BitFenix Shadow Mid-Tower Chassis Review

Final Thoughts

Pricing

At £54.98 from Overclockers UK the BitFenix Shadow is great value for money, but it certainly has some tough competition as NZXT, Cooler Master, Corsair and many others have feature packed products in this price range; the main selling point for the Shadow will be for those who want something with an understated design.

Overview

The BitFenix Shadow may not blow you away with high-end features and innovation, but it has just enough tricks up its sleeve to satisfy the demands of your average mid-to-high end system build. The chassis features LED under-lighting, SofTouch treatment on the front panel and a powder black paint job that will look great in any office or gaming environment, without being as in your face as many of the other gaming chassis’ around the same price range.

There are a few little quirks that I would like to see resolved by BitFenix, such as the bottom dust filters being on the interior of the chassis; this makes properly cleaning the filters a little complicated. The fixed hard drive bays are a little bit old-school too, sure they’re up to the job, but compared to the slide-out modular trays most chassis’ feature these days, the Shadow may look like a less attractive option to potential customers; especially since there is only a single 2.5″ drive bay on offer without the use of adaptors.

The Shadow is very easy to work with, something that should keep first time builders happy. Cable routing space is a little tight, but a few cable ties in the right places will help you get things organised quickly enough. The front panel helps keep things looking neat and tidy and the light on/off switch is great for adding some flair to show off your system, or toning things down when you just want to kick back and watch a movie without any visual distractions.

Pros

• SofTouch coating gives the chassis a premium look and feel
• Front panel under-lighting
• Durable build quality
• Trusted brand name
• Reasonable price
• Room for long graphics cards
• Two good quality 120mm fans pre-installed

Cons

• Dust filters could be better placed
• Only one 2.5″ drive bay without the use of adaptors

“The Shadow offers plenty of features and durable build quality for an affordable price tag and its understated looks are perfect for those who want a break from the often extreme styling of most other mid-budget gaming chassis’.”

Thank you OCUK for providing us with this sample.