MacClipper - 24/7 Real World Overclocking!

The Thermaltake Core X2 mATX Cube Chassis

Core X Series presented by Thermaltake

Stackable for Enthusiasts

"Core X2, the first mATX chassis of Core X Series presented by Thermaltake, is a cube case offering endless stackable capacity and expandability for enthusiasts to create massive liquid cooling systems, utilize as a file server as well as accommodate dual systems..."

Core X2 Features

Stackable for Enthusiasts
Remarkable Expansion
Great Ventilation
Chambers Concept
Fully Modular Design
Interchangeable Window and I/O Panel

Radiator Support

Fan Support

Packaging

Nice informative printed brown box which appears kinda oversized for a mATX case so the mATX Asus Gene VII motherboard box has been placed on it for comparison. Yup, this guy is seriously big... well, there is no other way anyone can squeeze in all the above goodies like 2 x 360 rads side by side.

Straightaway, anyone can tell that the Core X2 is not aiming for compactness even when using a mATX foundation but has instead reached for the bells and whistles in a no holds barred decked out monsta mATX rig.

Unboxing

2 protective Styrofoam moulds appear to have done a great job in securing the test unit cos it arrived in pristine condition.

Top

The meshed metal top is easily removed by undoing 2 captive thumbscrews (nice!), exposing the 2 sturdy horizontal rigidity bars (even nicer!).

Bottom

Also meshed to reduce dust as can be seen.

Side Panels

One windowed and one meshed and they are inter-changeable depending on your needs, flexible! The user panel of buttons/LEDs, USB3 ports and audio jacks as seen in their default position and this can be switched to the other side too, great design indeed.

Back

Note the bundled 0.30A exhaust 120mm fan, rubber grommet and the fenestrated I/O plates

Front

Fully meshed and easily popped out just by tugging on its catches, revealing the other bundled 120mm fan - neat.

Strip Time

With the front off, time to remove the side panels by undoing the thumbscrews stripping down to the skeletal structure. Meanwhile, do check out the finer interior dust mesh on the side panels.

Mobo Tray

The horizontally placed tray is easily and totally removable by undoing a few thumbscrews on the back, a tool-free procedure.

Storage

The storage trays are easily removable to allow more expansion and cooling needs.

Headers & Plugs

Either flat ribbons or are sleeved.

Mobo Placement

Given the upsized case, unsurprisingly spacious for most needs.

Brown Box Accessories

Mobo beeper bundled, becoming a rarer sight these days.

Initial Impressions

Big in spaciousness and possibilities
Great fitting and finishing
Flexible placement of windowed side panel and user panel
Extensive water cooling support
Meshed fan intakes
Removable mobo tray
Stackable!

Can be improved...

Big for a mATX case, not for space challenged buyers
Smallish 2 x 120 fans bundled

Fractal Design Define R5 Black - Optimal Silent Computing

Fractal Design - Home

Designed and Engineered in Sweden

"All Fractal Design products have been carefully designed and tested in our Swedish headquarters. The well-known elements of Scandinavian design can be found throughout all of our product lines; a minimalistic, elegant and simple design, embracing the motto of 'less is more'."

DEFINE Series

"The DEFINE series of cases focuses on delivering the perfect balance between silent and minimalistic Scandinavian design. The understated look and feel allows for a natural fit into your home or office while never compromising on quality, performance or configurability."

The Fractal Design Define R5

Define R5 Black - Home

"... is the next evolution in the widely popular Define Series. Packed with intelligently designed enthusiast-oriented features delivering a silent case with powerful and expansive air and liquid cooling support, presented in a stunning Scandinavian inspired construction.
The Define R5 case reaches the highest level of silent computing through strategically placed dense sound-absorbing material, ModuVent™ fan vent covers and finely tuned Dynamic Series fans.
The Define R5 was designed with configurability in mind, accommodating up to 8 hard drives and all modern graphics card. Should you wish to expand your system with water cooling components or more fans the layout can easily be configured to meet your demand."

