The Chassis:

From the moment I opened the box, this chassis said, “Quality!” It is very sturdy -- and actually rather heavy due to its very solid structure. The brushed black finish is very attractive and goes well with most any décor that has a modern look.

This case can be made to work either as a Pedestal (lying flat on the desk) or as a Tower - as most users are now familiar with. (Shown on cover of manual in above photo.) The snap on front bezel, with the additional snap-in-place components, makes the transition fairly simple. Also, the ‘feet’ can be removed from the default location and installed in the side panel to provide the proper support for the pedestal configuration.

Contents Of The Package

Since this is a Media Case, it’s important to point out the additional parts included:

1. There’s a VFD (Vacuum Florescent Display) panel;
2. Software CD for the VFD device;
3. Remote Controller w/ batteries included

However, once I started to work with the case in order to install components, I discovered that everything is “backwards”. (That is, the access panel is on the right side of the Tower instead of the more common left side.) As I’ve not worked with a case of this configuration before, it caught me off guard. But, even though I was unfamiliar with this configuration, the very roomy interior, coupled with removable bays, made working on the case a pleasant experience.

Since cooling is the main focus, we need to make note of the vents included in this case:

1. A 120 mm vent w/ 120 mm fan for the rear
2. A 120 mm vent at the base (if used as a Tower)
3. A 120 mm vent at the top rear
4. And, a 120 mm Vent in the cover panel

A Close up Look at the CM Media 281

Above is the Rear View:

The Top Rear Vent:

The Bottom Center Vent (Or, could be a side vent in Pedestal configuration.)

Stripped of the covers:

Notice that there’s another location for even one more 120 mm fan at the lower front.

With the front bezel removed, notice the easy access to the bays for Floppy, ODD and even HDD drives or other 5 ¼ inch devices.

Since the chassis comes shipped with only one 120 mm fan at the rear, I’ve added two of my own 120 mm fans to the chassis: one at the bottom vent and the second one to the case cover – both drawing environmental air into the case with the rear fan blowing the interior warmer air outward.

Among the many things that impress me about this case is that the Power Supply Unit (PSU) can be installed either of two ways. With the top rear vent being in the location of the PSU, and since I’ve chosen to use an Ultra brand PSU with a 120 mm bottom fan, I’ve opted to install the PSU in an ‘upside-down” position in order to allow the PSU’s fan to draw in the cooler environmental air through the top vent. It’s working wonderfully in this configuration.