Aerocool Xpredator Case Review

The Front Panel

The front panel of the Aerocool Xpredator has six external 5.25” bays, all using meshed covers with air filters. The top-most bay comes with an adapter for you to install an external 3.5” device.

Figure 4: Front panel

The Xpredator comes with three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, one eSATA port, two analog fan speed controllers, and the traditional audio jacks. We think a case targeted to ultra high-end users like this one deserved two USB 3.0 ports instead of only one.

Figure 5: Buttons and connectors

At the bottom of the front panel there is a “230 mm” fan that glows orange when turned on. The fan, however, is a 200 mm model – 230 mm is the distance between the installation screws. We are always amazed how manufacturers can easily inflate the size of their fans (to Aerocool’s credit, they do report that the real size of this fan is 200 mm, but you have to read the fine print to understand this). This fan uses a three-pin power connector and, most likely, you will attach it to one of the available fan controllers. Its technical specifications include a speed of 750 rpm, air flow of 49 cfm, and noise level of 27 dBA.

Figure 6: Front fan