Building the System: SSD and ODD Options and Completing the Build
SSD Options
There are a couple here, beginning with the same sleds used in the previous hard drive installation:
My build used one of the sleds for an SSD
In addition to the option of using one of the dual bay sleds for an SSD, there are also two clever 2.5" drive mounts which are easily removed with just a thumbscrew each.
These separate 2.5” drive mounts would be easy to wire neatly as well, since both have a cutout immediately behind for cable routing.
Optical Drive
Finally there is the option to add a slim optical drive to this case, and I’d never have guessed where. The large open area just behind the front panel provides airflow for the 120mm fan mount near the side I/O, but a closer inspection led to the removal of a cover at the bottom:
This area also allows for a hidden slim SATA optical drive to be mounted, and like the hard drive bays above this has the hot-swap connectors and cables pre-installed. Any standard (SATA) notebook drive can be installed here.
It's an interesting solution, and very easy to employ if desired.
Completing the Build
Next we'll look at the 120mm fan option.
As we've seen the case features the ability to install an external AIO liquid cooler for the CPU, and this is just as well considering the IN WIN 901 has a very limited internal cooling setup with only one 120mm mount and a small 90mm mount on the back. We've already looked at the rear fan so now it's time to check out this 120mm option.
The 120mm fan is mounted on a removable tray
Installation couldn't be easier, as the 120mm fan has its own compartment on this case. Once attached to the metal tray it's a simple matter to rout the fan cable through and slide the fan in place. The fan also features a very nice magnetically connection dust shield down below, which is particularly important here considering this is the enclosure's lone intake.
Hopefully this will create enough postitive pressure to make the small rear fan more effective.
The Finished Product
With everything installed the cable clutter is minimal with very little effort.
Building with the 901 is really, really easy! With both side panels removed it was painless to move from one side to the other and keep things organized during the build. Once the components are installed there is plenty of space to neaten up cables before replacing the side panels, and each group had readily available openings for cable routing.
Once it's all together the system regains its sleek appearance without too much of a view inside, thanks to the pretty strong tint on the glass:
The glass is dark enough to hide most of the cabling
Next we'll see what kind of temps this particular build created.
I love the look of these art
I love the look of these art cases from In Win. Reminds me of my first custom build, an aluminim/plexiglass combo, but way better looking.
Wait is that a 770? I didnt
Wait is that a 770? I didnt know they made the 770 looking like the 780 or the titan. That’s pretty cool.
‘not to self’ read entire
‘not to self’ read entire article before making a comment. haha. “but it’s the OEM version which uses the TITAN cooler”
note*
note*
Hey it fools a lot of people
Hey it fools a lot of people – a couple of vendors sold the 770 with the TITAN cooler, and NVIDIA had an agreement with Best Buy stores to sell this version under their own brand, too (where I got mine, btw). Now if I could just put this cooler on an R9 290X (or if I had a 290X)… 🙂
that’s too small for my junk
that’s too small for my junk
is there a case that can hold
is there a case that can hold 2 mobs ?
I would love to have in a single box both: windows and linux machines
Two motherboards? I’ve never
Two motherboards? I've never heard of that. But really, you could just install Windows and Linux on separate drives in the same enclosure to get a fully discrete OS experience
thanks for your reply
I want
thanks for your reply
I want to have both linux and windows running at the same time
You could run a Windows
You could run a Windows virtual machine on Linux (which can run apps independently within Linux as their own VMs) or you could run a Linux VM within Windows. There is a great Tek Syndicate article about this, also available on their Tek Linux YouTube Channel.
check out mountainmods.com
check out mountainmods.com cases they aren’t cheap but some of them can house 2 computers
Caselabs would be worth
Caselabs would be worth checking as well
you might want to take a look
you might want to take a look at the haf stacker from cooler master
I find it really strange that
I find it really strange that you chose to install the Corsair cooler on the outside of the case. There’s an empty space for the cooler inside the case, so why did you not take advantage of it? Like this: http://cdn.overclock.net/c/c5/500x1000px-LL-c5949c1c_pi2k.jpeg
I was thinking this exact
I was thinking this exact thing the whole review.
That space can absolutely
That space can absolutely support a single fan cooler, but I didn't do that for a couple of reasons.
First, I wanted to follow IN WIN's instructions on external mounting. The design is actually intended for the AIO cooler to be mounted against the external wall as shown, and this is how they picture it on their site and in the instruction manual.
Of course, there's no wrong way if it fits (and I like the cleaner profile of the case on that build you referenced) But that's the problem…
The second reason is space. Problem is that interior mount leaves very little space for rear I/O. (I think there's a reason they don't have anything connected to the motherboard I/O in that photo.) It would be a nightmare to try connecting cables to the motherboard with that in place, and larger cables (like a bigger DVI cable) might not even fit back there with the cooler in the way.
Note though that the AIO
Note though that the AIO radiator is sufficiently above the GPU so chunky DVI and DisplayPort cables would protrude underneath, and therefore not be hindered.
USB cables and anything coming directly out of the I/O area could have a problem with the rad and fan inside the rear panel, but they’re flexible enough and should be OK with a slight kink in them.
But I’m still thinking H80i with the rad inside, 1 fan outside and a 92mm inside acting in a pseudo push/pull.
Beautiful case…
Thanks for the review. I
Thanks for the review. I really like mini-itx cases. This one is nice but I’m in love with the ncase m1.
You and me both. It was
You and me both. It was painful to send the M1 back!
(I think I may have developed feelings for it beyond that of "normal" friendship…)
Love it all except for the
Love it all except for the video card placement. I will check back in when an aftermarket is tested. Good review!
I’m confused by this case
I’m confused by this case where the main feature is a DVD drive bay cutout just in time for a world where 95%+ users don’t have any need for such a drive.
Is there room to install a
Is there room to install a 120 liquid cooler w/ fan between the chasis and metal back cover. Don’t really like the cooler on the outside of the case.
Technically, yes. I would
Technically, yes. I would suggest a single-fan 120mm model to keep it as low-profile as possible (to leave room for connections to the back of the motherboard). I was using a dual-fan cooler (the Corsair H75) and I wouldn't have had any room to maneuver with the cooler installed inside the opening.
Hi all I want to know about
Hi all I want to know about inwin 901. Do I can install my motherboard asus X99 Rampage V Extreme to inwon 901 case?
Does the case come with stock
Does the case come with stock fans or did you have to buy extra?