About 3 weeks ago I've decided that I want to install my 7900X/ITX into some small case and after looking for good looking pc case I've purchased Phanteks Shift - non-X, smaller one. I guess it wasn't the best idea and there are some thoughts about this build. Maybe it will help someone who is thinking about Phanteks Shift for higher performance ITX build.
This is the case I'm talking about - http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Evolv-Shift.html
Used hardware:
i9-7900X / stock
ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
4x8GB Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 2666
EVGA GTX1060 ITX/SC 6GB
Crucial BX300 480GB SATA SSD
2x Patriot Hellfire 240GB M.2 NVMe SSD
Corsair H80i V2 AIO with 2x 120mm fans
Corsair 140mm fan next to the motherboard
Corsair SF450, 450W Gold PSU
1. General design - even though it's high quality and looks great then designers clearly had on their minds specific hardware. What you see on the website are pictures without any cables what may cause a lot of issues once you try to connect all devices.
2. PSU - if I'm right then I have 2nd revision of this case as in first wasn't compatible with many PSU. I'm using Corsair SF450 which is enough for my build and is in standard SFX format. Even though I'm not using all cables then were issues with space near PSU. Finally I made enough space to install graphics card.
3. Cooling - everywhere are couple of mm too few to install most popular components what makes it difficult to use hardware from previous builds and there can be issues with bad choices if you want to buy everything new.
- Air cooling, Cryorig C1 is too close to the side window so CPU is overheating or fan is loud ... or both. I've seen other users with this cooler and I wonder how they can use it in the Shift. Smaller cooler will fit but who buys high end, enthusiast case and install there small cooler designed for typical, small ITX builds ?
- Water cooling seems good option but you have to use AIO with tubes going 45/90° from waterblock or you may have problems with closing the case. Custom water cooling is also an option but there is not enough space to install most reservoirs/pumps and still install 2 radiators or 1 thick.
- Radiators - in the manual we can find info about 2x 120mm rads as long as they're 27mm thick... I wonder if it was so hard to make 2-3mm more space ? There are barely any radiators which will fit. I have one that is perfect but it was literally the only one in this size available in the large stores from central EU. It's possible to install one thicker rad and I went this way installing Corsair H80i V2 AIO with 47mm thick rad and 2 fans.
Other thing is what can you cool with 120mm slim rad ?
4. Airflow - I thought it won't be so big issue looking at the pictures but it is. Fans are or taking cold air from outside or blow on the side panels. In both cases it's not perfect as when we use them as intake then hot air will just circulate inside the case. If we use them as exhaust then will blow on the side panels and there is not enough space to get rid of hot air.
5. Other things/build - it's impossible to close side panel if screws have round heads. Again 1mm makes huge difference and clearly designers didn't check that with typical screws that are added to AIO/fans/radiators. I had to find flat screws so I didn't have to modify side panel.
Effect:
Fans at auto - all almost fine except it's really loud - handles stock settings under full load
Fans at silent mode - still loud under load - handles stock settings under full load
Fans at custom settings - not silent but quiet - handles 4GHz at 1V and to keep it quiet have to modify graphics card settings
Regardless what I do:
CPU in best case has ~50°C idle but maximum ~80°C what is still acceptable.
Graphics card goes up to 85°C. Any low fan speed profile causes it to throttle.
Hellfire SSD in idle have 70°C, during work 95°C. Outside the case temps were about 30°C lower.
Motherboard sensor is showing 50°C.
So I wonder what kind of hardware designers had on their minds designing Phanteks Shift. Except the CPU, everything in this build is typical and lower power. Effects are not much better when I lower CPU power, disable HT etc. Now think you want to install GTX1080/1080Ti or any higher AMD card. On the pictures is larger graphics card like these 250W+ models.
Even though it looks great, if you want it to run cool and quiet then you have to use low power components and that's disappointment for enthusiasts/gamers for whom this product is dedicated.
