Robert PartridgeRobert Partridge
Needed to add some extra storage to my wife's PC and her OEM case wasn't setup to handle it. What's more, the OEM case had a single exhaust fan and no option for adding an intake fan or anything. (I'm looking at you ASUS). So I went looking for a replacement - wanted something that looked nice, would be easy to build in, and not too expensive. The Thermaltake Versa H17 definitely fit the bill. This is my first Thermaltake case. After my experience with the H17, I expect it won't be my last. (I'm giving serious consideration to moving my home server to a V21 cube chassis.)I'll go into detail about my experience with building in the case.First I'll mention, if you're re-using old parts or if you're on a tight budget and you've got / are getting a wired power supply instead of modular, the case is ideal. The H17 doesn't use traditional drive cages of any kind to mount drives - no doubt a cost saving measure - and instead uses a system rubber washers + screws where you can mount a 3.5" hard drive to the floor of the case under the PSU cover and second 3.5" hard drive under the top of the PSU cover. With this mounting system instead of drive cages, this leaves TONS of space to neatly tuck away your unused power supply cables.You mount 2.5" drives in the same basic fashion as the 3.5" drives, except the drives can mount on either side of the case's motherboard tray. I chose to mount drives to the back side of the tray to make cable management easier.The motherboard tray has a very large cutout to make access to the CPU backplate a breeze, should you ever need to. The side panels go on and off without any issues at all - unlike many other cases I've used over the years. Behind the motherboard tray there is PLENTY of room for cable management - especially when you include the space under the power supply cover. There are plenty of zip-tie points to help keep your wires tidy as well. If this case is missing anything it would be rubber grommets and velcro straps, however, including these would only end up increasing the price of the case.Let's talk for a minute about fans and cooling.With having a mostly solid front panel, there is going to be some restriction on the amount of air coming into the chassis. However, because the ventilation holes are on the front of the panel (instead of on the sides of the front panel like some other cases) the incoming air doesn't need to make a directional bend and lose pressure. The front of the case is listed as supporting up to 3 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm front fans along with 1 x 120mm or 140mm top fan (featuring a magnetic dust filter) and 1 x 120mm rear exhaust fan - a 3 pin basic black Thermaltake fan is included here. Only including the one fan is another cost saving measure on Thermaltake's part.When I purchased the case, I ordered 2 x 120mm Cougar Vortex PWM fans to use with it in addition to a 120mm Cryorig fan that I already own. While I don't think most people will need to add three fans to this case, I do highly recommend you get at least 1 decent fan to include as a front intake. My original plan was to include all 3 fans in the front of the case and leave the top fan location vacant. I changed my mind on this during the build for 2 reasons.1 - The wires for the buttons, LEDs, and ports on the top of the case are attached to the front panel. When you install the fans too high up in the case, it becomes difficult to route these wires into the case.2 - After I noted the position of the top fan location is in a more "forward" position relative to the CPU, I decided to put the 120mm Cryorig fan there as an intake fan. If the position were more toward the back, I'd have instead configured it as an exhaust fan. If I'd have made this fan an exhaust where it's located, I'd literally be stealing cool air that's coming into the chassis and exhausting it away from the CPU before it has a chance to make use of it. This is not withstanding that positive air pressure is best for managing dust. If this computer had a tower style CPU cooler (such as a Cryorig H7 or CoolerMaster 212 EVO) instead of a stock downdraft style cooler, I would not have added the top fan at all as this would just cause turbulence.If I were going to ding the score of this case for any reasons at all, it would be these points about the fan mountings. However, I don't feel it's appropriate to deduct from the score of this case at all. Here's why.As this case is a budget case, I don't expect many people who purchase it to plan on using 360mm AIO coolers - which could be difficult due to the wire issue that I mentioned - and in all honesty, I think the cooling configuration I've got in place right now is likely more optimal than my original plan for 3 fans in the front of the case. Running the 3 fans in the front would only have blown extra air under the power supply cover. Having the top fan more forward winds up being a plus because running an intake fan here alleviates any problems this case would have with pulling in sufficient air to keep things inside cool.All-in-all, if you're looking for an attractive case (especially if you don't want a windowed side panel) that is high on build quality but low on price, I would highly recommend you consider the Thermaltake Versa H17.
Jamie O'NeillJamie O'Neill
This case is amazing. Nothing too overly fancy which is what I prefer. I'm not a fan of over the top Sci Fi looking cases with RGB stuff. I build PC's for the sake of performance, not how it looks on the outside, and this case is exactly that. For only $40 it's a steal. The material I would say is excellent. Far better than my previous PC build's case and I believe I paid more for that one. So much room in my PC, not to mention how dead quiet it is. I know even if I install several fans it'll still remain quiet. My new workstation PC is not only looking great but performing great with this case. Not only is the case awesome but they give you plenty of extra screws. Cable management is a breeze and the PSU is hidden at the bottom which is always a plus in my eyes, with plenty of room left in the case as you can see in my picture. Super happy with this case and overall build!
92Roadster92Roadster
The Thermaltake S100 Tempered Glass Snow Edition Micro-ATX case is an impressive choice for PC builders seeking a blend of style and functionality. This sleek chassis caught my eye with its elegant design and superb cooling capabilities.First and foremost, the tempered glass side panel offers a clear view of my RGB internal components, allowing me to showcase my hardware like a stud. The snow-white color gives it a clean and modern look that seamlessly fits into any setup.One aspect that impressed me was the ease of installation. The spacious interior made assembling my components a breeze despite being a Micro-ATX, and the included cable management system tidied up the interior, ensuring a neat and organized build.The cooling performance of this case is remarkable. With its well-placed ventilation areas, it effectively dissipates heat, keeping my system at optimal temperatures even during intense gaming sessions. The pre-installed rear fan provided some airflow, though I added two Thermaltake CT120 ARGB fans in the front and the MSI MEG Coreliquid S280 radiator up top for maximum cooling.The front I/O panel offers convenient access to USB ports and audio jacks, making it easy to connect peripherals and headphones without reaching for the back of the PC.While this case excels in many areas, a slight drawback is the lack of room for an optical drive. But it doesn't take away from my overall satisfaction.In conclusion, the Thermaltake S100 Micro-ATX case is an excellent choice for those seeking a visually appealing and efficient cooling solution. Its spacious interior, tempered glass side panel, and remarkable cooling performance make it a worthy companion for any PC building enthusiast. With its VERY affordable price tag and stylish design, this case is undoubtedly a solid pick for creating a stunning and well-cooled system.