Conclusion
Today we took a look at Antec’s DF800 FLUX, one of six entries in their FLUX line. Antec has focused on aesthetics for the FLUX line, and the DF800 FLUX has an overall attractive look, in our opinion.
Summary of Features
We found the DF800 FLUX to have everything needed to build a higher-end system, with just enough flexibility for 2.5″ and 3.5″ drives and AIO coolers. The inclusion of five fans and the unique reverse fan with its PSU shroud mount does add to the out-of-box value, as does the fan and lighting controller which also works as an expander.
Note that while the lighting controller is probably not a better option than using motherboard RGB headers where available, not every motherboard has these – or has a software suite that is easy to use – making the option of using the lighting controller convenient for such instances.
Our Experiences
Being an ATX mid-tower with a common layout, we didn’t find any egregious issues to report. Fit and finish are excellent, there’s enough room behind the motherboard tray for cable routing, and performance overall matched our expectations for this class of enclosure.
We especially like the idea of the PSU shroud mounting for fans. For cases of similar size and layout, getting airflow below the GPU is difficult; some cases omit a PSU shroud and embrace a different aesthetic, allowing for a bottom-mounted intake, while Antec’s solution seems similar to that of Cooler Master’s HAF 500 but simpler.
We’d also like to point out for those pursuing custom water cooling that the 120mm fan mount is also popular for mounting reservoirs, pumps, and reservoir/pump combination units. While the use of some of these components on the top of the PSU shroud can inhibit the space needed for expansion cards, most systems that have a single GPU still have plenty of room to work with.
We did also find a few places where Antec could improve while recognizing that these choices may have been made to control MSRP:
- The front panel is attached solidly, which will likely frustrate fan swapping and radiator installation
- The front panel also has a limited intake surface area
- There isn’t a filter for the front intake, just the mesh grill, despite filtering on the PSU intake, side intake, and top panel
- The sliding expansion slot retention panel just doesn’t seem very useful, and the space could be used for vertical expansion card mounts or for mounting USB ports that connect to internal headers
- The Antec DF800 FLUX lacks grommets on cable routing cutouts entirely, which does ease cable routing but could be aesthetically displeasing for some
- The rear reverse flow fan mount is directly above the PSU and is unlikely to be able to pull through significant amounts of air, while the restriction is likely to result in additional noise if used
- Antec chose not to use RGB fans for the included rear exhaust and reverse fans, which seems like a cost-conscious omission
Final Points
The Antec DF800 FLUX performs in line with similarly-sized and equipped cases while offering good looks, additional cooling options, a fan and RGB hub along with an RGB controller, and five fans over the typical three. At the same time, the US$129 MSRP seems a bit high for this class of case, particularly given that there are a few obvious decisions made to control the bill of materials. But for folks that can make use of the features and are shopping for a case in this class or possibly for the looks, the DF800 FLUX is a case we can recommend.
As a solid ATX mid-tower entry with good out-of-the-box cooling, all relevant features, and a sharp presentation, but perhaps a touch overpriced, the Antec DF800 Flux earns our Silver award!
