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Features
What exactly is in this
case that isn’t already obvious in the specifications? The first thing I
noticed that I liked was the use of mesh in the design of both the grille and
the side panel. Too many cases choke the intake fans in the front with
plastic, restricting the airflow. These mesh grilles are fairly solid, and
don’t bend to a casual push. The window itself is very nicely done, and is
screwed into the panel and can be easily removed. The first thing I saw that I
didn’t like was the punched grille for the 120mm in the back…although a dremel
would make that problem go away. The paint on this case is very nicely done as
well, so I pulled out a model car to demonstrate the finish.
**click to enlarge**
This case
can be completely disassembled with just a small Phillips screwdriver, and if
one was inclined, you could just leave a small one inside the rail storage
bin. One thing I found odd for a high dollar case was that thumb screws are
only included for the windowed panel…if you want to remove the other side, you
need a screwdriver. Another interesting point is that the top is not
removable because it is riveted in as part of the case frame. There is plenty
of room up there if you wanted to add a blowhole…with the right power supply
you could fit a 120mm in there. Also, for you modders out there, I took apart
the alien head in the door to see what made it work…it’s just three standard
red LEDs. The three notches above the eyes are actually clear, and any color
LED could be put in there if you so desired.
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**click to enlarge** |
**click to enlarge** |
The drive cage is easily
accessible, and can be removed with only one thumbscrew. It is also directly
in front of the two intake 80mm fans…your high rpm hard disks will have to
work very hard to overheat! The expansion slots have a screw-less mechanism
for securing the cards and we will see how well that holds the cards in a
little bit. The slots are not covered with punch outs, but have replaceable
slot covers. That is a good addition for the card shuffling world of a gamer.
There is also a rubber covered clamp right behind the upper drive bays on the
motherboard tray to help keep all the cables under control. Large holes are
also available to hide wiring behind the motherboard tray as well.
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**click to enlarge** |
**click to enlarge** |
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