Thermaltake Shark Aluminum Full Tower
Examination:
Upon taking our first look at the case, we were very impressed. The first thing we noticed was how light the case was. This is one of advantages of having an all aluminum case. One of the things that we have always liked about Thermaltake cases is the extremely high quality front doors/bezels. This case was not an exception to the trend. The front door is made of very thick, high quality aluminum while the rest of the front bezel is constructed out of strong plastic. Aside from excellent build quality, it also looked fantastic. There is also a blue LED that is hidden behind one of the curves of the front door. This should be pretty impressive in the dark. On the right side of the front panel we found two USB 2.0 ports, an IEEE1394 Firewire port, and audio, and speaker ports. Having these on the side rather than the front makes it possible for the ports to be accessed without having the door open. However, a potential problem with this design is that users who prefer to place their computers on the right side of their desks will have a hard time accessing these ports. Also on the right side of the front panel is a security lock. Engaging this lock will prevent people from opening the front door. This is a useful feature for LAN partygoers because it will prevent thieves from sliding out the 5.25” drives and accessing the components inside.
The side panel on the case is not something we see often. Instead of the clear acrylic window that most case companies offer, Thermaltake has integrated a honeycomb mesh into the side panel of the Shark. This not only allows the user to see the insides, but also allows for very good ventilation and allows fresh air to enter where it is needed the most (above CPU and video card). On the side panel there is another lock for security purposes. The panel opens fairly easily. We simply had to pull the handle in the direction of the front of the case and then pull outwards.
The back of the case is pretty standard. There is a 120mm honeycomb mesh for the exhaust fan, an I/O panel, and a space for the power supply unit. There is, however one special feature towards the bottom of the rear of the case. Thermaltake has predrilled four holes for water cooling users who need to run tubes from the outside of the case to the inside. This will be very convenient for users who do not wish to drill holes in their case.