| Raidmax Seiran Mid-Tower Computer Case |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Cases | ||||||||
| Written by Doug Dallam | ||||||||
| Sunday, 04 December 2011 | ||||||||
Page 2 of 6
Closer Look: ExteriorHere we have a full frontal view of nine bays, which is a good start. It's a nice shape too, as the corners are beveled and not simply dead-on square. If I understand correctly, the top three bays fit 5.25" drives (with an option for one card reader or floppy type drive). Then you have the next three mounting 3.5" drives. The next bay is for 2.5" drives (SSDs), the next right after that fits a 3.5" drive, and then the next another 2.5" drive. Of course if you want to use 5.25" drives in the 3.5" slots, you can do that too, or vice-versa. This is a rather peculiar layout, and the "why?" will become evident in the detailed interior section.
The side view. As you can see, mesh grill and a 180mm intake fan. The intake is symmetrically pleasing to the eye.
I usually don't use an image of the cable side of cases because they would look like a black square in the middle of nothing. The Seiran is different, and here's one of the differences between the Raidmax Blade and the Seiran. (I tried to get a good reflection off the raised side panel so that you can see it's depth.) At its maximum depth, it's about a half inch. Instead of letting you stew in curiosity, I'll just tell you why this is here. For one, it could be simply aesthetics. There is, however, a utility to it: it's for cable management. One of the problems with the Raidmax Blade was its virtually nonexistent cable space. As far as cable management goes, if it weren't for the expanded side panel, the Seiran would have suffered the same fate as the Blade because the two cases share internal similarities. As it is, adding the internal chassis cable groove space to the side panel space gives us about an inch for running main power supply cables. That's not bad.
This baby's got back. Nice red mesh expansion covers. I'm not sure what's better looking here, the front or the back. You can see the water/usb/whatever-else-you-can-think-to-run-out-of-them holes. Everything else is about basic case fodder here.
The top! The top's clean, and note, no blow hole. It's ripe for modding though. Get out your cutting torch and light that sucker off! I should say it before I forget too. The paint on this thing is pretty well done and feels like quality.
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Comments
"plasticware, or "steel-astic." good god man! I think you just Shakespeare'd all over yourself LOL.
On page one , I think you probably meant 'beveled' as opposed to "cantilevered"
anyway, nice review. I am looking for a gaming case for my nephew, and I think you have ruled this one out for me :)
And yes, I will have it changed to "beveled" as "cantilever" has a completely different meaning. Thanks.
I have another review due out in the next couple of days. It's of the Rosewill Ranger mid tower. It's not a bad case and if you need cooling, it's a wind tunnel. I actually gave it a recommendation.
well I will keep an eye out for that review. and keep up the colorful expansion of the language no matter what they say. You can take it, you are after all..."old flat top' :)
i'm really looking forward to it released..
Personally I don't see much to like about this case. I suppose it's pretty good for $100, but as you mentioned there are other cases in that price range that IMHO are better cases. Personally I couldn't do without removable drive cages any more. I also prefer sideways mounted cages over the front/back older style cages because you can completely hide the cables. I know looks are subjective, but personally I think this case doesn't look very good. I don't like the window design, nor the front bezel, nor the convex design on the right side panel (I realize it may be very functional for cable management, but I don't think it looks very good myself). I also don't like the big latches on the 5 1/4" drive bay covers (I think they could have found a better way to spend the development funds). Considering how seldom you have to remove them, I really don't mind interior plastic clips if it avoids big ugly latches on the exterior. I really don't like the big square front panel at all.
I suppose for $100 you could do worse, but there are better cases available for about the same price.
Here's a test fit I did of one of the Corsair 200mm fans on the optional (at the time) side panel mesh for the 600T. Looks pretty similar to me.
#img824.imageshack.us/img824/9102/p4270001.jpg