BitFenix Survivor Case Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

The BitFenix Survivor is a nice-looking mid-tower case, with a rubber coating on its plastic parts which help avoid fingerprints, dubbed “SofTouch” by the manufacturer. The presence of a retractable handle makes it an interesting choice for gamers who go to LAN parties, but it will definitely please users who want a case with a sleek, professional look. Let’s check it out.

BitFenix also offers a more affordable version of the reviewed case, called Survivor Core. This stripped-down version doesn’t come with the front fan and the anti-theft device. It has four USB 2.0 ports instead of two USB 2.0 ports as well as two USB 3.0 ports.

Figure 1: BitFenix Survivor case

Figure 2: BitFenix Survivor case

As you can see, both panels of the Survivor are solid.

The front panel of the BitFenix Survivor has three external 5.25” bays, and the bottom 5.25” bay comes with an adapter for you to install an external 3.5” device. The bay covers aren’t meshed.

Figure 3: Front panel

The Survivor comes with one 200 mm fan at the bottom of its front panel, which glows red when turned on. The LEDs of the fans and logo present on the front panel can be turned off through an on/off switch available on the top panel. This fan is a BitFenix Spectre LED model, which has a fluid dynamic bearing, maximum speed of 700 rpm, 65 cfm airflow, and 19 dBA noise level. This fan is connected to a three-pin connector, so you can monitor its speed if you install it on your motherboard. It is possible to replace this 200 mm fan with two 120 mm models. The case has an air filter in front of this fan.

Figure 4: Front fan

[nextpage title=”The Top Panel”]

The top panel of the Survivor can be seen in Figure 5. It comes with a 200 mm fan identical to the one available on the front panel, and its red LEDs are also controlled by the on/off switch.

Figure 5: Top panel

The highlight of this case is its retractable carrying handle, shown fully extended in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Carrying handle

The buttons and connectors of the case are located on the front part of the top panel, under a sliding lid. The Survivor has two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA port, the traditional audio jacks, and the on/off switch for the LEDs already mentioned.

Figure 7: Buttons and connectors

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

The bottom panel of the reviewed case has a mesh with an air filter for the power supply fan. See Figure 8. The rear panel and the interior of the BitFenix Survivor are painted black. The case doesn’t come with a fan installed on its rear panel, but it accepts an 80 mm or a 120 mm model. This can be seen as a drawback or as an advantage, depending on your configuration and personal preference. Therefore, be prepared to order an additional 120 mm fan when buying this case, unless you are going to install a sealed liquid cooling solution where the radiator replaces the 120 mm rear fan.

Figure 8: Bottom panel

The Survivor has seven expansion slots, all using meshed covers, and two holes with rubber covers for hoses of liquid cooling solutions. The rectangular hole available is for you to route the cables of the USB 3.0 ports to the motherboard rear panel.

Figure 9: Rear panel

The Survivor comes with a tab for you to install a padlock or a warranty seal, preventing unauthorized people from opening your computer. Additionally, the case comes with an interesting device called an “S2 Security Device,” which allows you to lock your keyboard, mouse, and headset cables with the same padlock, preventing people from stealing your external peripherals while you go away from your computer during a break on a LAN party.

Figure 10: Tab for padlock or warranty seal

Figure 11: S2 security device

Let’s now take a look inside the BitFenix Survivor.

[nextpage title=”Inside the BitFenix Survivor”]

Both panels are attached to the chassis using black thumbscrews, which is great. In order to remove the side panels, you need to remove the two plastic parts that hold their rear side to the case rear panel. 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 12: Overall look

Figure 13: A view behind the motherboard tray

The Survivor comes with a “power central” for the LEDs you want to control through the available on/off switch. See the rectangular device on the upper left in Figure 13. If you buy a Spectre fan from BitFenix, you will be able to connect its LEDs to this power central and control them through the same on/off switch.

In Figure 14, you have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened to the case using black thumbscrews. The Survivor supports video cards up to 10.6” (270 mm) long or up to 15.7” (400 mm) long, if the top hard drive cage is removed.

Figure 14: Overall look

The case comes with a set of ties for holding your video cards, called Lockdown. You put these ties on top of your video cards and attach their ends to the screws that are used to fasten the motherboard to the motherboard tray.

Figure 15: Ties for video cards (Lockdown)

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. As already shown, the case has an air filter for the power supply fan.

Figure 16: Power supply compartment

[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]

The BitFenix Survivor has three 5.25” external bays and six internal 3.5”/2.5” bays in two cages. Unfortunately, the 5.25” bays don’t come with tool-less installation mechanisms.

Figure 17: Disk drive bays

The top hard disk drive cage is removable, allowing you to install longer video cards.

Figure 18: The Survivor with its top hard drive cage removed

Figure 19: Top hard drive cage removed from the case

Each 3.5”/2.5” bay is actually a drawer. You won’t need to use screws when installing 3.5” devices. The available pegs have rubber rings to absorb the hard drive vibration. Two-and-a-half-inch units require the use of regular screws to be installed.

Figure 20: One of the 3.5”/2.5” bays

The case comes with an adapter installed in its bottom 5.25” bay, allowing you to install an external 3.5” device, an internal 3.5” device or an internal 2.5” device. See Figure 21. It also comes with two adapters that allow you to install two 2.5” devices in a 5.25” bay. See Figure 22.

Figure 21: Adapter

Figure 22: Adapters

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

The main specifications for the BitFenix Survivor 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
• Dimensions: 19.8 x 9 x 20 inches (502 x 230 x 510 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 21 lbs (9.4 kg)
• Gross weight: 25.5 lbs (11.6 kg)
• Bays: Three external 5.25” bays, six internal 3.5”/2.5” bays, an adapter for two 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: 10.6” (270 mm) or 15.7” (400 mm), if the top hard drive cage is removed
• Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
• Fans: One 200 mm fan on the front panel (700 rpm, 65 cfm airflow, 19 dBA, red LEDs) and one 200 mm fan on the top panel (700 rpm, 65 cfm airflow, 19 dBA, red LEDs)
• Optional fans: One 80 mm or 120 mm fan on the rear panel, and two 120 mm fans on the front panel (if the 200 mm fan is removed)
• Extra features: Tab for padlock or warranty seal, anti-theft device, on/off switch for the LEDs
• More Information: https://www.bitfenix.com
• Average Price in the US*: USD 110.00

* Researched at Google Shopping on the day we published this review[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

The BitFenix Survivor has a top-notch finishing and sleek look. Due to its carrying handle, it is a really nice option for gamers that play on LAN parties. It is also a great case for users looking for a good-looking case full of features.

Strong Points

• Top-notch finishing
• Sleek design
• Retractable, sturdy carrying handle
• Air filter for the front fan
• Air filter for the power supply fan
• Support for six or seven (if the included adapter is used) hard drives
• Support for six, seven or nine SSD units (depending whether the included adapters are used or not)
• Anti-vibration mechanisms for 3.5” hard drives
• Tool-less installation system for 3.5” 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
• Anti-theft mechanism
• On/off switch for all LEDs

Weak Points

• Doesn’t come with the rear fan
• No tool-less installation mechanisms for 5.25” devices