Chenbro Xpider II

Thoughts

All in all, the Xpider II is a very solid piece of kit. It does everything that is asked of it, and does it well - The build is sturdy, the screw-free drive bays and PCI/AGP slots are easy to use, and there is plenty of nice attention to detail in the overall layout, from the drive rails neatly stored at the bottom of the case to the positive feel of the push-button panel to access the front USB ports and the like. The side panel window is the perfect example of this thoughtfulness in the design process - The option of having a window into the case which can be covered with the provided tin plate inside for those of us ashamed of the tangle of cables within is not far short of genius.

Of course, one of the major decisions for anyone buying a case is the styling, and this is where users are likely to split down the middle - The 'Spiderman'-esque design is one that you are likely to either love or loathe, and so any purchase decision is likely to rest largely upon that opinion.

Of course, like most case designs, this one isn't perfect either. Although the case is roomy, some will no doubt be frustrated by the lack of a removal motherboard tray, which can make hardware installations so much easier. And the fact that the case isn't entirely tool free when it comes to fitting hard drives is also a shame when drive rails have been provided for the other drive bays.

However, if you can put those issues to one side, and the Xpider IIs styling is your cup of tea, then there is really little left to criticise, in which case Chenbro's offering might be exactly what you're looking for.