BitFenix Raider Case Review: All These Little Things
by Dustin Sklavos on February 28, 2013 12:01 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- bitfenix
- ATX
Conclusion: Needs a Revision
The BitFenix Raider is a case I almost desperately want to like. I've had a personal, vested interest in BitFenix for a while now as a small manufacturer that produced some really great stuff, and I've wanted to make sure other people knew it. Their breakout product has probably been the Prodigy (which got picked up by almost every boutique under the sun), but really, they've had great stuff for a while now. I still think the Mercs are among the best budget cases money can buy.
BitFenix does a lot right with the Raider. However I feel about the case's quirks, you can't really deny it's a good-looking case, and it's pretty sturdy on top of that. The SECC steel used for the side panels is a little bit thin, but the rest of the body is very solid. Thermals and acoustics are both pretty middle of the road, and even though it's mostly useless in the stock configuration, I do appreciate the inclusion of a fan controller if for no other reason than that you won't have to add one later should you need it. The USB 2.0 headers coming out of the internal 3.0 headers are also a minor convenience I wish more manufacturers would include.
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Where the Raider falls apart is when all the little details are taken together. What BitFenix really needs to do is take their baseline of this case and revise it. All the ideas are sound, but the execution has been fudged. Enlarge the cable routing holes, use twist ties on the included cable bundle (and route it through the tray closer to the top of the case to avoid blocking the top 5.25" bay), and loosen that bundle. Ship the thing with feet already installed that are bolted through the bottom of the shell. Allow for mounting a 240mm or 280mm radiator in the top of the case instead of just a 200mm fan, but include a pair of 200mm fans in the front and the top as well. The fan controller gives you an opportunity to choose between high performance and low noise, so take advantage of it with powerful fans.
Finally, there's the price tag. NewEgg currently has the Raider for $99, and at that price it's a bust, flat out. Users who want a more powerful case and don't mind mediocre build quality (or questionable aesthetics) will get their money's worth and then some from Antec's $59 GX700. When the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 starts shipping stateside it'll eat the Raider alive at $99, offering good looks, good noise, and good performance. The $99 price tag is also within striking distance of Antec's devastating Eleven Hundred. There's one version of the Raider available for $79 on NewEgg right now, and that's really where the case ought to be at present.
There's potential for the Raider to be a great case, but BitFenix's designers need to take it back to the drawing board. Unless you're married to its looks (and admittedly I can understand that), there are better deals for better cases to be had elsewhere.
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Death666Angel - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
Someone is a busy little bee! :D Keep up the good work Dustin! :)Gonna read the review now, just wanted to say that first.
rwei - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
@Dustin - With this many case reviews...I assume that you must have enough of these things sitting around to build a fort.So what gives? Where is the fort? I believe that I represent the readership when I assert that you are underserving our needs.
In case you need inspiration, I would invite you to consult the following image:
http://asilentbob.deviantart.com/art/Box-fort-1454...
ilihijan - Sunday, March 3, 2013 - link
I just got paid $6784 working on my laptop using these simple steps leaked on this web page. Make up to $85 per hour doing simple tasks that are so easy to do that you won't forgive yourself if you don't check it out! Weekly payments! Here is what I've been doing Epic2.c(om)Locktile - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
Bought and built in a Shinobi a few days ago. The current iteration has rectified some of the earlier problems - the rubber feet are now screwed in from the factory. 2 USB 3 ports at the top. Still at the same price.So hopefully this case will get the same treatment after a while.
Good work as allways Dustin!
abhaxus - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
I was fortunate enough to get this case for a steal at $69. Overall I really like it, although as reviewed I agree that it is a few touch ups from being a case I would use again. One thing I didn't see mentioned in the review is the intake fan placement on the bottom of the case. My power supply (Coolmax 1000w) is too large to allow me to use a 120mm fan in that bottom intake. Seems like a small oversight. Because there is no side fan blowing directly on my GTX 480, even a throttled 80mm fan mounted (rigged up) here lowers my temps on the card by about 10c.I mounted bitfenix 200mm fans in the front and top, the thermal performance increased quite a bit with them.
For 70
thesavvymage - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
It amazes me how no company has hired Dustin to help design their casesfutrtrubl - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
I am quite sure he would design an awesome case. It would also be a case that could never be made due to patents.Pbryanw - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
Yes, it would be awesome but if it it was an ATX case it would only be able to fit mATX motherboards (sorry I'm only joking :) ) But in reply to thesavvymage, can some case manufacturer make it so.Dustin Sklavos - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
HA!I ain't even mad. :)
ezridah - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - link
Thanks you for finally reviewing this case Dustin! I've been eyeing it for about a year now and am thinking about starting a new build soon. This would have been a case I considered, but given the issues with it I'll probably pass on it now.If they revised it with all the suggestions Dustin had I would buy it immediately. Your move BitFenix.