Review: Our first sample of the BitFenix philosophy is a cheap and very tasty one.
We had to move aside Silverstone’s massive TJ11 case to make room on our testbench to have a look at the Shinobi, and the differences between the two cases could not be more notable. After wrestling with the TJ11, the Shinobi was near weightless by comparison, and it takes up far less space. But, more telling are the similarities; even though $500 separates these two products in price, a feeling of solid design and sense of clever engineering links these very different PC cases.
The Shinobi makes a great impression right out of the box, as much of the case is coated in a thin layer of matte black rubber. BitFenix call this the SofTouch Surface Treatment, and while the company claims it cuts down on stains and damage, we just like it for how it feels and looks – classy! More importantly, it doesn’t pick up finger prints like some case finishes, so if you’re constantly digging around in your system’s innards, or moving your case around, it’s a good option.
The front fascia features the external drive bays and two parallel mesh inserts that run from the case’s top all the way to the bottom. These two inserts continue the length of the top panel, which is where you’ll find power, rest and IO ports, all set flush into the rubber surface. The power buttons feel responsive, and further back is larger square mesh insert, for optional internal fan mounts. The back of the case is just as black as the rest – a pleasant surprise given the price point – but features no further surprises outside of a couple of water-cooling grommets.
The right-hand panel is plain, but the left features a triangular plastic window with another optional fan-mount and simple plastic grill.
Too often at this price point, the act of opening a case simply leads to disappointment, as you discover bare untreated metal and poor design, but once again, the Shinobi punches well above its weight. Not only is it all well-designed and ventilated in here, but it also shared the black treatment of the exterior.
The drive bays are probably the case’s weakest point, as the tool-less option chosen by BitFenix is flimsy and prone to snapping off. However, that being the case you can always secure drives with old fashioned screws. There’s even an adaptor to turn one of the bays into 2.5in one, for the SSD converts out there.
The motherboard tray features a generous cutout for installing heatsinks, and there are cable slots all around the tray to keep things neat and tidy.
In terms of cooling, there’s one 120mm intake, and another 120mm exhaust fan. The front intake is meshed to help stop dust, and there’s light mesh on the two intakes in the case’s internal floor, too. Out of the box, the cooling is adequate for modest systems, but if you’re planning on running modern high-end cards, or overclocking, we’d recommending adding more fans. Thankfully, the Shinobi can handle up to six more fans, but if you’re using a 120mm cooler on your CPU, you’ll want to avoid adding one to the sidewindow.
The Shinobo is a fine choice for anyone looking for a compact gaming case or everyday rig, with looks enough to please. But when you factor in the incredibly good value of the case, it becomes a no brainer for any budget build, and a serious contender on its looks alone. While not perfect, it’s going to leave you plenty of cash to splash out on the rest of your next build.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012