Short answer: The Phanteks Eclipse P500A remains an excellent airflow-first ATX case, with unusually strong noise-normalized cooling, generous clearance and flexible storage. However, it is physically large, can be loud at maximum fan speed, and Phanteks now lists it as End of Life. In 2026, buy one only when the price is clearly below a comparable current case and the unit is complete and undamaged.
Phanteks Eclipse P500A specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | ATX mid-tower |
| Dimensions | Approximately 505 × 240 × 510 mm |
| Weight | Approximately 8 kg (17.6 lb) in the Tom’s Hardware configuration |
| Motherboards | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX and ATX; E-ATX support is listed by Cybenetics but requires checking board width and cable clearance |
| Maximum GPU length | 435 mm, subject to front radiator, fan and power-cable clearance |
| Maximum CPU-cooler height | 190 mm |
| Maximum PSU length | 250 mm, with storage-position caveats |
| Expansion | Seven horizontal slots plus three vertical positions |
| Drive support | Up to 10 internal 3.5-inch drives, configuration-dependent, and up to three dedicated 2.5-inch positions |
| Fan support | Front: three 120 mm or three 140 mm; top: three 120 mm or two 140 mm; rear: one 120 mm or 140 mm |
| Front I/O | Two USB 3.0, one USB 2.0 and combined 3.5 mm audio/microphone connection; USB-C varies by SKU or front-I/O configuration |
| Side panel | Tempered glass on the reviewed model |
| Launch pricing | Approximately $100 for the standard version and $130 for Digital/D-RGB versions; historical figures, not 2026 prices |
Specifications are drawn from contemporary testing and the manufacturer’s documentation: Tom’s Hardware, Cybenetics and the P500A manual. Exact accessories, front I/O and warranty depend on the SKU and region.
What the P500A is designed to do
The P500A is a large, mesh-heavy chassis built around unrestricted intake airflow rather than compact dimensions or sound isolation. Its ventilated front and top panels, support for large fans and broad interior make it suited to high-power gaming PCs, workstations, multi-drive systems and custom liquid cooling.
The trade-off is straightforward: open mesh reduces airflow resistance, but it also lets more fan noise escape. This is a cool, tunable case—not a silent case.
#1 Best Overall
- PHANTEKS ECLIPSE G400A TEMPERED GLASS ATX MID-TOWER COMPUTER CASE - BLACK
Cooling performance
Excellent results at a controlled noise level
Gamers Nexus measured approximately 50°C CPU delta over ambient and 50°C GPU delta over ambient at a standardized 36 dBA target. Those results were among the strongest in its comparison set and matched or exceeded other airflow-focused cases such as the Phanteks P400A and Cooler Master TD500 Mesh. Tom’s Hardware also recorded the P500A as the best thermal performer in its test group. See the Gamers Nexus testing and Tom’s Hardware results.
These are historical laboratory results from 2020, not guaranteed temperatures for a 2026 CPU or graphics card. Ambient temperature, power limits, coolers, fan layout, radiator placement, dust and firmware all change the outcome. The defensible conclusion is that the P500A moves air very efficiently and does not need maximum fan speed to cool well.
Why its layout works
- A large perforated front provides broad intake area.
- 140 mm fan support allows useful airflow at lower rotational speed than small fans.
- The spacious interior reduces obstruction around the GPU and CPU cooler.
- Top and rear exhaust positions support balanced front-to-back airflow.
Noise and fan control
The P500A is not quiet when its fans are run flat out. Gamers Nexus measured about 44.8 dBA from 20 inches with the Digital model’s fans at maximum. Tom’s Hardware likewise found it the loudest case in its full-speed comparison. The mesh front is a major reason for the excellent temperatures—and for the limited acoustic masking.
