Sometimes a case has to be more than just functional. If it’s going to be something your friends and family see, it has to look nice as well. Thermaltake recently sent us the Armor A90 and it seems poised to fill both requirements.
Specs
Case Type: Mid Tower
Material: SECC
Front Bezel Material: Plastic
Color: Black Interior, Black Exterior
Side Panel: Transparent Window
Motherboard Support: Standard ATX & Micro ATX
Motherboard Tray: N/A
5.25″ Drive Bay: 3
Ext. 3.5″ Drive Bay: 1 x 3.5″ with 5.25″ converter
Int. 3.5″ Drive Bay: 6 (with 1 x 2.5″ HDD/SSD)
Expansion Slots: 7
Front I/O Ports: 4 x USB2.0, 1 x e-SATA, HD Audio ports
Cooling System
-Front (Intake) : 120 x 120 x 25 mm Blue LED fan, 1000rpm, 16dBA; 120 x 120 x 25 mm (optional) or 200 x 200 x 20 mm (optional)
-Rear (Exhaust) : 120 x 120 x 25 mm TurboFan, 1000rpm, 16dBA
-Top (Exhaust) : 200 x 200 x 20 mm Blue LED fan, 800rpm, 15dBA
-Side (Intake) : 120 x 120 mm (optional)
Liquid Cooling Capable: Yes
Liquid Cooling Embedded: No
Power Supply Supported: Standard ATX PSII
Power Supply Included: No
Dimension (H*W*D): 19.8 (H) x 8.3 (W) x 20.3 (L) inch
Net Weight: 18.1 Lb
Security Lock
Application
3 Year Warranty
A closer look
Everything one would expect from a case is present in the A90. Externally you’ll find an eSATA port, four USB ports, HD audio ports, and a door to conceal your optical drives. Internally is a stamped motherboard tray, labeled for AT, ATX, and Micro ATX standoffs. A punched hole allows access to the back of the motherboard for heatsink backplate installation. Expansion bays include three 5-1/4”, seven 3-1/2”, and one 2-1/2” drive bays. The PSU mounts at the bottom of the case, where filtered vents in the bottom panel provide additional airflow. The expansion card slots (thankfully) are not of the cheap stamped variety that bend if you look at them cross-eyed, but are sturdy and have easily removable covers.
The only time a screwdriver is required is to install a motherboard or secure an expansion card in the slot. Everything else is tool-free. Hard drives and optical drives are secured by retention clips. Side panels are held in place by thumb screws. 5-1/4” bay covers are secured by plastic clips and are easily removed.
Installing components in the A90 is an absolute breeze. Thermaltake certainly did their homework in designing this case for ease of use. Cables can be tucked safely away next to the 3.5” drive cage – there is plenty of space here for a system loaded with hard drive and power cables.
As much as I love this case, there is a problem, and it could be a deal breaker for some: If you have a normal sized power supply you’ll have a hard time installing it. There is a bracket extending into the case to hold the supply down and a ridged rail providing horizontal retention. It holds your power supply firmly in place, but getting the power supply in and out is a battle. Much patience (and a fair bit of force) will be required. The rail is held in place by a screw. If your power supply is longer than the standard size, you can move the rail accordingly.
At an MSRP of $99 the Armor A90 is on the high side of what most would consider a reasonable price for a case lacking a power supply, especially when there are cases like the Beta Evo that cost half and work just as well. What do you get for the extra cost? Better looks, an optical drive bay door, a couple extra USB ports, additional 3.5” bays, a 2.5” bay, and a 200mm top exhaust fan. If these are on your requirements list for a case, the Thermaltake Armor A90 is well worth the price.
Now available at Amazon
, and other retailers.
Ed. Note: Thermaltake is offering a $20 Manufacturer’s Mail-in Rebate right now until July 15th, 2010. At $79, this case looks even more attractive. The rebate info is available from Thermaltake’s site.
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