Shinobi XL alternative

Muel

Muel

Muel

Soldato
Joined
26 Jun 2009
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Location
Sheffield
I've almost made my mind up on this case, but I've heard it's a pain to get 60mm rads in.

The Elysium is too big, it'd hang off my desk.

The Switch 810 is just too ugly. I know a lot of people love it but I just hate the thing!

The Fractal Design Define XL is a bit too bland and boring to look at for me.



I will probably go for a Shinobi XL, but I'm just wondering if there's anything I've missed really.

Suggestions? Has to have a depth under 570mm though. I don't want it hanging off the desk. :P

I want it to be big, imposing and allow for watercooling in the future but also be good for air cooling now. I hate "gamer" cases and want something more understated.
 
I wouldn't go for the shinobi xl, as it has bad airflow due to the design of the front bezel, instead I'd go of the cm storm trooper/stryker, haf x, coolermaster atcs 840 or the 800d
 
KiiYzOo said:
I wouldn't go for the shinobi xl, as it has bad airflow due to the design of the front bezel, instead I'd go of the cm storm trooper/stryker, haf x, coolermaster atcs 840 or the 800d
Click to expand...

I have to disagree with that. It has the two mesh strips down the front, and a large gap at the bottom allowing plenty of air in the front of the case - just not the traditional mesh in front styley... Although this isn't that unusual, people always seem to attack the XL on this? :confused:


Just a few examples of cases without front mesh (or have very little):
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-194-LL
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-036-NX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=35
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-159-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-181-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-168-AN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=160
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-064-CS
 
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if you ask setter, he'll tell you different, and I meant the design of it allows for little airflow, as, unlike most of the cases you said (apart from the h2, that is terrible), the way it is designed doesn't have much openings for air, unlike something like my r3, which has a large section on either side of the door which allows for plenty of airflow, go and watch ttl's review if you don't believe me (for the xl)
 
KiiYzOo said:
if you ask setter, he'll tell you different, and I meant the design of it allows for little airflow, as, unlike most of the cases you said (apart from the h2, that is terrible), the way it is designed doesn't have much openings for air, unlike something like my r3, which has a large section on either side of the door which allows for plenty of airflow, go and watch ttl's review if you don't believe me (for the xl)
Click to expand...

I HAVE the XL.... I'd rather have my own opinion than some random on youtube...
 
KiiYzOo said:
I know, and ttl is the best case reviewer around imo
Click to expand...

Tiny Tom 'Gold for everything' Logan..... You realise he used the Shinobi (normal, not XL) for months as his main rig though, right? Can't be that bad a design if the "best case reviewer" uses a case with the same design on his own rig.... :cool:
 
why would he take his time to take videos of stuff if he was giving things bronze/silver all the time?

it's not exactly the same design though, as for the maximum amount of fans used in the front will be starved for air, since there are only those strips either side of the bezel for intake on the top two fans (this is when using a 360 rad in the front) and since the bezel is right infront of the fans like that, they WILL make more noise, than if there was mesh infront of them
 
Theres nothing wrong with the ShinobiXL, sure its temperatures are a bit higher than other cases with more fans/airflow (and possibly louder) but its certainly no oven.
 
Shinobi XL has nice big fan in front... but no venting to supply it ??? Bottom vent for for 2x 120mm fans and setting so close to tabletop even they can't draw enough air.

R3 has twice the venting for less fan area... and if need be front door can be opened for more air intake.
 
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Lots to read, cheers guys. :)

I've heard the airflow in the front is restricted, I.E: when you take the front panel off there is a big difference to the amount of air that comes in, but it seems that it's generally considered "enough".

800D is way out of my budget, 650D isn't big enough.

After seeing that the issue of running thick rads can be worked around with some basic modding, think I'm going to go for it. I might even watercool it anyway, so it's not really much of an issue for me right now.

I saw TTL's review, he makes some very valid points about it being a couple of flaws that could easily have been sorted, but none of them are deal breakers for me, just mild annoyances that can easily be sorted.

Pretty sure I'll be getting one come pay day. Been right through all the lists of cases between £0-175 and it's the only one that really seems to suit me. Everything else is either too ugly or won't fit on my desk by the looks of it.

Cheers everyone. :)
 
Ive had the xl for a few months now. The intake in it is pretty sparse tbh. Though it can be improved a fair bit. I replaced the stock front 230mm fan with 2x silverstone air penetrators. Though due to the closed design of the front bezel, component temps went up a fair bit compared to my previous Lian Li A70F, at the time i was also running sli gtx 470 gpu's. Now got a single gtx 670. Cpu is an i7 920 @4.0ghz, Alpenfohn k2 cooler.

Shinobi xl

Max cpu core temp, 80c
Max gpu temps, 76c-72c

Lian Li A70F

Max cpu temp, 73c
Max gpu temps, 70c-69c

The A70F has a more open front design, and has a lot more room, but lacks the cable management and interior painted finish that the xl has. Few pics of both below.

Shinobi xl
SDC10725.jpg


A70F
IMG_0062.jpg


Side by side
IMG_0012.jpg
 
Cheers doyll. The xl certainly is a very nice case. Well finished and featured. But once i can afford to get the A70F powdercoated and moded for cable management ill be going back to using it. My intention is to also add another gtx 670, i can get much better airflow to two cards in the A70F particularly as i can mount the psu in the top of the case as well.
 
I'm guessing the Shinobi XL can't be quite as toasty as my current Antec 300? (965BE 140w @ 3.7ghz and 2x5830 to feed air to).

I looked at the A70F but it's not a looker IMO and would need serious modding to watercool it in future.

Love how neat your XL build is Setter, think I'll definitely go for one now. Hope I can get mine that tidy!

Just got to wait for OCUK to get the new windowed version in stock...
 
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