Antec Phantom 500 ATX Power Supply

     The Antec product shot above really highlights the details of the chassis of the Phantom 500.  Yes, it really does look like a giant heatsink. There are two notes in the manual that deserve mention, and the first is in regards to enclosure ventilation. Antec warns that the chassis must be well ventilated because of the lack of traditional cooling provided by the Phantom. Even though the Phantom 500 has a fan installed, it remains idle until the temperature trip point has been reached and continues to regulate its speed to provide a quiet computing experience. The manual also goes on to say that the Phantom series are uniquely constructed and are heavier than standard power supplies.

     It's true the Phantom power supplies can be used with any enclosure, as long as the case has plenty of ventilation. Antec's own Performance One series P180 enclosure is a perfect match for the Phantom power supply. By mounting the Phantom on the bottom of the enclosure, the weight is more appropriately placed which reduces the stress on the frame of the enclosure. Likewise, there is a 120mm fan that can be mounted which will give the power supply its proper ventilation. Due to the fact that the Phantom 500 was sent to us at the same time as the P180 enclosure, this is no accident.