HYTE Y40 Review: Premium Mid-Tower PC Case

HYTE the innovative sibling company of iBUYPOWER renowned for its expertise in crafting custom PCs. While iBUYPOWER focuses on the core hardware, HYTE shines in the realm of peripherals and accessories. Among their standout offerings are the distinctive cabinets Y60, Y40, and the latest additions, Y70 Touch and Y70. In this review, we delve into the Y40, the most budget-friendly model in the lineup. The HYTE Y40 is a mid-tower marvel boasting a one-of-a-kind design featuring dual panoramic glass panels, offering a captivating view of the interior components.

While the Y40 shares a common trait with its counterpart, the Y60 PC Case, in supporting only vertical graphics card installation, their differences extend far beyond aesthetics. Despite both models sporting unique glazing, with a solid glass front complementing a classic side panel, their internal layouts and constructions diverge significantly. Where the Y60 embraces an unconventional, almost “cube-like” shape, the Y40 maintains a more traditional ATX case layout, with the power supply situated under the bottom tunnel. Despite these distinctions, both models exude HYTE’s commitment to innovation and quality craftsmanship.

Available in four striking color variations—including tested contrast White/Black, Pure White, Pure Black, and Red/Black—the Y40 surprises with its affordability. Despite its unique design and premium features, the price remains accessible, making it an enticing option for enthusiasts seeking a blend of style and functionality in their PC builds. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the performance and usability of the HYTE Y40, exploring how it stands out in the competitive landscape of PC cabinets.

Unboxing

The outer packaging of the HYTE Y40 chassis is presented in a robust and environmentally friendly neutral cardboard box, which not only showcases the product’s assembled and disassembled configurations but also features comprehensive technical specifications on one side. This thoughtful design allows prospective users to gain insights into the chassis before even opening the package. Upon unboxing, the chassis itself is securely nestled within layers of protection, including a thick cork frame and a plastic bag, ensuring that it arrives intact and undamaged, ready for assembly.

Delving further into the package, users will discover a hidden cardboard box containing a set of accessories, along with the user manual. While the manual may be minimalist, it includes essential information, complemented by a practical TRRS jack to double the TRS jack adapter cable. This addition proves particularly handy, resolving any compatibility concerns with the TRRS connector on the front of the chassis, thereby enhancing the overall user experience and satisfaction with the product.

Design

Exterior

The HYTE Y40 chassis introduces a fresh perspective to the Mid-Tower format, boasting dimensions of 439 mm x 240 mm with distinctively thin upper and lower edges, setting it apart from its predecessors. Its contemporary and striking design is immediately captivating; appearing wide and shallow, though this effect is partly a result of its unique design which limits frontal possibilities. The chassis features a pair of panoramic glasses, seamlessly joined without any visible corners, offering a clear view of the interior despite the dark tinting. Impressions of premium quality are undeniable, owing to the impeccable fit between the front and side panels, and the remarkable choice of materials.

Located on the lower central plane of the chassis, the control panel boasts a functional array of features. It comprises a versatile 3.5″ jack connector designed for audio and microphone integration, alongside a dual USB 3.0 connector facilitating rapid data transfer. A conspicuous square LED button commands the power state of the device, offering intuitive control. Complementing these interfaces is a USB 3.2 Type-C connector, enhancing connectivity options for modern peripherals and devices. Together, these elements form a comprehensive control hub, ensuring seamless operation and accessibility for users.

The HYTE Y40 impresses with its main side, which grants a clear view into the chassis’s interior, drawing attention to the riser cable, a feature to be explored further. This side is dominated by a generously sized tempered glass panel, offering a stark contrast with the sleek white chassis and framed by slim top and bottom edges. Secured by four pressure studs, the panel facilitates tool-free access to the chassis.

However, it’s the lid on the secondary side that truly commands attention, boasting a striking red hue in this particular version and a pattern of strategically placed openings designed to enhance internal cooling. The lid’s design features a series of semi-angled stripes, ingeniously allowing air to flow into the chassis, optimizing thermal performance. The design elements of the side panel extend seamlessly into the upper region, maintaining continuity and facilitating airflow. Inside, the layout appears more streamlined, featuring uniquely designed dust filters that can be effortlessly detached for cleaning.

The audacious aesthetic extends downward with angular plastic components supporting the chassis, adorned with foam rubber pads. Here, two additional dust filters, resembling intricate spider webs, add a touch of flair to the overall design.

Turning our attention to the chassis, we observe a distinct rear side characterized by its unique slot configuration, though a closer inspection from within will provide a clearer view. Notably, the rear area boasts design innovations setting it apart from other chassis models. Featuring seven horizontal low-profile expansion slots alongside an additional four conventional-sized vertical slots, this configuration offers versatile compatibility for various components. Complementing this layout is a 120mm fan operating at 1300 rpm, diligently expelling hot air from within the case to maintain optimal thermal conditions.

