With the side panels removed we can see the inside of LPC302 is quite spacious, with tool-less design mechanisms throughout and a few features that we may not be familiar with such as PSU strap and 120mm fan placement behind the CPU socket.
On the reverse, behind the motherboard tray there are lots of cables running from the front panel. Whilst it is good to have lots of connectivity at the front we are presented with quite a clutter and the SATA cables for example are not coloured black so they stand out like a sore thumb. It would have been nice to see LEPA use black cabling for the fans, SATA and power/reset cables – it just makes things look tidier, especially when you have a multitude of cables to arrange.
Spacious layout inside LPC302
Large CPU backplate cut-out
Moving in for a closer look – we can see the PSU region has rubber mounts for preventing vibration and scratching. We also have the addition of a Velcro strap for securing the PSU in place. This can be used to either place screws or as additional support.
The seating area for the PSU with Velcro secure stap
There are 8x PCI slot covers on the LPC302, each have ventilation gaps for better airflow and each have tool-less design to attach devices.
Easy to use PCI tool-less design mechanism
In terms of cooling, at the rear of the LPC302 there is a pre-installed 120mm fan. This has a Molex connector for power. At the top there is space for 2x 140/120mm fans but these are not included. There are no air/dust filters at the top.
The cooling options at the rear/top
