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Review: NZXT Phantom 820

by Parm Mann on 21 December 2012, 09:00 4.0

Tags: NZXT

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qabp75

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Final Thoughts and Rating

For the £200 fee, you're getting a titanic enclosure that, in addition to housing just about any high-end build, has four large pre-installed fans and bags of cooling potential.

NZXT chassis seem to get better with each revision, but the company has a habit of leaving room for a couple of small improvements. The Phantom 820 is a continuation of that trend; it's arguably NZXT's most impressive full-tower solution to date, yet there are a few elements that could be enhanced.

The numerous pre-installed cables are messy, the drive trays are weak and can only be accessed from the rear side of the chassis, and, though this is one of NZXT's more subtle designs, the plastic exterior styling still has that teenage-gamer feel about it.

These are minor niggles, however, and if the space-age aesthetics are your cup of tea, the Phantom 820 has a lot to offer. For the £200 fee, you're getting a titanic enclosure that, in addition to housing just about any high-end build, has four large pre-installed fans and bags of cooling potential.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg as far as NZXT's feature set is concerned. Factor in a quad-channel digital fan controller, an integrated HUE lighting system, a dedicated rear I/O panel light, half-a-dozen USB ports and an SD card reader, and you've got a chassis that's as well-stocked as they come. Better yet, these features aren't just an afterthought, they're all well-implemented and handy to have during everyday use.

The Good

Quad-channel digital fan controller
Integrated HUE lighting system
Dedicated rear I/O panel light
Six USB ports and an SD card reader
Room for at least two radiators
Lots of air-cooling potential
Capacious throughout

The Bad

Drive trays need work
Plastic accents look and feel cheap
Lots of out-the-box cable clutter

HEXUS Rating

4/5
NZXT Phantom 820

HEXUS Awards

HEXUS Performance Award
NZXT Phantom 820

HEXUS Where2Buy

The NZXT Phantom 820 chassis is available to purchase from Scan Computers*.

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.



*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.



HEXUS Forums :: 11 Comments

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Who buys these horrible looking cases? Teenagers?
DeludedGuy
Who buys these horrible looking cases? Teenagers?

Have to be teenagers with rich parents! Don't see the justification for that price tbh…
yep i'm still waiting for a case that takes 2x 360 rads ..
there good cases for air flow son has the smaller one (he paid for)can't fault it in a lot of ways .. just a bit showey
£200 for this piece of giant plastic and steel. This is nothing new - very over priced
Nobody can spend 200£ in a case. Same price as a core i5