Page 2:
Installation:
There is a bracket stretching over the top of the case that needs to be removed to install the motherboard. You should also remove the power supply and the drive cage as well. Removing the power supply is very difficult, there is a screw I missed for 30 minutes trying to pry the thing off. Even after I removed the screw, the power supply was stuck in there nice and tight. Before that, I installed the motherboard without removing the PSU, but missed a screw hole and the thermal module was a pain to get in. When I removed the PSU I sliced my hand on a sharp piece of metal. This case gets points off for that.
After that mishap was completed, it was time to get the thermal module in place. The case has a lip on the top that prevents the module from going in to the port smoothly. It took about an hour of fiddling with it to securely get the module in place. Ease of use is thrown out the window with this case. Someone also commented to me, as I was building the case, that the video card may be too big to fit with the thermal module. I didn't even realize that. After installing everything in case, though, the video card does fit (a BFG 6600GT), but it is snug against the thermal module. Anything larger cannot fit in this case, period.
Cable management... what cable management? The case is very cramped as I stated before. It is tough jamming all the different types of cables out of the way not to impede airflow. I thought BTX was supposed to solve all of those issues. I had more wire that I couldn't stuff under the drives or out of way than I knew what to do with. Make sure to hook everything thing up that needs to be plugged into the motherboard first before installing any add on cards or the drive cage/PSU. If you don't, expect to be removing and installing again.
Once the system is completed, it is a matter of sitting back and installing the OS and other software. As you can see, the video card is touching the thermal module and everything is cramped. I enjoy a smaller system as much as the next user, but make the case a bit bigger to accommodate cable layout and such. The MiniITX cases I have seen do a far better job of space utilization. I'm sure other BTX case design will be improved upon.
Conclusion:
While the thought of owning cutting edge technology may appeal to some of you, I recommend staying away from this case and opting for a bigger, better one. If you absolutely need to get BTX, look for a different case. If you don't, stay with ATX for the time being, it is cheaper and more mature at the moment. BTX will be great in the future, but to me, it isn't ready just yet.
There is a bracket stretching over the top of the case that needs to be removed to install the motherboard. You should also remove the power supply and the drive cage as well. Removing the power supply is very difficult, there is a screw I missed for 30 minutes trying to pry the thing off. Even after I removed the screw, the power supply was stuck in there nice and tight. Before that, I installed the motherboard without removing the PSU, but missed a screw hole and the thermal module was a pain to get in. When I removed the PSU I sliced my hand on a sharp piece of metal. This case gets points off for that.
After that mishap was completed, it was time to get the thermal module in place. The case has a lip on the top that prevents the module from going in to the port smoothly. It took about an hour of fiddling with it to securely get the module in place. Ease of use is thrown out the window with this case. Someone also commented to me, as I was building the case, that the video card may be too big to fit with the thermal module. I didn't even realize that. After installing everything in case, though, the video card does fit (a BFG 6600GT), but it is snug against the thermal module. Anything larger cannot fit in this case, period.
Cable management... what cable management? The case is very cramped as I stated before. It is tough jamming all the different types of cables out of the way not to impede airflow. I thought BTX was supposed to solve all of those issues. I had more wire that I couldn't stuff under the drives or out of way than I knew what to do with. Make sure to hook everything thing up that needs to be plugged into the motherboard first before installing any add on cards or the drive cage/PSU. If you don't, expect to be removing and installing again.
Once the system is completed, it is a matter of sitting back and installing the OS and other software. As you can see, the video card is touching the thermal module and everything is cramped. I enjoy a smaller system as much as the next user, but make the case a bit bigger to accommodate cable layout and such. The MiniITX cases I have seen do a far better job of space utilization. I'm sure other BTX case design will be improved upon.
Conclusion:
While the thought of owning cutting edge technology may appeal to some of you, I recommend staying away from this case and opting for a bigger, better one. If you absolutely need to get BTX, look for a different case. If you don't, stay with ATX for the time being, it is cheaper and more mature at the moment. BTX will be great in the future, but to me, it isn't ready just yet.