Rank #2
- Modern Mid Tower Design: Metal mid tower with clean minimalistic honeycomb design tempered glass front panel. Plenty of room on the back side to hide and route cables. Can fit graphics cards up to 330mm in length and CPU coolers up to 155mm in height
- Pre-Installed ARGB Lighting System: 5x 120mm ARGB fans pre-installed in case, comes with 3pin ARGB connector on RGB fans for ARGB motherboard sync (Only compatible with ARGB motherboards). RGB fans has 366 RGB lighting modes via RGB light switch button on top of case (Press down on LED button for 5 seconds to switch to motherboard ARGB sync mode)
- Comprehensive Connectivity Options: Top panel comes with 1 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, and HD Audio jacks. Front panel water cooling options: 240mm. Room for up to 2 x 2.5 inch hard drives and 2 x 3.5 inch hard drives
- Magnetic Dust Filter: Magnetic Dust Filter on the top panel for reducing dust falling into case. Easy to remove dust filter to wash and clean
- Superior Airflow Design: Features 144 total side air vents on the front panel providing remarkable air circulation with five 120mm ARGB fans strategically positioned-two at the front, two on top, and one at the rear for optimal cooling performance
A custom fan curve changes the experience substantially. The standard review configuration’s 3-pin 140 mm fans operated at roughly 550 RPM at 35% duty and about 1,300 RPM at their observed maximum. Digital-version fans were listed around 1,500 RPM ±10% but reached roughly 1,300–1,320 RPM in testing. Older 3-pin fans may use voltage control rather than modern PWM control, so motherboard adjustment can be less precise. Replacing them with quality PWM fans is worthwhile if smooth, predictable control matters.
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Gamers Nexus noted warm fan motors as an anecdotal observation, not a measured failure finding. It should not be treated as evidence of a systemic defect.
Building inside the P500A
Clearance and cable management
The roomy motherboard area, cable-routing paths, PSU shroud and cable covers make a conventional ATX installation straightforward. Tall tower coolers up to 190 mm and GPUs up to the nominal 435 mm limit fit comfortably in a basic configuration. Long cable runs are the downside of a large chassis, but there is ample space behind the motherboard for routing.
Rank #3
- Support for the latest rear-side connector mainboards
- Includes 3x M25-120 black fans included.
- Support for up to 7x 120mm fan locations.
- Dedicated 360 radiator support in the top without restrictions
- Support for the largest graphics cards without compromise
Radiator and GPU conflicts
The 435 mm GPU figure is a chassis maximum, not a promise that every graphics card fits with every cooler. A thick front radiator and fans reduce available GPU length. Top radiators can compete with tall memory modules or motherboard heatsinks. Modern power connectors also need a bend radius beside the glass panel.
Vertical mounting uses three dedicated positions, but a riser cable may not be included. A vertically mounted card sits closer to the side glass and can receive less intake air, so temperatures may rise compared with horizontal mounting.
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The P500A can be configured for up to 10 internal 3.5-inch drives, depending on brackets and their placement, plus three dedicated 2.5-inch drives. Tom’s Hardware reported two 3.5-inch caddies included in its configuration, with additional capacity available through further brackets. Filling every position can reduce front airflow, complicate cable routing, interfere with radiator placement and reduce usable PSU length.
Rank #4
- Sleek brushed front panel with dual side mesh design enhances intake airflow.
- Pre-installed with 4 PWM fans (3 × 120 mm front + 1 × 120 mm rear).
- Supports up to 360 mm radiator at the top.
- Large bottom intake with 30 mm clearance for optimized GPU cooling.
- Sound-dampening foam on both side panels for effective noise reduction.
Dual-system capability
An optional accessory allows a Mini-ITX system to occupy the upper section of the chassis. Tom’s Hardware listed the accessory at approximately $20 at launch. It can suit a gaming PC paired with a media server, streaming machine or capture system.
This is a niche feature rather than free extra capacity. The second system consumes upper-case space, cooling capacity, cable-management room and budget for another board, processor, memory, cooler and potentially power supply. It also competes with some storage and radiator arrangements.
