Raidmax Smilodon Case

[3dGameMan]

"Raidmax really did an excellent job designing this case. It's affordable, looks great, and has lots of features. One of the things that really stands out is the way the side panels open for easy access to the inside of the case. Both the left and right side panels swing down or can be removed. It has plenty of fans, drive bays, and even comes with a large window. A fantastic product for the cost conscious gamer! Watch the Video to find out more..." ~3dGameMan.com

For the Video Review on this product: click here



Overview:
Raidmax presents Smilodon, a tool-free creation that maximizes airflow and provides a quick upgrade / modding environment. The Smilodon features 6 total fan mounts (3 x 80mm 1 x 120mm included), a complete pull down motherboard tray (no more removing pcie/agp/pci cards) , tool less working environment, front mounted USE 2.0 and audio ports, blue LED indicators and and front panel door to make it all one great package!! The Smilodon is perfect for novice computer enthusiasts to POWER users that upgrade often!!!

Specs:
External Drive Bays: 4 x 5.25" and 2 x 3.5", Internal Drive Bays: 4 x 3.5" H.D.
System Board: ATX Form Factor 12" x 10.5" or smaller
Expansion slots: Standard ATX 7 slots
Material: SECC Steel & ABS
Dimensions: 52.25 x 20.5 x 45 CM (LxWxH), 20.5 x 8 x 17.75 INCHES (LxWxH)

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Product/Sales info: click here | BUY NOW!

Provided by: Raidtronics

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Product Pics:

[Kindom934]

Ohhh....

This thing looks good! I can't wait for the review on it. I love the nice black gloss finsh. It's gonna attract eyes and fingers but heck, It has that "expensive" look.

...Is that green plastic...in...green...plastic.............bad memory with Dell and green plastic....those green plastic....

[z33k3r]

Very nice!!!

[Drizzt]

It is a love/hate thing for me.

I'm can take or leave the front looks. I prefer less adorned systems. I love the clamshell opening method - very easy to work on. Hate the single 80mm fan on back - should be a 120.

I give it a 6 out of 10.

[Kindom934]

Ohh niccee! No more green plastic!!

The design is (to me) attrative and gives a more "sporty" look. Downside is the 80mm fans but that was used to keep the case smaller then rather having those 120mm fans.

Not shown in the picture but the blue LED looks so amazing! Oh my, for the price that you can get this at ($79 @ Newegg.com), this is a very nice case!!



For more pics, you can look at newegg's site

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowIm...ase+%2D+Retail

[Race234]

I dont know I have mixed feelings about this case, I dont care for the appearance of the case and the way fold out design for the "removeable mobo tray is a neat idea but overall I dont think this is a case I would use and like drizzt stated they should have gone with a 120mm, I wouldnt say its a 6 out of 10 for me but more like 8 out of 10 IMHO as it does have a lot of nice features and would function well just has a couple draw backs in the design and appearance.

[Derfla]

yea I like the looks and all, but I hate 80mm fans and it would be nice to be a bit bigger
i'll have to go in between Drizzt and Race234 to give it a 7 out of 10

[robodude666]

I fell inlove with this case the second I saw the review! The 80mm fans are not a major problem. The fan in the back SHOULD of been a 120mm fan but you can work around it. You can get a 80mm to 120mm fan adapter at many stores. Radioshack has one for $7: http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2211696 but I seen them sold at other websites for 2-4$ If you have some plastic and a drill press/drill with 120mm size bit then you can cut and make your own. I am thinking about getting this case and getting some clear lexan plastic and cutting out a piece with a rotary tool (not a dremel. some cheap no-brand one.)

