Thermaltake Element S Case Review

Thermaltake has vastly expanded its product line over the past few years, from the original Blue Orb aftermarket VGA heatsink to cases, coolers, power supplies and even aluminum keyboards. Even though they offer many high-end components, Thermaltake has remembered that a majority of their customers don't have a huge budget when it comes to cases. Most importantly, Thermaltake has kept in mind that their customers don't necessarily want to sacrifice functionality or style for affordability. It is in this frame of mind that we will take a look at the Element S, the latest mid-tower case offering from Thermaltake.

The Element S is a mid-range case that sports some interesting design features, such as front panel fan filters and a huge 230mm exhaust fan on the top. Comprised of a plastic and steel construction, the Element S features rounded edges on its internal metalwork to help cut down on slashed fingers. Let's take a look at some features and specifications of the Thermaltake Element S.

Thermaltake Element S Case
Case Type	Mid-Tower
Material	SECC Steel/Plastic
Color	Black
Motherboard Support	ATX; MicroATX
Front Panel	2x USB 2.0 1x eSATA Intel HD Audio
Fans	1x 230mm Top Exhaust 1x 140mm Rear Exhaust 1x 120mm Front Intake
5.25" Drive Bays	3
3.25" Drive Bays	7 (All Internal)
Expansion Slots	7
Dry Weight	19.49lbs
Dimensions	21.3 x 9.1 x 19.9 in
Warranty	3 years
Price	$149.99

As we said, the Element's main construction material is SECC steel with a lot of plastic covering the side, front, and top panels. Despite this, the Element does not have a cheap build quality; contrary to the notion, the Element actually feels pretty durable in its construction. It is available only in a black exterior and the front door has a real slick red trim that helps it stand out. Overall build quality is top notch throughout the Element, as the side panels feel sturdy and slide easily on and off. The Element supports ATX and MicroATX and has a dry weight of just over 19lbs. There are three fans that come pre-installed, 1 120mm intake on the front, 1 140mm rear exhaust and a big 230mm exhaust on the top. We've seen quite a few Thermaltake cases sporting these big 230mm fans lately and, for the most part we are impressed with their ability to cool efficiently without causing too much of a ruckus. We'll see how well the Element cools later on in our review, but for now let's take a closer look at the exterior and interior of the case.