Arctic Xtender VG Chassis Review

Epilogue

The Arctic Xtender leaves a strong first impression. While it positions itself in the premium segment, both in size and price, it manages to deliver genuine value through thoughtful design, quality materials, and generous features.

The build quality stands out immediately. The case is large and heavy, with tempered glass panels that feel solid and look excellent. Its monolithic design has presence, though the weight and floor-level base can make moving it a little tricky. Still, that heft reinforces its premium feel.

Cooling is clearly the Xtender’s highlight. Every version ships with five high-quality RGB fans: two 120mm P12 Pros at the rear and three 140mm reverse-spinning P14 Pros at the side. Combined with the option for vertical GPU mounting, airflow potential is excellent. That said, compatibility can be tight with some coolers. Arctic’s decision to include a Gen 4 PCIe riser feels like a clever compromise, keeping costs lower and avoiding the quirks of Gen 5 extensions.

The interior is impressively spacious. Arctic leaves ample clearance above the motherboard to accommodate even its largest AIOs, and magnetic dust filters at the top and side keep everything cleaner. Storage options are plentiful, with three vertical 2.5-inch slots behind the motherboard and a cage that holds up to three more drives (two of which can be 3.5-inch). The sliding, rubber-mounted 2.5-inch trays are a nice touch that makes full use of the available space.

Cable management is generally straightforward, though the long fan cables may need extensions depending on your motherboard’s layout. A built-in hub would have been a welcome addition to simplify things further. The PSU chamber is the one real weak spot. Its airflow is restricted, which can cause higher temperatures. If your PSU supports a silent mode, it’s best to avoid it here.

Pricing, however, can be a decisive factor. At the time of writing, Arctic’s Payback promo drops the non-VG black model to just €144.99. For that price, you’re getting a premium chassis with five included fans, excellent cooling potential, and sturdy construction, a very competitive deal. At €199.99, the value proposition shifts, but much comes down to personal preference. The VG models cost about €20-30 more and include everything you need right out of the box. The white variants also carry a slight premium. For those interested in the Vertical GPU model, pairing it with an AIO that has side or top-mounted tubes rather than bottom-mounted ones will improve compatibility and clearance with larger graphics cards.

Overall, the Arctic Xtender is a well-rounded, thoughtfully designed case, earning a Hardware Busters Recommended badge. It’s not perfect; PSU airflow and fan management could be improved, but the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses. For builders looking for a large, feature-rich, and stylish chassis, the Xtender is well worth considering.