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Benchmark Results and Conclusion
We tested the Raidmax X08 with our new Intel Core i9-7900X test platform. For comparison, we tested against the Cougar Conquer Essence, the Cougar Conquer and the Antec Torque to give you a good idea of where this case stands against other options that are of similar size, feature sets and price. Because all the chassis tested here are open-air cases, we expect the performance to be very close.
Due to lack of fans, there is literally no active airflow into this chassis. Normally this is done as a cost-cutting measure--and enthusiasts prefer to add their own fans--but at this price we still think Raidmax should have included one or more intake fans to provide some airflow into the chassis.
With the exception of the hard drives mounted behind the motherboard tray, system temperatures were good, all things considered. Our Intel i9-7900X processor running at 4 GHz peaked at 57 degrees Celsius over the ambient temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, putting the Raidmax X08 right in the middle of the cases we used for comparison. GPU temperatures leveled off at 48 degrees Celsius over the ambient room temperature, again putting this chassis in the middle of the pack. The addition of fans to this case would mean even better temperatures, but of course at the cost of increased noise levels.
When it comes to noise levels, we recorded sound level readings with two off-the-shelf dB meters from two different angles. One of the benefits of tempered glass side panels is its ability to reflect sound back into the chassis. This, combined with the side front and bottom panels, helped the X08 to beat out the competition. Test results at idle generated 28.7dBA. And our test results with the X08 under load were lower than the rest test group, at 36.5dBA.
In general, we don't have a problem with expensive chassis, but we feel that the features need to reflect the price. At $240 (£182.28), this chassis is lacking far too many features such as RGB lighting, a USB 3.1 Type-C port, fans, or a fan hub. Even if you reuse fans from a previous build, this chassis is still a poor value. Normally we like to suggest alternative options for our readers, but it seems like a trend for these open-air chassis to be priced above the $240 mark. The Cougar Conquer and Conquer Essence both offer similar features at about the same price.
Bottom Line
The Raidmax X08 is open-air chassis that does nothing to set itself apart from the crowd. In fact, Raidmax's strange design decisions (no front fan mounts, odd pink frame, and cosmetic front panel) could actually help make the argument for choosing a competitor's open-air cases. In the end, the Raidmax X08, much like its competitors, amounts to overpriced style over substance. As with almost all open-air cases of this type, we seriously recommend waiting for a price drop or sale before spending your hard-earned money.
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