The Phanteks NV5 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing five category wins against the single victory held by the Corsair 2500X. The most impactful advantage for the Phanteks NV5 is its inclusion of fans, which provides a 100% improvement over the competition. While the Corsair 2500X offers a 100% advantage in 3.5" drive bay capacity, the overall spec-based lead held by the Phanteks NV5 makes it the superior choice for most standard system builds.

Users who prioritize out-of-the-box cooling solutions should select the Phanteks NV5 to take advantage of its superior fan configuration. Conversely, the Corsair 2500X is the better option for builders who require significant storage capacity, as it doubles the available 3.5" drive bays compared to the Phanteks NV5. Choose the former for streamlined assembly with pre-installed hardware, or the latter if your primary objective is maximizing internal drive space for high-capacity storage needs.