HOL 2021 MAXIMUMPC 69
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THIS IS ONE OF THOSE form-over-function choices
we often have to make here at Maximum PC. Let’s be
clear, these are awesome fans with some seriously
cool lighting effects, but they aren’t entirely the best
at cooling radiators. You know how some people buy
cars with large V 8 engines that sound great but aren’t
particularly fuel efficient? It’s a bit like that. We know
they look awesome and that they will fit the build well,
but they’re no Noctuas, that’s for certain.
For stats, they pump out a fairly reasonable pressure
of 1. 55 mmH2O and can shift just under 42cfm of air too.
They’re not cheap either, with a triple pack setting you
back $116. For that, you get the three fans plus a separate
RGB controller (although we’re cannibalizing something
for that a little later). Ouch!
NOW WE’VE GOT all the parts removed (and well
showcased), it’s time to get stripping this thing down
ready for the build. The H5 10 Flow is a fairly easy case
to take apart and the front panel pops off easily. Pull it
from the rear side of the case and the two pins will pop
out from the top, you can then lean it back and pull it out.
The tempered glass side panel is also fairly minimal
in design. A single thumbscrew holds it in place at the
top left of the panel. Undo that, then lean the window out
towards you and lift out.
You will also
notice that there’s
a radiator bracket
in the front of the
chassis there.
You can remove
this with two
thumbscrews,
however, we’re
leaving it in for
the time being.
TO GIVE OURSELVES a bit more space in the bottom of
the chassis to allow for some cable stuffing. We’re going
to remove the 2 .5-inch/3.5-inch hard drive caddy. To do
this, we pop the case on its head to allow us complete
access to the bottom of it. Here, you will notice four
Phillips screws securing the caddy in place.
Simply remove these four screws, and then carefully
remove the cage from the side of the chassis. Just make
sure the rear panel is off first and that you have a hand
underneath when removing the cage so that it doesn’t
just drop and start rattling around the case.
WITH THE CAGE REMOVED, we have taken the opportunity
to remove the front radiator bracket and also the rear-
most fan from the case. Every fan-mounting location we
have here is going to be filled with a fan.
As we’re just transplanting this rig, there’s not much
in the way of legwork that needs to be done before
installing the motherboard. The AMD processor is still
installed in its socket, and the M. 2 SSD is tucked away,
hidden beneath its bottom-most heatsink. Line the
board up, slot it in place, and secure it with the screws
provided in the chassis accessory box.
LIGHT SHOW PANEL REMOVAL
HDD CAGE REMOVAL MOTHERBOARD INSTALL