For anyone who is wondering why the hell the name "Smilodon" or why the side says "Dirk-Tooth" then here is your answer:

"Smilodon (a bahuvrihi from Greek: σμιλη "knife" and (Ionic) οδων "tooth") is an extinct genus of large machairodontine saber-toothed cats that are understood to have lived between approximately 3 million to 10,000 years ago in North and South America. They are the only known successors to Machairodus. Smilodon means knife tooth, an entirely appropriate name given its enormous fangs. The smilodon species are also known as Saber-Toothed Cats or Saber-Toothed Tigers..... *
A fully-grown Smilodon weighed approximately 200 kilograms (450 pounds) and had a short tail, powerful legs and a large head. About the size of a lion, smilodon was extremely powerful. Its jaws could open 120 degrees. Its fangs were about 17 cm (7 inches) long."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilodon

What does Dirk-Tooth mean?
"Saber-toothed carnivores, until now, have been divided into two groups: scimitar-toothed cats with shorter, coarsely serrated canines coupled with long legs for fast running, and dirk-toothed cats with more elongate, finely serrated canines coupled to short legs built for power rather than speed. In the Pleistocene of North America, as in Europe, the scimitar-cat was Homotherium; the North American dirk-tooth was Smilodon. We now describe a new sabercat from the Early Pleistocene of Florida, combining the scimitar-tooth canine with the short, massive limbs of a dirk-tooth predator...."
Source: From the Abstract of Three ways to be a saber-toothed cat. by Martin LD, Babiarz JP, Naples VL, Hearst J. 2000
URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract
In other words, Dirk-Tooth is the North American Smilodon (cat this case is named after) and this animal is a very powerful beast. i.e. RaidMax is saying this case is powerful and kicks ass. Hence its a KICKASS product!

Don't be lazy, read the whole thing :P So my guess is the black stripes on the front symbolize the Smilodon's massive fangs. Very beautiful animal: http://www.abc.net.au/beasts/evidenc...odon_large.jpg

[slaixth]

That case is actually rather cool. I like that the left side panel and motherboard tray are integrated makes it SUPER easy to install a new motherboard and also get it hooked up to the case. One thing I don't like are all the blue LEDs which have been proven to disrupt people's sleep. If I were to buy that case I'd have to spend time wiring it with red LEDs or at the very least just not use them at all. I understand people that think blue LEDs are cool, but bi-color LEDs aren't that expensive are they? It looks like a nice case. And the price is nice too.

[robodude666]

Originally Posted by slaixth

One thing I don't like are all the blue LEDs which have been proven to disrupt people's sleep. If I were to buy that case I'd have to spend time wiring it with red LEDs or at the very least just not use them at all.

People could turn off their computer before going to sleep (I dont, but just saying)... Or you can spend some time to add a switch to control the blue LEDs.

[Kindom934]

Bi color? What colors are included?

Blue disrupts sleep eh? So...does Red or white do the same?



Geez, I wanna buy this case. I wanna replace my Antec Lanboy with this. It's so sexy...

[deathrow]

i think my green modem and router lights constantly blinking disturb me more, but i dont sleep i pass out or so im told

[slaixth]

Originally Posted by Kindom934

Bi color? What colors are included?

Blue disrupts sleep eh? So...does Red or white do the same?



Geez, I wanna buy this case. I wanna replace my Antec Lanboy with this. It's so sexy...

I would beleive that white would have the same detrimental effect as blue LED's due to them also having a short wavelength. You don't get that problem with red or green light.

Here's the article I got that information from.....
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000337.html

[MakubexGB]

What's with the 80mm fan at the back?? Lame. Pretty cool looking case, but the small fans ruin it.

PS. WOW, Raidmax has the worst website ever.

[Aaronitheth]

The only feature I like on this case are the side panels. The front is less than desirable.

[Kindom934]

Originally Posted by slaixth

I would beleive that white would have the same detrimental effect as blue LED's due to them also having a short wavelength. You don't get that problem with red or green light.

Here's the article I got that information from.....
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000337.html

Ah, nice article. Maybe this is the reason why most of those LED on power stripes and UPS are green/red.

Originally Posted by MakubexGB

What's with the 80mm fan at the back?? Lame. Pretty cool looking case, but the small fans ruin it.

PS. WOW, Raidmax has the worst website ever.

I think this case was design more for looks then rather cooling. Just based off all the LED's and the design, I'm thinking it'll appeal to people who want to go to Lan Parties since the LEDs really stand from most cases. Since it's using a 80mm fan, I wouldn't go with this case if noise is an issue.

