Layout

Overall the layout works. There is plenty of space to work for most users and the end user can make the cooling as complicated or as simple as they want to. Most 900D buyers will be running a high end X79 or Z87 board such as the Rampage IV Extreme pictured here:

Because the case supports the much larger HPTX format there is therefore plenty of space left for a large cylinder reservoirs as well as a possible midplate to separate the bottom chamber. Of course the case could be larger in order to support the larger radiators, but the reality is that the trade off doesn’t buy that much. A thicker radiator isn’t that much better than a thinner one, but yet the extra size of the case can be limiting. The case already is only just small enough to fit under the popular Ikea Galant desk:

Because of this, a large number of people will be running this on top of a desk where it’s large enough to be an earthquake risk, and intimidating, but not so large that it’s unfeasible to actually put it on a desk at all:

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Great review. I have been looking for a long term review for the 900D. I have heard problems with production quality, like bits snapping off. But you give no mention of that so I’m assuming these are isolated incidents.

    • Hey Terry – Yes I haven’t seen problems in the long run with anything failing. Most complaints I’ve seen were things being delivered with something broken. There’s definitely improvements that can be made and corners that were cut to save costs, but for the non-msrp price it’s a great deal!

  2. Like the 900D. But – 480 rads can be obstructing to the upper bay as the rad will intrude on optical drive lengths / area. For this reason I swapped over to a 420 up top. Plenty of room all round and leaving many other options open, so I would disagree on the 480 recommendation up top.
    Had to remove the lower intake fan as well to accommodate the 480 which is 60mm deep as the rear chamber just impinged on the fan mounts – using Alphacool nexus 480 x 60 unit with the 420 x 60 up top. Also a 140mm below as well. This aside, a joy to work in but still not the same as my lianLi 2120 workstation unit. may well look at the boutique brigade next time..

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