Chenbro Xpider II
With its web-patterned front bezel
and strangely angular side win-
dow, a casual observer might think
the Xpider II is Chenbro’s attempt
to cash in on Spider-Man 2’s popu-
larity. Be that as it may, this budget
enclosure is an excellent mid-size
tower that offers plenty of bang for
not much buck.
The Xpider II feels solid, with a
strong steel frame under its color-
ful plastic exterior. The case is easy
to work inside of thanks to handy
drive rails and a removable hard
drive cage. Unfortunately , it has
a plastic locking system for the
PCI card slots, which we found
awkward and flimsy and made us
question whether our PCI cards
would remain secure.
The front bezel maintains the
spider motif with a web pattern
and large metallic arachnid adorn-
ing the face. Well-stocked I/O ports
hide just behind the small plastic
door on which the spider sits.
The case’s steel and plastic
construction makes it a bit heavier
than an aluminum enclosure, but
it’s rare to find a fancy aluminum
case at this price point. In fact, the
only real drawback to the Xpider
II’s budget price is that no fans are
included, nor is a PSU.
MA XIMUMPC VERDICT: 9
GREEN GOBLIN: Great case for the
money.
DOCTOR OCTOPUS: Awkward card-lock
mechanism and gaudy looks.
$55, http://www.chenbro.com
Antec Super LANBOY
Antec’s Super LanBoy is a
revamped version of the hugely
popular LanBoy case, and adds
several new features to the already
ultra-light package. This new ver-
sion holds even more hard drives
than the older case, and also adds
a filtered 120mm fan to the lower
portion of the front bezel. Both
are welcome additions. Two other
cool new features are a completely
tool-less interior and a handy tool/
screws/memory-card drawer that
pops out of the front bezel. And,
like its predecessor, the Super
LanBoy includes a carrying case.
Not bad for a sub-$100 price tag.
Also like the original LanBoy,
the Super LanBoy’s greatest flaw
is that it’s so darn light we find
ourselves doubtful it can with-
stand even the mildest abuse. The
case sides and motherboard tray
wobble and bend if too much pres-
sure is applied, which made us a
bit nervous when installing parts.
While, we didn’t experience any
problems building the test system
in this case, we felt like we were
building a PC on a bed of egg
shells. The basic configuration we
reviewed doesn’t include a power
supply, but Antec offers a few
variations that do.MA XIMUMPC VERDICT:
SUPERMAN: Super-light, lots of neat
features, and a clean internal design.
BIZARRO SUPERMAN: Feels flimsy and
lacks a front FireWire port.
$90, http://www.antec.comXoxide X-Blade Extreme
This mid-size tower is a budget
system, but you’d hardly know that
by looking at it. The front bezel is
vaguely reminiscent of an Alienware
case, thanks to the “eye” grills on
the sides. It’s not the most subtle
design, but we dig the shiny logos
and clean-looking custom-cut side
window, which lies completely flush
with the side and has a chrome fan
built into its center.
Puzzlingly, while the X-Blade uses
conventional screws for its side
panels, motherboard, and PCI cards,
drive installation is completely tool-
less. The drive bays use rails that
snap easily onto drives, and the hard
drive cage can be removed with
the twist of a thumbscrew. Tool-less
designs give us warm fuzzies.
The case is made from heavy
plain steel instead of lighter, more
aesthetically pleasing aluminum.
Also, the front I/O port conspicuous-
ly lacks a FireWire port; oddly, we
found a small FireWire-shaped hole
in the case where this port would
normally reside.
With two included 80mm fans
and room for two more, the X-Blade
offers decent cooling capabilities.
We weren’t too disappointed about
the lack of an included power supply
given the low $70 price tag.MA XIMUMPC VERDICT:
BLADE: Looks nice, and includes tool-less
drive features and a stylish window/fan.
BUFFY:^ Steel construction, and tools
required for PCI and mobo installation.
$70, http://www.xoxide.comSEPTEMBER 2004 MA XIMUMPC 55