Installation

To start, I removed the 3D Core Fan assembly. With the CCFL base on the case this proved to be a slightly difficult task, as the two bottom screws were blocked by the base. Instead of putting the Core Fan back in after the installation, I decided to leave it out and use the fans elsewhere in the system. One of the fans went to the lower front opening, and the other to the side panel. To install the one in front, the HDD cage had to be removed by unscrewing the four screws that hold it in. I added the fan to the front with the fan screws included in the hardware. I also took the time to clean up the wiring and install the inverter for the CCFLs behind the external 3.5" bays before putting the HDD cage back in. The security loop was installed along the back panel with the single black screw from the kit.


To install the hard disk, simply push the pins for two drive rails into the screw holes on the sides of the drive, then slide it into the cage until it clicks into place. Unfortunately, due to the implementation of the HDD cage and the drive rails, the hard disks cannot be installed backwards to help hide the cables.


To install the optical drive, remove the bay cover and insert the drive until it lines up with the front panel. Push the latch forward, then slide the lock down to secure it in place.


The power supply was installed into the case and the wires were bundled up using the plastic tie and mounting base. Finally, the motherboard was installed and all the wiring was connected.

Finished Look

Surprisingly, the CCFLs were not too bright and are not distracting. In fact, the 120mm fan in the side window was much brighter than the CCFLs themselves, and if they were ever too distracting, the user could reach around to the back side and switch them off.