A Closer Look - Outside

Out of the box, the Genesis Irid 503 ARGB is slightly taller than its 353 counterpart as the top panel offers more room, while still made out of metal. The design slightly more elaborate as well, as the material mix allows for more interesting angles.


Looking at the front, the Irid 503 ARGB utilizes a traditional metal mesh framed in sturdy plastic. Behind the panel are three pre-installed 120 mm ARGB fans, which is nice to see. There is no secondary layer of dust filtration as the metals mesh in front acts as a filter, at least for the bigger dirt and dust particles.


Looking at the side, the clear glass panel is framed nicely in black, so you will be able to see your hardware clearly with the system assembled. The branding is quite visible, with large company logos both on the front and side. You will find the case model number on the inside as well. All of the branding will make the chassis less interesting to system integrators, who want their own branding to prevail. On the opposite side is a solid steel panel.


In the rear, the PSU bay comes with a single set of screw mounting holes as the fan is meant to face downwards. Above that are the four expansion slots for the M-ATX board, which come with reusable covers and classic screws. In the very top is the third 120 mm ARGB fan; it is set to push air out the back of the Irid 503 ARGB.


The top sports a magnetic mesh cover under which are mounting holes for two 120 or 140 mm fans. Alternatively, you may install a radiator of up to 280 mm here. Because of offset mounting holes, attaching such a unit here should not interfere with your motherboard. The Genesis Irid 503 ARGB comes with two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, and usual audio plugs. While this is nice, doing away with the USB 2.0 would have been perfectly acceptable. In addition to the I/O, there is an LED button to toggle between lighting modes powered by an internal ARGB controller, while still having a reset button as well. Lastly, there is a larger power button with the power and HDD activity LEDs next to it.


Taking a quick look at the underside of the chassis, there is another magnetic, metal-mesh dust filter for the PSU bay. Towards the front of the case, you can see the system that secures the HDD cage, which may be moved back slightly or removed completely. With it removed, the floor of the enclosure may be used to install a single hard drive of your choice.