The installation is one of the DF-85's strong points. There is nothing more irritating when coming to install components than to have problems fitting things into place and struggling for where to feed power cables etc. You will be pleased to know that the DF-85 has cable management on its list of agenda's.



As previously mentioned, the DF-85 has four docking units for slotting in your 3.5" drives. Installing couldn't be easier, open one of the Fleet Release doors and slide the drive in. On the opposing side, just plug in SATA cable to motherboard and SATA power to PSU. This makes swapping drives in and out of the DF-85 an absolute doddle.





In like manner the SSD docking station situated on the top of the DF-85 uses the same technique. Just slide the SSD into place (make sure it is the right way round!).

With the motherboard securely fastened in and all other components in place, I took a look at that spacious backplate to find that it didn't entirely allow full coverage to the socket AM3 backplate that was used. This is unfortunate but not the end of the world, its only a few mm's that is enclosed - there is still probably enough room to successfully remove that backplate with the motherboard in place.