Team Xecuter Case Review

Written by Brakken
September 2005

(Read the French Translation Here)

“It’s a fact that every review is biased, because every reviewer has their own point of view. Bias is not necessarily bad, as long as you can recognize it as such and take it into account as you read the review.” - Laurie Rozakis, Ph.D, Alpha Books, 2004

With this said I would like to point out that ISO-420 Reviews is one of the most non-biased (hence our logo) scene review sites. It does not matter if I pay for the product in question or do not get along with the company I will still give an honest and valid review.

Introduction

If you fall into the category of people who have modded their GameCube you will want to read this review as a replacement case is your only option at a quick, easy and professional looking solution for using full sized DVD media.

The first part of this review focuses on Team Xecuter who established itself as a scrupulous company that produces top of the line products for the XBOX and has recently entered the GameCube modification scene by presenting a high-quality complete replacement case in a variety of colors and jam packed with electrifying features.

The case dubbed “IcedCube” has had a long development history reaching as far back to when the first full sized solutions were created. Unlike the first cases to be released, Xecuter took their time to design, test and release a quality product that luckily only comes with a few minor flaws.

Features

Complete Replacement Case
Supports Full Sized Media
High-Quality Custom Molded Plastic
Vast Range of Colors to Chose From
Internal Space for Qoob and Viper Programmers
Custom Jewel, Stickers and Extras

Packaging

I chose to order the case from Divineo Canada who shipped the product the next day, but the shipping option that included tracking was $20!. The first thing I noticed when opening the package was the quality of the cardboard box the case comes in. Yes, I know this isn’t a really important factor, but compared to the first case that came out onto the market I would say the cardboard box itself held more quality then it did.

Contents of the Package

Top of the Case
Bottom of the Case
Back Replacement Plate
Custom Jewel
Jewel Housing
Four Optional Port Stickers
Warning Sticker

Installation

Installing a full replacement case will take a lot longer then just replacing the top (as is the situation with all of the other replacement cases), but in the end it is worth it. Don’t get me wrong as it’s not hard to do. If it’s not your first time opening your GameCube it will be like a walk in the park and if it is indeed your first time it will be like a walk in a park you’ve never been in, but has a nice paved trail to walk on.

Once I had the GameCube completely disassembled I began to fit the case. The first thing you must do is to fit the three screw posts used for grounding into the new bottom. The two on the left side fit great, but the one I the right side required some unnecessary force and alignment to get it set straight.

Next you take the extension port and screw it in. I noticed now and during the entire duration of fitting the case that you would get the screw half way in and then have to use a lot of force to get them to go all the way down and once they were down they would not come out. The problem that I and many others have run into while fitting this case is the threading of the screws.

After this you have the option of mounting the external programmer for your Viper GC or Qoob Pro on the back replacement panel. The Qoob's USB interface slides right into a slot and is a snap to install. The Viper GC's programmer simply requires you to remove the two screws on the front of it off, fit the programmer and then screw it back on. Peice of cake!

Once all of the components are swapped you are ready to fit the top half of the case. Now for this to work both halves need to be properly square and unlike the other replacement cases on the market, Xecuter used a better company to mold the cases and in the end came out with a perfectly square top and bottom.

If you're new at installating cases some of them do not come pre-threaded, which mean you must "thread" the screw yourself. To do this screw it in as far as it will go and then unscrew it. Repeat this process until you have the screw all of the way down. The issue with the Xecuter cases are that the screw posts plastic gets smaller the farther you go down so I would strongly recommend if to use smaller screws such as the black ones from the Playstation 2 console.

Also you will notice in the pictures I’ve taken of the GameCube that there are many LED's in it and these do not come with the Xecuter case, but are custom modifications I've done prior to the review.

Usage

The power, reset and eject buttons worked out well and the lid itself did not fly open like a bat out of hell, but due to minor alignment issues which exist in some cases some modifications were required so that full sized DVD media would spin.

There are two alignment issues commonly known around the scene which are easily fixed using a few small objects such as parts of a toothpick or pieces of paper. The first issue is that the DVD drive is not centered therefore causing full sized media to snag the edge of the case, which results it in not spinning. The second issue is that when the lid is closed the disc will snag the front of it and not spin and sounds like a broken airplane engine. Each of these defects should be addressed as leaving them as-is will result in you not being able to boot your discs and possibly damage to the motor.

