Inside the Core P3
Contents
Removing the right panel, you have access to the interior of the case. Here you find two storage unit bays (we will explain this on the next page) and the central black plate where the wall mount is attached. The rest of the space is intended to be used to pass and storage the cables. There is an excellent gap (1.8 inches) to manage the cables.
Figure 7: inside the case
The motherboard tray is actually the left side of the case itself. There is a big opening to grant access to the CPU cooler backplate, but you have to remove the right panel and the storage trays to access it. There are big openings for passing cables.
The power supply if secured using two frames at the bottom of the case.
The Core P3 supports CPU coolers up to 7.1 inches (180 mm) tall with the transparent acrylic cover installed (no limit if you don’t install the cover), power supplies up to 7.8 inches (200 mm) in depth, and video cards up to 11 inches (280 mm) long (with a radiator installed).
Expansion cards are fastened using thumbscrews.
In Figure 8 you see one of the ways the case can be assembled, with the expansion cards installed in the conventional way.
Figure 8: motherboard tray
In Figure 9, you see the alternative way to assemble the case: with a second tray that rotates the slot frame in 90 degrees, so the video card(s) can be installed vertically, parallel to the motherboard.
Keep in mind, however, that is necessary to use a PCI Express x16 extension (called Riser Cable) in order to install a video card in this position. There are options of this case with and without this extension, so check if you are buying the right version.
Figure 9: alternative tray mounted
Figure 10 shows our current benchmark system mounted on the Core P3.
Figure 10: mounted system