A Closer Look - Outside

Upon unpacking the case the first thing you will most likely notice is the large fan. It encompasses the entire space of the side panel and has white fins. The next interesting item is the display in front. Aerocool has decided to construct the case of steel, while the front is made of a combination of high quality plastic and metal mesh for the drive bays.


Viewing the case from the front, we can see the interior of the chassis. All drive bays covers are perforated to aid in air flow. Unlike most cases, you will most likely feel air coming out of these holes, due to the large fan on the side. The rear does not bear any real surprises at first sight.


Taking a closer look at both side panels, the cover and frame of the 400 mm fan is made of black plastic. The construction quality is not as good as the case front and the grill will flex quite a bit under pressure. The other side is completely solid and does not have any air vents at all.


The front can be divided into three areas. The part below the display can hold three 5.25 inch drives or 3.5 inch hard drives. There is a little Aerocool logo on the bottom drive bay cover. The middle is taken by the display, which also acts as a fan controller and thermal monitor. Above the unit are four additional drive bays. The top one can be used for an external 3.5 inch drive if you wish.


The power and reset button are placed on top of the case. Aerocool has also included the usual audio connectivity two USB 2.0, a FireWire 400 and an eSATA port.


Moving on to the rear of the Hi-Tech 7 Pro, it is pretty standard and does hint at a simple interior layout. The bottom part is taken by the usual seven expansion slots. There is an air vent next to them, but no holes for water cooling. Above that is a 120 mm fan grill, which may also be filled with an 80 mm one if you wish. The top compartment holds the power supply.