MGE Sidewinder: A Look at a Gaming Chassis
by Purav Sanghani on October 16, 2004 11:31 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Final Thought
Is the Sidewinder a case worth purchasing? Let's take a look at how this chassis performed against our standards. In our thermal benchmarks, it performed a few degrees cooler than the similarly designed Enermax Sea Hawk, mainly due to the inclusion of a few 80mm fans on the left side panel. Again, the Sidewinder has a greater potential to outperform cases like Thermaltake's Tsunami Dream and SilverStone's Temjin 5 if a couple more 80mm fans are added to the back of the chassis.Adding a few more fans, however, will increase the sound levels produced. With three 80mm fans, the Sidewinder produced sound levels at about 47dBA. Adding more fans would likely increase this level into the 50-60dBA range. Do we add more fans to decrease component temperatures by a few degrees or do we accept component temperatures at their current levels and live with a much quieter case? It is obvious that we would go with a case that produces a lower level of sound than cutting a few degrees of heat dissipation.
The Sidewinder is priced at about $55 at most retailers, and that includes the V-Power 400W power supply, compared to the Enermax Sea Hawk, which has the same basic design and sells for about the same price without a power supply. The Sidewinder design is ridden with sharp edges because of its steel construction; and it is sometimes difficult to work with the expansion slots and drive bays, since screws are required to mount components. Even the side panels are held on by simple Philips head screws, which put the Sidewinder in the average section of our charts. We wouldn't exactly say this case is the worst of all, though. For its selling price, we give it an average rating and recommend it for novice users.
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ciwell - Monday, October 18, 2004 - link
#11, then you would be working for ANTEC. :DLoneWolf15 - Monday, October 18, 2004 - link
I'm starting to think I should go into case design. All I'd have to do would be to make tasteful cases that actually cater to the people who build their own computers, as it appears few manufacturers are actually doing this, including this one. How about designing something with reasonable expansion, front mounted ports, a few mounts for large fans that move lots of air at lower noise levels, out of solid materials, with a modest look but easy to mod later? No aliens, no snakes, no naked chick truck mudflap logos...function first, with just enough basic form to be appealing.ciwell - Monday, October 18, 2004 - link
Good review...I think the last sentence in it says it all.Operandi - Sunday, October 17, 2004 - link
#8 Hmmmmm... Put a $90 PSU in a $4.99 case that seems like a likely scenario.....shabby - Saturday, October 16, 2004 - link
#7 the funny part is that they didnt even use the psu that came with the case, they used an ocz one, check page 8 lolGundamit - Saturday, October 16, 2004 - link
#6 - What's really revolting is the 17A on the 12V rail. Get it? "Re-Volting" It like a ... oh nevermind.diehlr - Saturday, October 16, 2004 - link
Someone please give these case designers a clue. These cases with gaudy X's and tacky colored plastic are asthetically revolting.stephenbrooks - Saturday, October 16, 2004 - link
LOL @ #3I stared deeply into the chromed button and could only see a couple of black chairs in a white office, though, one with someone's coat hanging on it. Which page were you on?
Myrandex - Saturday, October 16, 2004 - link
I am actually glad they reviewed it, because I was considering purchasing it for a computer I am gonna build soon (saw it for sale @ directron). Haven't made up my mind yet, but yea I am glad they reviewed it.Jason
Budman - Saturday, October 16, 2004 - link
I can see a reflection of the reviewer in the chromed button. :)