In Use:

The initial build planned for this case included a quad-core AMD processor on a micro-ATX Biostar motherboard with 4GB of Kingston memory. While the case does offer room for such a configuration, the specific location of the ATX power connector on the board made for a tight fit with a 3.5" drive installed in either of the tool-less internal bays. I'm going to think about how to reconfigure components to make everything fit nicely, or I may just finish this as a mini-ITX build.

The first set of images show an ATX power supply, 5.25" optical drive, and a 3.5" hard drive installed in the case. Things are already somewhat crowded, and a key recommendation I have for anyone building a system in the Cougar is to get a modular power supply. There is no room behind the motherboard tray for hiding cables, so the 5.25" drive bays are your only choice. These views also show how far a 3.5" drive extends out over the motherboard tray - and this is with the drive slid in to the bay as far as possible.



The next image takes a closer look at the drive bays, where we see the tool-less mechanisms in use. I have to say, I don't really trust that these tool-less clips will stay put, so I will be using screws to finish the build. The clips are rather flimsy and can pop out without much effort. While the 3.5" drives are 'secured' from both sides, the 5.25" drives are only attached on the one side. This allows the drive to move a bit when you push the buttons on the front of the drive, and can pop it free from the tool-less clip. Additionally - just the pressure of that bundle of power supply cables was enough to pop the drive free as I tucked them in underneath the drive.



The next image shows the Cougar LED fan installed at the front of the case. While it is odd that they use orange accents, it does have red LEDs. The fan is really nice, with rubber padded mounting surfaces to eliminate vibration noises whether you use the included screws or the rubber mounting posts. I went with screws for a 100% secure installation and the rubber pads are doing their job to keep things as quiet as possible. That said, I do want this system to be as quiet as possible, and while the black 120mm fan at the rear of the case supports this, the red LED fan is a bit louder. I will have to get a fan controller if I decide to keep this fan at the front of the case.



The final images in this section show the fan all lit up from the inside and outside of the case.