Benchmarking
When benchmarking the Xpider II, we test the temperatures of key components including the actual CPU temperature, the actual temperature inside the heatsink, the temperatures of the DDR, Northbridge, Southbridge, HDD, PSU, and the ambient temperature inside the case, all during normal operation. For a system to operate efficiently, the components need to stay at a specified temperature to avoid system crashes, or worse, hardware damage. A well designed case should have an air flow system that is effective in keeping the hottest running components at a constant and stable temperature for optimal performance. During our testing, the PSU and CPU heatsink fans remain on to measure temperatures during normal system operations.AOpen AK86-L |
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We took temperature readings of the components at 10 and 30 minutes of system operation time. When we first tested the Thermaltake Damier V6000A, we found the numbers to be much higher than we expected. We retested and found our results to be much closer to the actual expected numbers. Take a look at how the Chenbro Xpider II compares to the first case tested with our new test bed, the Thermaltake Damier V6000A.
| Chenbro Xpider II | |||||||||
| System On-Time | CPU | Heatsink | HDD | DDR | Northbridge | Southbridge | Power Supply | System Ambient | |
| 10 | 36 | 22.4 | 29.6 | 29.3 | 33.6 | 27.5 | 24.1 | 25.7 | |
| 30 | 45.2 | 29.5 | 31.1 | 30.4 | 34.2 | 28.6 | 26.8 | 26.4 | |
| Thermaltake Damier V6000A | |||||||||
| System On-Time | CPU | Heatsink | HDD | DDR | Northbridge | Southbridge | Power Supply | System Ambient | |
| 10 | 35.2 | 21.6 | 29.1 | 29.1 | 33.5 | 27.1 | 23.8 | 23.2 | |
| 30 | 43.6 | 28.4 | 30.2 | 30.1 | 33.9 | 28.4 | 26.4 | 25.8 | |
Since we retested the Damier, we could compare the temperatures of its benchmarks to those of the Xpider II. From the results, it is obvious that five 80mm fans are better than a 92mm paired with a single 120mm fan. CPU temperature readings were about 1 degree higher on the Xpider at 10 minutes of running time, and close to 2 degrees higher after 30 minutes. The other components followed with only a slight difference in temperature.
Though cooling is a major factor in choosing a good case, noise levels also affect the overall quality of the product. We tested the noise level of the Xpider II about 12" from the sealed case with the power supply and CPU fans turned off to reproduce the noise of the case alone. Since the test bed power supply and CPU heatsink fan were turned off, we were able to compare the Xpider II to the results of previous cases that we have tested.
| Case | dBA |
| Chenbro Xpider II | 45 |
| Thermaltake Damier V6000A | 53 |
| Super Flower X-Mask | 51 |
| Lian Li PC-V1000 | 46 |
| Opus Technologies MT-200 | 56 |
Though the V6000A had five fans, it was much quieter than the VM3000A, which had only four fans. Thermaltake decided to use variable speed fans as well as various models of fans, all having different output ratings with the V6000A instead of using all equally powerful fans throughout the chassis. This variance in output produced less noise, since only certain fans were required to operate at higher speeds than the others.
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Bladen - Thursday, August 19, 2004 - link
If you want a gaming case, look out for the Gaming Bomb II.I have a Gaming Bomb I and it is great.
However the Gaming Bomb II is a bit on the expensive side (first time Chenbro made Al case so the machines had to be retooled).
I think the Xpider II isn't that hot, but I have heard it doesn't look that bad in real view, but Iiiiii'd rather get a GB2.
Head over too http://www.chenbro.com.tw/PR/GBII.jsp and have a looksee.
hdavis01 - Thursday, August 12, 2004 - link
Call me old school but I would take a simple looking, basic, black/white case with sturdy construction over anything with thrills and frills surface features. I won’t flame you guys for reviewing these “flashy” type boxes but please review some of the quality cases with less outside eye candy and focus on ones with more internal detail and functionalities.More cases like the Ahanix X195 Knight reviewed back on 3/04 would be nice.
I believe that your more informed hardcore readers are much more interested in cases that are functional, quality driven structures that hold all our precious, expensive peripheral component pieces tightly and securely in place and cooled to the best possible levels.
Thanks!!
yelo333 - Thursday, August 12, 2004 - link
Umm...that $80 price tag is because of the actually usable power supply...Assuming you liked that look(I definitely DON'T), it doesn't look like it's THAT bad a deal, as you mentioned on the end of the last page.CrimsonDeath - Thursday, August 12, 2004 - link
If i was 10 and was crazy about spidey, then this &$^$%^ might have been my case. Other than that the desing is really mediocre and FUGLY if i may say so myself :) . C'mon show us some serious cases ppl.AnnoyedGrunt - Thursday, August 12, 2004 - link
I think you guys should add some additional criteria to your review. Things that come to mind are:1. How well do the USB and firewire port cables interface with the MoBo.
2. Does the firewire cable have a header for MoBo mounting or does it need to pass thru to the rear firewire port of the MoBo
3. Give extra points for rubber HDD isolators (to me this is a very nice feature that seems so simple yet is missing from many cases)
4. This case only has one removeable cover, which severly limits access to cable routing, I think that should be considered a negative.
5. Agree with the PSU points. At the minimum add a test with the standard PSU so the sound and capability of the stock case is known.
6. This last one may be more controversial, but to me the whole "tooless" trend is usually poorly implemented and makes things wose than cases with simple screws. In particular, drive rails that first attach to the drive and then snap in to the case seem pointless, and the PCI card snaps often don't work nearly as well as a screw. Personally, I would like to see more cases go with thumbscrews and I think you should make more mention of it in your review. It seems like the mechanical build up of a computer is quite small compared to the software installation and setup, and therefore I would like to see less emphasis placed on the build time and more emphasis placed on the ease of access and sturdiness once components are installed.
7. The looks of that case are....well, lets just say that if I had a 5 year old I think the kid would like it. Most others I think would find the looks "controversial" and I don't think anyone believes it has "gaming written all over it". Just IMO of course.
Anyway, nice review overall, but could use more details and I think stronger reaction towards some of the negatives of the case.
-D'oh!
AtaStrumf - Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - link
I build a bunch of PCs with chembro's gaming bomb, which uses the exact same design, but has a much more digestible front bezel:http://www.dinoxpc.com/Tests/ALTRE/ChembroGB/image...
It actually looks better in person, especially without the window in the side panel, so if you can't stand the spider-man bezel, you can allways go with the "gaming bomb".
Unlike some other cases we usually use, I really liked this one, my only gripe would be with the add-in cards holding mechanism, with feels a bit too flimsy.
ciwell - Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - link
That has to be one of the most visually offensive pieces of scrap metal I have had the displeasure of laying my eyes on.nessus - Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - link
Well, pretty much everything has been said. I just wish Anandtech would be honest with their opinions and not try to make the review as long as possible with rubbish. Do you guys ever look at the other review sites?? For instance take a peek at Dansdata. He doesn't have a very pretty site but I think it works and he's very honest about products he reviews...but that is only my oppinion.brian_riendeau - Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - link
"They have released a few gaming chassis in the past few years, which we have not had the pleasure to look at until now.""The front of the case is made up of a custom molded bezel, which gives it a look that says gaming all over it."
I think these two lines pretty much sum up the entire problem... AT is becoming totally disconnected from the users who come to this site.
Nazgoth - Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - link
Is it me or are new cases getting uglier and ulgier :/