Page 4 - Installation and Conclusion
Installation is as simple as it gets -- as there is nothing inherently complicated about mini-ITX builds anyway, haha. Simply align the motherboard to the mounting holes, and attach the screws. The mounting holes bevel up from the motherboard tray to double as risers. Since I used the Jetway NC96FL-510-LF motherboard in this build which features an integrated DC to DC converter, the included DC to DC converter was not necessary. I handily removed it to save space and reduce complexity.
Clearance room is very limited, so if you have RAM with high profile heatspreaders, you will need to remove it for compatibility reasons. I removed the heatspreaders from the OCZ Reaper HPC PC2-8500 2x1GB DDR2 kit I used in this build. This procedure can be done by heating up the metal strips with a hair dryer, and prying it off gently at an angle with a flathead screwdriver. Just do so at your own risk, because you will most likely void the warranty, and potentially damage your RAM if you are not careful. (This is the only desktop DDR2 RAM I have at the moment, so I had no choice, haha.)
A removable metal frame allows the user to install one 2.5" internal drive and one slim optical drive, which are both standard laptop components. It has no tool-free installation features, but this is not necessary as it reduces weight and unnecessary complexity -- not to mention that mini-ITX builds aren't prone to constant modifications by the end user. Simply align the component you wish to install with the screw holes on both sides, and attach the screws. Unfortunately, while the Apex MW-107 can accommodate one slim optical drive, the necessary adapter hardware to make it work with your motherboard is not included as discussed previously; therefore you will need to find your own.
The finished build with the drive frame clipped over the motherboard. Again, the build is quick, and assembly is very simple. As mentioned earlier in this review, the Apex MW-107 has no integrated cable management features; the only accessory that is remotely close to this is a single zip tie included out of the box. This makes fixed, neat cabling for maximum airflow more challenging than necessary in my opinion. Other than that, the build process was extremely straightforward; absolutely no 'gotchas' to prevent it from being as uneventful as possible. I like that.
The finished build. Other than some added weight, the exterior looks the same as it did before thanks to the use of case cover flaps. The sleek and compact MW-107 fits perfectly into any environment; whether it is your living room, office, or bedroom. The 40mm fan is very audible at full speed, but at around 50% power it is perfectly fine even for extremely picky users like me. If your motherboard has a temperature sensitive fan controller onboard, then you are in luck!
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The Apex MW-107 is a very simple, sleek, compact, and well executed mini-ITX case. There is absolutely no wasted space inside the Apex MW-107. If you are looking for a low cost, low power, and low footprint computer, definitely keep the MW-107 high on your list of case choices along with the rest of your components! Thanks to the use of an external AC adapter along with an internal DC to DC converter, a big source of heat is kept away from the system, and chassis size can be made as small as possible -- not to mention enhanced flexibility and compatibility with all mini-ITX motherboards. Quality, rigid SECC construction creates a solid chassis with no outstanding sharp edges. Air ventilation is also decent with an abundant of openings on both sides of the MW-107; flexible fan installation on the mesh gives the user tons of choices to configure airflow the way they want it. However, I have just a few things that I need to point out, haha. Firstly, the two plastic doors on the front face feels extremely cheap. Plastic hinges only add to the damage. Secondly, its lack of integrated cable management features makes good cable routing more challenging than necessary -- and this is fundamental for a case such a small interior. Lastly, we would certainly appreciate it if a slim optical drive adapter is included out of the box, along with an additional fan or two. All in all, the Apex MW-107 is a very commendable chassis, but there is certainly some room for improvement and refinement here and there to make it 'the' mini-ITX case to buy!
Special thanks to Apex for making this review possible.
APH Review Focus Summary:
6/10 means A product with its advantages, but drawbacks should not be ignored before purchasing.
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks; but should be considered before purchasing.
-- Final APH Numeric Rating is 6.7/10
Please note that the APH Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other sites.
The Apex MW-107 is a commendable mini-ITX chassis that offers simplicity and flexibility in an extremely compact package.
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Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
