Date: June 30th, 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 rear of the Xaser has a rather conventional layout, but there are some pleasant surprises here. Thermaltake has provided ten expansion slots for the addition of rear panel devices that don't require a motherboard slot, like the USB/Firewire brackets shipped with some mobos.
This case also features a power supply mounting plate and knockouts for liquid cooling tubes next to the PSU and just below the 120mm exhaust fan. Small thumbscrews secure the side panels and top, but they're difficult to use (at least with my big, fat fingers.) Fortunately they accept a Phillips screwdriver, which you'll need anyway…
…to take out the four screws that secure the removable motherboard tray. Now this is the way to design a mobo tray! It glides freely on plastic guides and allows the user to install virtually all the motherboard components outside the case, even expansion cards and large CPU coolers. Hell, it even has a handle, though it feels a bit flimsy. The tray itself is anything but flimsy with sturdy braces top and bottom. I like this feature a lot, too.
Even the bottom of the Xaser VI has some cool features. Two additional intake fans (not included) can be placed here should the user wish to forgo using the additional hard drive placements provided in the interior.
As I mentioned earlier, getting the side panels off is a bit counterintuitive, but the manual covers this operation in detail. With the panel removed, we're greeted with a large, roomy interior with some innovative features. For example, the upper support rail incorporates an adjustable PSU support bracket that will accommodate even the largest power supplies. The 120mm exhaust fan is illuminated with blue LEDs and the wiring is sleeved with a black mesh material, terminating in a 4-pin Molex pass-through. The ten expansion slots have replaceable, vented covers that are secured with tool-free clips. The floor of the case features two hard drive cages with a nifty mounting scheme.
