Xilence Interceptor Pro Case Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging & Bundle3. Xilence Interceptor Pro: Exterior4. Xilence Interceptor Pro: Interior5. System Installation6. Testing Methodology and Thermal Performance7. Acoustic Performance8. Closing Thoughts9. View All Pages

The SECC side panel and red accent give the Interceptor Pro an attractive design. Xilence embosses its logo onto the upper chamber's drop-down side panel. A large, dust-filtered mesh cut-out provides access for air to reach the case's internal area. A thin acrylic window provides a point for users to view their system when it is complete.

The right side is almost identical to the left; only the fan mount and acrylic window are absent. Xilence extends the case's side panel to provide extra clearance for cable management without increasing its dimensions.

At 780mm tall, the front panel demonstrates the vast dimensions of Xilence's Interceptor Pro. A pair of 120mm red LED fans accounts for a small proportion of the front panel, with 6x 5.25″ bays and a mesh cover occupying the remaining area.

Opening the magnet-held door, in which sit the LED fans, provides access to 6x 3.5″ HDD/SSD and 4x 2.5″ SSD drive bays, all of which are hot-swappable. Cooling is clearly a priority for the Interceptor Pro; the drive trays utilise holes in their front allowing the coolant air to retain its intended path.

Xilence incorporates two effective methods of removing the drive trays. 3.5″ HDD/SSD trays are removed by freeing a holding-clip which then releases a spring-loaded retention mechanism. The drive tray can then be pulled out of its bay. 2.5″ drive holders are clipped in place allowing them to be removed with manual force.

Ease of removal is a positive for the 3.5″ HDD/SSD drive trays which can soon become a problem. When opening the door, we noticed that some of the trays had automatically freed themselves into the disconnected position. This will cause major problems if a drive is inadvertently disconnected when in use. We hope that Xilence takes note of this significant issue and fixes it by implementing stronger retention clips.

A row of grooves along each side of the Interceptor Pro's top panel adds to the rugged style of this mammoth. The adjustable airflow vents are operated by a mechanical slider on the right side of the top panel.

The primary front IO panel consists of a single USB 3.0 port, 2x USB 2.0 ports, power and reset buttons, audio jacks and indicator LEDs. Xilence should have included a pair of USB 3.0 ports rather than under-supply users by providing just the one.

The secondary front IO panel is intended to control the mini-ITX system. It consists of 2x USB 2.0 ports, audio jacks, the power and reset buttons and the accompanying LEDs. There is no restriction to which ports you use with each system. If you feel the need, there is the possibility to use all of the USB ports with one system.

10 red PCI slot covers continue the colour scheme from the Interceptor Pro's side panels. 7 rubber grommets located in the vicinity of the 140mm rear exhaust fan provide access for water cooling tubes or cables. Another rubber grommet is positioned above the IO shield – perfect for users wanting to route cables to the inside.

The default panel mounted to the upper chamber is for use with a mini-ITX motherboard and SFX power supply. This panel can be changed to accommodate an additional ATX power supply or a 120mm fan.

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