BitFenix Pandora ATX Review 5

BitFenix Pandora ATX Review

(5 Comments) »

Value & Conclusion

  • The BitFenix Pandora ATX sells for 120 euro including taxes. US readers will need to pay 160 US dollars excluding taxes.
  • Built-in LCD screen
  • Liquid-cooling support
  • Wide enough for 120 mm fan tower coolers
  • Shroud to hide PSU and HDDs
  • Velcro strips for better cable management
  • Mounting plate for liquid-cooling pump
  • Bracket for reservoir included
  • Two retail quality fans inside
  • Can hold up to eight hard drives - four of them are for SSDs
  • Interior paint job not perfect
  • No more aluminum - steel side panels instead
  • Front cover is prone to scratches
  • LCD takes a full USB 2.0 header
  • A bit on the pricey side - especially for the US
The BitFenix Pandora ATX is in essence a large Pandora. It comes with the same LCD screen and distinctive design, but is essentially a completely different enclosure upon closer inspection. Thanks to its bigger dimensions, you are able to place liquid-cooling systems within the case, for which BitFenix includes all the necessary mounting possibilities. Even the pump and reservoir can be mounted without issue since mounting plates are present.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Taking a look at the outside, the biggest difference to the original Pandora is the switch from aluminum to steel side panels. While this allows BitFenix to offer thinner panels that still feel solid, it does take away a purchasing reason for some by reducing the price-to-performance attribute. You will find the same LCD screen in the front, which you may program to display all types of information.

Along with the switch in materials, BitFenix has also changed the way the side panels are held in place, with traditional screws replacing the less useful knobs of the original. In the interior, things now look a lot more traditional, though there are the missing bays in front. There is a shroud covering the PSU bay, and it also offers three hard-drive placements for either 2.5'' or 3.5" drives. On the motherboard tray are four additional 2.5" plates - two in front and two in the back, while a lonely 2.5/3.5" variant can be found on top of the shroud itself. This brings the total number of possible drives to eight - a surprising amount.

One of the biggest gripes one may have with the chassis, however, are the somewhat rough finishing touches. While it is a solid case, the all-plastic front is not ideal, and the fact that some areas of the interior were never painted properly is a bit of an issue for a chassis that clocks in at 120 euro or 160 US dollars. It simply lacks the finesse one may expect from a case of this price. Where other manufacturers think a bit more about the interior design with shapes, branding, or intricacies of more or less usefulness, the Pandora ATX seems a bit simple.

However, do not take the positives of the BitFenix Pandora ATX lightly. It is functional, comes with two fans, has loads of space, offers great liquid-cooling support, and does score with some of its unique aspects. So, if you can look past the small visual drawbacks, the Pandora could make a good chassis for quite the nice liquid-cooled build.
Recommended
Discuss(5 Comments)
View as single page
May 12th, 2024 12:17 EDT change timezone

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts