Introduction

The Phantom 630 is the latest full-tower case from NZXT, targeted to users who are looking for a huge case with all imaginable features. Let’s see what this monster has to offer.

The Phantom 630 will be offered in three color choices: white, black or gunmetal. We reviewed the gunmetal version.

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Figure 1: NZXT Phantom 630 case

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Figure 2: NZXT Phantom 630 case

The left panel of the NZXT Phantom 630 has a small transparent window and a 200 mm fan, which comes with an air filter. This fan uses a standard three-pin fan power connector, but no further technical specifications are provided. This fan can be installed on the single-channel fan controller that comes on the top panel of the case.

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Figure 3: Left panel

The Front Panel

The front panel of the NZXT Phantom 630 has a door with a magnetic latch. This door opens from left to right in an unchangeable configuration. One of the main concerns with cases that have a door is regarding the position of its buttons and connectors; some manufacturers place them behind the door, which is a major nuisance. On this case, the buttons and connectors are located on the top panel; however, the case has an SD memory card reader located above the top-most 5.25” bay, and thus behind the front door.

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Figure 4: Front panel

The NZXT Phantom 630 comes with four external 5.25” bays, all using meshed covers with air filters. The air filter for the optional fans of the bottom panel is removable from the front panel. See Figure 5.

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Figure 5: Front panel

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Figure 6: SD memory card reader

The front panel comes with a 200 mm fan installed, which can be replaced by two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans. This fan is connected to the single-channel fan controller available. No further technical specifications for this fan are provided. There is an air filter for this fan.

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Figure 7: Front fan

The Top Panel

The top panel of the NZXT Phantom 630 is meshed, coming with another 200 mm fan, which is also connected to the single-channel fan controller available. You can install another 200 mm fan. If you remove the 200 mm fan that comes with the product, you can install two 140 mm fans or three 120 mm fans. The case comes with two 200 mm air filters. If the 200 mm fan is removed, you can install radiators up to 360 mm long.

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Figure 8: Top panel

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Figure 9: Top panel

The case comes with two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and the traditional audio jacks. The USB 3.0 ports use an internal connector.

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Figure 10: Connectors

The NZXT Phantom 630 comes with a single-channel, three-speed fan controller, which supports up to 10 fans with a total limit of 30 W. Being a single-channel controller, all fans will change their speeds at the same time. There is also a button for turning off the LEDs that exist around the buttons and connectors.

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Figure 11: Buttons and the fan controller

The Bottom and Rear Panels

The bottom panel of the NZXT Phantom 630 has two air filters: one for the power supply fan and one for the optional bottom fans.

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Figure 12: Bottom panel

The rear panel and the interior of the NZXT Phantom 630 are painted with the same color as the exterior (gunmetal, in our sample).

On the NZXT Phantom 630, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.

The product comes with a 140 mm fan installed on its rear panel, also connected to the fan controller. One interesting thing about this fan is that you can move it up or down, in order to better position the fan according to the exact location of the CPU cooler. This fan can be replaced with a 120 mm model, meaning that you can replace it with a 120 mm or a 140 mm radiator.

This case has nine expansion slots with vented slot covers. (Computer cases usually have seven slots.)

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Figure 13: Rear panel

Let’s now take a look inside the NZXT Phantom 630.

Inside the NZXT Phantom 630

Both panels are attached to the chassis using black metallic thumbscrews. The motherboard tray has a huge cutout for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several holes with rubber covers for you to route cables behind it, and several clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties. The huge clearance between the motherboard tray and the right-side panel (1.4” or 36.6 mm) is another highlight of the product, as you can easily accommodate thick cables behind the motherboard tray. As expected from a full-tower case, the Phantom 630 supports XL-ATX motherboards.

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Figure 14: Overall look

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Figure 15: A view behind the motherboard tray

Behind the motherboard tray you will find the power hub for the fan controller, where all fans must be connected to, if you want them to be managed by the fan controller. See Figure 16.

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Figure 16: Fan power hub

In Figure 17, we get another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using thumbscrews. As already explained, the top panel supports the installation of radiators up to 360 mm long. The NZXT Phantom 630 supports video cards up to 12.8” (325 mm) long on its default configuration or up to 20” (507 mm) if the top hard drive cage is removed. You can install CPU coolers up to 6.7” (170 mm) tall, but this clearance is increased to 7.9” (200 mm) if you remove the fan from the left panel.

