Thermaltake Core P1

The ultimate DIY case

PRICE $ 149 www.thermaltake.com.au

There many things that make this an incredibly unique case, not least of which is that you basically have to build the entire thing from the ground up. Secondly, it’s on open case, meaning there’s no front, top, bottom or rear panels – there’s just the two sides. This makes it amazing at dissipating heat, but on the flip-side you get basically zero audio isolation from the components within.

When we say you have to build this thing from the ground up, we mean it. There are around 20 different components, and you can pick and choose which ones you need and – to a certain extent - where they go. It’s even possible to print your own parts using a 3D printer, or download 3D printing designs from the library at the Thermaltake 3DMakers website, free of charge.

One side of the case is a hollo w steel chassis, which is perfect for hiding away your cables, while the other side is thick 5mm tempered glass. It’s an ITX case though, so there’s not enough room for an ATX board – for that you’ll need to upgrade to the core P3. There are three orientations that the case can be configured in; vertical, horizontal and wall-mounted. If you want to go for the latter option, you’ll have to buy the optional wall-mount kit though. Test-bench users will love being able to use it as an open case without the glass side, as it provides super easy access to all components, and we’re planning on installing our test-bench into the larger P3 case on a full-time basis.

As seen at Computex, this is one of the new breed of cases that supports vertical graphics card installation, even when the case is built in the vertical mode. This is thanks to a riser cable and adjustable PSU bracket, both of which are included in the case, unlike several other brands, who will be charging extra for this feature.

Given Thermaltake’s rich history in cooling, we’re a little surprised at the lack of fan moun ts, but being an open- case design it doesn’t need the case fans that normal cases ha ve. There’s room for a 240mm radiator, as well as twin 120mm fans on the left of the case.

This is one of the most unique cases on the market, and truly a DIY’ers delight. If you’re an RGB addict, the tempered glass and open sides will show off your light display beautifully, while the open design means heat

we’re planning on installing our test-bench into the larger P3 case on a fulltime basis

issues are a thing of the past. It might be a little noisy for some, and it’s also a tad expensive given it’s an ITX case that lacks much of the material used in other cases. Still, if you want something that stands out from the crowd, it doesn’t get much more different than the Thermaltake Core P1 TG. BENNETT RING