Completed Build, Performance, and Conclusion
The EVOLV ITX is easy to work in, and results in a tidy build.
The cables rout neatly out of the way, and we're left with a pretty open looking enclosure considering it's holding a complete gaming system. This enclosure feels a little closer to micro-ATX, but the added room makes installing everything a breeze. The one area where things do feel a little cramped is the GPU, but there was just enough space to allow the card to breath. My power supply's PCIe power cables fit neatly beneath the shroud on the right side, and out of view. This is a removable part, but it helps keep things looking clean.
Looking behind the system we see the generous amount of room for cable managment, but thanks to the Velcro straps securing the majority of the excess, there's not a lot of mess to manage. I really like this feature, and I'm glad Phanteks kept it even with their smallest (and least expensive) EVOLV enclosure.
Enclosure Performance: Temps
With the test system's Corsair H75 liquid cooler, the EVOLV ITX was near the back of the pack, though still offered good cooling for the i5-6600K even under stress. There's more room than usual for the system to breathe as this is a larger mini-ITX design, but the system also benefits from that 200 mm intake fan creating positive pressure. That aspect was more noticable with the DEEPCOOL Gabriel air cooler with the CPU under stress, where the EVOLV ITX managed to place second behind the Corsair Carbide 600Q (with high case fans).
The EVOLV ITX was warmer at idle and under a simulated load than the other (larger) enclosures tested here, but when under the highest stress the CPU results impressed. I wouldn't be surprised if the numbers with an air cooler improved if an exhaust fan was added to help with the airflow, but the intake fan did manage to expel quite a bit of air without one.
Next we'll look at GPU temps:
Here the limited breathing room for the installed R9 290X graphics card puts the EVOLV ITX in last place with both CPU cooler configurations. Load temps were between 4.2 and 5.1 degrees hotter than the next highest enclosure (Carbide 600Q, low fans), but still topped out at 62 °C delta. The GPU fans did have to spin faster in this enclosure to maintain even these higher temps, but only by about 10%.
Enclosure Performance: Noise
Here the EVOLV ITX performed extremely well, as it was surprisingly quiet for an enclosure without noise dampening. That 200 mm intake fan is not loud at default speeds, and with the exception of GPU noise the EVOLV ITX finished in a solid second place behind the very quiet Carbide 600Q.
GPU noise was just a little higher at load than both the Fractal Design Define S and Antec P380 (with low case fans), and while 0.1 dB seems like nothing the pitch of the fans was a bit more noticable in the EVOLV – the result of the enclosure's lack of sound dampening no doubt. Still, a very quiet enclosure overall.
Conclusion
If I was to build a mini-ITX system today, this would be at the top of my list for an affordable enclosure. It's not perfect, but it comes really close. The limited GPU cooler clearance can be an issue, but this design choice is understandable; Phanteks went with full size ATX power supply compatibility, rather than SFX, which leaves little room at the bottom of even a larger mITX design like this. My R9 290X fit without issue, and while it ran much warmer than I'm used to (and at higher fan speeds) it was still within thermal limits. My only other complaint was the inclusion of only one 2.5-inch tray, but when the price is factored in I couldn't really fault Phanteks for the choice.
For what youre getting at $64.99, the Enthoo EVOLV ITX is a bargain; but moreover it's an attractive, full-featured mini-ITX enclosure than can easily house a very powerful system. The unique red interior is icing on the cake with this new version (if you like that color scheme), and I really liked the look of the enclosure. It is well built, has thoughtful design touches, and overall feels like a premium case that would easily sell for quite a bit more.
Strengths
- Very high build quality
- Roomy interior for mini-ITX allows easy build
- Supports full-size components
- Excellent cable management
- Excellent noise levels
- Low price
Weaknesses
- Limited GPU clearance prevents use of thicker cards
- GPU temps/fan speeds higher with this enclosure due to clearance
Overall I'm very impressed with both the enclosure and the value proposition Phanteks offers consumers with the EVOLV ITX. At $64.99 this was a lot more than I was expecting. Well done!
Looks like Phanteks is
Looks like Phanteks is gearing up for Zen and Polaris. Look at all that sexy red and black.
Make one with a sturdy built-in carry handle for portability and I’m so in. (Until that comes, I’ll probably still be building in a Corsair 380T.)
Great review this is the case
Great review this is the case I have been looking at for the past few months to do a build in.
Did you take any pictures of the completed build with the sides on?
I know you did the cooling setup to keep your testing consistent but I have been trying to come up with the best look to cooling setup.
How well do you think or could you test how it would preform with the H75 mounted on the front most mount on the top slide-out bracket?
Think the hot air would push back into the case without adding a 2nd fan to the open top mount in the rear?
I’ll have to see if I took
I'll have to see if I took any photos of the system with the side panel closed. Mounting the liquid cooler up top would look a little nicer, and I'm with you on the right side location. There's unused space there, and it would look less cluttered.
As far as cooling performance goes, there are small vents at the top along the sides, but I would recommend adding a rear exhaust fan if you're mounting the cooler to the top. There would be some hot air cycling back into the case, but I'm not sure adding a second fan to the tray would make a difference. Certainly a rear case fan would.
