Phanteks is aware of what it takes to land a spot on our greatest PC circumstances checklist. Its Eclipse P360A has occupied our greatest price range ATX case spot for greater than a yr now. However the brand new Eclipse G360A is an try to enhance on price range excellence. And for essentially the most half, the corporate succeeds right here, whereas nonetheless preserving the worth pretty low at $99.99.
The Eclipse G360A isn’t a significant departure from its predecessor. However for about $10 extra, it brings in a 3rd aRGB fan, delivers PWM assist for all three spinners, and makes room for 360mm radiators on the high and entrance, to raised cool present and upcoming high-end elements. Mix that with the mesh entrance panel that already delivered good airflow with simply two fans–but now packing in three–and the Eclipse G360A is a superb case for the worth.
It’s not with out its quirks although. Cable routing particularly might actually be improved. And there’s nonetheless no USB-C port. However with superb cooling efficiency (that will get even higher should you transfer one of many three followers to the again for exhaust, or convey your individual), and tasteful RGB, this is likely one of the greatest circumstances you’ll be able to seize for round $100.
Specs of the Phanteks Eclipse G360A
| Kind | ATX Mid-Tower |
| Motherboard Help | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 18.3 x 7.87 x 17.9 inches |
| Max GPU Size | 15.74 inches |
| CPU Cooler Top | 6.3 inches |
| Exterior Bays | X |
| Inner Bays | 4x 2.5 or 2x 3.5-inch |
| Enlargement Slots | 7 |
| Entrance I/O | 2x USB 3.0 Kind-A (5 Gbps), D-RGB Mode, D-RGB Coloration, Energy button and three.5mm headphone/audio jack |
| Different | Tempered Glass Aspect Panel |
| Entrance Followers | 3x 120 mm |
| Rear Followers | None |
| Prime Followers | None |
| Backside Followers | None |
| Weight | 17.4 kilos |
| Guarantee | 5 years |
Options of the Phanteks Eclipse G360A
Taking the G360A out of the field, the very first thing I seen was how related it appears to the Phanteks P350X, a case I used to personal. This isn’t a foul factor as a result of the P350X was an reasonably priced case with good construct high quality and ok airflow. The similarities with that older case might be seen within the Eclipse G360A’s tempered glass aspect panel, PSU shroud and the RGB strip sandwiched between the 2. Whereas the tempered glass aspect panel isn’t tinted, it’s darkened across the edges, giving it a rounded nook appear to be a an old-school tube TV or CRT monitor–though clearly, the glass panel is flat. In between the PSU shroud and glass aspect panel is a skinny RGB strip that’s delicate and engaging.
Extra RGB might be discovered on the three included case followers, that are each PWM-coltrolled and aRGB, which is loopy for a case that’s simply $100. A 3-pack of PWM aRGB followers can value as a lot as this case–or extra relying on the model and should you purchase throughout a sale or not.
However whereas the G360A glistens with its aRGB followers, it’s not fairly as shiny in the case of consideration to element. Throughout my preliminary disassembly of the case, I used to be completely happy to see that the tempered glass aspect panel options captive thumbscrews. However the rear aspect panel doesn’t. This isn’t a deal-breaker, nevertheless it’s odd and makes the construct course of a bit extra annoying.
The eccentricities continued once I put in a standard-sized PSU (Corsair RM850X). The arduous drive cage was too near the PSU for cable consolation, and transferring the cage is a giant ache. To maneuver the drive cage it’s good to take it aside, which requires the removing of a number of screws on the highest of the ability provide shroud and beneath the case. Once more, having a easy thumb screw or two right here to permit for removing of the cage would make issues a lot simpler.
On the high of the case, you’ll discover two USB 3.0 Kind-A ports (5Gbps), two buttons for RGB coloration and mode adjustment, an influence button and a microphone/headphone jack. I might’ve most well-liked to see at the least one USB Kind-C port right here. The ability button is on the entrance of the case, above the highest fan.
