ThermalTake Armor Case

martian_aphid · 25 Feb 2008 at 13:38

Heya

I call upon your mighty wisdom again dear members.

I have been looking at the Thermaltake Armor series cases of which there are a number of variants. I'm liking the VA8000 ones which are the full tower version but not the + size version. It seems to have everything I want, plenty of room! Good airflow from the front and rear and additionally from the side and top. An open front so better air intake, although it has those odd little doors ? And space for future water cooling.

However, I have a couple of reservations and wondered if anyone with the case could inform me about them. The usb ports, etc appear to be hidden under a little cover, any opinions on this, is it annoying to use, breakable etc? Secondly there is the power switch which is relocatable but appears to be in an awkward position behind the little doors! this is something the Armor+ seems to have sorted by placing them on the top along with the usb ports. Finally I wondered if any owners could tell me if it has the PSU supporting bridge found on the Armor+ to hold a beefy PSU?

If anyone has any suggestions about other cases I should look at I welcome those too, although I should mention I'm not overly keen on doors at the front, expecially full height ones, and I have my reservations about PSUs at the bottom of the case but no first hand experience.

Thanks again

Regards

Danny

Scooby_WR1 · 26 Feb 2008 at 19:04

Hi,

The usb ports, etc appear to be hidden under a little cover, any opinions on this, is it annoying to use, breakable etc?

You just push the cover down and it pops open not really breakable unless you snap it off somehow and no its not annoying to use.

power switch which is relocatable but appears to be in an awkward position behind the little doors!

The doors open seperatley but the power switch is easy to access anyway.

if it has the PSU supporting bridge found on the Armor+ to hold a beefy PSU?

Yes it has a supporting bridge.

martian_aphid · 28 Feb 2008 at 08:46

thanks a lot mate, i'm guessing you have the case i'm looking at and are pleased with it =D

Scooby_WR1 · 28 Feb 2008 at 18:50

Yes i have it does not feel cheap and tacky its heavy and solid very pleased with it.

crazyDAJT · 28 Feb 2008 at 19:16

grate case, lots and lots of room, the USB flap looked bad on the net, but is relay nice when you have it

Greenlizard0 · 28 Feb 2008 at 21:58

I have a slightly different Armour - but the build quality is excellent. There's tonnes of space inside.

I have 4 hard drives in 5 1/4" bays, 2 optical drives, the power button, little draw compartment and the front I/O panel of an X-Fi. All very roomy.

The only down side is that the little flaps for PCI cards are a little bit flappy and sometimes get in the way. But it's not a really big issue.

crazyDAJT · 28 Feb 2008 at 22:03

Greenlizard0 said:
I have a slightly different Armour - but the build
The only down side is that the little flaps for PCI cards are a little bit flappy and sometimes get in the way. But it's not a really big issue.

i just took them off, i could not install my GTS with it on.

Greenlizard0 · 28 Feb 2008 at 22:55

crazyDAJT said:
i just took them off, i could not install my GTS with it on.

I have an old GTS card - and had immense problems putting it in. I had to use a bit of brute force to get them down afterwards once the card was slotted.

OT sorry to thread hijack - but for people who have this case:

Remember those little little bits of clear plastic that I think sides of them you could peel back for a bit of stickiness? What are they for?

What are the three clip like things for as well? Are the latter cable tidies? :confused:

EDIT - they're for clipping around your watercooling pipes as they go into the case.

martian_aphid · 29 Feb 2008 at 13:19

thanks for all the info guys it has been very helpful =D