part of building a PC right now. New motherboards almost all have 4 pin connectors and as a newbie I'm worried about burning something on my mobo or damaging other components of my computer. and probably my favorite feature. I really like the cooling abilities of this case and the front mesh panel. The hard drive trays are really good. This is probably a very common trait in most cases, but I wouldn't know. All I can say is they are great and make hard drive installation easy. I like that this case is raised off the ground and gives my PSU good airflow. That's all. That being said I would definitely buy a Phanteks case again without hesitation. I think I'm a bit pickier than most consumers. Phanteks is a brand I would try again based on what the community has to say about them and how they perform compared to other cases. The look of the 600's caught my attention and I had to dig into it and will most likely move everything to one when it comes time to help my sister assemble the computer (she'll get that case). May I recommend this case? Eh maybe for $69. just uh Appearance: 2.5/5 Build Quality: 3/5 Cooling: 4/5 Instructions: 1.5/5