The case looks nice overall.
The case looks nice overall. Phanteks seems to be a solid case designer company. It was nice to see that the front dust filter is easy to access. I really think they need to address the issue with the GPU. That is a lot of sag. On the other hand, it is hard to get everything desired in small enclosure. Still, I think it might be possible for them to devise a pedestal that the GPU cards can rest on, to eliminate the sagging.
You forgot to mention the
You forgot to mention the build quality, or lack thereof – many other reviewers noted the extreme thinness of the chassis’ steel structure, allowing it to bend at the slightest pressure, and that the PSU cover is made from a low grade of recycled beer cans, which dimples in at the slightest touch. I understand that you guys need your sponsors and advertisers, but nobody respects a bought and paid for reviewer. THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE! Don’t say you didn’t notice these things, that would only mean you are incompetent as a reviewer…
I’m only responding to this
I'm only responding to this comment as you've chosen to accuse me authoring a 'paid' review. By the way, have you noticed all the Phanteks advertising on the site? There isn't any? Odd. Manufacturers send review units to websites, we review them. That's how the industry works. If they don't like a review, I suppose they could choose to stop sending cases. It's not up to me. I have no financial interest in the matter. I like enclosures, and I'm usually the one reviewing them.
For the record, though I covered this point in the review, this doesn't have thin construction. I was impressed with the build quality – which is why I said I was impressed by the build quality in the review. The only thing I didn't like was the limited space around the GPU, which caused my GPU to run warmer and with a higher fan speed, and I mentioned that.
It's easy to make accusations against a stranger's character online, David. It's not easy to comprehensively review an enclosure and write an impartial review. Your remarks – "the PSU cover is made from a low grade of recycled beer cans, which dimples in at the slightest touch" – indicate a fundamental lack of objectivity. If I had such an objection to an enclosure, it would be my duty to point it out in the review – or else the entire point of publishing the review would be lost.
Reviews aren't ads. They are reviews. Sadly, the internet is full of sites on various topics that have taken money to publish articles written by and for advertisers. They are required to disclose this, and if you look into it you'll find these disclosures. Read WebMD's disclosure sometime if you're bored.
Sebastian is much more polite
Sebastian is much more polite than I am. Kudos to him for that – and for his very well thought-out, honest, impartial reviews that I always seem to enjoy reading.
You, however, should just go away. You’re almost as bad as the anonymous shill running around spamming the AT article about Carrizo gimping all over the comments of articles that have nothing to do with computers at all. If you don’t like the reviews here, go read the other sites that you DO like. No one will miss you.
Better yet, why don’t you go and start your own review site so that you can show us all how it’s SUPPOSED to be done? I mean, you obviously know better than the people who run this very-well-regarded and very-successful website. Surely you can do better, right? Why don’t you?
Of course, you’re less interested in reading reviews you actually like, and more interested in trying to show the world that you’re better than someone. There is absolutely zero purpose to this comment other than to say, “Hey look everybody! Sebastian is an idiot and I’m waaaaaay smarter than him! Why aren’t you worshipping me yet?”
You don’t like the reviews here? Then go the fuck away and stop smearing your shit all over the comment threads in your effort to ruin the enjoyment that rational, intelligent people find in reading this site.
Sebastian your response to
Sebastian your response to class A troll was perfect.
I admit to have a real liking for the case but a few thoughts occur to me:
1. A number of the motherboards have the M2 adapter on the rear of the board (ASRock style) – bit worried about the compatibility of this with the case
2. How thick a 240mm radiator could you fit up top?
3. Not a big fan of the bottom red enclosure does removing it have any impact on noise levels as it looks as though it breaks up airflow from front fan
4 Drooping graphics card – despite last point, it looks to me that it would be easy to fix something to bottom red enclosure to prop up the graphics card, even a small piece of cork would do it
hMMM Nice enuff .. but Im not
hMMM Nice enuff .. but Im not sure that exact shade of red, which looks washed out is great. I reckon a good racing green would be better. Also I have no real interest in water cooling anyway so maybe this is not for me.. I do like the front.
This case is cool
This case is cool
Thanks for the review. It
Thanks for the review. It helped me decide to buy one.
I love almost everything about this case. The one thing that drives me nuts though is the sliding upper rad mount. The specs say a 280mm radiator fits but the rails that support the mount make it about 2mm too short for my rad. Without the sliding function, it would be fine.
To answer Justin150’s questions,
1. I have a Asus Z170i motherboard with a rear M.2 port that is perfectly accessible from the back.
2. Any thickness should work as far as I can tell. I can’t say for sure since I have a 280mm.
3. The bottom red enclosure is riveted in place. They could be drilled out to remove it though.
4. Not a question, but that is exactly what I did. Stuffed a small piece of eraser in the space.
Very well-done review
Very well-done review Sebastian! I appreciate the careful process you follow to help us make informed decisions on the parts that we consider purchasing. I found your review very thorough and professionally done. It has helped me significantly in making my choice for an enclosure. Thank you and keep up the great work!