Both the left and the right sides of the unit have several mounting holes used to affix it into your case or to use the drive rails which some cases require.
The top and bottom are simply plain black metal, as all the exterior is painted black. This black finish looks very nice for those with windowed cases.

Installation:
Installation wasn't overly difficult but did take some time. The first step was to firmly secure my computer case's drive rails on each side of the Hardcano 13. After I had done that I slid it into the front bay on my computer.
Once it was mounted I could proceed with wiring everything up (this is the part that can take some time)
You need to wire all the fans that the Hardcano 13 will be controlling into the included headers on the back of the Hardcano (with or without included extension cables if you need them). Once all the fans were wired up the last step is to place all the temperature probes in the appropriate spots. For me it was CPU, Video Card, PSU and one hanging inside the case for internal temperature. Finally, connect the power connector.
When you're done wiring everything up you are left with a mass of cables. I took the time to clean mine up and make sure everything is nice and hidden which adds to the appeal of a windowed case.

After the physical installation is complete you simply boot up your computer and Windows XP will show 4 more removable drives, each of which corresponds to a card slot on the front of the Hardcano. For those using a version of Windows that doesn't automatically detect the card reader, Thermaltake includes a CD with the drivers.

Testing:
I ran some performance tests on the major features of the Hardcano 13.
The fans were controlled very easily with the rotary dial. I was able to take the fans from around 1300RPM up to the maximum the fan was rated at. I was personally disappointed that the Hardcano is not able to fully turn off the fans because that is something I like to do when they are not needed.
I also checked to make sure the temperature probes functioned properly, and they did. Their readings were not much different from that of the internal sensor on the devices I was monitoring which is good to know.

Conclusion:
Overall the Thermaltake Hardcano 13 is a great device to invest in. It offers three major functions more computer enthusiasts need, a card reader, fan controller and temperature monitoring. Along with those features there are many more, such as a full screen clock that can be displayed on the LCD. This is a highly recommended product.

Pros:
6-in-1 card reader
Fan controller
Temperature monitor
Stylish design
LCD Display with changeable colour's
Has warning alarms
Include 4 to 3 pin adapters

Cons:
May be a bit costly

Rating: 9/10

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