Like its older sibling, the P360A, the G360A encompasses a huge mesh entrance panel. However this time Phanteks added some character by stamping a design on it that appears like one thing between a U and a V. Not everybody goes to like it, however on the very least it appears much less plain than the entrance of the P360A. There’s nonetheless no actual entrance fan filter right here, which might be a difficulty. However as long as you often pop off the entrance to wash the mesh and the followers and blow out the inside of the case a few instances a yr, you have to be fantastic. That stated, should you stay in an space with plenty of mud or pollen within the air, chances are you’ll need to pay extra for a case with an simply eliminated mud filter.
Inner Format of the Phanteks G360A
Regardless that the G360A isn’t the most important ATX chassis, it has extra room than you’d count on–which is nice contemplating right now’s power-hungry elements. The G360A helps as much as three 120mm or two 140mm followers on the high, together with radiator assist as much as 360mm (the earlier P360A solely supported 240mm). The entrance of the G360A acquired the identical therapy as the highest, with radiator assist as much as 280 or 360mm. The rear of the case is unchanged however ok with assist for a 120mm fan or radiator.
Immediately’s greatest graphics playing cards are already large, and most indications are that next-gen GPUs shall be even larger. However with 15.7 inches (400mm) of GPU clearance within the G360A, we had no points putting in our triple-fan Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC, and most next-gen playing cards will seemingly match right here as properly. CPU tower cooler assist comes up a bit brief within the G360A–actually–at 6.3 inches (162mm). Your huge Noctua NH-D15 won’t match, although most mid-sized coolers will; our Noctua U12s match simply fantastic. And with motherboard assist as much as 280mm, some E-ATX motherboards will match. However as all the time, for true E-ATX assist with out blocking vital cable cutouts, you need to decide for a bigger full-tower case when constructing an E-ATX system, or count on some problems and limitations.
Behind the motherboard tray, you’ll discover two preinstalled sleds for 2 2.5-inch drives. If you wish to set up different SATA drives, there’s a cage for 2 2.5- or 3.5-inch drives underneath the PSU shroud. However if you wish to transfer or take away it to make extra room for PSU cables, it’s a chore since screws each on high of the PSU shroud and beneath the case maintain it collectively.
Whereas I didn’t have any points closing the rear aspect panel on the G360A after constructing, routing the PSU cables to the motherboard was tough. I actually struggled to route the 24-pin cable, to the purpose the place I barely had any slack on the wire. And the cutout for routing the EPS 12V CPU cable may very well be a good larger concern.
If the top of your CPU energy cable doesn’t break up in half and it’s a must to push the entire eight-pin plug via the outlet, you need to attempt to route this cable earlier than screwing the motherboard down. If not, you might have to take away the highest of the case, as I did, with the intention to get the connector via with sufficient slack to plug within the cable. However that was an enormous problem, because it concerned eradicating 13 screws. Sure, that’s 13 screws. Whereas we wouldn’t essentially count on it at this worth, this case undoubtedly isn’t tool-free or significantly modular. Once more, this all might have been averted if Phanteks had simply made this cutout just a little larger.
Phanteks Eclipse G360A Cooling
The earlier Eclipse P360A at the moment holds the belt for our greatest price range ATX gaming, case for its nice airflow and RGB. Whereas the G360A is a transparent successor to the P360A, Phanteks might’ve taken the straightforward means out by simply together with three 3-pin aRGB followers right here, however as an alternative the corporate delivered three aRGB and PWM-controlled spinners as an alternative. And as we’re about to see, all of it comes collectively for some fairly good efficiency.
2022 has been an fascinating yr for case followers. We’ve seen the 160mm followers within the Fractal Torrent Compact, the revival of semi-translucent 200mm SickleFlow followers within the Cooler Grasp HAF 700 Evo and now the D-aRGB followers within the G360A. Teh followers right here aren’t ground-breaking like the corporate’s T30 spinners. However for a $100 case that features three of them with RGB lighting, I’ll take them with open arms.