Couple of photos
This is the case I'm talking about - http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Evolv-Shift.html
Used hardware:
i9-7900X / stock
ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
4x8GB Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 2666
EVGA GTX1060 ITX/SC 6GB
Crucial BX300 480GB SATA SSD
2x Patriot Hellfire 240GB M.2 NVMe SSD
Corsair H80i V2 AIO with 2x 120mm fans
Corsair 140mm fan next to the motherboard
Corsair SF450, 450W Gold PSU
1. General design - even though it's high quality and looks great then designers clearly had on their minds specific hardware. What you see on the website are pictures without any cables what may cause a lot of issues once you try to connect all devices.
2. PSU - if I'm right then I have 2nd revision of this case as in first wasn't compatible with many PSU. I'm using Corsair SF450 which is enough for my build and is in standard SFX format. Even though I'm not using all cables then were issues with space near PSU. Finally I made enough space to install graphics card.
3. Cooling - everywhere are couple of mm too few to install most popular components what makes it difficult to use hardware from previous builds and there can be issues with bad choices if you want to buy everything new.
- Air cooling, Cryorig C1 is too close to the side window so CPU is overheating or fan is loud ... or both. I've seen other users with this cooler and I wonder how they can use it in the Shift. Smaller cooler will fit but who buys high end, enthusiast case and install there small cooler designed for typical, small ITX builds ?
- Water cooling seems good option but you have to use AIO with tubes going 45/90° from waterblock or you may have problems with closing the case. Custom water cooling is also an option but there is not enough space to install most reservoirs/pumps and still install 2 radiators or 1 thick.
- Radiators - in the manual we can find info about 2x 120mm rads as long as they're 27mm thick... I wonder if it was so hard to make 2-3mm more space ? There are barely any radiators which will fit. I have one that is perfect but it was literally the only one in this size available in the large stores from central EU. It's possible to install one thicker rad and I went this way installing Corsair H80i V2 AIO with 47mm thick rad and 2 fans.
Other thing is what can you cool with 120mm slim rad ?
4. Airflow - I thought it won't be so big issue looking at the pictures but it is. Fans are or taking cold air from outside or blow on the side panels. In both cases it's not perfect as when we use them as intake then hot air will just circulate inside the case. If we use them as exhaust then will blow on the side panels and there is not enough space to get rid of hot air.
5. Other things/build - it's impossible to close side panel if screws have round heads. Again 1mm makes huge difference and clearly designers didn't check that with typical screws that are added to AIO/fans/radiators. I had to find flat screws so I didn't have to modify side panel.
Effect:
Fans at auto - all almost fine except it's really loud - handles stock settings under full load
Fans at silent mode - still loud under load - handles stock settings under full load
Fans at custom settings - not silent but quiet - handles 4GHz at 1V and to keep it quiet have to modify graphics card settings
Regardless what I do:
CPU in best case has ~50°C idle but maximum ~80°C what is still acceptable.
Graphics card goes up to 85°C. Any low fan speed profile causes it to throttle.
Hellfire SSD in idle have 70°C, during work 95°C. Outside the case temps were about 30°C lower.
Motherboard sensor is showing 50°C.
So I wonder what kind of hardware designers had on their minds designing Phanteks Shift. Except the CPU, everything in this build is typical and lower power. Effects are not much better when I lower CPU power, disable HT etc. Now think you want to install GTX1080/1080Ti or any higher AMD card. On the pictures is larger graphics card like these 250W+ models.
Even though it looks great, if you want it to run cool and quiet then you have to use low power components and that's disappointment for enthusiasts/gamers for whom this product is dedicated.
Couple of photos
H80i should be able to handle this CPU without issues and it does a good job when case isn't closed. Now think that someone installs GTX1080 or any higher AMD card, even with lower TDP CPU ( still most CPUs are ~100W TDP ) ... it was designed for larger gaming graphics cards while it clearly can't handle them keeping everything quiet. I'm not saying silent but really who nowadays builds loud, gaming computers ? 
