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A Closer Look:::...
As you might expect, the drive in its naked form
isn't particularly pretty to look at, but then again
it was never meant to be. This rather odd looking
beastie is the basis for MSI's Active Panel technology
where you get to choose what kind of front panel would
best suite your case.
Residing in the box in a sleek, black
cardboard folder are three swanky looking front panels
to choose from alongside instructions for fitting
and removal. Each lives in a small plastic pouch to
protect it from scratches which is a wise move because
the fascias are actually painted.
Not only that but each one is a subtly
different design which is great provided the design
you fall in love with is actually the colour you need.
The three main colours of case are catered for with
a black and gold fascia which would suit a black case,
an all silver fascia clearly intended for silver or
aluminium cases and a beige and blue fascia presumably
designed for a regular beige case, though you can
mix and match at will. You can't however use different
tray fronts with different drive fronts as they're
designed specifically to be used together and are
shaped as such.
The only feature other than the emergency
eject hole is the combined eject button and light
which is a different shape for each of the three designs.
As mentioned these also double as the eject button
which makes them an absolute doddle to find thanks
to their good size.
Eject Button/Function Light
Missing is any kind of front headphone
jack and associated volume wheel so if this is something
you need you're out of luck.
Installing your chosen fascia really
is simplicity itself, unfortunately the price you
pay for simplicity is that the fascias are anything
but securely fixed. To install your fascia you just
line up the two retaining posts on the drive front
fascia or tray front fascia with the corresponding
holes in the tray and drive and push until they snap
in to place.
I have to say it was probably a tough
call for MSI, either they made the fascia's simple
to install and remove but less secure or they made
them very secure and a real bitch to get on and off.
On balance they probably got it right but it certainly
doesn't feel like the most secure of attachments.
Retaining Post
I've no objections to having the MSI
brand on the front of the drive but I feel in this
case it's too big and detracts from the overall appearance.
That's a subjective gripe though and hardly a deal
breaker, I just feel that a bit smaller would have
been a whole lot classier.
Black/Gold Fascia Installed
Installation is the same as for any
other drive on the market and if you decided you don't
like the look of the fascia you chose you can whip
it off and snap on a new one without having to remove
the drive.
The only installation problem I ran
into was due to using drive rails. With the fascia
installed the front of the drive become a touch bulkier
than standard and although some cases will allow you
to adjust for this and let you install then further
back than usual, most drive rail systems won't. The
result will be that the drive protrudes around three
or four millimeters (below).
Drive Installed
The back of the drive holds no surprises
with your standard Molex power connector, IDE data
connector, mode jumper and digital and analogue out.
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