Introduction

The In Win H-Frame is one of the most unique computer cases ever released, with an open-frame concept comprised of 11 aluminum stacked sheets. Check it out.

While its side panels are solid, the front, top, rear, and bottom panels are “opened,” allowing maximum air flow. The problem with this concept is that the internals of your computer are not protected against dust.

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Figure 1: In Win H-Frame case

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Figure 2: In Win H-Frame case

The Front Panel

The front panel of the In Win H-Frame can be seen in Figure 3. As explained, it is completely “opened.” It supports the installation of a 5.25” device on its top part. For that, you will need to remove the top blue aluminum panel, rotate it 180 degrees, install the 5.25” optical drive on it using regular screws, and install it back in place. See Figures 4 and 5. The front panel supports the installation of a 120 mm fan.

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Figure 3: Front panel

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Figure 4: The 5.25” bay

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Figure 5: Optical drive installed in the 5.25” bay

The reviewed case comes with two USB 3.0 ports and the traditional audio jacks on its front panel. The USB 3.0 port uses an internal connector.

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Figure 6: Buttons and connectors

Top Panel

The top panel of the In Win H-Frame is “opened” like the front panel, but it is protected by an aluminum mesh in order to prevent anything from falling inside the computer. It has two handles and a USB 2.0 port. The top panel is designed in such a way that it easily holds cell phones. See Figure 8.

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Figure 7: Top panel

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Figure 8: You can easily store your cell phone

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Figure 9: Top panel

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Figure 10: USB 2.0 port

The Bottom and Rear Panels

The bottom and the rear panel are also opened, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The case has seven expansion slots with vented covers and supports the installation of a 120 mm fan on its rear panel. On the bottom part of the case is the power supply.

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Figure 11: Bottom panel

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Figure 12: Rear panel

Let’s now take a look inside the In Win H-Frame case.

Inside the In Win H-Frame Case

Both panels are attached to the chassis using four gold thumbnuts. The motherboard tray has a huge hole for you to access the backplate of the CPU cooler without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several openings for you to route cables behind it, and several holes for you to fasten cables behind the motherboard tray using cable ties.

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Figure 13: Overall look

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Figure 14: A view behind the motherboard tray

Figure 15 gives you another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using silver thumbscrews. The In Win H-Frame case supports video cards up to 13.4” (340 mm) long.

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Figure 15: Overall look

As already explained, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. The power supply must be installed with its bottom fan facing down. The H-Frame supports power supplies up to 8.7” (220 mm) deep.

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Figure 16: Power supply compartment

The Disk Drive Bays

The In Win H-Frame case has one 5.25” external bay, three 3.5”/2.5” internal bays and one 2.5” internal bay. The installation of an optical drive was already discussed when we talked about the case’s front panels.

The four internal bays have hot-swap connectors. Each bay is a small drawer and is attached to the case with thumbscrews, making it very easy to add and remove storage devices.

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Figure 17: Disk drive bays

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Figure 18: One of the 3.5”/2.5” bays

Main Specifications

The main specifications for the In Win H-Frame case include:

• Style: Mid-tower
• Application: ATX and smaller form factors
• Material: Aluminum
• Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
• Available colors: Silver with blue trim
• Side panel: Solid
• Dimensions: 20.6 x 8.7 x 21.5 inches (524 x 220 x 545 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 20.5 Lbs (9.4 kg)
• Gross weight: 26 Lbs (11.8 kg)
• Bays: One external 5.25” bay, three internal 3.5”/2.5” bays with hot-swap connectors, and one internal 2.5” bay with hot-swap connectors
• Expansion slots: Seven
• Maximum video card length: 13.4” (340 mm)
• Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
• Fans: None
• Optional fans: One 120 mm fan on the front panel and one 120 mm fan on the rear panel
• More Information: http://www.inwin-style.com
• MSRP in the U.S.: USD 400

Conclusions

Build a system with the In Win H-Frame and everyone who sees your computer will envy you. It is a design masterpiece with a price tag that reflects its exclusivity. It lacks the price/performance ratio that average users are looking for, but the users who can afford it will love it.

Strong Points

• Unique design
• Top-notch material and construction quality
• Hot-swap connectors on all the internal storage bays
• A huge hole in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
• Openings for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
• Holes for fastening cables behind the motherboard tray

Weak Points

• Expensive
• Not all users will like its open-frame concept; the internal components will be covered with dust in a short timeframe
• Enthusiasts may think that three 3.5”/2.5” bays and one 2.5” bay are not enough