For the test setup we have to thank Tones for supplying us with the Intel i7-4770K CPU and the ASUS Z97 mITX motherboard. The installed hardware was comprised of following parts:

• Intel i7-4770K cooled by boxed cooler
• ASUS Z97i plus motherboard
• 16GB of CORSAIR Vengeance Pro 2400C10 memory
• ASUS AMD 7970HD video card
• 2 x Western Digital Green Caviar 1TB HDD
• 1 x Plextor M5 PRO SSD
• CORSAIR RM650 PSU

Depending on the hardware you are using, assembling your gaming setup might be either an easy task or a very time consuming one. One limitation is when using the HDD cage for the 3.5" HDDs is that your maximum PSU length is first max limited to 160mm in length, plus preferably make sure your power supply is of the modular type or way shorter than 160mm. Looking at the below pictures you can spot it is getting very crowded below the motherboard tray and the 3.5" HDD cage

We had to flip over the Corsair RM650 modular power supply to allow for easier cable routing. Installing the power supply in the normal way, meaning the fan sucking in air via the bottom of the case, would have yielded far more power supply cable and connector strain, hence why we advise the maximum limit for your power supply is at 160mm and modular or you just remove the HDD cage and lose storage space. However the latter will be the least viable option.

The ASUS Z97i Plus motherboard blended perfectly with the Corsair Graphite 380T. As you can see even installing a tower cooler poses no real issues as long as the height is limited to 150mm.

We tested the 3 fan controller presets, though must admit when using the boxed cooler there will not be that much influence, as the limitation is the boxed cooler from Intel and not really the lack of airflow inside the case. Though to keep data aligned we used the results of the boxed cooler on the Intel Core i7-4770K. Switching from high to low only results in a temp increase of around 2°C CPU wise. The boxed fans are pretty decent, silent and yet powerful enough to keep your vital hardware components within safe operating temperatures.

Noise wise the included fans are pretty quiet, at full RPM the front 140mm Fan was around 32dBA. Though due to the open ventilated nature of this design the boxed processor cooler and fan from the ASUS HD7970 card were very audible during a gaming session.