Raidmax X1
While we haven't looked at
that many cases from Raidmax, the X1 was certainly more classy than some of the previous models we've seen from them. The X1 is available in both black (which is the version we received) and white.
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Perhaps somewhat similar to the Antec P180, the X1's front carries a very monolithic look to it, with brushed aluminum on the left half and black glossy plastic shaped for ventilation on the right. Only a single power button with a very simple design on it stands out from the rest of the front. Instead of a thin door, practically the entire front bezel of the X1 swings away to the right to open up.
Click to enlarge.
Once opened up, right away it's apparent that the X1 is capable of holding several more drives than the P150: five 5¼” and two 3½” to be exact. In this shot, we've already placed our combo optical drive just to give a better idea of how the system would look with a computer installed.
Click to enlarge.
In a more direct shot, the extremely glossy finish is even easier to see. This is definitely a surface that will have to be kept very clean to always look its best (and could scratch easily), but should look very nice as long as its given a little extra care. At the bottom of the front are intake vents and the port cluster. Raidmax has finally done something right where so many other cases fail; it simply spaces apart the USB ports a decent distance, so larger devices won't crowd each other.
Click to enlarge.
The side that is of most interest on the X1 is the left side - mostly a plastic window to see the innards of the computer. The window is set off by eight shiny light blue triangular pieces, into which the bolts are screwed to hold the window in place. Notice the fan designed to draw cool air in, and right at the CPU are the three side-loading hard drive bays.
Click to enlarge.
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Tamale - Friday, January 13, 2006 - link
You know, several of those descriptions never did sit well with me.. and perhaps I am a little too biased towards the geekier look... I'll try to tone down my enthusiasm for the X1 a bit.As for the hard mounting vs. soft mounting, our maxtor IDE drive is very very quiet, and seeking noises couldn't be heard in the P150 at all even using the "hard" (silicone grommets) mount.
Seeking sounds were only barely audible in the E68 and X1.
strikermlc - Friday, January 13, 2006 - link
I'm sorry, but the statement about the p150 falling short because it doesn't even have a "classy window" on the side is incredibly funny to me. Personally the p150 is the only one out of the three cases that would aesthetically have a chance of making it into an open living space in my home. I'm just as big of a gamer and hardware geek as anyone and I've been a daily reader of anandtech for years - but that comment in my opinion clearly reinforces that while anandtech should be held in very high regard for their knowledge of hardware - their aesthetic evaluations are clearly lacking.While the front of the raidmax case is not unforgivable - the side panel is. The window is downright tacky and the decorative arrows around the window are laughable - as if the window that will soon be displaying countless oversized glowing fans and other lights is incapable of attracting enough attention on it's own?
I realize everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And while I'm sure there are plenty of twelve year old anandtech readers drooling over this case, the window on this case is in no means and under no circumstances "classy" and it never will be. There have got to be plenty of adult readers at anandtech that will agree with me on this point.
True class is understated - and that's what I want my case to exhibit. Well designed functionality, quiet, crisp clean lines and quality materials - brushed metal and glossy paint are certainly fine, it doesn't have to be boring by any means. It just shouldn't fill the room with a whirling, glowing, fire-eating circus show.
Ah well, I've made my point. $0.02 from a graphic designer that loves his pc's and computer hardware just as much as the next anandtech reader, and unlike most graphic designers, regard's mac's as simply an overpriced novelty item.
Thanks and good night.
aaron
yacoub - Friday, January 13, 2006 - link
Well stated, aaron. The P150 is the most mature looking of the three cases - the most gimmick-free. Everything about it is functional and meant to meet its design goals of the best quiet-computing mid-tower on the market. It succeeds.Erssa - Friday, January 13, 2006 - link
I cannot believe that the amateur reviewer hardmounted the HDD instead of using the soft mount method, that would have subjectively really made a difference in sound levels.Very superficial review overall. I wonder what the reviewer would have said about the cases had he used a silent cpu cooler (even zalman 7700cu fan mated would have been good) and passive GPU. I believe it would have really turned out the table for antecs advantage. Sound measurements from the sides would have been a nice addition aswell. Since antec was the only case that had no ways for sound to escape from the side. Measuring noise from 6" doens't make too much sense either since nobody has his head 6" from the front of his computer. Something like 1m would have been nice, but that would have probably ment that combined with more silent combonents the sound measuring device would have proved itself inadequate.
Xenoterranos - Friday, January 13, 2006 - link
That wouldn't have really been a case test then would it? It would have been a silent-cpu-cooler-and-passive-gpu-cooler-in-cases-x-y-and-z test.While I can't disagree on the technical merrits of the Raidmax case, those little blue triangles really turn me off. Maybe I'm just not aesthetically inclined.
Trippytiger - Friday, January 13, 2006 - link
The Antec may be the most expensive of the group, but it seems to me that it also comes with the most trustworthy power supply of the three as well. I know I'd want to replace the power supply in that Raidmax case if I were going to use it.Tamale - Friday, January 13, 2006 - link
You can get it without one entirely if you want for only $50. Also, heed my note about the Raidmax supply - it's been running strong (and still is by the way) in another decently-equipped PC here in my lab.mindless1 - Friday, January 13, 2006 - link
It's been running, but what is "strong"? That it runs? The question with such PSU is not does it run but how long it does and what happens when it begins failing. If it does not last the life of the system, another PSU must be bought and all savings are negated.Tamale - Saturday, January 14, 2006 - link
By strong I simply mean steady voltages, even under load. And of course, length of life is an issue, but I've only had the power supplies for a few weeks, so I comment on that much, other than the fact that both Antec supplies I received have problems with the 3.3v rail.leofischer - Friday, January 13, 2006 - link
I doubt the drives were suspended, because he says'Also note the rubber bands stretched across the sides of this cavity. While we're not 100% sure, we are fairly certain that this is an effort to help minimize vibrations from the hard drives that may cause additional noise within the case.'
duh..
Doesn't seem like he realised what the bands were for. I assume there is some kind of explanation accompanying the case or mention of the suspension method in literature, but I wouldn't know.