Phanteks Evolv Shift 2

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http://phanteks.com/Evolv-Shift2.html
http://phanteks.com/Evolv-Shift2-Air.html

Nice refresh here. Will be interesting to see how it's priced.

 

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Another review here:

Much more in-depth.

I'm left with two grumbles; I wish the case could be inverted (because of the AIO thing, and also I'd prefer the motherboard side of my case facing me), and I wish they'd done one SKU with both panel types, rather than a TG version and a vented version (if they needed to but costs, they could have dropped the DRGB controller and fan).

 

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I’ll be honest I’m not a fan of the mesh at all, looks super cheap like a pair of tights stretched over a piece of plastic.

A metal vented side panel would have been much nicer.

Yeah. I was hoping they'd come back with a solution like on the FormD T1 if they ever did a refresh. That'd be ideal. With this type of mesh, is only want the mesh on the side of the case that won't be visible.

Still, if the NR200 didn't exist then I'd likely wind up buying one of these. I'm still tempted, as the small footprint would help on my small desk.

 

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Not all itx mobos even have usb c headers so seems hardly like an oversight when the cost increase to customers would end up being for something they might not even able to use.

The team at CM who worked on the NR200 have written about this numerous times. A proper USB-C port adds significantly to the cost of the case. They could do a hack job and do USB 3.1 Gen 2 with a C connector for a relatively modest increase in cost. But that doesn't really add anything, and a Type A to Type C adapter is equally good.

It's the same sort of problem as PCIe Gen 4 risers really. Both would be good to have. But both add significantly to the cost.

 

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Well if you look at NZXT, specifically the H210i, which has USB Type C and is priced around the £110 mark, it surely can't cost that much extra.

H210i proves the point.

It's a much simpler design, which will be reusing parts from other H-Series cases. As a result, it's likely that manufacturing costs are lower. It also doesn't use a riser cable. And yet MSRP is £10 more.

 

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Anyone else find it strange Phanteks didn't decide to offer the mesh panels as an accessory for the TG case or do a mix and match with mesh gpu side and glass cpu side?

Yup. Also disappointing that you can't pick which way round the case goes. Glass on the CPU side, facing in to the desk, mesh on the GPU side, facing the wall, would be ideal.

Seems like a strange choice, I do wonder if its something to do with airflow or pressure systems in the case

It's odd, isnt it? Evolv Shift, Fractal Era, NZXT H1, CM H100, Lian Li TU150, Silverstone SG14 all have "novelty" elements. CM then come along with a pretty basic ITX chassis (NR200), and they can't make them fast enough