Interior

The chassis offers convenient accessibility with its tool-free removal of side and upper covers, secured in place by clips. Its interior metal covers boast an innovative design that facilitates airflow to essential areas. With compatibility for ATX-type motherboards and smaller variants, as well as support for any cooler up to 183mm in height and a 280/240/140/120 mm radiator, it provides ample space for customization.

Additionally, the option to install a pair of 120/140 mm fans ensures efficient ventilation, particularly beneficial when the front is closed. The chassis accommodates GPUs up to 422mm in length, with a recommended maximum height of 94mm for optimal component cooling, although Hyte suggests staying under 80mm for best results. Notably, the inclusion of a raised cable allows for vertical positioning of the graphics card, adding a unique touch to the setup.

The standout feature of the HYTE Y40 chassis is undeniably its bundled PCIe 4.0 riser cable, a noteworthy inclusion given their typically high cost. What sets it apart even further is its strikingly original and intricately designed aesthetic. Another distinctive characteristic of the HYTE Y40 is its provision of 7 horizontal low-profile slots, facilitating easy access to all motherboard connectors without necessitating a riser cable, provided the cards are of equal low profile. Additionally, the chassis boasts 4 vertical slots capable of accommodating full-format cards, particularly graphics cards.

The fairing serves as a protective casing for the lower region, concealing the power supply unit within. Crafted from plastic material, it seamlessly integrates with the exterior design, featuring grooves that harmonize with the aesthetic showcased in the preceding section.

In the upper region of the chassis, there is ample space to accommodate a triple radiator measuring up to 360 mm in length, allowing for efficient cooling of the system. This radiator can be effectively complemented by 120 mm fans, ensuring optimal airflow and heat dissipation within the chassis. With this configuration, users can expect enhanced thermal performance, enabling their hardware to operate at optimal temperatures even under heavy loads.

Let’s take a closer look at the HYTE Y40 backside and explore the ample space available behind the motherboard tray for organizing wiring, along with the area adjacent to the power supply, where cables can be neatly concealed. Behind the motherboard lies a convenient tray that accommodates either a pair of 2.5-inch drives or a single 3.5-inch unit, albeit with a thickness restriction of 24 mm. Consequently, storage options may be somewhat limited, although the prevalence of M.2 SSDs is gradually diminishing the necessity for traditional storage units in many computer setups.

In the lower area of the setup, there’s an additional 120 mm fan running at 1300 RPM, complementing the cooling system. This area also offers ample space for an ATX power supply unit, accommodating sizes up to 224 mm deep. It’s an ideal spot for organizing excess wiring, ensuring a clean and tidy appearance for the visible components in the main section of the equipment. Taking a closer look at the wiring, it’s as expected, featuring headers for USB and sound connections, along with PWM connectors tailored for the fans, providing efficient control over their operation.

Installation

We effortlessly integrated a comprehensive system within the HYTE Y40 case, incorporating an mATX motherboard with Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith DDR5 Memory, an Intel Core i7-12700K processor, a dual 120mm side fan, an upper 360mm Yeston liquid cooler, and a Predator BiFrost Intel® Arc™ A770 OC 16GB graphics card utilizing the included Riser. The cable management was a breeze, facilitated by well-sized cable glands, allowing smooth passage for power cables from the CPU, GPU, and power source.

The interior of the HYTE Y40 Case is truly remarkable, boasting an impressive appearance that immediately catches the eye. The double panoramic tempered glass provides a breathtaking view of the components within. This design not only adds a touch of elegance to the case but also allows users to showcase their high-performance hardware in all its glory. Whether it’s the intricate details of a liquid cooling system or the sleek lines of a powerful graphics card, the double panoramic tempered glass ensures that every aspect of the interior is on full display, making for a truly immersive computing experience.

Cooling and AirFlow

Thermal performance is crucial for ensuring optimal operation of any PC case. Despite its exterior appearance and apparent silence, a PC’s internal temperature can soar if airflow is insufficient. It is imperative for a PC case to facilitate adequate airflow to keep components cool under heavy loads and prevent thermal throttling.

Testing of the Hyte case was conducted with side panels and the top cover installed, simulating real-world conditions. The case underwent a rigorous 16-minute stress test using the game Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Following the test, two series of readings averaging 2 minutes each were taken to assess the CPU and GPU temperatures and frequencies. The results revealed average temperatures of 48.7°C for the processor and 67.6°C for the graphics card, indicating satisfactory thermal performance.

While the case maintained relatively cool temperatures, enhancements could be made to further improve airflow. The inclusion of one fan at the bottom and one at the back contributed to the case’s thermal management capabilities. However, incorporating two intake fans on the side, as recommended by Hyte, would provide additional airflow and optimize thermal performance. By following Hyte’s suggested fan configuration, users can ensure their PC remains cool and performs optimally, even under demanding workloads.

Acoustics

The overall noise level was measured at 55 dBA, with an ambient noise level of 33 dBA. While this is slightly higher than ideal, it’s important to note that all fans were operating at full speed during testing. With fans running at maximum capacity, it’s expected that noise levels would be elevated. Adjusting fan speeds or opting for quieter fan models could help mitigate noise levels without compromising on thermal performance.

Conclusion