Verdict and Conclusion
I had no doubts with the quality of the Thermaltake V9 BlacX Chassis. Using good quality SECC steel, its construction is solid and the overall build quality is very good. All the edges seem to be smoothed out and rolled-back, which is great news for system builders as it will prevent your fingers being cut accidently. The chassis offer many great features including the dual bay Docking Station on the top of the chassis, that supports both 2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA hard drives. It is also one of the first chassis we’ve come across, that feature a USB3.0 connector in the front panel I/O. Furthermore, the tool-free feature uses an easy to use lock n’ load system, which is great for modders and allows quick installation.
As far as thermal performance is concerned, the Thermaltake V9 BlacX Chassis offers excellent cooling via its 3 silent fans. It has one massive 230mm slient fan on the top, which spins at 800rpm and extracts air out. There’s also a large 120mm blue LED fan at the front, which draws cold air in, and another 120mm fan at the rear to extract the hot air out. To help with extra air-flow, the Thermaltake V9 BlacX features a honeycomb mesh design on all sides of the chassis. And finally, the black interior really makes it really appealing for gamers and enthusiast.
With 3 large fans, you would expect the noise level is to be quite high. Fortunately, the fans used in the Thermaltake V9 BlacX chassis are extremely quiet and spin at a low rpm. From a distance, you can’t hear anything … put your ears close to the chassis, and you might hear a murmur. What’s more, the honeycomb mesh design found on all sides of the chassis really help to create excellent air-flow.
Having pointed out the positives, there is one thing I didn’t really like. I thought that the tool-free system for locking down the expansion cards was a little “flimsy”. It feels as if it could easily be broken or damaged … if a little extra force was applied. It just didn’t feel strong enough. And the other thing I need to point out, is that fact that the Thermaltake V9 BlacX Chassis is a midi-tower, and not a full tower. It therefore means that there’s not a lot of room to work with. At first I was a little concerned whether a full size ATX motherboard would fit with all the trimmings (CPU cooler+PSU+GFX card), but as it turns out … it was OK, albeit a little tight.
Current prices for the Thermaltake V9 BlacX Chassis is around USD $100.00 (GBP 65.00), which I think is excellent value for money. Especially when you consider all the extra features that it offers. I have no problems recommending this chassis to anyone who fancy a midi-tower.
Final words. Thermaltake V9 BlacX is a very good chassis that’s packed with great features, all for an attactive price. Featuring, dual bay docking station, USB3.0 support and excellent thermal performance, it makes it extremely appealing to all types of users, especially gamers and modders.
SCORE
8/10
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