Bitfenix Raider Review

Creekin · 22nd January 2012, 3:25 AM

So, Bitfenix noticed i'm a bit of a fanboi and asked me if i'd like to check out one of their new cases......

Quote:

5.25" Drive Bays x 4
3.5" Drive Bays x 6
2.5" Drive Bays x 7
Cooling Front 2 x 120mm (included) or 1 x 200mm (optional)
Cooling Rear 1 x 120mm (included)
Cooling Top 1 x 200mm (optional)
Cooling Bottom 1 x 120mm (optional)

I won't post all the features as you can see them in the link
a few note worthy ones are the 3 included spectre 120 fans and the built in fan controller capable of up to 5 fans

But my fave feature which is worth mentioning...

Quote:

BitFenix SofTouch™ Surface Treatment
Raider features signature BitFenix SofTouch™ Surface Treatment which gives an elegant matte finish and one-of-a-kind feel. Best of all, SofTouch™ even resists fingerprints and stains, keeping your Raider looking great.

the soft touch is more like rubber than plastic, similar to some smartphone covers i suppose
but much nicer, looks so much better irl than pics can do justice and feels awesome!!!!111

but enough talk
on to the unboxing....

boxed.

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unboxed

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I really like the clean lines of the top and front panel,

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it's almost a shame to ruin it with a dvd

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The top panel is a clean solid grill with a large gap between it and the case, similar to my vento, there is plenty of room in there for a strip or two of alchemy leds, lucky i just happen to have a set

they create a great effect even in full daylight

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on the left is the 4x usb3 ports and audio ports, the usb cables have both usb3 and usb 2 plugs on the mobo end

on the right is the fan speed slider, reset and power buttons, (all soft touch) and io leds
the fan cable has 5x 3pin fan sockets and a molex power input
all of the top panels cables are generously long and i had no problems reaching the mobo audio header, even going the "long" way

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around the back there is 2 wc grommets and also another slot for passing fan cables through to the rad

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120mm fan (inc) with optional 80mm fan mount
7 pci slots with mesh covers
and a reversible psu mount

the side panels are a bit plain but sturdy, nothing a dremel can't fix

and that brings us to the good bit

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pretty common case layout these days, but with a few improvements over most deigns. the cpu backplate access is actually large enough to access the cpu backplate!

above the mobo area you can see a long thin gap in the panel
for cable access

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of the 2x 3 drive hdd bays the top one is partially removable to allow longer gpus

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the 4 odd bays have a nice quick lock that opens and closes easily and the whole thing can pop off with no fiddly springs to lose if you prefer to use screws.

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there is 1x 120 bitfenix spectre fan installed in the back for exhaust and 2 installed in the front for intake
while they are nice quiet fans they dont have a lot of grunt (43cfm)
there is also another optional 120 fan mount on the floor in front of the psu
and an optional 200mm fan mount on the top panel
but sadly no option for a pair of 120/140s

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the box of bolts and stick on feet were stowed securely in the ODD bay.
so far the stick on feet are the only minor negative i have seen.
but it is good strong 3M tape and shouldn't come off. I have been told bolts will be used in the future.

inc in the bolt bag was a mobo speaker (makes me sad when makers leave this out) and a handy little mobo standoff "handle"

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around the back are an array of handy cable tie anchors

and the top panel cables were tied in for transit
the cable hole grommets are nice and soft and pop in easily
i also much prefer their thin oval shape to the usual wide oval

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the bottom of the case has 2 slide out filters
1 for the optional 120mm fan and another for the psu

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there is also an indentation for the stick on feet
which btw have copped some abuse so far and are holding up nicely

this is the front panel in the nude!

NSFW!

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you can see the 2x 120s installed and the 200mm mounts

a big psu like this HX1000 fits with plenty of room to spare
but covers the optional fan mount

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a slightly smaller psu like this HX620 doesnt

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but the "right" way up the modular ports are blocked
luckily this case can mount the psu the other way also

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the psu sits on really nice hard rubber nipples

there is slots in the hdd bay but they didnt line up with my gpu cables so it had to go!
single thumbscrew holds one side of the hdd bay in place and it is easily removed and replaced

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i moved the stock rear fan to the floor mount and used an orange led version i had instead

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my red pcie cables seem to have grown legs

so had to use my black set

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plenty of space in the 25mm gap between mobo and side panel for all this lot

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and with a few strategically placed cable ties, the side panel slid straight on with no bulge at all

nice clean look inside and out

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and finally a night shot of the bitfenix alchemy ledstrip mounted in the top panel

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was hard to get a pic that showed how bright and even it looked
will have to try it later with red

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Conclusion:

I am really impressed by the build quality and features in this case, and that's coming from a die hard lian li fanboi

all the removable parts and panels popped right into place with no trouble at all.
and installing the mobo and parts could not have been easier.

