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Reviews for ThermalTake Armour VA8003BWS Chassis

Tower - Black - MPN: VA8003BWS

  • 5
  By member: beowulf53 - Dec 13, 2006

BEST CASE FOR THE MONEY

Strengths: Tons of Bays both external and internal. Very good cooling too with 5 fans the largest being 25 cm. Lots of room for extra Hard drives and liquid cooling

Weakness: none I have found so far after numerous builds I love this case

if you like full towers and heavy isn't an issue this is certainly a case to choose. I was amazed on how quiet this case is for the amount of air it moves. I also liked the side mounted Power supply area with extra 3 bays alongside for hard drives. The front bays are easy to use and to configure whether in 3.5 or 5.25. I also liked the adjustable feet for tight areas or spread for maximum stability. The blue LED's are nice also. What I liked most is the versitility of this case, gamer, server, plain jane comp it can do it all and room for future upgrades. Very highly recommended.

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  • 5
  By member: csrush - Nov 27, 2006

Awesome Case!!!

Strengths: Everything: size, versatility, look, feel, usability, # of fans, etc.

Weakness: Magnets on swing panels are weak and the plastic PCI cardholder is not worth it (but it can be removed)

This case is great. I wanted a case that was big so it would be easy to work on, that had a good fan architecture and that looked great (no stupid plastic doors). This case took care of it all. The interior cavity is huge with no sharp edges. This case has great airflow with 2-12cm, 2-9cm and 1-25cm fans everything stays cool. The blue led light fans also matched by lights in by PSU and CPU cooler. This case was very easy to work with. Definitely worth the price. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

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  • 3
  By member: reviewerKing - Dec 19, 2007

VA8003BWS Armor Series Black Full Review

Strengths: super quite 25cm side fan.

Weakness: heavy, and not made entirely of aluminum.

The case comes with five fans, and the drive bay covers contain dust filters basically. The drive bay covers are easy to remove from the inside of the case using a flat head screwdriver. The clear side of the case collects hair and fingerprints easily. I had to remove the top fan and USB connectors in order to install a 850Watt power supply. I find that every time I want to install a pci express or pci card I have to remove four screws to remove the thing that is supposed to make it easier to install stuff. It actually makes it much more difficult. I sent ThermalTake an email about the motherboard standoffs that keep the motherboard from touching the case, and they never respond. They also did not send me one of my rebates , and ThermalTake gave no indication that they were never going give it to me either which I found quite upsetting also. I would give the company a 4 out of 10, and the case a 7 out of 10

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  • 5
  By member: Shinobi71177 - Sep 21, 2006

Armor Review

Strengths: This Case is very spacious and has build in space for a Liquid cooling system.

Weakness: Only thing that I can think of is that the case is very heavy so if you plan to move it around I wouldnt suggest this case.

I HIGHLY recommend this case it is extremely nice, the case is Heavy but i don't move it around as I said in the weaknesses but Besides that this case has no apparent weaknesses Ive seen yet

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  • 5
  By anonymous - May 30, 2008

^_^

Strengths: Top notch strong, More room I can ask for. Kinda noisy but worth it.

Weakness: Gawd Damn HEAVY!! Other then that NONE!

This monster is worth it. It's to better to have extra room instead no room and go out buy another case. With the 2 huge fans and inter cooler its a geek dream case. Had this Tank machine for 5 years

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  • 5
  By member: anoleg99 - Mar 1, 2008

VA8003BWS Armor case

Strengths: roomy, 250mm fan on the side, built with thermaltake quality

Weakness: it is big and heavy, but actually none

It is a giant. I bought it over the internet and couldn't
believe how big it was when I saw it.It has 6 HDD bays, relocate-able front panel, built in accessory box. It also has great cooling capabilities, and it is very quiet. It seems to be that Thermaltake went all out when designing this case.
I am very satisfied with my purchase

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  • 5
  By member: howyoudoing - Feb 29, 2008

Huge. huge, huge!

Strengths: Side window, plenty of space, excellent cooling, storage drawer, blue LEDs and solid build quality.

Weakness: Heavy (not sure this should be considered a weakness unless you plan to use it at LAN parties)

This is the biggest, baddest computer case I have ever owned. They don't call it Armor for nothing. It's built like a tank with thick metal and nice painted gloss black finish. This is a case you want to show off. It has a nice side window that also holds a large fan, one of many including some with blue LEDs that give the case a nice glow. For those of you that worry about protecting you setup, you can also lock the case as it comes with a set of keys. There is also a drawer for keeping all of those extra screws and connectors that all of us seem to have laying around. If you are in the market for a large case that gives you plenty of room for expansion, look no further. This is the case for you!

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  • 5
  By member: dasc - Feb 18, 2008

One of the best out there!

Strengths: A lot of space, Huge fan on side panel, A lot of fans.

Weakness: The motherboard tray is not removable.

This is my third case after Stacker 830 and Antec 182. A lof of space to work. A lot of fans to keep the temperature low. Armor+ has been released recently, so there might be good deals on this one. Highly recommended!

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  • 4
  By member: bucksiler - Feb 6, 2008

ThermalTake VA8003BWS Armor Series Black Full Tower

Strengths: Size, quality construction, good looks

Weakness: size

This is a huge case. Everything fits in this thing including the kitchen sink. The case is well built and has performed excellent. I just cannot get over the size of this thing. I had to add extension on to the house in order to fit it beside my desk. This not a portable case so make sure it fits your needs before hand. Great performer though.

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  • 3
  By member: edgar5 - Jan 28, 2008

Not quite great, but still very good

Strengths: Size, price, rugged construction.

