The Panel

To begin with, let me refresh your memory just a bit. As I delved into the case in its original state, I had noted that all the blowholes were laser cut. This was a much neater method of forming the holes, and also did away with those unsightly jagged edges that can occur when drilling. It also made sure that all the holes were properly aligned so that the fans didn't look uneven.

Now, lets take that same technology and create a window in the side of the case panel. That's right…the side panel has been laser cut as well. Smooth edges, no jaggies, and a very professional look all around. It also maintains the same positions for the twin 92mm fans. When tested, this caused the temperatures inside the case to be the same as they were in the unaltered form.

For securing the window, eight hex-headed screws were used along with a set of four plastic shims. The screws did a thorough job of holding the window firmly in place, and the shims made sure that there was a nice tight fit to the panel side. This makes for a good seal that won't let all your airflow escape from the case without doing its cooling job.

The inside of the panel looks just as professionally done as the front. Even though it won't be seen, that doesn't mean that it should be neglected. This is also where you get to appreciate the smooth cutting details of the laser process. Even when I ran my finger straight on the cut, I noticed no sharp edges that might cut me.

Installation

Installing the new windowed panel was as easy as removing the two fans and shims from the original cover and screwing them into the pre-cut holes of the plastic. Nothing could be simpler. Wouldn't it be nice if all modifications were this easy?