BitFenix Shinobi XL v Fractal Design Define XL

up2nogooduk

up2nogooduk

up2nogooduk

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I'm After a gaming case with good cooling and less noise as possible!
Fans will be replace with NF-F12'S Fans
Gosh just can't deside out the 2 :D
Have anyone seen both up close?

Spec
I7 950 DO @4.2
Gigabyte X58 G1 sniper board E-ATX
2x Crucial SSD M4's in raid0
2X Ref 6950 Bios switch to 6970.
Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB
XFX 850W XXX Edition

I was going to upgrade my system.
But as gaming still seems fine for me with my setup, i thought no point!

BitFenix Shinobi XL
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-020-BX

NZXT Switch 810
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-075-NX

Cheers :)
 
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Your fractal design define link is the switch 810... Which actually wouldn't be a bad idea...

Some reviewers (TTL) mentioned that if you put nf-f12s in the front of a shinobi xl they might be starved slightly of air.

You can't really put many nf-f12s in the XL, it is mostly a case with support for 140mm fans rather than 120mm fans...

I think most people would give this to the shinobi xl, but I've looked at both extensively, and I'm honestly not sure which I'd pick....

kd
 
You could install 8* 120mm NF12'S fans in the Shinobi XL.

Click my link and see my review of the case :)

* Hard drive cage would need to be adapted.
 
If it has to be one of those two then I'd probably say the shinobi, but if it doesn't I'd either say go for the switch 810 or for silence the r3 :)
 
Neither the shinoni xl or the switch 810 are great cases for air intake. Im using a shinobi xl, ive seen an increase of 7c on load temps on my cpu. My previous case was a Lian Li A70F full tower, my rig ran a lot cooler in it, and im running very hot gpu's in sli. The shinobi xl is a beautiful case, but very poor for air intake. Im actually considering going back to my Lian Li.
 
The Fractal Define XL is the best case because its heavy and has soundproofing built-in.

The NZXT Switch weighs almost nothing which can only mean cheaply made and is said to be inferior in quality to the Shinobi XL.

The Coolermaster HAF-X has the best airflow but theres too much plastic used in its construction.
 
Forgot to mention the cm storm trooper, great airflow case for £100, which even managed to get ttls case of the year last year which is hard to get!
 
@up2nogooduk: I don't want to comment about any other brand or case model as I may be biased but another thing that may speak for the XL is that you can get the mesh and logo in a different color to pimp the look.

Also as USB 3.0 will be the future I think by picking the XL you will be very well suited as it comes with 4 x USB 3.0 ports.
 
I know but the XL has 4 x USB 3.0 so for future when it gets more standart and moe devices are our no need to upgrade there anymore.
 
Hi guys thanks for your replies

Well i do like the BitFenix Shinobi XL.
But from research, they say the front don't get enough air intake as King Damager stated.
i'm not watercooling!

So as im running 2 6950 @ 6970's, they get hot, as they can only be close together via crossfire, no Gap :(
I been looking at these 2 now lol

Fractal Design Define XL
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-012-FD
Can you place 2x 120 fans in the roof?
If so, do you think to replace the fans for the NF-F12'S Fans (at the front also) be good idea?

Fractal Design Define R3
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-010-FD
Will this support my E-ATX board?

Which one :)
I want good cooling but also good filtering :)

Cheers guys.
 
To be honest, for a xFire next to, I really would be looking at something like the Cm Storm Trooper, or one of the HAF cases.

Problem is that they're not the best in the world. I'm sure a Fractal XL would be ok, but they'd certainly get toasty....

I know that because of the Fractal being a single skin roof (no plastic or anything outside the internal side), people often cut a 360mm hole in the roof to support rads. Even if you didn't use it for rads, just putting 3x120mm fans in there would be a solution if you got the XL, decided it wasn't cool enough, and needed to sort it out...

kd
 
Does anyone have the storm trooper?
Would i have to use side fans on the storm trooper to get the best cooling?!
Or would it still perform good with out side fans!
What's the filters like at the front?
can i add 2x 120 fans on the front and top. it looks abit funky lol
I like easy looking cases really, not so much space ship look lol!
Hmmm not sure what to go sure.. so you would agree that's the best case for cooling?

Cheers guys!
 
Technically, the cases that win the air cooling temp competition tends to be:
Silverstone ft02 is the daddy.
HAF X is high up there.
Silverstone RV03 also comes out quite well.

The RV03 might be an idea. It can't use nf-f12s but the three supplied 180mm air penetrator fans are probably one of the few pre-supplied case fans I wouldn't replace. They're very good. It's also not so space shipesque as the Cm cases....

kd
 
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