Date: October 14th, 2008
Article by: Joe Anderson (Hardware Reviewer)
Edited by: Nathan Glentworth (Owner / Head Editor)
Product was submitted by: Thermaltake USA
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PRODUCT PICTORIAL AND WALKTHROUGH
The V9 has a familiar look about it that I had a hard time putting my finger on. It was only after a couple of hours of fooling around with it that the number 900 came to mind. At any rate, my first impression of the V9 was one of subtle elegance with a bit of a different look from the average black mid-tower chassis. The slash window and large ventilation holes suggest a stylized X shape, adding some visual interest to the side panel while the mesh front panel has but one embellishment, a small Thermaltake logo near the bottom.
The opposite side has similar venting, but no window. The overall finish is unusual in that the body of the chassis has a coating that is both slightly rough to the touch while being slightly reflective as well. The plastic top and front have a matte black finish with contrasting mirror black accents. The elements all work well with the mesh front panel and top fan grille. Opinions vary, but I like this look.
Front and center at the top are the power and reset buttons flanking the HDD activity light. An LED behind the power button surround will indicate power status.
Curiously, front panel I/O ports are limited to two USBs and the customary audio jacks. On the positive side, the USB ports are spaced far enough apart to allow the use of bulkier devices. Further back, there's a 230mm (9-inch) exhaust fan living under the mesh cover at the rear. Turning at 800 RPM, Thermaltake rates the fan at a near silent 13 dBA.
Moving around to the rear, we find the PSU placement at the bottom of the case and two grommeted access holes, for liquid-cooling tubes, near the top. In between, we have the other expected features, namely a 120mm exhaust fan placement, an I/O shield and expansion bay covers. Four large thumbscrews secure the side panels to the steel chassis.
