External Overview
From In Win:
“Like any great Star Wars epic, the X-Fighter is designed after spacecrafts from the films donning hard steel, geometric lines, and brilliant lighting effects. From the top you’ll notice an easy access to the USB, FireWire, and audio interfaces; making for smooth sailing across the gaming galaxy. Exclusively from In Win are the adjustable thermal exhaust vents that provide for fast and easy cooling throughout the X-Fighter; suited to your needs.”
The In Win X-Fighter follows In Wins AL-13 line of mid tower cases in the fact that it has a unique external design. Both a unique side panel and front panel have been put into this case.
On the bottom of the front bezel is a set of fin like features molded into the case. In front of these is a bar, which reminds me of a handle, going across the front of the case which houses the power/reset buttons. The power button stretches across the entire handle while the reset button is a small trigger on the backside of the handle. Above that are two plain 3.5″ external bay covers. Slightly above those bays are four more 5.25″ bays which are both mesh and angled to give it that extra X-fighter look.
The top of the case remains fairly flat until you reach about six inches from the rear of the case. In a raised platform above the case are your essential external connections which include mic/headphone jacks, two USB ports, a FireWire port and two eSATA ports. This is the first case that I’ve reviewed that has had more than one external eSATA port.
Along the side panel is a futuristic design. I’m not exactly sure what In Win was trying to accomplish with this five sided design. They did however add a set of six rudders which can be moved to change the airflow exiting the case.
The rudders only move slightly to angle the airflow downward.
The rear of the case is pretty standard, there’s the power supply, I/O, and expansion slots, 120mm exhaust fan and two rubber tube holes.
Attached to the back and side of the case is the hardware and tool free clips that hold both side panels to the case. Rather than two (thumb)screws on either panel they have a clip system which easily just snaps and secures the side panels to the case.
On the bottom of the case are four triangular feet, which give the chassis a little more height. In Win claims it’s to give the case a 3D futuristic look.
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