A Closer Look - Outside

Out of the box, it is immediately clear that the Eclipse G500A Performance shares quite a bit of DNA with the P500A, but does sport an updated design and has some obvious tooling differences as well. That said, you still get a gently v-shaped emboss in the fine mesh front panel - so the general design DNA of the Eclipse line is still present.


Looking at the front, the mesh is extremely fine, consisting of 1 mm holes that have been punched in. This mesh is so fine it also acts as a great dust filter, so no additional layer is needed, helping with airflow. You may pull the panel off to reveal the three pre-installed 140 mm M25-140 fans set to pull air in through the front. On the top, there is the power button and a PCB strip with ten white SMDs, which act as your power LED. Looking at the rear, nothing about the layout really jumps out, but Phanteks has added a few unique elements to the Eclipse G500A Performance in comparison to other modern mid-tower enclosures.


The main side of the Phanteks Eclipse G500A Performance is all glass, nicely framed in black, with a slight tint. It sits on hinges and is held in place by magnets. On the other side is a steel panel which also utilizes hinges and magnets - this is a nice step up from the P500A which relies on screws for this side.


In the bottom is a PSU frame, which means you have to attach it to the power supply before sliding the whole unit into the chassis through the rear. Above that are the 7+3 expansion slots. Having that extra vertical slot means you should be able to squeeze any GPU you can buy in there - even the latest and greatest. Having the extra space would also benefit any traditional two-slot card, as there is a larger air gap between the GPU fans and glass side panel. In the very top is a mounting possibility for a 120 or 140 mm fan, and Phanteks does include a fourth 140 mm variant of the M25 series here. As the mounting comes with elongated holes. Unlike the Eclipse P500A, which shares much of the tooling with the G500A Performance, there no longer is the ability to install a secondary ITX system in the ceiling of the chassis.


At the top of the Eclipse G500A Performance you will find another metal mesh cover under which you may install up to three 140 mm fans. Alternatively, this area can fit a radiator of up to 360 mm size easily, without even getting close to the motherboard. The I/O of the chassis focuses on the usual combination of two USB-A, one USB-C and an audio combo jack. Here, you will also find the reset button,


The underside reveals two side-by-side mounting possibilities for the hard drive cages, and a dust filter for the PSU, which you may easily slide out of the rear of the system for cleaning.