Introduction

So your system is totally decked out - it's got all the mods, the watercooling setup and is complete with the best kickass-radiator out there. But what happens when you have to go to a LAN party? Are you going to lug that heavy, albeit sturdy machine up a flight of stairs? That's when it hits you: A strong steel case is good for a computer that stays relatively stationary, but such a case can also be murderous on one's back, with many of them weighing more than 16kg/35lbs empty! You need a lighter case, one that's meant to be used for mobile situations; one that's just for LAN parties and gaming. Enter the aluminum X-Sonic from Xoxide...

Manufactured by Chenming, the X-Sonic is a relatively low-priced Mid-Tower ATX case that continues Xoxide's line of affordable aluminum cases. Gone are the days where the only aluminum cases were high-priced Lian-Li models; the market is now flooded with lower-priced aluminum computer housings that almost anyone can afford. But a downside to this is that there are many sub-par and low quality aluminum cases that you simply would not want your computer to be in. Does the X-Sonic unfortunately fit into this category, or is it worthy for your system?

Specifications

The X-Sonic is a Mid-Tower ATX case with features pretty much standard to most aluminum mid-towers. It comes complete with a pre-installed side window, two Tri-LED case fans and front USB and firewire ports, making its feature set comparable to some of the more expensive cases out there. It's nice to see that more and more cases are coming with these previously exclusive amenities. The case sports four 5.25" drive bays, two 3.5" external bays, and two 3.5" internal bays, making it pretty much a standard configuration for ATX Mid-towers. The fan configuration is also similarly standard - there's room for a front 80mm intake, an 80mm exhaust and an 80mm blowhole fan on the side window, and the last two spots have the Tri-LED fans pre-installed.

• Colour: Silver (Black available)
• Material: All Aluminum
• Dimensions: 395x205x420mm (W,H,D)
• Drive bays: 8 Total: (4)5.25" (2)3.5" (2)3.5 Hidden"
• M/B Type: ATX
• Fans: 2 x 80mm Crystal Fan w/Multicolor Led Lights (blue, green, and red LEDs)
• UV reactive (green) front fan mount
• Special Features: Light Weight Heavy Duty Aluminum Case
• Dual 2.0 USB+Firewire Ports on Front Panel
• Slide Handle
• Side Panel w/See-Through Window
• Additional specs available here.

The case is actually a little smaller than most Mid-towers; at a height of 16.5" and a depth of only around 17", it won't save you a lot of space but when this case is placed next to others, the difference is apparent. The X-Sonic is available in two different colours, the silver version reviewed here, and a black version. There is more than just a colour difference between the two though, as the black version has a different front bezel that lacks the front firewire port that the silver version has. Other than that, the two versions are pretty much the same. No PSU is included, but Xoxide provides an option of many quality PSUs to purchase with the case.

The first thing that strikes you about the case is its weight - even with a 350w PSU (PSU shown is not included) it is extremely light! In fact, the PSU's weight almost makes the empty case feel unbalanced. This is due to the material used in the construction of the case; almost all of the chassis is made up of 0.8mm thick aluminum. Contrast this to 1.0mm steel used in most server chassis and you'll see where most of the weight difference comes from. As a side effect, the X-Sonic does not feel nearly as sturdy as most steel cases because of this material difference, but is well constructed nonetheless, with supports in key locations to provide the case with strength. I couldn't find a weight spec. for this case, but I'd guess it weighed something around 12-13lbs with a PSU. The next interesting things were the front intake vents, which feature an innovative and eye-catching design. The mean-looking vents resemble upside down airfoils and perhaps were meant to give an impression of a cooling airflow going into your case... in any event, they do a good job at letting air in - though because there are no filters, they also do a good job of letting dust and dirt in!

The silver X-Sonic case.

Three huge vents dominate the front panel.

Window comes with plastic sheet protection on both sides.

With these specs you can see from the start that the X-Sonic would make and ideal and eye-catching case for a LAN party system. In fact, the LANBOY case from Antec seems to be based off the same chassis as the X-Sonic, and both are *probably* manufactured by Chenming. The back of the case features one 80mm exhaust and also shows off the integrated hardware storage box for the X-Sonic. The storage box was a nice little addition, and can be useful as it's now easy to carry around screws and other little things that may just be needed unexpectedly at a LAN party. The side window features one of the included Tri-LED fans installed, and it is set to intake air, blowing it right over the CPU area, a popular area to mount a fan. The window itself spans almost the entire area of the side panel, and is held in place mainly by the white plastic pushpins visible in the pictures; no moulding is used, probably because the pushpin method simplifies manufacturing. Personally, I don't mind this method but there is no doubt that moulding would look nicer around the edges. The back of the PSU does feature a hard on/off switch, something that can be useful in certain situations.

Back of the case.

UV-reactive front fan holder can be seen.

Rear fan punchout is the honey-comb type.

The entire exterior of the case is textured silver, with the drive bay covers having a clear acrylic layer on top of them, which gives them a smooth and reflective appearance. Strangely, only the left (window) side of the case is removable; this was probably because the other side has to remain in place to keep the case sturdy. In fact, the top and right side are one piece, and aren't removable unless you wish to drill out the rivets holding them in place. The left side, however, is held in place by two thumbscrews making it easy to remove without having to find a screwdriver. A small vertical-running indentation provides for a grip when removing the side panel. The back and inside of the case are very shiny, and this works well when used with case lighting, but unfortunately, the aluminum catches smudges and fingerprints very well in these areas.

Front USB/firewire ports are behind a small hinged door.

Power, reset buttons and LEDs.

Tabs to remove front drive covers are hidden behind another door.

Four rubber feet provide grip.

The front bezel features some niceties that not only add functionality but keep it looking attractive. A small door to the left of the Power/Reset buttons hides the two USB 2.0 ports and a firewire port; when the door is closed the area blends well with the rest of the front. Similarly, a small door on the right side of the 5.25" drive bays hides the indentation where the drive rails poke out; if you have a doored Antec case or similar, you'll know what I mean, as while these indentations make it easy to remove the drive rails they don't go well with the rest of the case. Attention to detail is really what's going on with the front panel. The power and reset buttons are pretty much standard fare, along with the two case LEDs; the reset button wasn't hard to depress at all. Also standard were the four rubber case feet to help keep the case in place

By now you're probably wondering why apparently, there are only drive rails for the right side. Well, let's open up the case to find out.

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