The Thermaltake Xaser VI is heavy and huge. And I'm not talking about your ordinary, everyday kind of big either, I'm talking gargantuan... colossal... humongous. Half an inch taller, almost two inches deeper and several pounds heavier than even the mighty Cooler Master Cosmos. It was a struggle to move the shipping container around, obviously not just for me but also for UPS, as evidenced by the damage that occurred. The box bore the brunt of most of it, however there was some pretty significant localized damage that occurred to the rear top corner as well. Who's to say if that plastic cosmetic "spoiler" had not been there, possibly it wouldn't have been damaged at all? I'm not a big fan of unnecessary adornments anyway, so that piece and some of the other plastics along the front, bottom and rear edges of the case would be better left off anyway in my opinion.
If you find yourself in need of a case of this size, well then the Xaser might just be for you. It's certainly spacious enough inside, with plenty of places to mount cooling fans, large ones at that. It comes with three 140mm and one 120mm, with spots to add two more up to 140mm in size. Unlike the Cosmos, there's really not a good place to mount a traditional double-size radiator, unless you remove the two bottom drive cages and possibly install one there. Otherwise you could make use of one of Thermaltake's BigWater systems, which take up a few 5¼" bays, and the top panel is designed for quick, easy access to the reservoir. Just remember that although it may appear there are plenty of 5¼" bays available, only the top seven can actually be used.
Features-wise, the Xaser VI has a lot going for it. Tool-less riser slots and drive bays, coupled with lots of thumbscrews and latches, make adding or removing hardware less of a chore. Four USB ports and two eSATA ports at the front give you plenty of external connections. A hot swap ready drive cage would be a nice addition to go along with those quick-change trays - chalk that one up on the wish list. Given how cumbersome this thing is, it would also be nice to have some easier way to move it around. With the smooth front door and that spoiler on the rear, which we are specifically told is not a handle, it makes just getting ahold of the Xaser to carry it across the room an exercise.
The price tag on the Xaser VI is steep. At around $250 USD, it easily surpasses the Cooler Master Cosmos and is right up there with the Cosmos S, which unfortunately is aluminum and one heck of a lot lighter. Personally I don't like a case this large and heavy; it's just too bulky and the red mesh and plastic wings are a bit too gaudy for my taste. Plus for the cost I would expect it to be made of aluminum, not steel.
But if you're in to big flashy cases and are built like Hercules, then the Xaser VI has all the right features and is a pleasure to work with.
