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ANVIL STORAGE UTILITIES PROFESSIONAL (BETA) You may not see this for long (and its definitely not common) but you get a freebee simply for reading!  Over the last little while, we have been assisting with beta besting new benchmark software called Anvil Storage Utilities which is an absolutely amazing SSD benchmarking utility.  Not only does it have a preset SSD …

Lets take a look now at our SATA 3 SSD hierarchy as determined by PCMark Vantage HDD Total Points.  Only the SSDs that we have tested and utilize asynchronous NAND flash memory are highlighted: THE VERDICT My views on solid state drives that utilize asynchronous NAND have remained unchanged since first print when I stated  that the consumer will gladly …

Although we are putting the final touches on our new and upgraded System test Benches, we felt this picture would be of benefit. A simple click will enlarge it to assist. Our main goal in testing is to ensure that all test results are as accurate as they can be and no anomalies slip through. We conduct all tests three …

Patriot releases another SATA 3 SSD into the consumer arena this morning, this going by the name of the Patriot Pyro.  The Pyro follows suit with the few other manufacturers that have recognized consumer apprehension over premium SSD prices and have wisely made use of a more value driven asynchronous (Async) NAND flash memory. These new ‘Async’  SSDs include the …

Just a bit of an update to pass on that retail versions of the OCZ Revo 3×2 (480/960GB) and Revo will be hitting store shelves very shortly followed by the Revo 3×2 240GB a few days later. OCZ’s initial specs of the Revo 3×2 left enthusiasts in a daze as the 240GB initially promised was nowhere to be seen.  The …

The Shinobi comes with some well packaged accessories: 1 x Shinobi Quick Installation Guide 4 x Thumb Screws 10 x Cable ties 1 x Case Lock 4 x 3M Adhesive Rubber Feet 9 x Motherboard Standoffs 13 x M3 Round Screws (Motherboard Tray) 3.5 to 5.25″ Bay Adapter 8 x 6-32 Hex (PSU and 3.5″ hard-drives) NEXT: The Exterior INDEX Page …

NOISE, SOUND, AND THERMAL PERFORMANCE Since the BitFenix Shinobi comes with two pre-installed 120mm fans, I decided to put it up against the Antec Sonata IV and the Cooler Master HAF 912 in the same configuration as all three are in the same price-range. I used AIDA64s system stability and benchmark utility to test the CPU, chipset, DIMM, and hard-drive …

Reviewing BitFenixs Shinobi was a treat. Rarely do I ever see such a spectacular case, especially at this price-point.  I still cannot get over how awesome SofTouch feels, and it is incredibly difficult not to be attracted to it everytime you catch sight of the Shinobis anterior. The Shinobi is a breath of fresh air in the chassis market. It …

To start off the review, I would like to present my favourite feature on the Shinobi, the SofTouch layer, which is essentially a matte-black, anti-scratch mesh that flows from the front of the chassis to the top, and all the way back. I REALLY liked this design by BitFenix. It makes you want to touch the case every time you …

Named after some of the most feared assassins of the modern age, Shinobi empowers the digital warrior to silently and efficiently dispatch his opponents. Maximum expansion and compatibility with long graphics cards enables you to equip Shinobi with the tools you need to get the job done. Superior cooling options allow the system to stay cool and collected during the …

At first glance, there is not a lot of glamor or sparkle on the case box which is to be expected for a budget product. Two holes on either side made portability extremely easy, including the fact that the entire package was only around twenty pounds. The entire case has sharp designs and graphics surrounding it. In the front, we …

Moving on to the motherboard area, we see the different types of ATX form-factors the Shinobi utilizes: I would like to make a quick note about the motherboard installation region of the case. Between the ends of the PCI-E expansions to the start of the 3.5 bays, there is a distance of 11.5 inches in between. With a GPU installed, …

If there is one thing that will make you appreciate BitFenixs work with the Shinobi, it is the interior. The inside of the case is the same matte-black finish as the exterior! So many times I see cases that have a nice black finish outside, yet do not continue that trend inside, where youll find a bland, predictable silver-steel finish: …

On to the back of the chassis, we see the motherboard I/O cut-out, a 120mm rear-exhaust fan (with compatibility for a smaller 92mm fan for extra motherboard clearance), seven, yes, SEVEN PCI-E expansion slots, large mesh perforations and two rubber grommets for looping tubes and cables through (primarily for water-cooling), and the bottom PSU-mount opening: I cannot believe a case …

One of the most important factors when undertaking a custom PC build is the design and functionality of the chassis itself.  It sets the tone for the build to come, and for some, even dictates specifically which components are needed to match the case. It is the centerpiece of any build, and more importantly, a part that you will always …