Genesis Irid 505F: On to cooling with five fans

Exterior

Among new cases, the Polish company Genesis is also making a statement by upgrading the older Irid 503 and Irid 505 cases. One of these new models, which we will now focus on in our tests, is the Irid 505F. This one is remarkable in that it comes with as much as five fans, which is quite unusual. Especially in the class of cheaper cases to which the Irid 505F belongs.

Basic parameters


Exterior

The inside of the cardboard box is filled with polystyrene, in which the case is nested. The accessories are fairly modest, containing the screws needed for assembly, zip ties and a motherboard buzzer. In height, the case is taller than it may appear from the photos. Despite the massive appearance, the weight, all with tempered glass, is rather lower (7.1 kg).

The four millimetre thick glass is all around the left side with dark frames around the perimeter. It has a protective film adhered to both sides. The glass is mounted on four rubberised posts where it is secured with screws. This is one of the cheaper and probably easier ways to attach the glass to the structure. The quality of the screws is commendable, above standard, higher than most of the cases we’ve tested so far.

   

The front panel is largely perforated. Compared to the original version, the holes should be slightly smaller, with an average of 0.8 mm. They will naturally be less effective at trapping dust particles than a nylon filter. Nevertheless, the holes in the perforation are some of the smallest that are made. The panel is clamped to the structure. It can be “ripped out” from the bottom, where there is a hole for this purpose. However, this is not an ideal position for gripping, as you have to lift the case to do so. There is also a mesh above the provisional handle. This is only good, as it is an open space and the case draws air from there as well.

   

Behind the front panel, there are three 120mm fans called “Oxal 120”. Genesis lists airflow of just over 78 m³/h at 1300 rpm. This should also be their maximum performance with a ±10 % deviation. You can also fit two 140 mm fans or a liquid radiator of up to 360 mm instead.

On top is an I/O panel with up to four USB connectors, which is also not the usual number (not in this price range). But two of them are of the slower 2.0 standard. Speed-wise, this is indeed a disadvantage, but it doesn’t really happen that the ports remain unconnected. Many motherboards, especially cheaper ones, don’t have a second USB 3.x gen. 1 19-pin. However, the internal USB 2.0 connectors are never missing.

For some, the lack of a USB Type-C connector may be a disappointment. The headphones and microphone have a 3.5 mm jack separately. While there is a button labeled LED, it has no use on the Irid 505F case. There are up to three versions of the Irid 505 case on offer, and one of them is the ARGB backlit version. I assume that to reduce manufacturing costs, the same case with the LED button is used in each variant, and so it appears here as well. The restart button is quite small and positioned deeper, which prevents it from being pressed unintentionally. However, when you do need to press it, it’s not very convenient. I have no complaints on the power button, it presses comfortably and you get a tactile response as well. Between the buttons there are two more small but sharp LEDs. One indicates the power on status and the other drive activity.

For better air ventilation, the ceiling of the case is perforated. This part is covered by a removable mesh screen with the same holes as on the front panel. With magnets around the perimeter, it is attached to the structure and thus held directly in the trough. For extracting warm air, you can fit two 120/140 mm fans or a liquid cooler radiator of up to 280 mm here.

A typical power supply opening and PCI Express expansion card slot covers await you in the back. There are up to eight of them, which is untypical for cases of this format. On the side they have a sliding screw cover, but due to its height it was harder to handle. It kept jamming. The top half of the case belongs to the motherboard I/O panel opening and the 120mm fan exhaust.

Underneath are four feet with anti-slip strips glued on. They do not put up much resistance, but they do their job. The power supply is covered by an identical screen to the one on the front or top, so I probably wouldn’t put the case on the ground in a more dusty environment. Next to it are the four storage drawer screws. There are also additional pre-made holes for its alternative placement closer to the front panel.


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Comments (4) Add comment

  1. Would you recommend this case over Modecom Volcano Amirani?
    I can see that during the tests Genesis is doing very well with keeping the temperatures down. Putting that aside are there any major quality or feature differences?

    1. Amirani has its advantages such as backlighting with remote control or the ability to mount the graphics card vertically. It also has thicker sheet metal and Velcro strips for cable management, which the tested Irid didn’t have. But if I compare the two cases as a whole and add in their cooling performance, I would personally prefer the Irid 505F over the Amirani. You need to consider what you expect from the case and decide accordingly.

      1. I think it is often overlooked, but Amirani also has USB Type C port on top, which is very handy when using external SSD with such connector.

        1. That’s why I wrote that you need to determine what you want from the case. Of course USB type C is another plus for Amirani. The Irid, on the other hand, has a higher number of connectors (4× USB type A). There is about a 20 euro difference in price between the cases, which is also reflected in their features and quality.
          We can apply the same procedure for the Amirani case and with an increased budget by 20 euros, we can buy, for example, the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh Performance.

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