Final Thoughts
Pricing
The Thermaltake Core V1 is priced at a very competitive £41.99 from Box.co.uk. This puts it along side chassis such as the Cooler Master Elite 120 and the Silverstone SST-SG08 Lite, while remaining very competitive against both in terms of specifications. Consumers in the US get an even better deal, as the V1 can be picked up from Amazon.com for just $48.99 with free shipping.
Overview
This is one of the coolest mini-ITX chassis on the market. Sure there are lots of incredible chassis out there to choose from, such as a wide range of products from Silverstone, BitFenix and Corsair, to name but a few. However, very few (if any) can offer the same as the Core V1. To have this level of customisation and a mod-friendly design, high-end hardware support and water cooling capabilities, a tiny external size and an even smaller price tag, is nothing short of incredible!
Thermaltake have really out done themselves this time. The V1 manages to be both a premium quality product with high-end features, while also being available for a budget friendly price tag. This means that the chassis is going to appeal to a very wide audience. Those looking for an easy to transport LAN gaming rig, a small system to put next to their TV, a funky gaming rig for their bed room, or a cool chassis mod project; all will find something to love about the Core V1.
The V1 completes the Thermaltake Core family, which now spans everything from mini-ITX right up to fully fledged ATX full towers. This is great news for Thermaltake fans who want to have a smaller 2nd system that mimics the style of their big rig.
Build quality is exceptional throughout. All the panels are durable, well finish and everything locks into place first time. You can also see a lot of thought has gone into how this chassis will be used. From the front panel cut-out for long graphics cards, the elongated screw holes for easy mounting of front fans and radiators, the interchangeable side panels, removable hard drive bays and more.
This is a great case as it is, but there’s certainly the temptation to strip it to pieces and start cutting and drilling holes in it, it certainly has a lot of modification potential. The interchangeable side panels are a good start and it shouldn’t be hard to really make the Core V1 fit your needs – be that a budget first time build or a crazy water-cooled high-end gaming rig.
Pros
- Modular design
- Excellent build quality
- Room for high-end components
- Water cooling support
- Lots of air flow
- Budget friendly
- Easy to work with
- Compact size
Cons
- Limited air filtering could lead to dust build up, but the easily removable side panels means maintenance shouldn’t be too much trouble.
“This is without a doubt one of the best mini-ITX chassis on the market. It’s smaller, more capable and cheaper than almost everything else in its class, with the added bonus that it’s flexible, very well made and extremely easy to work with. If you’re in need of a compact gaming rig, this should be right at the top of your shopping list.”
Thank you Thermaltake for providing us with this sample.
I’ve been eyeing this little case for a HTPC/server, I just love it. My only gripe is I wish it had a 5.25″ slot option, even slimline would be ok, oh well for $40 what can ya say. I’ve also noticed the “big sister” to this case is a lot longer, but it does have a 5.25 slot even thought it is slightly *shorter* than this case. Bizarre.