Although there have been other Thermaltake products cross our doorstep in recent months here at OCIA.net, it's been more than a year since our last case review, the Xaser VI full tower. There simply haven't been any new chassis designs in the interim, however this has changed with the release of the Element, Spedo and Xpressar series. The Spedo is Thermaltake's latest full tower enclosure while the Xpressar delves into a new area for Thermaltake, that of phase change cooling. But the one that will likely generate the most sales for them, the mid-tower Element series, is comprised of three separate models, the S, G and T. While these all share the same basic internal structure, each is subtly different in appearance and features. The model we have for review today is the entry level T series.


Thermaltake advertises the Element T as a gaming oriented performance chassis with optimal cooling ability, massive storage capacity and LAN party security. It should be noted that the S and G models each carry a price tag that is two-thirds higher than that of the T, so obviously some concessions are likely to have been made to bring the T to market at such a reduced price. All three models share roughly the same layout, they're all constructed of steel, offer three 5¼" and seven 3½" bays and have the same fan locations available, however each varies slightly in dimensions and weight. The Element T measures roughly 21" x 19" x 8" and weighs in at a very slender 15½ pounds.


None of the three offer a power supply option with the unit, not unusual for cases geared towards gamers and enthusiasts who are more likely to have their own choice of PSU to install. The T is the only one of the trio that comes with an unpainted interior and lacks the internal power supply / drive support bracket and pre-installed intake fans of the other two. Simply comparing the three visually we see that the T model also has a more basic, conservative appearance. Is the Element T merely a stripped-down, no-frills case or can it actually compete with the other models in the Element series? Continue as we aim to find out.