To fix the both issues, simply insert some small objects between the DVD drive assembly and the case on the side(s) that the disc is snagged on. To determine the side it gets snagged on you must manually rotate the disc and watch for where it is making contact with the case. Once this is done simply place a small object in the front of the case to have it not touch the front lid when it is closed.

Additionally to solve the second defect you are presented with a few options which are commonly known to fix this issue. The first option is to simply leave the lid open. I’ve also talked with some people who had lubricated the lip with various substances and said this worked fine, but I did not like the idea of having to maintenance the GameCube every week or so. The last option, which is the best in my opinion, is to use some more toothpicks and not only align the DVD assembly to avoid hitting the inside of the case, but not to hit the lip too.

Comparison Introduction

While you have been reading this review you might have thought to yourself “I thought this was a comparison?” Don’t fret my fried as I’ve saved the best for last.

I am comparing the currently available cases on the market so that you, the consumer, will have something to base your purchasing decision on. I will be comparing the cases using various factors such as price, quality and usability based on the order of importance gathered from sources such as: forums, polls and word of mouth.

The current cases I will be comparing are the only ones available on the market as of the date of this review: Xecuter, Xtender v1, Xtender v2 and HushTrap.

Similarities

The purpose of each case is to allow the use of full sized DVD media and all of the cases do get the job done.

Each case can be purchased in a variety of colors including, but not limited to the original case colors.

All of the cases will allow you to use some form of jewel to enhance the visual factor of your GameCube.

Common Differences

When purchasing anything most people first compare the prices of the products. The Xecuter case ranks in at the highest price costing an average of $39.99, the Xtender v2 at $29.99, then Xtender v1 $22.99 and the HushTrap is the least and goes for $19.99.

One must also take into the consideration is the availability of the products which will ultimately effect the shipping costs. Due to exclusive deals with Xecuter you can only purchase the IcedCude case from three online stores which greatly reduces your options and forces you to pay outrageous shipping amounts. Currently these three stores are overcharging for shipping (I've shipped 2 GameCube's from Canada and it cost the same as one Xecuter case did). (Expect to pay $15-$30 for just shipping) Both the Xtender and HushTrap cases can be found online in stores around the globe.

Minor Differences

Now I’m going to take a look at the less popular features, but are features none the less that should be considered when purchasing any of these cases.

The least worried about feature is how hard it is to install the case. If you’ve already fitted a chip you won’t even think twice about doing this and if you haven’t fitted a chip is a hundred times more difficult then replacing the case. Both Xtender cases are simple to install, the HushTrap is moderate and the Xecuter is difficult. The Xtender v2 simply slides into place and nothing more is required. The Xtender v1 might require modification (see below). The Hushtrap case requires modification and is plagued with alignment issues due to the fact that the case itself is not square. The Xecuter case is a complete case it is the most difficult to install.

Some cases require unneeded modification to them before and/or after installing due to overlooked (in HushTrap’s case ignored) defects. The HushTrap case requires heavy modification which involves removing various plastic from the case, fixing buttons and fixing the lid so it will open correctly. The Xecuter case requires you to align the DVD drive assembly after installation. If you are using a Viper GC which has been fitted in its default location then you must cut off a screw post to fit the Xtender v1 case. The Xtender v2 case requires no modifications.

Using the case, which just boils down to how easy it is to power the GameCube on, open/close the lid and remove the media, ranked in next and works out like so:

If not aligned correctly the HushTrap case might cause you to not be able to power on the GameCube, the lid eject button randomly sticks down and has to be lifted up with a small knife and the removable of the media is very difficult as there is barely any space to do so.

Both of Xtender’s cases feature easy removable, but some cases have their eject button spring come free which will require you to take the top off and replace the spring.

Xecuter’s case has no issues and features the best media removable as it has an indent in the font of the case so you can easily flip the disc up.

The extras, such as lights and stickers weighed in at 3rd. Both the Xtender v2 and HushTrap cases do not come with any extras. The Xtender v1 comes with an LED light show and the Xecuter case comes with a custom rear port plate for housing modchip programmers and various stickers.

