System Build and Conclusion
System Build Overview
The Core X9 supports motherboards ranging from the small-statured mini-ITX form factor board to the massive E-ATX form factor board.
***Editor's Note*** – We are simply introducing the capabilities of the Core X9 in this review. A deeper look into the advanced capabilities of this monstrous case will be explored in a soon to be released follow-up article. Stay tuned to PC Perspective.
Installing an E-ATX board into the Core x9 shows illustrates just how much space is available on the motherboard tray and the truly immense dimensions of the case. Even with such a large board installed, there remains plenty of room along the front and both sides of the tray. All three grommeted pass-through holes remove uncovered and fully usable.
The case's true strength becomes apparent with a double radiator and fans installed in one of the slots above the motherboard. With the double-width XSPC 360mm radiator and fans installed above the motherboard, there remains more than sufficient room for most CPU coolers as well as PCIe cards and any associated tubing for liquid cooling with plenty of room to spare. Space constraints begin to become apparent with the front device bays, requiring the upper bay to be removed to make room for the top mounted radiator. However, the remaining two 5.25" device bays remain unblocked and full usable.
Installing a larger PSU in its default placement to the lower right of the case's rear section (an EVGA 1000 P2 PSU in this case), the lower grommeted pass-through hole is mostly blocked with only the upper pass-through usable. However, there is more than enough room provided even with the use of only a single pass-through.
Pricing
As of February 06, the Thermaltake Core X9 E-ATX Cube Chassis was available at Amazon.com for $141.11 with Prime shipping. The board was also available from Newegg.com for $157.99 and from B&H for $156.99 with free shipping.
Conclusion
Thermaltake did an amazing job in designing and implementing the Core X9 E-ATX Cube Chassis. The case is large enough to house any assortment of components necessary for even the boldest liquid cooling apparatus while remaining extensible enough to appeal to the hard-core of the modding community. Thermaltake thought of almost everything with this case, making the entire thing destructible down to its frame with a powder-coating on all metal surfaces forgiving enough to take a beating. Further, you can put fans and / or liquid cooling radiators on almost every surface of the frame using the included mounts giving the case unparalleled cooling potential. Now we've seen the same reports that everyone else has concerning the design of the Core X9 mimicking that of a Case Labs style case design. While that may be true, I have not had the opportunity nor the financial wherewithal to actually obtain a Case Labs case (those things are expensive). Thermaltake's offering is much more amenable to my price range, and brings "Case Labs style" features to the mainstream enthusiast and modding community.
While the case does have a immense amount of both cooling and modding potential, the one challenge you may face is with obtaining enhancement and/or replacement parts for the case. Currently, Thermaltake offers a few enhancement parts through their online store, such as additional bottom/side fan brackets, replacement side panels with full, half, and no windows, as well as hd bays and the like. Other enhancement parts have been promised in the near future as well. In my experience with the mainstream case vendors, such case enhancements are available only as long as the case remains a hot commodity. That could be death for a highly configurable case like the Core X9, built with the expectations to be able to reconfigure it several times over several years worth of builds. The more niche style case manufactures, such as Case Labs, understand this and build there offerings to take this into account. But that also comes with the higher price-tag associated with these niche-type designs. Just something to think about and be aware of.
Strengths
- Size and physical amount of space
- Layout and Design
- Intuitive, tool-less construction
- Aesthetics, build quality, and finishing on metal parts
- Support for multiple water cooling radiators and custom water loops
- Configuration and modding possibilities
Weaknesses
- Lack of in-depth details on more esoteric build capabilities and radiator placement
- Possible dry-up of enhancement parts channels
This is similar in concept to
This is similar in concept to my Caselabs M8…. only a whole lot cheaper. It’s nice to have coaster wheels though, especially when you watercool and have several liters of water in the loop. After all, a case that’s difficult to move, won’t get flushed.
Great overview Morry.I just
Great overview Morry.I just got the white version of this case. Love it so far. With just the stock fans my 5960X is running 10c cooler. Can’t wait for the follow up.
Got this case for my father’s
Got this case for my father’s PC. Didn’t quite realize just how large the case really was. Not complaining. It was a joy to work with. After dealing with an Antec 300 it was nice to have all the extra room for activities and a PC.
It is a very large case.
It is a very large case. Really got my feel of how large it was when I hauled it to a LAN party earlier in the year. That being said, it is a joy to work with and has more space than most of us could fill (though I've done my part in trying :))…
Huh. I’ve been going in the
Huh. I’ve been going in the opposite direction lately, towards smaller more space efficient cases. I can’t imagine lugging this case around!
think i might have found a
think i might have found a replacement for my fractal design r5. running an e-atx mobo in that and it is cramped. MSI X99A Xpower AC
I love the way this case
I love the way this case looks. I wouldn’t mind doing a build in it in the future.
Bought this case last summer.
Bought this case last summer. It’s been good, other than the flimsy side panels. I’ve filled it up.
I own this case and honestly
I own this case and honestly I moved to it from a Corsair 900D and I couldn’t be happier with it. My Corsair had so many quality control issues with things not lining up right after spending $350 for a case and this one only being $140 with tax and its quality was amazing. I wish I could get a Caselabs case but honestly I can’t justify spending a large amount on a case after my burn with Corsair’s. One complaint I do have with the case is the motherboard tray. I wish it doubled as a midplate so I could not see the rads and stuff below but I solved that with a piece of black acrylic I just cut a whole new motherboard tray and had it extended all the way to the front panel.
I was thinking about doing
I was thinking about doing something similar, not necessarily replacing the entir try, but more extending it forward with 1/4 acrylic and adding a side piece in front of the window, with some type of backlit design…
I’ve been looking for
I’ve been looking for something like this that was cheaper than Caselabs and not fugly like Mountainmods. Looks good.
OH DEAR… This is just an
OH DEAR… This is just an fugly, made in china and bad copy of the Caselabs S8 or the smaller S8S. If you don’t believe it look for some images.
They also took the very little details, incredible, pedestal concept included.Even every grill is in the same exact position. I wouldn’t be surprised if it also had the same exact dimensions. If I was between the designers that worked on this thing I would feel embarassed.
But this is not even the first.. They also copied other designs from the Caselabs lineup.
SHAME !
* Actually after looking at
* Actually after looking at it even better I noticed has tyhe same height of a S8 but it’s longer, as it supports 480 rads instead of the 360s.
I also noticed the grills have the same exact mesh design.. At least they could’ve change that.
What in the What is a 540mm
What in the What is a 540mm radiator. 140*4=560.
What in the What is a 540mm
What in the What is a 540mm radiator. 140*4=560.
A 540mm radiator is 3x180mm,
A 540mm radiator is 3x180mm, not a very well known or wide-spread size, but supported according to the Thermaltake documentation…
Morry, did you try to fit a
Morry, did you try to fit a drive in the five and a quarter inch bays?
i have the X1 and the drive does not fit flush with the front of the case, just wondering if all the Core X cases are like this
http://imgur.com/wQ7vkpi
http://imgur.com/ewTVICb
http://imgur.com/OlyaKh7
The Core X9 is similar, where
The Core X9 is similar, where a device mounted in the 5.25" bay is not flush with the front…
Thanks a lot for featuring
Thanks a lot for featuring this! I got my eye on it back when it was mentioned on “pick of the week”. Got it based on this review to replace Cooler Master Sniper case, which had issues with drive cages, cable management and cleaning. Loving horizontal motherboard mount and the ways that I can route multiple SATA cables. Was thoroughly confused, however, on how best to install case fans and direction of push/pull that would be effective for something this large. Looking forward to advanced version to get more ideas on how to play with it.