X-bit labs

Roundup: Six System Cases from Thermaltake (page 23)

Category: Other

by Vasily Melnik

[ 09/12/2005 | 03:35 PM ]

Thermaltake Armor (VA8000BWS)

Judging by the box alone, the Thermaltake Armor is the weightiest product in the group. A considerable muscle effort is necessary just to lift the box up and its dimensions are really huge – this volume could have accommodated a couple of medium-sized system cases.

There is no handle as none would hold such a load: the system case proper weighs a little less than 16 kilograms, and the package as a whole weighs as many as 20 kilos! Well, this is certainly no lightweight armor. The accessories are numerous:

Besides a user’s guide, fasteners and keys, you get an additional 92mm fan which you can put on the top panel of the case, if you wish.

The Armor proper looks impressive:

The snapshot just cannot communicate the monstrosity of the thing. In reality, this system case just overwhelms you with its massiveness and creates an impression of a fundamental and solid product.

Not having much room to express their creativity because of the constructional features of this system case, the designers still managed to make it good-looking. The front panel was not in their power, however, so the maximum they could do was to polish off the design of the 5.25” faceplates.

For the panel not to look too plain, they added two aluminum “wings” which do make the case look better from the front, but are not very practical. They are opened independently and prevent access to the optical drives when closed. So, you’ll have to keep them open all the time if you are constantly swapping your DVD and CD discs.