Test Setup and Installation

We can keep looking at the case from all different angles but to thoroughly evaluate an enclosure you need to install a system in it.

[M] P4 S478 Test Setup
CPU	Intel P4 2.4 "C"
Cooling	Cooler Master Hyper 48 with stock Delta fan
Mainboard	Asus P4C800
Memory	2 * 512Mb PC3200 Mushkin LVLII V2
Other	Chaintech FX5900XT with Arctic Cooling Silencer Chieftec 340W PSU Maxtor 20Gb Slimline HDD Plextor 12x Writer

Installation with this case comes very close to being completely tool free, only the motherboard needed a few small screws and I was delighted to see the plug and play method used for the optical drives and hard disks.

I took out the hard disk rails and aligned them with my hard disk. Two short clicks and the rails fitted perfectly into my hard disk.



To install a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM unit inside the case, things get even easier. You insert the unit through the front door in place in a free 5.25" holder:



You give the white hold down system a push to the right and lock it. It's really easy and to prove this to you, I made this small animated gif image:



As said, this tool free installation made me smile :). The hold down system for my FX5900XT is also very easy to use; a small turn of a plastic holder is all it takes to tighten the graphics card (and other cards) into place.

All that's left are a few screws to install the PSU. That brings my total of used screws to: 10! Not much indeed, I'll celebrate this with 10 pictures of my fully installed case… or maybe just one? :)



As I had to think of a way to hide my unnecessary cables I noticed that I had some room left on the upper right corner of the case. That should give me some decent airflow.



With everything installed it is time to start testing. Proceed to the next page to see my temperature testing adventures!