Overview cont.

Internal

Gaining access to the innards requires you to remove three thumbscrews at the rear of the case. Once you’ve done that, you slide the U-shaped side off the back and you’re met with one of the worst sights ever for a cable management freak.

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There are loads of criss-crossing cables all needed to get the front panel buttons and display to work. You’ll find one for HD audio and AC 97, a USB cable for the iMON display and buttons (with USB to internal USB adaptor), a lengthy VGA cable that goes out the rear PCI bracket, standard front panel headers (HDD LED, power LED etc.), an ATX power splitter, USB I/O cable, a FireWire header and all of the fan molex pass-thru’s.

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The front of the case has the drive bays, allowing you to mount three HDD’s and three 5.25” drives. There are tool-less clips on two of each of the drive bays, i.e. you have to screw in the final HDD or 5.25” drive. While there are spaces for three 5.25” drives, only one is external making the rest a little redundant. Next to the hard disc cage, you’ll find a 120mm fan which rotates at 1500 RPM which sucks air from the front and pumps it inside the case.

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The drive bays have a nice little tool-less clip that sits on one side only. While the system is used on both the 5.25” and the HDD bays, the principle is the same; only the dimensions change. You squeeze them together and flip them up, slide your drive in, then clip them back down and two rods of metal sit in the drive screw holes, holding it in place.

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There is a random piece of metal that sits across the whole case with some kind of mounting point for a fan perhaps. The manual calls this piece of metal simply a ‘rod’ and doesn’t explain the hole in it. Once you’ve removed this you have the chance to chuck your motherboard in. The website labels this piece of metal as a strengthening bridge but I’m sure the circular hole is for an additional fan module.

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The motherboard area has the screw holes marked so you don’t have to temporary hold your mobo above to find out which spacers you’ll need to use. There is a stand-off that is permanently mounted and has a thread on the top, rather than being screwed into. You have to use the provided nut to hold your motherboard with this spacer. Why ThermalTake have done this is beyond me though.