As
we mentioned before, Skyhawk and Maxtop both understand what their customers are
looking for, and didn't shirk at all on the case packaging or construction. The
inside and outside of the case are both made of strong but light aluminum alloy,
and the various segments are well connected and fit together quite solidly. The
two side panels are each conveniently connected by two thumbscrews, an incredibly
simple but useful innovation that should be mandatory on every case ever made
(but is still oftentimes absent). Also connected to the back of each panel are
small handles set on hinges that swing out to allow easier panel removal and to
facilitate transportation and general case maintenance, again a simple yet useful
addition. 
Once
the panels are removed the case's interior is easily accessible. Although it would
be nice to find a removable motherboard tray inside (the 5605 lacks one), it would
hardly be fair to fault the case for not having this feature, as it is still an
uncommon (if convenient) one. Luckily, all of the sharp edges that typically imperil
a user's hands when maneuvering inside the tight confines of the case are rounded
to avoid nasty gashes, and although I did actually manage to cut my finger quite
deeply while installing a hard drive I am prepared to chalk that up to my own
stupidity rather than poorly veiled interior hazards. The
case comes shipped with a full assortment of screws and brackets, all packaged
neatly inside. Also wrapped up nicely is the large assortment of cables that is
already present even before you begin your installation. 
These
cables are necessary not only to power the large LED on the front of the case
and the two fans in the back, but also to connect the front bezel to the motherboard
monitors for HD activity, power, etc. (all of the usual case necessities), as
well as to connect the front panel, which includes an extra power button, 2 USB
ports, a Firewire port, and a mic and speaker jack. Finally, a single wire for
the temp sensor also protrudes from the front. 
While
all of these features are nice to have, the amount of necessary cables snaking
through your case can quickly become a chaotic mess, as we'll see once we install
a full PC's worth of parts. 
The
final notable aspect of the case's interior is the large black fan casing mounted
in the rear. Inside are housed two generic 80mm fans, usually quiet and certainly
strong enough for the average case. The fan casing is designed specifically to
fit the 5605 and trying to switch the fans that are shipped with the case with
another product proved difficult. The grille on the inside of the casing (facing
the CPU) is angled downward to direct airflow away from the CPU. While in theory
this is a good idea, in practice it did not prove as useful as one might guess.
Read on to discover how the case performed in working conditions. | 
