Introduction and Technical Specifications
The Core X9 case is Thermaltake’s entry into the extreme liquid-cooling arena, offering unparalleled configurability…
Introduction
***Editor's Note*** – Before getting into the nuts and bolts of the Core X9, please understand that this initial review is meant as a detailed introduction into the capabilities and build strengths of the Core X9 E-ATX Cube Chassis. 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 for the follow-up.
Courtesy of Thermaltake
The Thermaltake Core X9 E-ATX Cube Chassis is one of the largest and most configurable they've developed. The case is roughly cube shaped with a steel and plastic construction. The height and depth of the unit allows the Core X9 to support up to quad-fan radiators mounted to its top or sides and up to a tri-fan radiator in front. At an MSRP of $169.99, the Core X9 E-ATX Cube Chassis features a competitive price in light of its size and configurability.
Courtesy of Thermaltake
Courtesy of Thermaltake
The Core X9 case was designed to be fully modular, supporting a variety of build configurations to be able to adapt to the whatever build style the end user can dream up. The case comes with a variety of mounts for mounting fans or liquid cooling radiators to the top, side, or bottom of the case. Additionally, Thermaltake integrated three 5.25" device bays as well as two hard drive bays supporting up to three drives each. The chassis motherboard is removable as well for easy install of the motherboard into the system. The chassis itself can be easily segregated into upper and lower sections for controlling system and component heat flow if desired.
Courtesy of Thermaltake
Courtesy of Thermaltake
Until you can acurately visually just how many radiators and fans that this case supports, you really don't have a feel for the immense size of the Core X9. From front to back, the case support 4 x 120mm fans or a 480mm radiator along either of its lower sides or in the dual top mounts. On top, you can actually mount a total of eight 120mm fans or dual 480mm radiators if you so choose. And that doesn't take into account the additional two 140mm fans that can be mounted in the upper and lower sections of the case's rear panel, nor the three 120mm fans, dual 200mm fans, or 360mm radiator that can be mounted to the case's front panel.
Courtesy of Thermaltake
Courtesy of Thermaltake
In addition to its vast fan/radiator mounting space, the Core X9 control asembly and side panels are ambidextrous. The case has mount points on both the front left and front right to accommodate the case control panel with a blank panel included for the other side. Further, the included sides panels can be used on either side of the case, so that you can have the full sized window panel on the right side instead of the left if desired. Thermaltake also sells a variety of other panels with which to customize the case, including side panels with upper windows only.
Technical Specifications (taken from the Thermaltake website)
P/N | CA-1D8-00F1WN-00 |
Case Type | E-ATX Cube Case |
Dimension (H x W x D) |
502 x 380 x 640 mm (19.8 x 15 x 25.2 inch) |
Net Weight | 17 kg / 37.5 lb |
Side Panel | Transparent Window |
Color | Exterior & Interior: Black |
Material | SPCC |
Cooling System | Front (intake): 200 x 200 x 30 mm fan (800rpm, 13dBA) Rear (exhaust): 120 x 120 x 25 mm Turbo fan (1000rpm, 16dBA) |
Drive Bays | – Accessible: 3 x 5.25" – Hidden: 6 x 3.5" or 2.5" (HDD Cage) 1 x 3.5", 2 x 2.5" (M/B Tray) |
Expansion Slots | 8 |
Motherboards | 6.7” x 6.7” (Mini ITX) 9.6” x 9.6” (Micro ATX) 12” x 9.6” (ATX) 12” x 13” (Extend ATX) |
I/O Ports | USB 3.0 x 4 HD Audio x 1 |
PSU | Standard PS2 PSU (optional) |
Supports 1/2”, 3/8”, 1/4” water tube | |
Fan Support | Front: 3 x 120mm 2 x 140mm 2 x 200mm Top: 8 x 120mm 6 x 140mm 2 x 200mm Rear: 2 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm Bottom: 3 x 120mm Left / Right Side: 4 x 120mm 3 x 140mm |
Radiator Support | Front: 1 x 120mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 360mm 1 x 140mm or 1 x 280mm Top: 2 x 120mm or 2 x 240mm or 2 x 360mm or 2 x 480mm 2 x 140mm or 2 x 280mm or 2 x 420mm Rear: 1 x 120mm or or 1 x 140mm Left / Right Side: 1 x 120mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 360mm or 1 x 480mm 1 x 140mm or 1 x 280mm or 1 x 420mm Bottom: 1 x 120mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 360mm or 1 x 480mm 1 x 140mm or 1 x 280mm or 1 x 420mm |
Clearance | U cooler height limitation: 250mm VGA length limitation: 400mm(with ODD cage) 590mm(without ODD cage) PSU length limitation: 220mm (With Bottom Fan) |
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.