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

Innovation is definitely the basis upon which Xilence built the monster that is the Interceptor Pro. Good cooling performance, ease of use and extreme flexibility are all key points for this dual-system Gargantuan.

Built around an enthusiast-grade gamer styling scheme, Xilence was able to craft the HPTX-supporting Interceptor Pro with an alluring appearance. Jagged edges and mesh panels help divert attention away from the immense scale of the XQ series' flagship.

An out-of-the-box cooling configuration consisting of 2x 120mm intake fans and a single 140mm exhaust fan is enough to provide adequate cooling performance. Users with systems comprised of multiple graphics cards and power-hungry processors should look to invest in extra fans and make use of the abundance of strategically-positioned mounts.

Extreme water-cooling is ideally coupled with the Interceptor Pro. An ability to house performance-orientated 360mm and 480mm radiators concurrently makes this one of the most water-cooling-friendly chassis' on the market. Simple modifications will have the ability to make available room for further dual and single radiators.

You may question the relevance of a dual-system chassis. While the proportion of this case's users that will actually exploit the two-system potential is going to be small, the flexibility remains an important factor. A cheap HTPC-type system will be perfectly housed in the upper chamber handling the simple tasks such as web-browsing and media playback. This can save the hassle of having to boot up a fully-fledged, water-cooled powerhouse for such an uncomplicated task. A separate server is another possibility.

HPTX support is another of the Interceptor Pro's key features. Enormous dual-CPU motherboards such as EVGA's SR-X are able to be installed in this chassis without having to go through a painful modification procedure.

This case does have some disappointing features. The exclusion of a simple, inexpensive fan controller is unforgivable for a case in this market segment. Design issues relating to the accidental release of hot-swap HDD drive trays could cause usage problems. Supplying a basic plastic shroud to cover the HDD cables would help improve internal tidiness.

Priced at £199.99, the Interceptor Pro may be expensive, but it does represent good value for money. It is packed to the brim with features such as dust-filtered fan mounts, hot-swap drive bays, tool-less installation methods, HPTX and mini-ITX support, tremendous water-cooling capabilities and effective cable management grommets.

As one of a discrete few of tower-style case's to support two systems simultaneously, the Interceptor Pro could represent the emergence of a new contender to the high-performance chassis scene – Xilence. If this enthusiast-tailored creation is a sign of things to come, we can't wait to see what other pioneering concepts Xilence has up its sleeve.

Pros:

• HPTX support.
• Dual-system compatibility.
• Hot-swap drive bays.
• Good cable management.
• 3 fans included (2 of which are LED).
• Attractive colour scheme.
• Decent cooling.
• Fairly quiet.

Cons:

• No fan controller.
• Enormous dimensions.
• Some quality and design issues.
• Only 1 USB 3.0 port.

KitGuru says: Xilence's gamble has paid off with their inspirational Interceptor Pro.

Become a Patron!