BitFenix Phenom M Review 7

BitFenix Phenom M Review

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Value & Conclusion

  • The BitFenix Phenom Micro-ATX sells for around 80 euros including taxes or 80 US dollars excluding taxes.
  • Solid construction
  • Five motherboard expansion slots
  • Loads of space for hard drives: 5x 2.5" and 5x 3.5"
  • Can easily hold dual-GPU rigs
  • Micro-ATX board fits quite well into this compact case
  • Two fans included
  • Easily accessible fan placement
  • Cover on the underside to stop dust when using hard drives on the floor
  • USB 3.0 with 2.0 connectivity
  • Full ATX PSU fits
  • Can hold up to five fans
  • Available in black or white
  • No dust filter on underside
  • All expansion slots held in place by a single screw
  • A bit of a cable mess inside
  • No tool-less drive installation
  • Only 120 mm fan included in the rear—a 140 mm would be better
BitFenix has taken the foundation of the Prodigy M and is now offering the same bones inside the Phenom chassis. Its well-thought-out interior allows you to stuff the chassis full with as much hardware as in a traditional mATX enclosure; some may even say that the Phenom Micro-ATX has more space because of its five motherboard expansion slots. You may also install fully sized graphics cards, a large CPU cooler, and normal-sized PSU. Due to the unique interior approach, there is a 120 mm fan in the floor of the case, which may have been better placed in the ceiling—especially as there is a cover on the floor that blocks all airflow. BitFenix used most of the space for hard drives, which means that there are various means to install HDDs within the Phenom Micro-ATX, giving you all the flexibility you need to differentiate between an OS or storage drive. Overall, the BitFenix Phenom Micro-ATX is just as great as the Prodigy M, but it targets a smaller segment of users requiring just as much storage space without the portability, or an external drive bay. The enclosure is also available in black or white. While not quite with as many colorful choices as the Prodigy, it is still perfect for the audience it caters to. The result is a great chassis with a "dual personality" as it may not be for everyone, though it surely won't disappoint those who go for it. Just keep in mind that the Prodigy M does offer a few more features for the same price.
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Nov 25th, 2024 20:36 EST change timezone

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