And yes, their website could use a improvement, but it is not the worst i've visit by far

[robodude666]

Hey guys,

My cousin gave me his old case and I think it is a Raidmax case. This case he gave me has really cheap aluminum. The side door is very flimsey and bends easily. It also attaches very poorly. (door can fall off if not screwed on back and hard to get door in place).

So my question is if anyone here knows how good the quality of the material is? And how well the case is built.

Thanks,
-robodude666

[robodude666]

Sorry for double post. Thought I could bump my question up a bit and I have another one.

Does anyone know if the motherboard tray actually can be unscrewed or removed from the side panel?

Thanks,
-robodude666

[Kindom934]

Originally Posted by robodude666

Sorry for double post. Thought I could bump my question up a bit and I have another one.

Does anyone know if the motherboard tray actually can be unscrewed or removed from the side panel?

Thanks,
-robodude666

I think the side panel from the removeable tray can come off looking from the pics.

[Darmeen]

Just wanted to add to this thread real quick. I JUST came from Fry's where they had one on the shelf but none in a box. After studying this case for nearly 20 minutes...

The side panels don't seem flimsy at all. Obviously the clear panel has some flexibility to it... but the mobo panel seems as sturdy as any side panel.

Yes, the mobo panel can pop off the chassis completely so that you can leave the case where it is and work on the mobo on a workbench or desk.

Couple quick notes. the side rail seen in the clear panel can come off, and I think that the main reason for having it is for sheer support in the case.

Hope this helps...

[robodude666]

Sweet, thanks for the replies guys (and/or gals dont know your genders :P) I feel a lot better knowing the material is good.

Originally Posted by Darmeen

Yes, the mobo panel can pop off the chassis completely so that you can leave the case where it is and work on the mobo on a workbench or desk.

I know the left side panel can come out so you can work on the motherboard. What I wanted to know is if the motherboard tray itself can be removed from the side panel.

Another question: Anyone know how to contact raidmax? I sent them like 3 emails today and all of them bounced back. I am wondering when replacement panels will be in stock.

[Darmeen]

Robo,


Re-read my post...the right panel (the panel that the mobo is mounted to) will come completely off the chassis.

Glad I could be of service...I am glad that Fry's didn't have one in box though...otherwise I would have dropped the cash then and not found that I will be spending much less on it on newegg.com.

I can wait for the one with a power supply to get in stock, but I am going to order the one for $10 less with no supply. I am not building my new machine for like a month, and since my desk is not in my bedroom, but rather in the den where people like to hang out, I am going to go with the Raidmax RX-630 Volcano PSU.

I hope all this helps...

One last thing...there are two different websites for raidmax...

buyraidmax.com and raidmax.com

buyraidmax.com is not that good of a site, whereas raidmax.com is much better in terms of design and available information.

[robodude666]

I know. I read your reply 3 times. Now you re-read both of my posts :P I know the left (or right depending on position your looking at it from) can come off. It was pointed out very well in the review and the pictures. I am asking if the motherboard moutning part can come OFF of the panel that you can remove. (I want to remove the motherboard tray so I can mount stuff in the back.)

To be honest, both websites suck. Buyraidmax.com is their replacement parts website and it is the only place were you can order replacement parts. As long as the cart and checkout work, I don't care how pretty the layout looks. So its good enough. The raidmax.com website is somewhat better but still has some layout and alignment problems.

[Darmeen]

Okay, I gotcha. Here is the point of miscommunication. The right panel (as you look at it from the front) IS the mobo tray. They have mounting studs right on the panel...so the panel is the mobo tray. Does that make sense?

[robodude666]

Yes. Technically, when you look at an object that is facing you, the left side of the object is diagonally across from your left arm.

So in other words, the motherboard tray is mounted with studs to the panel and can not be removed (without shopping away). That seriously SUCKS total ARSE! (sorry for my language) I had this amazing mod planned!

Oh well! I will just wait till replacement panels come in and buy like 2 or 3 of each side then chop away and see if I can put it back together.