Standard versus Digital/D-RGB
| Version | Included equipment | Who should choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Two 140 mm fans; no integrated RGB | Builders who want the chassis and plan to choose their own fans or do not need lighting |
| Digital/D-RGB | Three 140 mm D-RGB fans plus lighting strips on the front and PSU-shroud areas | Builders who want lighting and an additional included fan |
The Digital lighting uses addressable 5 V, 3-pin motherboard headers, not 12 V, 4-pin RGB. Confirm the exact SKU before assuming USB-C, a controller, fan count or every cable is included. The historical launch difference was about $30, but neither version has a current standard retail price established here.
Best Value
- Mid-tower dual chamber case featuring full tempered glass front and side panels for interior viewing.
- Includes 3 pre-installed 12cm reverse-blade ARGB fans in the side panel and 1 pre-installed 12cm ARGB fan in the rear.
- Each included fan has special “mirage” infinity mirror lighting effect.
- Supports radiators up to 360mm in the top and bottom of case, and 10 total fan slots for high cooling potential.
- Supports high-end graphics cards up to 450mm in length.
Buying a discontinued P500A in 2026
Phanteks lists the P500A in its End of Life chassis section. That makes availability, replacement panels, accessories and warranty support less certain than they were at launch. A clean old-stock unit with documented warranty is different from a used case that has changed hands several times.
Used-market checklist
- Confirm the exact model number and whether it is Standard or Digital/D-RGB.
- Verify that all included fans, front-panel cables, drive brackets and tempered-glass hardware are present.
- For Digital models, check the D-RGB cables, controller or adapter supplied with that SKU.
- Inspect the glass for cracks and ask how the case will be packed for shipping.
- Test every USB, audio and power-switch connection before accepting the purchase.
- Check whether the optional dual-system bracket and vertical-GPU hardware are actually included if you need them.
- Do not assume the one-year warranty listed by Tom’s Hardware applies in your country or to a second-hand sale.
Do not confuse the P500A with the similarly named G500A. Phanteks’ current catalog highlights the G500A while listing the P500A as EOL: Phanteks cases.
How it compares with current alternatives
Phanteks Eclipse G500A
The G500A is the most direct current Phanteks option. Its official pages list high-airflow front and top mesh, up to 420 mm front-radiator support, up to 360 mm top-radiator support, up to 435 mm GPU clearance, up to 185 mm CPU-cooler height, seven horizontal plus three vertical positions, several fan configurations and a listed five-year limited warranty. See the G500A Performance, G500A D-RGB and G500A Fanless pages.
It may cost more than a discounted P500A, but it offers new-stock availability and more current support. The G400A and G370A are smaller active options in Phanteks’ catalog, while the P600S is a more enclosure-oriented alternative. Other current airflow cases, including the Fractal Design Meshify 2, Fractal Torrent, Cooler Master TD500 Mesh family and Lian Li Lancool III, should be judged on their actual regional price, warranty and included hardware rather than the P500A’s old reputation.
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Who should buy the P500A?
Buy it when
- Airflow and thermal headroom matter more than compact size.
- You find a complete, clean unit substantially cheaper than a comparable new case.
- You need room for a large GPU, tall air cooler or several hard drives.
- You value understated styling and a spacious build area.
- You are comfortable setting a fan curve or replacing 3-pin fans.
- The optional second Mini-ITX system is genuinely useful to you.
Skip it when
- Your desk or floor space is limited.
- Low noise is the primary requirement and you do not want to tune or replace fans.
- You expect modern front I/O, easy spare-part access or a long current warranty.
- A seller is charging a scarcity premium near the price of a newer airflow case.
- You need a compact ATX enclosure.
The Bottom Line
Verdict: The P500A is still a technically excellent airflow case, but it is no longer an automatic recommendation. Buy the Standard or Digital version only when it is complete, undamaged and clearly discounted versus a current case such as the G500A. At a premium, its discontinued status, uncertain accessories and limited support outweigh the otherwise outstanding cooling and build flexibility.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