Specifications

ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX motherboard compatibility
7 expansion slots
2 - 5.25" bays (removable)
8 - 3.5" HDD positions (can also accommodate 2.5" units); 2 - 2.5" dedicated SSD unit positions
4 - ModuVent™ plates - three in the top and one in the side
9 - fan positions (2 Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 140mm fans included)
Filtered fan slots in the front and bottom
CPU coolers up to 180mm in height
ATX PSUs up to 190/170 mm with a bottom 120/140mm fan installed; when not using any bottom fan location longer PSUs up to 300mm can be used
Graphics cards up to 310 mm in length with the top HDD cage installed; with the top cage removed, graphics cards up to 440 mm in length may be installed
20 - 35 mm of space for cable routing behind the motherboard plate
Velcro straps included for easy cable management
Front door can switch opening direction via dual mounting system
Left side panel features Quick Release System for easy access and provides a secure closure of side panel
Right side panel features smart captive thumbscrews so no thumbscrews are lost
Colours available: Black, Titanium (black case, titanium front panel), White
Case dimensions (WxHxD): 232 x 451 x 521mm
Case dimensions - with feet/screws/protrusions: 232 x 462 x 531mm
Net weight: 11.2 kg
Package dimensions (WxHxD): 327 x 615 x 540mm
Package weight: 12.8 kg

Cooling system

Front: 2 – 120/140 mm fans (included is 1 Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 fan, 1000 RPM speed)
Rear: 1 – 120/140 mm fan (included is 1 Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 fan, 1000 RPM speed)
Top: 3 - 120/140 mm fan (not included)
Bottom: 2 – 120/140 mm fan (not included)
Side: 1 – 120/140 mm fan (not included)
Fan controller: 3 step fan controller for up to 3 fans
Dust filters: Bottom and front intakes

Water cooling compatibility

Front – 360, 280, 240, 140 and 120 mm radiators of all thicknesses (requires removal of drive bays)
Top – 420, 360, 280, 240, 140 and 120 mm radiators. (A thickness limitation of 55mm for both radiator + fan applies on 420, 280 and 140 mm radiators) (420 and 360 mm radiators require removal of the ODD bay)
Bottom – 120 or 240 mm radiator (Use of radiators in the bottom position limits the PSU length to 165 mm)
Rear – 120 or 140 mm radiator

Packaging

Seems the cardboard box had received quite a few hard knocks which tore into it in more than one spot, fortunately the case itself emerged unscathed. Both the specifications and exploded view of the case makes the packaging very informative indeed

Do click on the pics for the full res views for reading the box printing..

Unboxing

Ah, someone had in haste forgotten to replace the protective plastic bag which was lying folded at the bottom of the box instead (& the user guide is also MIA). As you can see, this quickly showed up the finger print magnet the case finish can be.

Top

Showing the 3 top ModuVent™ positions - the flaps pop out with ease showing the sound dampening layer.

The front portion sports the beautiful Power, tiny Reset buttons, Power/HDD LEDs (blue), audio and USB 2/3 ports - very functionally and tastefully done.

Back

Note one of the 2 bundled 140mm exhaust fans (FD Dynamic GP14) present, white fenestrated I/O plates and the use of a spring loaded sliding lock for securing one of the side panels with thumbscrews for the other.

Bottom

Lovely AV deck inspired chrome case feet surrounding the large bottom removable dust mesh

Left

Sports the remaining ModuVent™ flap, last pic demonstrates the metal folding.

Right

Demonstrating (more finger prints &) the captive thumbscrews, no more losing them now. Note the generously large noise dampening layer.

Front

Noise dampened front door (with even more f... ) which swings to show the removable front fan mesh and bundled 140mm fan. The swing door can be cleverly rotated 180 degrees to swing open in the opposite direction by undoing 2 screws.