Each case comes with its own form of jewel. HushTrap’s comes with a simple sticker they call a jewel, which after you apply to the case is not removable. Xtender’s v1 case comes with a custom sized jewel which you can remove. Xtender v2 has a normal sized jewel slot and comes with a custom multi-imaged jewel. Xecuter’s case features a normal sized jewel slot and comes with a jewel holder and a custom sticker for the holder that reads “IcedCube” printed with metallic ink. Having a normal sized jewel slot is a must for any serious modder who would like to purchase additional jewels.

The most important minor difference is the range of colors that are available to choose from. HushTrap offers original, custom and transparent cases. Xtender’s v1 cases are all transparent due to the LED assembly and their v2 cases come in original and custom colors. Xecuter has the largest variety of colors ranging from original, custom and transparent. Remember though that due to supply, demand and the location of the shop you purchase them from you might not have a large selection to choose from (as in Xecuter’s situation).

Major Differences

According to the sources I used to organize this comparison the main factors that influence the majority of the people are price, design and quality of the cases. I’ve already gone over the prices so there is no need to repeat them.

Both Xtender’s cases are based on the original design of the top half of the GameCube. Other then the extra bubble on top of the v1 cases for the LED assembly they are practically the same. Due to the injection points used for the molding process the cases do have visual marks on them. The cases are around 95% square, but are made from a more sturdy plastic then the HushTrap therefore do present issues when installing. The v1 was not properly tested on a GameCube with a Viper GC chip installed in it (even though they branded the cases with Viper GC on them) and requires modification. The cases internal components, such as the lid, buttons and eject assembly are made from low grade parts.

The HushTrap design was not properly tested. The first run had to be heavily modified in order to be installed. The plastic is cheap. The internal parts are low quality. The case is 80% square. Their cases are shipped in low grade packaging resulting in further damage during shipping. The eject button mechanism is flawed. The lid flies open and wears out over time. The space to remove media is limited. It uses the original GameCube design.

Xecuter’s case uses a custom design that is made from high grade plastic and has been molded properly to not show any injection points. It is 100% square. It features a unique indent in the front for easy removal. All of its internal parts are high grade and surpass the quality of the original case. The bottom right screw post hole for the grounding plate is too small.

Conclusion

Due to the lack of quality, jewel, extras, having to mod the case before you can install it, the troubles run into when installing and the fact that removing full sized media is nearly impossible with one hand I would stay clear of HushTrap’s line of replacement cases. HushTrap released a below quality case and did not even care to test it. Once they defects were reported HushTrap did nothing to fix them and continued to ship malfunctioning broken cases.

If you’re looking for a mid priced quality case and don’t mind having only the top half I would recommend purchasing either of Xtender’s cases. There is one minor flaw with the transparent cases as you must remove a screw post with a pair of wire cutters if you use a Viper GC chip, but this can be easily done in less than thirty seconds. If you dig LEDs in your cases then I would get the transparent case and the lightshow is spectacular.

Team Xecuter’s case is by far the superior product and its price is justified with the vast amount of time, effort and planning invested into the creation of the product. Not only do you get a full sized replacement, but also a specially designed, excellent quality, full sized jewel supporting, custom rear ported case! Removing media is a breeze and they offer the largest selection of colors to choose from. If you can afford it I would buy this case today!

Recap of Xecuter’s Cases Positives and Negatives

Positives

Full Sized Replacement Case
Custom High Quality Mold (Design)
Original, Custom and Transparent Colors
Normal Sized Jewel Slot
Custom High Quality Jewel Included
Rear Port Panel for Mounting Programmer(s)
Best Media Removal Method Seen to Date

Negatives

Availability
Screw Threading Issues
DVD Alignment
Installation (Moderate)

Links

Team Xecuter's Homepage
The Mod That Cube Online FAQ

Extras

Movie: Opening and Removing Media
Movie: Watch her in Action!
Movie: Lightshow! Yeah!
Audio: DVD Aligned Properly
Audio: DVD NOT Aligned Properly



-=[ Xecuter Case Review Discussion Thread ]=-

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