Assembly

Installing the mATX board within is done by traditional means. There is loads of space around the motherboard should you have to reach the connectors on the board, which is primarily due to the complete lack of the HDD cages and drive bays usually found in other tower cases.


The 2.5" hard drive tray is the same as in other Phanteks cases. To install a drive, you will have to use the included screws and appropriate tool. Simply slide the tray back onto the four rubberized mounts once the drive is in place.


Discount the dust filters in the front and bottom and the only other functional plastic element is the 3.5" hard-drive tray. Installing a drive of that size here requires no screws. Once filled, simply slide it into one of two available slots.


Before you can add an optical drive, you will have to secure the actual 5.25" tray. This is done via the screws that remain after detaching the metal cover. Simply slide the drive in and screw it down once the tray has been put into place.


The last element you should install - after all other parts have been put in place - is the plate for two additional drives. You may install a single 3.5" and a single 2.5" drive onto the plate, which brings the total number of includes drive bays within the Phanteks Evolv to five, and there is the option to add another by shelling out some money.


With everything in place, the Evolv looks like it is somewhat shy about showing off what it has as the HDD bracket hides a large part of what you would usually see. All the cables are hidden nicely behind the motherboard tray, though, which is also largely due to Phanteks' signature Velcro strips that are a part of every Phanteks case.

Finished Looks

The only visual cue that the system has been turned on is the little LED strip in the front. Looking at the interior of the system with everything installed proves difficult, so you should really install some LED strips within the case to make the most of it. Everything in the rear is where you would expect it to be, though there is the 5.25" bay. The ODD here fits well, but you should really ensure there is enough space behind the system to use the drive properly.