[section_title title=Installation]
Installation
You’ll find a very common note with my case reviews, I like to run the case for a few weeks to test some of the dust build up, the components had been mostly cleaned before putting the case together but I mainly look for the thin layer that builds up on components like the floor of the case. I’d also like to talk about the cable management, in the Xigmatek Octans I didn’t really cable manage it. This is for a number of reasons, a few of the finer details you can find out in the video at the end of the review.
But to put it simply, its an incredibly complex case to build in with the orientation of the PSU. So let this be an example of how not to cable manage a case, however if you check out the Silverstone SG13 review I use all the same components. I think if you do use an ATX PSU, flipthe PSU upside down and using the space in between for cable tidying. My Power supply is mounted upwards because the components I use create less heat than most systems, and I prefer to avoid dust in my PSU.
In this photo you can see the problem I later outline with PSU placement, and how a modular PSU might be difficult to install because of the distance to RAM. But even with a non-modular PSU you are really limited to how you hide cables, one way you can’t use a full length GPU, and the other way you end up with a crazy amount of cables to manage in the important area of the case.
This was also one fiddly case to build, little things started to grow on me. It was just generally very tedious to build. However, it wasn’t the worse case I’ve built in. Some of these problems could have been avoided.
I also get this question quite often, why do I use an ATX PSU that’s not modular? Well the answer is simple. I prefer to use a large PSU, because people who don’t have huge amounts of money but want a shuttle case will most likely purchase something similar. If a case can just about fit a non-modular ATX PSU in? Buying an SFX PSU is going to make these cases so much better.
You can watch the video later on in the conclusion for more information regarding “the build”.
