Exterior Design and Case Features

One thing the ASRock Z97 M8 definitely has going for it is looks. Those of you who read my reviews often will know that I'm a big fan of black and red color schemes, and the M8 definitely has the right mixture of both, never mind that there are some nifty red interior lights that can be controlled via the big button at the front.


That button, pictured above, includes quite a few functions and displays some pertinent information, like CPU usage and clockspeed, or just the normal clock; it can even be used to adjust your system's volume. If you decide to use this case with it laying on its side, which is what the included rubber feet are for, the display will also automatically rotate by 90 degrees so as to be positioned correctly rather than on its side.


So, you can have the case standing upright...


Or lay it on it's side. You can then also remove the feet if you like, giving it a completely different look! Seems I might have positioned it up-side down in the second picture above, though! Oops!


There's a built-in card reader, its headphone and mic jacks hidden inside a pull-out panel in the lower corner, should you have the case standing upright. They connect to the system via a USB 3.0-like connector, as the cable's end connects to the system with a different plug for both the audio and a USB 2.0 header on the board itself.


Turn the key to the right and both side panels will easily pop off, one side revealing the insides and the other some vanity plates and a cable-managment implementation, both functional and visually stunning.


The aluminum doors attach to the case with some plastic clips and magnets that hold them in place. There are two magnets in each corner to ensure the doors sit in place securely.


And "securely" is no joke. One happened to free itself from the glue holding it in place, and let me tell you, I had a hard time pulling it off it's mate it attached to the frame.