Given the higher consumption values ​​of the new graphics cards, “airflow” is the new buzzword when it comes to presenting the new casings. The Phanteks G500A justifies the designation with a mesh front and, depending on the equipment variant, between three and four 140mm fans.

The case comes with or without a fan

Tests have sufficiently shown that a GeForce RTX 4090 (test) with its 450 watts benefits from well-ventilated cases. With the G500A, Phanteks follows a familiar scheme from previously presented cases. The mesh grilles on the front and lid, which also serve as dust filters, and the wide fans should ensure rapid heat exchange.

The number of fans depends on the model variant. The basic version of the G500A, which costs around 140 euros with the addition of “no fan”, is delivered without a fan. It is aimed at enthusiasts who want to choose the number, type and brand of fans themselves. In the “Performance” version for about 160 euros, four 140mm fans from the M25 series are installed that regulate a PWM signal between 400 and 2,000 rpm.

Fans connected in series

The G500A D-RGB, which costs just under 170 euros, comes with three M25 fans with lighting, whose maximum speed is 1,800 rpm. There’s also a matching ARGB controller, which can also control the LED elements on the side and front that are present here. The fans in the series are daisy chain capable, so they can be daisy chained with a single cable. This eliminates the need for Y-adapters and makes cable management easier.

The chassis itself is spacious, but also basically familiar, which you can already buy in the P500A, for example. No relevant specifications are made for the cooler and the GPU, a removable support for fans in the front makes it easy to install radiators. The limit here is the 420mm and 360mm models. Including the fan, they should not be more than 70mm (top) or 90mm (front). Hard drives and cables are hidden behind plastic covers on the right side of the case.