Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

CUATION!!!!!!!

Reviewed By: Jammer on 9/25/2006

Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 day to 1 week

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: This thing is heavy! It’s a very sturdy case with quality materials and construction. It’s not meant for transport to LAN party. Loads of room inside. It has plenty of space for a large PCI Express card, like the ASUS Geforce 7950GX2 I installed. Four fans (one front intake and three exhausts) provide good cooling.

Cons: CAUTION! This case shorted out my new mobo; ASUS P5W DH Deluxe. The case has brackets positioned immediately under the mobo so it can be converted from ATX to BTX in the future. The brackets protrude from the case such that they nearly touch the back of the mobo. In my case they DID touch the mobo. That’s when lights in the house dimmed, snapping noise, funny smell (you get the picture!). NewEgg accepted the RMA. As usual, they are the best! There is a ‘caution’ for this listed in the case manual. Unfortunately, it appears on the next to last page and it does not come with the case; you have to download the manual from the Thermaltake website. Mylar adhesive patches are provided to stick onto the protrusions. The case has ‘wings’ on the front exterior which serve no purpose, except to interfere with the optical drive tray operation.

Other Thoughts: If you haven’t installed the mylar patches, I recommend you do so just in case the mobo warps from heat and touches the metal case interior. I also recommend that Thermaltake apply the mylar patches BEFORE shipping and let the consumer remove them when/if the case is converted to BTX.

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It doesn't get much better than this.

Reviewed By: Uncle Giggles on 6/11/2006

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 month to 1 year

Pros: Harddrives, optical drives, floppy drives, and even the power button can be mounted anywhere in the case.

Power suppy mounts vertically to make room for another 90mm exhaust fan.

More room than you'd ever need. Very wide, so gigantic CPU coolers fit well with room to spare. No more removing your video card(s) just to get a harddrive out.

All harddrives and optical drives are tool-less install, but screw holes are still available on both sides.

Second harddrive cage located next to the power supply, next to an exhaust fan. Front HD cage also has 120mm LED fan for intake and HD cooling.

120mm blue LED intake, 120mm blue LED and 90mm rear exhaust, 90mm top exhaust. These fan's are not wimpy either. They cool better than my last case with 6 high output 80mm's.

Haven't tried, but it would probably stop a bullet. Sturdy as heck, even when stripped down.

"Quick-release" kinda thing for like PCI cards and such, easily romovable if you prefer to screw your cards down

Cons: Yea, it's definitely heavy, even with nothing in it. Put in a power supply, a few harddrives, a couple optical drives, and all the other goodies... just remember: Lift with your legs, not your back :)

Tool-less drive install thingies are very handy, but things like high-RPM optical drives and harddrives may vibrate quite a bit unless screws are used.

The metal flap-thingies on the front are a small annoyance, as they do extend in front of your optical drives. Just move em when you need to use them.

Other Thoughts: Comfortably houses my rig:

Asus A8N32-SLi Deluxe
AMD FX-60
2GB Corsair twinx2048-3200c2
x2 BFG 7900GTX's, SLi
x2 WD 80GB SATA-150's in RAID 0
x1 WD 250GB SATA3.0
x2 Sony DVD-RW's
600Watt OCZ PowerStream SLi

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still one of the best

Reviewed By: medic91b2 on 10/2/2009

Tech Level: high - Ownership: more than 1 year

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: I had this case for three years and since then I have builded 4 rigs for my son's with other case's, this case to me is still the best. The options you have for your build are awesome, from H/D to optics to psu and everything in between this case will handle it. The tooless thing is usless but it does not take away anything from the case. If you are going air cooling this case will do the job very well, if you are going water it will do it very well also. If you have a long psu yes you do have to take off the top 80mm fan, but that is minor, I am giving my rig to a famaily member and building a new rig I am buying this case again it's just that good

Cons: The tooless thing just does'nt work take it off and just screw everything in

Other Thoughts: I was amazed on how this case has stood up to the test of time

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Reviewed By: on 3/2/2009

Tech Level: high - Ownership: more than 1 year

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: Love this case, Lost of room, Easy plug and play slots for CD-rom and Hard drives, LOTS OF SPACE!!!!.
Can you place hard drive on the top by the power supply or on the front.

Cons: Dont like the top USB ports, But hey just remove it,
Case is very heavy, not really a con unless you lan
Dont like the metal bars on the front side.

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Reviewed By: Blue on 1/9/2009

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: Tool-less bays, psu placement vents hot air immediately, tool tray on front is novel, the whole case looks excellent

Cons: tool-less pci slots stopped me from installing second support for my 4870x2, so it's only held up by slot and 1 plastic holder instead of two:(....also stopped me from installing a pci exhaust fan underneath

Other Thoughts: I have an IFX-14 heatsink which is huge, and this case barely fit it...i hate to say it but maybe i should've gone bigger?

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