Pros:
The soft touch is a premium finish
4 x usb3 ports
3x 120mm fans and controller
cable tie anchors behind mobo
cable access slot above mobo
reversible psu mount
removable hdd cage
7th ssd mount on case floor
clean exterior lines

Cons:
Stick on case feet (very minor and will be rectified)
Lack of dual 120/140 fan mounts on top panel.

I really struggled to find any other negatives
This is a really well designed and built mid tower case
Highly recommend!

I am not sure of RRP yet as it is not yet up on any retailers sites that I have seen. Should be in next few days.

BIG thanks to Lester and Thomas from Bitfenix for supplying the case for review

looking forward to seeing the new wc case just launched in the last day or so..
the
Shinobi XL

stay tuned

now, where's my dremel?

Rogue-X · 22nd January 2012, 3:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creekin

I am not sure of RRP yet as it is not yet up on any retailers sites that I have seen. Should be in next few days.

I looked into this case the other day. I have seen its direct selling it for $99.

IMtech · 22nd January 2012, 8:14 AM

Great looking case! Me wants...

And good job on the review Creekin!

ruffnex · 22nd January 2012, 8:14 AM

Very nice! I must say I'm a bit of fan of BitFenix stuff also. Good quality stuff for a decent price.

Bit like NZXT, but not shit.

brayway · 22nd January 2012, 11:19 AM

Are you OK Creekin?
I didn't see any signs of a dremel??

IMtech · 22nd January 2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brayway

Are you OK Creekin?
I didn't see any signs of a dremel??

Give it a couple more days...

Darkness Born · 22nd January 2012, 12:53 PM

great review, bitfenix make some cool stuff, that's for sure

Anomalous · 23rd January 2012, 12:34 AM

Nice review. Hopefully they send you a Shinobi XL to fill with rads.

auApex · 23rd January 2012, 3:41 PM

Do you get to keep the case, Creekin?

IMtech · 23rd January 2012, 5:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auApex

Do you get to keep the case, Creekin?

I think he does... I hope so... Good looking case too!

clinic · 23rd January 2012, 5:31 PM

Seems a bit of a shame the HDD cage(s) are only partially removable, looks like there's potenial there to get a 2x120 or 200 rad at the front once they are out.

brayway · 23rd January 2012, 6:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinic

Seems a bit of a shame the HDD cage(s) are only partially removable, looks like there's potenial there to get a 2x120 or 200 rad at the front once they are out.

Dremel

Creekin · 23rd January 2012, 7:11 PM

wot he said ^

although u would probably need to cut out the bottom of the odd bay also as the 2x 120 fans just fit under it
no room for rad end tanks/ports

its a mid tower air case, and for that it is awesome
the full tower wc shinobi xl is rad ready

22nd January 2012, 12:53 PM	#7
Darkness Born Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne 3004 Posts: 725	great review, bitfenix make some cool stuff, that's for sure __________________ i7 2600k @ 4.5ghz GA-P67-UD7-B3 Intel WC • 16gb RipJaws 1600 DDR3 • GTX-580 OC • Corsair neutron 240gb/Vertex 2 60GB/SAM 2Tb • Custom GREEEEEEN HAF X • Tt Meka w/ custom keyset - Cyborg R.A.T7 Contagion edition • ST-1000W Gold Project: Radioactive

23rd January 2012, 3:41 PM	#9
auApex Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,081	Do you get to keep the case, Creekin? __________________ 3930K @ 4.4ghz \|\|Asrock Extreme9\|\|7970 Crossfire\|\|16GB Dominator Platinum 2133\|\|720gb SSD + 6TB HDD\|\|Strider 1200w\|\|TJ07\|\|*U3011 + 22007FP\|\|G19 & SS Sensei Pro\|\|ATH-A900X on Asus Essence STX\|\|Custom Watercooling**\|\| My PC BF3 = auApex

23rd January 2012, 5:31 PM	#11
clinic Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Posts: 290	Seems a bit of a shame the HDD cage(s) are only partially removable, looks like there's potenial there to get a 2x120 or 200 rad at the front once they are out. __________________ Visit my build log: Violet Violence Logi G owners club #102 Successful trades: JimG, dragon7 (x2), phat larry, mikio, edhn, Freakn, Vohaul, trippinonprozac, munted123, Excess, Multiplexer

22nd January 2012, 8:14 AM	#3
IMtech (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cheeseland, France Posts: 1,431	Great looking case! Me wants... And good job on the review Creekin!

22nd January 2012, 8:14 AM	#4
ruffnex (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 103	Very nice! I must say I'm a bit of fan of BitFenix stuff also. Good quality stuff for a decent price. Bit like NZXT, but not shit.