ThermalTake Xaser VI case review
IntroductionThermalTake is rolling out a couple of new supertower cases for computer enthusiasts. The firm has prepped a new Xaser VI case which will replace the old Xaser III and there's also the Armor+ which is an updated version of the Armor case. In this review I'm taking a closer look at the Xaser VI which is a very big and bold chassis with a pretty extraordinary design.
ThermalTake seems to have high hopes of this case as they released it in eigth different versions! There are two base models: there's a black edition with red accents that uses a steel chassis and there's also a silver aluminum version that features black accents. Buyers can get the Xaser VI with a vented left sidepanel or a panel with transparent side windows and users who want to delve into watercooling can also get the cases with one of ThermalTake's watercooling kits. Throw all these options into the mix and you get eight different versions of the Xaser VI.
First look
The version I received is the VG4000SWA - this is the silver aluminum case with a side panel window and no liquid cooling system. The case ships in a large box and featured lots of cardboard and styrofoam protection to make sure the case arrives without any damage.
The case itself arrived in perfect shape but I can't say the same about the left side panel. After a quick inspection of the case I noticed that the case windows were dirty and scratched. Hopefully this won't occur in the final production models as I can imagine that consumers will be pretty pissed if they find out that their expensive high-end case ships with dozens of ugly scratches. Perhaps I was a bit unlucky but please use our comment section if your Xaser VI has the same problem.
The looks of the Xaser VI series are quite extraordinary. Some people think the Xaser VI is very sexy and cool while others despise it.
First lets take a look at all the features and specifications.
Features:
Specifications of the ThermalTake Xaser VI VG4000SWA model:Optimized design for both liquid cooling and air cooling system Sliding removable hood with toolbox on top (Upgradable to LCS) 10 PCI slots design for quad-graphic card configuration Tool free design for 5.25 device and PCI slot Sliding motherboard tray Independent thermal management for CPU, VGA & HDD Cable management system for better cable routing and internal air flow Evolutionary adjustable PSU supporting bridge MicroATX, ATX, Extend-ATX supported.
Model |
VG4000SWA |
Case Type |
Super Tower |
Dimension (W*D*H) |
605 x 250 x 660 mm 23.8 x 9.8 x 26.0 inch |
Net Weight / Gross Weight |
11.0 kg ; 24.2 lb / 13.8 kg ; 30.4 lb |
Window side panel |
Yes |
Sliding motherboard tray |
Yes |
Cable management |
Yes |
Sliding hood |
Yes |
Adjustable PSU bridge |
Yes |
Material |
All Aluminum |
Color |
Chassis color : Silver / Metal mesh : Black |
Cooling System |
- Front (intake) : |
Motherboards |
9.6" x 9.6" (Micro ATX), 12" x 9.6" (ATX), 12" x 13" (Extend ATX) |
Drive Bays -5.25" Drive Bay -3.5" Drive Bay -3.5" Drive Bay (Hidden) |
7 1 (Convertable from one 5.25" drive bay) 7 |
Front I/O |
e-SATA connector x 2, USB2.0 x 4, IEEE 1394 Firewire x 1, HD Audio |
Expansion Slots |
10 |
The Xaser VI is definitely a very feature rich case. This super tower enclosure supports up to 10 PCI slots, seven 5.25" drives and seven HDDs! It has lots of cooling options and lots of other nice features like a removable motherboard tray, a sliding hood, lots of accessories, lots of cable management options, tool-free installation, removable HDD cages, an adjustable PSU bridge, ...
Accessories
Before we move on to the case here's a look at some of the accessories. The box includes a small plastic bag with the manual and a cleaning cloth:
And there's also a cardboard box with lots of goodies. On the next picture you can see the HDD mounting clips, the usual bag with all sort of screws, two grommets for watercooling tubes, a bag full with zip ties and straps for cable management and a 140mm VGA fan.
The box also features a 3.5" to 5.25" bay adapter + a faceplate (seen on the previous picture) and an 5.25" accessory box.
Added: December 7th 2007
Product reviewed: ThermalTake Xaser VI case
Reviewer: Thomas De Maesschalck
Score: 8.75/10
Page: 1/6
