Build Quality
The build quality on the DF500 is interesting to describe because it manages to be simultaneously great, alright, and bad so let’s start with the good.
The glass side panel really blew me away with how well made it is, it’s extremely thick and decently scratch resistant. The glass panel definitely feels like it’s from a case that cost at least $100 at least. I was really quite surprised at how premium and durable this part of the case is. This is one of the best parts of this case and it feels way better than expected so major props on Antec here!
But unfortunately, the same praise can’t be given for every aspect of the build quality. The main point of disappointment would be the back side panel which is made out of a very flimsy metal and feels really below par for any case above $30 I understand in order for the $65 price point to be met while maintaining all of the features included in the DF500 some sacrifices have to be made but it just feels poorly made and very cheap. I could easily bend the panel by hand and if I wanted to cause permanent damage to the panel I could fold it in half without much effort at all. The main point of failure seems to be around the edges of the handle shown above since that’s where and folding or bending would happen when I flexed the case but the case as a whole feels like it could bend without much force.
This definitely isn’t a catastrophic issue and it definitely doesn’t mean the case is not worth buying but it still feels way cheaper than I expected.
The front panel feels pretty good. The sides and top are made out of a thick plastic that doesn’t feel flimsy at all and feels like it won’t break unless you try to break it, the clear part is made out of acrylic, not glass which almost every case with any curved clear portions is made out of so this isn’t a bad thing at all but acrylic does scratch extremely easily so keep that in mind whether you pick up this case or one of the other hundreds that have acrylic on the case.
Outside of everything mentioned above the rest of this case is built alright, it doesn’t blow me away with stellar build quality but it doesn’t feel particularly cheap either so I can’t complain since it feels completely expected considering the price.
Overall build quality is mostly good, the glass panel excels and feels amazing and very well made but the back panel feels extremely cheap and fragile while the rest of the case feels exactly like it should considering the price special.
I rate the build quality 3.5/5 since the overall build quality is good but it is slightly held back due to the rear panel being extremely flimsy. If the whole case was made with the same quality as the glass panel this case would be an easy 5/5 though!
Lighting
Due to an AIO review, I’m currently working on two of the included fans were removed but all color effects are shown work with all 3 fans.
Out of the box without any motherboard control, you are given the choice between the 7 colors shown above as well as some nice animations shown above. Both animations cycle between all 7 colors but in order to keep recording size down, I only show 2 colors.
Even without any software control you still have quite a bit of customizability over the lighting.
But Antec does offer software control for the included RGB fans provided you have a motherboard that supports it. Shown above I have the fan controlled through MSI’s mystic lighting software. Software control works quite well I didn’t have to do any configuration out of the box and it really was a plug and play experience.
Overall I’m pleased with how the lighting turned out on this case, without any motherboard control you still have enough color and animation options to make the included fans fit in with any build. If you do have a supported motherboard though you’ll really be able to customize the lighting to your heart’s content. I also like that getting the fan lighting to work with my motherboard required no configuration.
I rate the lighting 5/5. No complaints here!
Now onto thermal performance, sound, and misc features!
