yes, you have to remove the top bit but no cutting involved.
all you have to do is drill out 4 small rivets and the plate comes away, was more of a problem for me as having it powder cut meant bare alu was shwon from where the plate overlapped the side walls of the 5.25 bay. although i just spray painted them.
appologise for the poor grammar in my post, my shift key doesn't work ;/.