Layout, design and features interior …
The Arctic Xtender Case easily accommodates all desktop motherboards from Mini-ITX to E-ATX and up to 285mm in width. Thanks to its generous height of 53cm, it offers ample space-especially above the motherboard-for radiators up to 420mm in size or three 140mm fans. To the right of the motherboard tray, Arctic has pre-installed three 140mm high-performance reverse fans with A-RGB lighting in the Xtender Case. They spin at speeds of up to 2650 RPM and draw fresh air from the rear through a dust filter. Instead of the fans, a radiator up to 420mm in size can also be mounted on the right. However, those who prefer to install an air cooler for their CPU can also take full advantage here, as air coolers up to 171mm in height fit into the Xtender case. Air is expelled via two pre-installed P12 Pro A-RGB fans with a speed range from 600 to a whopping 3000 RPM. The Xtender case features integrated RGB LEDs on all five fans, and the Arctic logo on the acrylic panel in front of the power supply cover is also illuminated by 24 RGB LEDs.
The VG model also comes with a pre-installed vertical graphics card mount that supports transfer rates up to PCIe 4.0 x16. It can be removed in just a few simple steps if you prefer to install the graphics card conventionally in the motherboard’s PCIe slot. However, you’ll need to provide your own graphics card support bracket for conventional installation. There are large openings around the motherboard to route cables from the rear. The powerful 140mm reverse fans sit nearly flush with the recessed cable channel to the right of the motherboard. If you install a radiator instead of the fans, keep in mind that it will protrude significantly in front of the motherboard and may obstruct the installation of the graphics card.
Overall, the build quality of the Xtender Case is excellent. There are no sharp edges, and all the parts fit together perfectly. The only slight drawback is the slightly uneven seal around the front panel, though this isn’t visible from the outside once the case is in use.
On the back, the cables for the fans and the front I/O ports are already neatly routed, and several Velcro strips have been pre-installed to help keep the remaining cables organized. A second adapter strip for mounting 120mm fans is also tucked away on the right. The hard drive cage can accommodate two 3.5″ hard drives or three 2.5″ drives, or it can be removed entirely. Unfortunately, the HDD cage is not directly in the airflow path of the case fans, so if you’re using a large number of HDDs, you should keep an eye on the temperatures. Three additional 2.5″ drives can be accommodated behind the motherboard, where they can be suspended using the included rubber mounts.
Because there is no ventilation opening in the bottom of the case, the Xtender PC case features a small base for the power supply unit to ensure that the PSU fan is not completely blocked. This allows the power supply unit to draw in fresh air through the side opening of the case and direct it past the hard drives.
Arctic Xtender VG Practical testing …