AOpen EX65 SFF PC Review - Inside the Computer
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Getting a system up and running isn’t too much of a problem for most bare-bones and SFF kits. The EX65 is no exception. In fact, the system is designed with a number of features to guarantee ease of installation, system tidiness, and good airflow.
The XCube's design team has made it a priority to ensure that working with any member of the XCube family is as comfortable to work on as the systems are attractive. They've done a great job of this, as can be seen the implementation by their small-but-appreciated improvements to the generic SFF design. We won't cover the step-by-step on how to build one of these systems, since the manual already does that well enough, but here are some of the highlights.
The system’s casing is comprised of a one-piece aluminum cover, locked in the back by three thumbscrews. Note the opening on the side of the case cover. There are openings like that on both sides, which promotes airflow within the system. The XCube design team set it up so that air would flow from an opening located next to the optical and hard drives, through the processor's heatsink, and out of the opening pictured here.
Once opened, the case looks like most other Shuttle-based SFF designed systems. Here, cables are tucked neatly alongside the case edges, held in place by a mesh cover and plastic holders. In fact, for the sake of neatness (and better airflow), the design team threw in a few extra plastic holders attached to the case.
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