Thermaltake Tai Chi Aluminum Extrusion Case
Introduction and Specifications
Thermaltake is a company that offers a wide variety of products for custom computer builders. Whether you are looking for specialized cooling solutions, such as an active hard drive cooler, a water cooling kit or a quality CPU cooler like the Golden Orb II we recently reviewed, Thermaltake has an answer. Top that off with Multifunction displays, USB hard drive enclosures, and top of the line chassis, and you'll find that Thermaltake has a multitude of products available to help give your rig a personal touch.
The Tai Chi Aluminum Extrusion Case is a new addition to Thermaltake's line of enclosures. Built out of extruded aluminum, this tower has looks that kill, tons of room and it manages to stay light-weight in the process. And it's no mistake that Thermaltake named the case "Tai Chi". The case echoes the philosophy of the ancient Chinese concept that believes in a balance of mind and body. With balanced air flow, good looks and support for the ATX and BTX form factors, the Tai Chi is a well balanced case that is quiet, attractive and ready for today's and tomorrow's technology...
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| Model Tai-Chi - VB5000SNA Case Type Super Tower Net Weight 17.1Kg Dimension 600 x 263 x 546 mm (H*W*D) Cooling System Front (intake) 120x120x25 mm, Blue LED Fan, 1300rpm, 17dBA Rear (exhaust) 120 x 120 x25 mm blue LED fan, 1300rpm, 17dBA Drive Bays 11 Front Accessible 10 x 5.25", 1 x 3.5" Internal 3 x3.5" Material Aluminum Extrusion Color Silver & Black Expansion Slots 7 |
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| Motherboards Micro ATX, ATX, Extend ATX, BTX , Micro BTX, Pico BTX, BTX Upgrade Kits SRM / Rear plate (optional) Features All aluminum extrusion built chassis Compact and stylish chassis BTX & ATX compatible Better choice for upgrading liquid cooling system Hydraulic side panel opening Tool-free installation Optimize internal space and airflow Support to 11 5.25'' drive bays Relocate-able front control panel (Power, Reset switch, HDD & PWR LEDs) Removable aluminum motherboard tray Easy Lifting Handles |
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Along with the Tai Chi Aluminum Extrusion Case, Thermaltake included a complementary hardware kit. There were four locking casters with 16 mounting screws, as well as an ample collection of screws, posts and thumbscrews to mount various hardware. There were also four cable sleeves to be used on the rear of the case as well as a few zip ties to aid in cable management. Overall, Thermaltake did a good job at providing everything needed to install drives, mount a motherboard, and keep cabling tidy.
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Thermaltake ships the Tai Chi in extremely secure packaging with a protective bag over the shell and tape to secure the doors during shipping. All of these steps ensure the case will arrive undamaged and in good working order, as our model did. However, the tape used to secure the doors of the case used glue that was virtually impossible to remove. When you look at the first case image, note the edge of the silver door. The smudge is what the packing tape left behind. Glass cleaner, soap, nor rubbing alcohol was able to remove the glue from the door. The only way to get it off was with acetone, which we thought was a bit extreme. While not a major issue, having to take the time to figure out what will get the glue off door will surely dampen the excitement for some.
