[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The Blackstorm is a mid-tower case from Raidmax, offered in two color options, black or white, both with blue trim and fans. The unique feature of this case is that its motherboard tray is attached to the right-side panel, and comes off the case together with the panel. Costing USD 80, it promises a good cost/benefit ratio. Let’s check it out.
We reviewed the black version of the case.
Figure 1: Raidmax Blackstorm case
Figure 2: Raidmax Blackstorm case
The side panels can be easily removed by lifting the existing latches. The right-side panel has a mesh for an 80 mm fan, while the left-side panel has a huge mesh and comes with a 180 mm fan that glows blue when turned on. This fan comes with a standard peripheral power connector, so you can’t monitor its speed. The manufacturer doesn’t publish the technical specifications for this fan. This fan can be replaced by a 120 mm model, but we doubt that anyone will perform this downgrade.
This case doesn’t come with an air filter for the left-side mesh.
Figure 3: Left-side panel
[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]
The front panel of the Raidmax Blackstorm has four external 5.25” bays, all using meshed covers with air filters. One external 3.5” bay is also available, but using a solid cover.
Figure 4: Front panel
At the bottom part of the front panel, the Raidmax Blackstorm comes with one 120 mm fan that glows blue when turned on. This fan comes with a standard peripheral power connector, so you can’t monitor its speed. The manufacturer doesn’t publish the technical specifications for this fan. There is an air filter in front of this fan.
Figure 5: Front fan
[nextpage title=”The Top, Bottom, and Rear Panels”]
The top panel of the Raidmax Blackstorm is solid, with no place for you to install fans. This is because the power supply is installed on the top part of the case. The buttons and connectors of this case are located on the top panel.
Figure 6: Top panel
The case comes with two USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA port, and the traditional audio jacks. It would be nice if it had USB 3.0 ports.
Figure 7: Buttons and connectors
The bottom panel is plain, with no special features.
Figure 8: Bottom panel
The rear panel and the interior of the Raidmax Blackstorm are painted black.
As mentioned, the power supply goes on the top part of the case.
The Raidmax Blackstorm comes with a 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel. This fan doesn’t glow when turned on, but similarly to the other fans, it uses a standard peripheral power connector, and the manufacturer doesn’t publish its technical specifications.
There are seven expansion slots, using vented covers.
Figure 9: Rear panel
Let’s now take a look inside the Raidmax Blackstorm.[nextpage title=”Inside the Raidmax Blackstorm”]
One of the highlights of this case is that you don’t need to remove screws in order to open it. All you need to do is lift the latch available on the top part of the side panel you want to remove and voilà. The motherboard tray comes attached to the right-side panel, making it easier to build your PC. Because of this feature, however, you can’t route cables behind the motherboard tray, and the tray doesn’t have a hole for you to access the backplate of the CPU cooler.
Figure 10: Overall look
Figure 11: The motherboard tray is attached to the right-side panel
Figure 12: A view with the right-side panel removed
You can, if you want, remove the motherboard tray from the right-side panel. This is easily done by removing three screws.
Figure 13: Motherboard tray removed from the right-side panel
In Figure 14, you have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using regular silver screws. The manufacturer could have used at least black screws here. The Raidmax Blackstorm supports video cards up to 10.5” (267 mm) long.
Figure 14: Overall look
[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]
The Raidmax Blackstorm has four 5.25” external bays, one 3.5” external bay, and five 3.5” internal bays (four inside the main hard drive cage and one outside), all using tool-less installation mechanisms. This case also has one additional 3.5” bay for floppy disk drives that is not opened on the outside, so we wonder what it is doing there. You can force the installation of a hard drive there, but you will need to use regular screws to attach the drive, since the installation mechanism that comes on this bay is for a floppy disk drive. Unfortunately, this case doesn’t come with 2.5” bays.
Figure 15: Disk drive bays
The hard drive cage can be rotated and even entirely removed from the case. Hard drives are installed in the cage using ruler-based mechanisms.
Figure 16: Hard drive cage removed from the case
The case comes with a small toolbox below the hard drive cage, which has the rulers for installing hard drives, screws, and a buzzer.
Figure 17: Toolbox
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the Raidmax Blackstorm 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 or white
- Side panel: Meshed
- Dimensions: 18.9 x 8.1 x 20.5 inches (480 x 205 x 520 mm) (H x W x D)
- Net weight: 22 lbs (10 kg)
- Gross weight: 25.5 lbs (11.4 kg)
- Bays: Four external 5.25” bays, one external 3.5” bay, and five internal 3.5” bays (four inside the main hard drive cage)
- Expansion slots: Seven
- Maximum video card length: 10.5” (267 mm)
- Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
- Fans: One 120 mm fan on the front panel, one 180 mm fan on the left panel, and one 120 mm fan on the rear panel
- Optional fans: One 80 mm fan on the right panel
- Extra features: Motherboard tray attached to the right panel
- More Information: https://www.raidmax.com
- Average Price in the US*: USD 80.00
* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The Raidmax Blackstorm brings two interesting features: the side panels that are easily removed by simply lifting a latch and the motherboard tray that is attached to the right-side panel, making it easier for you to install the motherboard. This case is not perfect, as it doesn’t come with 2.5” bays or clips for organizing cables. However, for the user who likes the way the motherboard tray easily comes out of the case, this product is perfect and comes with a very attractive price tag.
Strong Points
- Motherboard tray comes out with the right panel
- Side panels are removed by simply lifting a latch
- Meshed bay covers with air filters
- Vented slot covers
- Air filter for the front fan
Weak Points
- No air filter on the left-side panel
- No USB 3.0 ports
- No 2.5” bay
- No thumbscrews for fastening expansion cards
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