BitFenix Shinobi Case Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

The BitFenix Shinobi is a nice-looking mid-tower case, with a rubber coating on its plastic parts which helps to avoid fingerprints, dubbed “SofTouch” by the manufacturer. It is available in two versions, either with a tinted transparent side window (USD 70), or with a solid side panel (USD 60). Let’s see if the Shinobi is a winner.

Figure 1: BitFenix Shinobi case

Figure 2: BitFenix Shinobi case

As previously mentioned, you have two options available on the left-side panel: either a solid state or a tinted transparent window supporting one 120 mm fan (not included). We are reviewing the second model, which is called Shinobi Window. Note that the version with a solid side panel is cheaper because it doesn’t come with the front fan or with the tool-less installation mechanisms for hard disk drives.

Figure 3: The left-side panel

[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]

The front panel of the BitFenix Shinobi has three external 5.25” bays. The covers aren’t meshed, but the case has two narrow and long meshes on the sides of the front panel that continue on the top panel.

Figure 4: Front panel

The Shinobi comes with one 120 mm fan at the bottom of its front panel, and it has space for installing a second 120 mm fan. There is a single air filter for both fans (see Figure 5). The front panel fan has a three-pin power connector, meaning that you must install it on your motherboard, allowing you to monitor its speed. This fan is a BitFenix Spectre Non-LED model (part number BBF-SCF-12025KK-RP), which has a fluid dynamic bearing, maximum speed of 1,000 rpm, 52 cfm airflow, and 18 dBA noise level. The model with a solid side panel doesn’t come with this fan.

Figure 5: Front fan

[nextpage title=”The Top, Bottom and Rear Panels”]

The top panel of the Shinobi can be seen in Figure 6. As stated, there are two narrow and long air intake meshes that continue the ones that exist on the front panel. There is a big mesh supporting two 120 mm or 140 mm fans.

Figure 6: Top panel

The buttons and connectors of the case are located on the front part of the top panel. The Shinobi has four USB 2.0 ports and the traditional audio jacks.

Figure 7: Buttons and connectors

The bottom panel of the reviewed case has two meshes with air filters, one for the power supply fan and another for an optional fan.

Figure 8: Bottom panel

The rear panel and the interior of the BitFenix Shinobi are painted black. The case comes with one 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel, identical to the one found on its front panel. The power supply is installed on the bottom part of the case, which comes with seven expansion slots that use solid covers. There are two holes with rubber covers for passing through hoses of liquid cooling solutions.

Figure 9: Rear panel

The Shinobi comes with a tab for you to install a padlock or a warranty seal, preventing unauthorized people from opening your computer.

Figure 10: Pad for padlock or warranty seal

Let’s now take a look inside the BitFenix Shinobi.[nextpage title=”Inside the BitFenix Shinobi”]

Both panels are attached to the chassis using black thumbscrews, which is great. The motherboard tray has a huge hole for you to access the backplate of the CPU cooler without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several holes for you to route cables behind it, and several metallic clips for you to fasten cables behind the motherboard tray using cable ties.

Figure 11: Overall look

Figure 12: A view behind the motherboard tray

In Figure 13, you have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened to the case using black thumbscrews. As cited before, you can install two 120 mm or 140 mm on its top panel. The Shinobi supports video cards up to 11.8” (300 mm) long.

Figure 13: Overall look

Note that the power supply can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. The case supports th
e installation of an optional 120 mm fan on its bottom panel, and the case comes with an air filter for this fan.

Figure 14: Power supply compartment

[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]

The BitFenix Shinobi has three 5.25” external bays and eight internal 3.5” bays. It comes with an adapter for you to convert a 5.25” bay into an external 3.5” bay, an internal 3.5” bay, or an internal 2.5” bay. All bays have individual tool-less installation mechanisms. The version with a solid side panel doesn’t come with these mechanisms for the internal 3.5” bays.

Figure 15: Disk drive bays

Figure 16: Adapter

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

The main specifications for the BitFenix Shinobi case include:

• Style: Mid-tower
• Application: ATX and smaller form factors derived from this one
• Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
• Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
• Available colors: Black
• Side panel: Solid or tinted transparent (Window model)
• Dimensions: 18.1 x 8.1 x 19.3 inches (460 x 205 x 490 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 15.5 lbs (7 kg)
• Gross weight: 17.5 lbs (8 kg)
• Bays: Three external 5.25” bays, eight internal 3.5” bays, and an adapter for an external 3.5” bay, an internal 3.5” bay, or an internal 2.5” bay
• Expansion slots: Seven
• Maximum video card length: 11.8” (300 mm)
• Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
• Fans: One 120 mm fan on the front panel (1,000 rpm, 52 cfm, and 18 dBA, not available on the solid left panel version) and one 120 mm fan on the rear panel (1,000 rpm, 52 cfm, and 18 dBA)
• Optional fans: Two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the top panel, one 120 mm fan on the front panel (two on the solid left panel version), one 120 mm on the left-side panel (Window version only), and one 120 mm fan on the bottom panel
• Extra features: Tab for padlock or warranty seal
• More Information: https://www.bitfenix.com
• MSRP in the US: USD 60.00 (solid panel) or USD 70.00 (tinted transparent side window)

[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

The BitFenix Shinobi has a top-notch finishing and comes with a terrific price tag. It won’t disappoint the user who is looking for a nice and inexpensive case supporting eight or nine hard drives. The main drawback of this case is the support for only one 2.5” storage device. On the other hand, we believe that a user looking for a USD 70 case won’t have more than one SSD anyway.

Strong Points

• Excellent price
• Top-notch finishing
• Air filters for the front and bottom fans
• Air filter for the power supply fan
• Support for eight or nine (if the included adapter is used) hard drives
• A huge hole in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
• Holes for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
• Four USB 2.0 ports

Weak Points

• No USB 3.0 ports
• Only one 2.5” bay
• No anti-vibration mechanisms for the hard drives