The fantastic mesh entrance panel on the G360A does two issues: It lets an immense quantity of air into the chassis, whereas permitting the RGB of the followers to shine out. Phanteks didn’t attempt to reinvent the already wonderful P360A with the newer G360A, and that was in all probability a wise transfer. All it took was a rise in cooling functionality and some different little adjustments (like room for larger radiators) to make this case higher for 2022 and past.
Testing {Hardware}
We’ve up to date our testing {hardware} to make use of Intel’s 12 Gen “Alder Lake” platform, which has shaken up the desktop panorama (and brought distinguished spots on our greatest CPUs for gaming checklist). We’re now utilizing a Core i7-12700KF, which is being cooled by a Noctua U12s air cooler. Our graphics card is a Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC.
Acoustic Outcomes for the Phanteks Eclipse G360A
Our acoustic take a look at consists of three eventualities: We run the CPU at full load, the CPU and GPU at full load, and an optimized mode. The CPU full load take a look at runs the CPU and case followers at their most velocity. For the CPU and GPU full load acoustic take a look at, we additionally stress the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC and set the followers at 75% velocity, as a result of in gaming the followers by no means run at 100% and are far too loud after they do.
For the optimized mode, we run the GPU fan velocity at 30% and run the CPU and included case followers at their lowest spinning velocity.
For an airflow-focused case, the acoustic outcomes for the G360A aren’t dangerous, however I did discover a big improve in decibel ranges with our Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC’s followers ramped as much as 75% velocity. With that stated, should you’re shopping for this case, chances are high that noise isn’t a giant concern to you. Plus, it’s not like this chassis is as loud as some pricier circumstances, just like the Corsair iCUE 5000T.
Thermal Outcomes for the Phanteks Eclipse G360A
For the thermal checks, all case and CPU fan speeds are set to 100%. The Core i7-12700K is about at a 4.7GHz clock at 1.3v on all efficiency cores to make sure constant energy consumption throughout take a look at eventualities. Letting the GPU run at 75% fan velocity allows it to keep up its energy goal whereas sticking to 1 set cheap fan velocity, in order that the temperature is the one variable.
The Phanteks G360A comes with three PWM aRGB followers, and so they carry out simply nearly as good as they appear, particularly when mixed with the fantastic mesh entrance panel on this case.
As a result of the G360A comes with three followers, we examined this case each in its default configuration with all three up entrance, and with one of many spinners within the rear of the chassis for exhaust. As you’ll be able to see, our outcomes from the inventory configuration are nonetheless spectacular– buying and selling punches with the Fractal Torrent Compact, which comes with two giant 160mm followers. Nevertheless, after transferring the underside fan to the rear of the case, our CPU temps improved by a big six levels (whereas growing the GPU temperature one diploma). So whereas transferring a fan to the again ought to drop your CPU temperatures, the G360A delivers good thermal efficiency both means. The best choice could also be to hold over an outdated 120mm fan from a earlier construct and set up it on the again, whereas leaving the prettier RGB spinners up entrance for the perfect consumption and appears.
Backside Line
Phanteks has a historical past of delivering worth and efficiency with its circumstances, as evidenced by the Eclipse P360A that’s been our favourite price range ATX gaming case for properly over a yr. However its time in that spot has now handed, as Phanteks has delivered a greater choice with the Eclipse G360A.
At $100, it prices about $10 greater than the present worth of the earlier Eclipse, however you get an additional RGB fan and assist for bigger 360 radiators on the high and entrance. And with the brand new G360A, all three followers function PWM for higher effectivity, noise output and management. If that isn’t value an additional $10 to you, then chances are you’ll need to scoop up the P360A whereas it’s nonetheless obtainable.
Regardless of some quirks in its design, the Eclipse G360A is a very nice case for avid gamers on a price range. Heck, even when cash isn’t a significant concern, it’s nonetheless good to get good airflow and engaging RGB with out spending so much. Certain you possibly can pay extra for one thing else, however the Eclipse G360A is proof that you simply don’t need to spend some huge cash to get an excellent breezy field in your PC components.
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