Introduction:

Apevia X-Sniper G-Type Chassis

Cases are perhaps the most important part of a system, as they ultimately dictate what you can and cannot put into your system. They can also help or hinder your build process by either having time-saving tool-less amenities or annoying design flaws. Because of this, it is important to spend time selecting a case just as you would spend time on any other component.

Apevia has quite a large lineup of cases, from full-towers like the X-Jupiter we reviewed earlier to the diminutive X-Qpack2 MicroATX case. Even with such an extensive lineup, they show no signs of slowing down, releasing the X-Sniper mid-tower case. When we reviewed the X-Jupiter, we found it to be an excellent entry into the full-tower market. Can the X-Sniper do the same for mid-towers?

Specifications:

The X-Sniper is about average for a mid-tower, with dimensions of 17"x8"x20". (HxWxD) The case features 4x5.25, 2x3.5" external and 3xHDD bays, which again, is about average as far as mid-towers go. Note that the official specs for the X-Sniper state there are 5x5.25" bays but this is incorrect, as the top-most drive bay is occupied by the fan controller/temp. monitor as you'll see below. This is a steel case, with a fairly middle-of-the-road weight of 21 lbs.

• Full Specifications

The front door is partially made of aluminum, adding a nice touch; the door is definitely needed as it covers up some unsightly front drive bays. In terms of cooling, the X-Sniper comes with two 120mm fans; one on the side and one in the rear, with space for a user-supplied optional 120mm fan in the front. This again, makes it somewhat unremarkable.

The X-Sniper comes in the typical Apevia packaging, which does a good job of showcasing the case's features. Taking it out, you'll find it's decently protected. Gazing upon the case for the first time reveals a fairly attractive look, with the nice aluminum front door complimented by chrome accents on the fan control knobs and power/reset buttons.

Apevia X-Sniper.

Well-protected.

Decent looks.

A prominent window takes up most of the side panel, with a 120mm intake fan situated over the expansion card area. Besides the front, the rest of the case is a dark black, which is such a common colour nowadays. The front door is actually more of a mask, as it has ample grills/openings to permit air to flow into the case.

Side view.

Front view.

LCD/Fan controller.

The obvious notable feature of the X-Sniper is the dual fan controller and LCD temperature monitor at the front. Two chrome-accented knobs allow you to control two fan channels, thus allowing you to tradeoff between airflow and noise. A small backlit LCD also displays the readings from two internal temperature monitors; the probes can be placed where you like, but the two temperatures are labeled as CPU and HDD. The front ports (Audio, Firewire and USB) are also at the top front.

Another nice, but less visible fact is that the gap between the door and fan controller serves as a nice "handle" of sorts for getting a grip on the case when holding/moving it.

Front panel grills.

Front door open.

Metal hinges.

The front panel looks very sleek, with its angles and metal grills; functional and stylish. It does a good job of hiding the hideous front drive bays of the X-Sniper, which tend to remind one of a server case that's supposed to be tucked away in a room no one goes into. However, opening the front door does reveal one gem: Metal hinges! This was a pleasant surprise, since most doors feature plastic hinges that seem all too fragile. The clips that hold the door closed are also metal and the door opens a little past 180 degrees, making it a very well-designed feature.

Power/Reset.

Side window and fan.

The power/reset buttons are at the bottom of the case; perhaps a weird location but they do enhance the look of the case nicely. Down here you can also see more ventilation holes for an optional 120mm fan intake fan up front. Looking at the window, it's about standard as far as cases are nowadays, with a 120mm intake fan with a nice grill/filter on it to reduce dust intake. This fan has blue LEDs in it to compliment the window.

Rear.

Bottom.

The rear of the case shows a 120mm exhaust fan, also included. Layout here is standard, and there are no watercooling tube holes, though that may be less of a concern with a small case like this. No PSU is included, and Apevia has nicely not bothered to include an incompatible ATX I/O shield either, which should help a little with simplifying installation. The bottom shows four standard rubber feet along with a gap between the front panel and chassis to allow for removal. Overall, the X-Sniper is a fairly decent, if normal, mid-tower chassis. The most notable feature was the excellent/quality front door.

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