When comparing Fractal Design Define R5 vs BitFenix Shinobi XL, the Slant community recommends Fractal Design Define R5 for most people. In the question“What are the best computer cases for gaming?” Fractal Design Define R5 is ranked 1st while BitFenix Shinobi XL is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Fractal Design Define R5 is:
Along the entire bottom is a slide-out dust filter. It can be pulled out from the front and cleaned helping to keep dust outside of your build.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Repels dust
Along the entire bottom is a slide-out dust filter. It can be pulled out from the front and cleaned helping to keep dust outside of your build.
Pro Sleek design
The R5 goes for the minimal look, and it nails it. There isn't even any branding on the exterior. Both sides are completely flat slates, and the minimalist design is only broken on the top with I/O up front and 3 removable panels (for cooling solutions).
Pro Very quiet
The R5 is lined with a sound-resistant material, which helps keep sound low.
Pro 9 total fan slots
There are 2 included fans - Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 fans rated at 1000RPM. There is 1 located in the front, and 1 in the rear.
In total, there 2 are fan slots in the front, 1 in the rear, 3 on top, 2 in the bottom, and 1 on the side. These provide plenty of options for fan placement.
Pro Plenty of room for water cooling
There is enough room for a 420mm radiator in the top, as well as room for a 360mm radiator in the front.
Pro Extremely customizable layout
All of the internal shelving is removable, meaning you aren't limited to putting certain components in pre-determined spots.
Pro Ready for liquid cooling
There is a total 1080x120mm of space for radiators, which provides plenty of room for liquid cooling.
Pro Decent cooling and noise pollution
While not exceptional, the stock cooling properties of the case as well as the noise output beat average scores slightly when a similar setup is used in a different case. The GPU was a bit warm, while the CPU was considerably cooler.
If you overclock, then it gets very noisy and warm - much more than other cases.
Pro Easy assembly even for beginners
You won't need any tools to assemble the Shinobi XL other than a screwdriver. The drive bays have pegs that bend, holding the drive in. The PSU (power supply unit) is also a breeze to install with rubber feet that the PSU rests on helping to align it properly.
Pro Sturdy chassis
The chassis is made out of a soft touch plastic that is reinforced with steel.
Pro Tons of drive bays
There are 8 3.5/2.5" drive bays, as well as 5 5.25" bays for all the slots you could want.
Pro Large case
There's plenty of room for all the components you could want. Just about any GPU will fit - even some extra long cards - and there's even room for most liquid cooling systems.
Pro 3 fans included
The case comes with 3 fans - one on the front (230mm), one on the rear (120mm), and one on top (230mm).
Cons
Con Top panels are almost required
It's best to keep the 3 top panels right where they are - removing them will greatly increase the noise output of the machine, as well as break its dust-seal.
Con Heavy
At 11.2kg, this is a very heavy case.
Con Poor cable management
There isn't enough space along the routing lines to fit all the cables needed. There is space in crevices, however those are nearly impossible to access.
Con Uninspiring design
It's very hard to get excited about the very basic case design. It seems to go for the minimalist design, however misses it by a mark.