Thermaltake CTE T500 Air, schwarz, Glasfenster

Thermaltake weiß mit dem CTE T500 TG ARGB zu punkten. Durch die Drehung des Mainboards um 90 Grad wird hier nicht nur der Fokus auf eine hohe thermische Performance der kritischen Komponenten für einen effizienteren Luftstromweg gerichtet, sondern auch die CPU-Position deutlich näher an die Frontplatte und die Grafikkarte näher an die Rückseite positioniert. Dadurch ist ein unabhängiger Kaltlufteinlass für die Wärmeabfuhr von CPU und Grafikkarte gewährleistet.

Thermaltake has been impressing me a lot with their CTE form factor cases. They’re not an original idea, with Silverstone having similar rotated motherboard designs over 10 years ago, and no doubt a few more in that time. However, it’s been a while since someone really modernised the idea and gave it the higher airflow capabilities that have become a requirement with modern gaming hardware. Furthermore, modern high-end AIO coolers, GPU coolers, and other components are bigger than ever so having the space that the CTE series of cases provides is just another big tick in the enthusiast requirements list. The build quality is superb, with thick steel making up the bulk of the case, and the fact that it is quite large, it is of course quite heavy. There are some plastics on the exterior panels, such as the front panel surround, but they’re finished to a high standard and very well colour-matched to the metal that makes up the rest of the panel. The plastics are also incredibly thick, so honestly, the whole case is more robust than the cases we usually see come through the office. Airflow is king here, and I won’t repeat myself on its capabilities for the third or fourth time in that regard. However, it doesn’t matter if you’re going for large fans at low RPM for a silent build, or high-pressure fans and thick radiators for extreme cooling performance, the CTE T500 Air really runs the whole spectrum of options, and you can really build it however you like. The only thing I will stress is the size, with a standard desk typically being 600mm deep, this case is 500mm deep and also needs room from the wall at the back so the rear intake fans aren’t getting choked. It’s also 615mm tall and 275mm wide which is really freaking big, and you’ll certainly notice the size difference if you’re coming from an ATX Mid-Tower. If you want this on display on top of your desk, make sure your desk is strong hardwood or at least 18mm composite with a strong frame under it.

The build quality, design, and hardware support in this case score top marks all-round. I’ve never seen cable routing that was so easy or so tidy, and there’s ample room for the latest and greatest hardware, massive fan or liquid cooling configurations, and still room left over. For those who want a build that can be put on show as well as be put to work, the Thermaltake CTE T500 is a real winner.