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Figure 17: Overall look

Inside the NZXT Phantom 630 (Cont’d)

The case supports the installation of one 120 mm or 140 mm fan at the top hard drive cage. This fan can be tilted, so you can direct its airflow to the exact component you want to cool down. See Figure 18.

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Figure 18: Place for optional 120 mm or 140 mm fan

The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. It can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. As shown before, there is an air filter for the power supply fan. On the case’s default configuration, you can install power supplies up to 9.2” (235 mm) deep.

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Figure 19: Power supply compartment

The Phantom 630 allows the installation of a 240 mm radiator between the hard drive cages and the front panel. See Figure 20.

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Figure 20: Place for installing a 240 mm radiator

The reviewed case has a very flexible configuration for its disk drive bays, which gives you two options for the bottom panel. On the case’s default configuration, the bottom panel has a tray for holding the hard drive cages. If this tray is removed, however, you are able to install two 120 mm fans, two 140 mm fans or a radiator up to 280 mm long on the bottom panel. As previously discussed, there is an air filter for these optional cooling solutions.

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Figure 21: Bottom panel with the tray removed

The Disk Drive Bays

The NZXT Phantom 630 has four external 5.25” bays, six internal 3.5”/2.5” bays in three cages, and two internal 2.5” bays located behind the motherboard tray. Installation of 5.25” and 3.5” devices can be done without the use of tools or screws, but installation of 2.5” devices require the use of regular screws. The 2.5” bays behind the motherboard tray are comprised of two small trays. You install storage devices to the tray using regular screws, but the installation of these trays behind the motherboard tray is done without the use of screws.

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Figure 22: Disk drive bays

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Figure 23: The 2.5” bays

Since there are three independent hard drive cages, the Phantom 630 provides a very flexible configuration for its hard drive cages. In Figures 24 and 25 we show two possible configurations.

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Figure 24: Alternative configuration

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Figure 25: Alternative configuration

Main Specifications

The main specifications for the NZXT Phantom 630 include:

• Style: Full-tower
• Application: XL-ATX and smaller form factors
• Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
• Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
• Available colors: Black, white or gunmetal
• Side panel: Window/meshed with fan
• Dimensions: 24.7 x 9.6 x 23.6 inches (627 x 245 x 600 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 27.5 lbs (12.4 kg)
• Gross weight: 33.5 lbs (15.2 kg)
• Bays: Four external 5.25” bays, eight internal 3.5”/2.5” bays in three cages, and two internal 2.5” bays
• Expansion slots: Nine
• Maximum video card length: 12.8” (325 mm) on its default configuration or 20” (507 mm) if the top hard drive cage is removed
• Maximum CPU cooler height: 6.7” (170 mm) on its default configuration or 7.9” (200 mm) if the left-panel fan is removed
• Fans: One 200 mm fan on the left panel, one 200 mm fan on the front panel, one 200 mm fan on the top panel, and one 140 mm fan on the rear panel
• Optional fans: Two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the front panel (if the 200 mm fan is removed), one 200 mm fan on the top panel, two 140 mm or three 120 mm fans on the top panel (if the 200 mm fan is removed), two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the bottom panel, and one 120 mm or 140 mm fan on the top hard drive cage
• Extra Features: SD memory card reader, single-channel three-speed fan controller, support for radiators up to 360 mm long on the top panel, support for radiators up to 240 mm long on the front panel, and support for radiators up to 280 mm long on the bottom panel
• More Information: http://www.nzxt.com
• MSRP in the U.S.: USD 180.00

Conclusions

The NZXT Phantom 630 is the most complete full-tower case we’ve seen recently, allowing a very flexible configuration that should please most enthusiasts. It is not cheap, but we think its price is right for all the features it brings.

Strong Points

• Covers for the 5.25” bays are vented with air filters
• SD memory card reader
• Nine expansion slots
• Air filter for the power supply, bottom, front, and top fans
• Supports eight 3.5”/2.5” and two 2.5” devices at the same time
• Support for video cards up to 20” (507 mm) long if the top hard drive cage is removed
• Vented slot covers
• Three-speed, single-channel fan controller supporting up to 10 fans
• Very flexible configuration for the hard drive cages
• Support for radiators on the top (up to 360 mm), rear (up to 140 mm), bottom (up to 280 mm), and front (up to 240 mm) panels
• A huge cutout in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
• Holes with rubber covers for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
• Clips for fastening cables using cable ties

Weak Points

• Price
• The fan controller has only one channel