External Examination:

The side of the Cosmos II case is shown in the below left image. The look is definitely elegant and sleek, and I will not object with their reference to supercars. The rails on the top and bottom give it a distinct look, and the top rails are structurally solid enough to be used as handles, even when the case is fully loaded with components. I do have an objection to the bottom rails, though... When the case is completely full it may weigh well over 60 pounds, so casters would be a nice feature, and they are found on many other premium cases. As it is, there are small rubber pads below the rails so it not only doesn't roll - it doesn't slide very well either.



The next two images show the front panel I/O connections and buttons. In the below left image we see the connections which are always visible... 1/8" jacks for headphones and a microphone, an eSATA port, two Super Speed USB 3.0 ports, and four USB 2.0 ports. In the below right image we see that a panel has been slid back to reveal even more features. A stylish panel includes the power and reset buttons, as well as buttons to control four sets of fans (Front, Top, HDD, and GPU) as well as the LEDs for compatible fans. Each fan controller can handle multiple fans thanks to the multi-connection wiring harness, and a simple press of any button will cycle through preset speeds that are accompanied by different LED lighting effects on the buttons. The LED controls are on/off, and only work with fans that provide independent power leads (as is, only the intake fan at the front of the case applies).



The top panel door that covers the buttons shown above is supposed to be mounted in a track with spring loaded guides that keep it in either the fully open or fully closed positions. The very first time I went to slide the door open it popped right out of the track and fell to the floor. In the image below you can see the two raised guide tracks, as well as the damaged remnants of four tapped mounting posts (two on each track). While the transportation around the world may have been more than most would have to anticipate, seeing how this is attached now that it is broken makes me wonder if the design is as robust as it could be. Perhaps designing this part out of metal, or plastic with a little more meat to it would be in order. Even if they don't break often in transit, this is a dynamic piece that would benefit from a stronger design to ensure a long usable life.