Installation
For this installation we’ll start with the PSU installation. Since it is a top mounted PSU, it makes it more difficult to install the PSU after you install the motherboard because of it being in the way. While you could install the PSU after the motherboard by removing the PSU support bar, it’s just not as easy and quick as doing it first.
Once your PSU is installed you can install the additional motherboard standoffs needed for your motherboard; four are already installed. Then just simply secure the motherboard to the case via the included screws.
Installing an expansion card is pretty simple. Just remove the screw and plate, install your card and secure with the screw. It would have been nice for Antec to include some thumbscrews here to make it more of a tool-free installation.
To install your 3.5” drives you have two options, either the hard drive tray or suspension mount system. First off you have to remove the front panel and drop down the cover over the hard drive cage.
The suspension mounting system isn’t designed for people who move their case a lot, so if you plan on keeping your case steady for a while, then use the suspension mount system as it will keep your case quieter.
To use the suspension system you have to twist the front cable by pulling out on the one side of the holder; the side with placements for two fingers. Then you can slide your second drive in and do the same thing with the second suspension cable. Twisting the cable enough times will secure the drive in place, however it does have a tendency to slide around, so be very careful when moving the case.
The second method, and my preferred method, is the tray installation. Four grommets are pre-installed in 3.5” HDD holes to install the drive. Just simply align the holes and secure with four of the HDD screws provided.
The process is the same for 2.5” drives, you just have to move the grommets to the 2.5” holes and use the 2.5” screws.
To install one of two 5.25” drives, just simply use two of the drive rails attached to the bottom of the case and fasten them to the drive. You have a few positions to install the mounts, so it’s kind of a trial and error installation.
Installing all of your cables shouldn’t be too much of a hassle unless you have a large CPU cooler. I found the space between my CPU cooler and HDD cage to be very limited, but this is what you get with top mounted-PSU cases.
