A Closer Look - Outside

The case itself looks quite traditional, with its straight edges and full metal mesh front panel framed in black plastic. There is a Gamdias logo in the front, and you can clearly see the three 120 mm intake fans through the front as well.


These fans are equipped with hub mounted ARGB elements, and you may access the cooling units by firmly pulling on the front cover to release it from the chassis. The fans have a bit of design to them, but are not models that Gamdias sells on their own. There is also no additional layer of dust protection besides the metal mesh, which is good for airflow, but bad for long term cleanliness. In the rear, the Athena M6 hints at a straight forward interior layout, for a classic modern mid-tower enclosure.


The main side panel utilizes a well framed, black glass panel with plastic lined thumb screws to hold it down. To save on cost a bit, the bottom area around the PSU and HDD shroud has been extended outward to act as an exterior panel, thus reducing the needed glass size considerably. On the opposite side, there is a clean, solid metal cover which is also held in place by plastic lined thumb screws.


The bottom is where the PSU will sit within the Athena M6. There are two sets of mounting holes, but odds are pretty high you will want to install your power supply with the fan facing downward for fresh air intake. Above that are the seven expansion slots, which are removable and reusable. Each of them is held in place by a classic screw, and Gamdias went as far as adding a sliding cover to close the gap next to them nicely. In the very top, there is yet another 120 mm, ARGB equipped fan. This one is positioned to exhaust hot air out of the rear of the chassis, bringing the total included fan units to a solid four.


In the top, things look rather wide in the pictures, but this is not really due to a beefy chassis, but because the case isn't very deep. You can fit a 240 mm radiator in the ceiling, or opt for two 120 or 140 mm fans instead. As there is very little height to go with, a 280 mm AIO setup won't find the necessary room. A magnetic dust filter protects this opening from dust and grime. In the forward section of the top panel, Gamdias has placed an IO area, providing a dedicated LED toggle button, the usual audio ports, two USB 2.0 and a single USB 3.0 port. There is really no reason whatsoever for this kind of USB configuration. Cases of all but the cheapest price range should ditch USB 2.0 and exclusively offer USB 3.0 instead. This certainly also holds true for the Athena M6, unfortunately.


On the underside you will find the one truly unique element of the case, in form of U-shaped ARGB element that is meant to give the chassis a bit of an underglow when turned on. This could be a really nifty little addition, especially for those who like gaming in a darker environment, to enjoy all the ARGB elements in their setup. On the downside, there is only a very basic metal mesh filter to protect the PSU from intaking dirt or grime. This means that you will have to tip over or lift your system for cleaning purposes.