X-bit labs

Roundup: Six System Cases from Thermaltake (page 3)

Category: Other

by Vasily Melnik

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

Thermaltake SViking (VA4000BWS)

I wouldn’t say this model represents a typical Thermaltake design. On the contrary, it doesn’t look like it comes from this manufacturer at all.

It is the box that gives you the first impression about the product and it looks good enough at first sight:

Here’s every attribute of a top-end product like a nice picture and a handle. But as I tried to move the box to another corner of the room, the handle just came off while the box was still standing where it had been. To tell you the truth, I didn’t expect the renowned Thermaltake to play such a trick to me.

The accessories to the case are packed into a plastic box that you will find in the hard disk drive case.

The pack at the top is a set of feet the user has to put in place manually. The accessories include a user’s manual, two sets of keys, rails for 5.25” and 3.5” devices, a rear plate and fasteners.

I hope it won’t be like exposing a mystery to you if I say that Thermaltake is not the actual manufacturer of the chassis. The company orders chassis from other makers and processes them a little to give them the intended outward appearance and functionality. The SViking is not an exception, either. You may have even guessed the manufacturer of the chassis if you know the market of PC system cases well. The faзade of the VA4000BWS bears the most traces of Thermaltake’s own work.

The SViking looks good overall, but its rather rude appearance is quite untypical for a Thermaltake product.

There’s nothing very interesting behind the front door:

There’s no creative designing thought here, just a trivial front panel.