Weakness: Useless front flaps, a very few sharp edges, some screw holes do not line up, component installation can be tight.

Though slightly shorter than my InWin full tower, it still has more drive space. After carefully researching the case and Thermaltake W0132RU Toughpower 1000w PSU, I bought both. Now I find that the PSU is too large to properly fit the case. Nowhere does Thermaltake mention this! If I pay a 15% restocking fee plus return shipping, this could cost me over $50. I am concerned for the stability of the "screwless" drive restraint--especially on removable media types. I am going to carefully check to see if I can replace the plastic clips with screws. I am going to give this three stars overall, but would prefer something more straightforward in design but with the size and cooling fans.

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  • 4
  By member: maynardflower - Jan 23, 2008

Very cool

Strengths: very cool looking with blue led light fans, very spacious inside , very excellent airflow and quiet

Weakness: very big and very heavy; the front two aluminum pieces are annoying when you have to open dvd drives

Very heavy case this one is, but except this, I am going to give a 4.5 star rating. It's made all metal, so the build quality looks good. Spacious inside, plenty room for all the components.Comes with a Liquid Cooling System, which is especially good design for gamers like me, no need to worry the safety of the parts inside.Very quiet and the airflow is really good too.

I just had it for less than two weeks, will update more reviews later.

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  • 5
  By member: bamboozled2 - Jan 8, 2008

Nice heavy duty case

Strengths: Plenty of bays, good air flow.

Weakness: Heavy, those flaps on the front.

Nice case with plenty of room. It is a heavy one. Plenty of airflow keeps things cool. Looks good when lit up with plenty of blue leds. The flaps on the front are pretty much useless and for the most part just get in the way when it comes to accessing the front of the drive bays. They can however be easily removed.

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  • 3
  By member: Avid Shopper - Dec 29, 2007

Consider the Pros & Cons

Strengths: Ample space, maximum airflow, great looking. Mftr rebate is great(hopefully it 'll come in the mail soon)

Weakness: Loud 90mm fans, weak plastic power buttons panel, no real front panel to block noise. Heavy not for the wimps.. no handle

There is no front panel(just wire mesh & dust filter) blocking out the noise from inside the box. If you sit near the front of the case, you 'll get most of the noise from inside the box. And I hope you don't need to sit there for more than couple hours.

The frame of the front panel is made of plastic while the rest is heavy steel. if you have moved this case a few times, you 'll notice the place you grab on at the front would bend if you have to hold onto this heavy case.

If you use the floppy drive slot at the top(the power buttons panel), make sure you connect the cables first before putting the whole slot back from the front. This slot would get stuck if you push in just an inch too far. I spent good 5 mins sweating and cutting myself(the top UPS cable steel brackets were not filed smoothly) by the sharp corners from the top. The power button plastic panel can break easily if you are not careful. Take it off first is another option.

Also, be careful to scratch the front flap(or door if you can call it). When you lay the case sideway like most people do when they work on the mobo, the flap can crush if you are not careful since it is only held on with magnet.

You 'll need screws for any DVD/CD drives you put in. Mine shaked like crazy when I just use the tools free clip of the bay.

Top vent was not designed properly and you 'll notice the airflow is weak on the top compare to the back with the same size fan.

Even with plenty of space, you 'll find the top part of case is rather cramped due to the USB connection brackets.

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Reply by member: Avid Shopper
Dec 29, 2007

Airflow at the top of the case is not that great even with the top fan on(possibly due to the way the top vent was designed) It is a good idea that is poorly executed.

  • 5
  By member: scarlethawk - Dec 27, 2007

Excellent Case!

Strengths: Awesome design, roomy interior, great ventilation / air flow, superb cooling, the list goes on.

Weakness: It's big and heavy (even with the aluminum construction)

Simply put ... it's an excellent case.

It has a great innovative design with more than enough drive bays. It has fabulous roomy interior. A great mesh design for ventilation and optimal airflow. The case comes with awesome cooling system with lots of fans (which are amazingly quiet). I especially like the nifty little drawer in the bottom bay for storage. Also, the case is compatible with BTX motherboards, so that is a nice option for future. The USB/FireWire/Audio access on the top are handy (since I have it on the floor). The case comes with adjustable feet (for sliding in tight areas or if you need stability in open space). Simply put ... an excellent case!

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  • 5
  By member: jvetr5234 - Dec 27, 2007

Fantastic Case!

Strengths: Tremendous airflow, plenty of room to work, 5 case fans, sturdy and well constructed.

Weakness: Very large case. Make sure you have room for it before you buy.

I bought this case for my self but my son (who is a hard core gamer) took one look at it and swiped it. The case has five built in case fans including the huge one on the side. The case is very well built and has tons of room inside to work. No more cluttered interior with cables always in the way. The case has a great airflow and all of the components installed without any problem. I would recommend this case to anyone looking to buy. Just make sure you have enough room in your work area or desk for it.

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  • 4
  By member: trenmik - Dec 16, 2007

Excellent Case . Bigger is better in my case.

Strengths: Huge case with great venilation; Plenty of room for all your components & future upgrades. Keeps things Quiet & cool. Very clean look: Clear Side panel w/ big Fan & front aluminum trim look.

Weakness: Heavy; no handles. If you move your case around alot this is certainly not the case for you. Plastic top vent that looks kinda cheaply made in comparison to the rest of the case.

This case is big & heavy. However this allows for a flexibility of installation and future upgrades that is worry-free. This as well, allows its good ventilation that is quiet.
However, there is no getting around the weight and size of this case & therefore is not for everyone. If you are an
experienced builder that wants a more compact rig & does not need the flexibility & ease this offers in running cables & upgrades, you may want to consider an Antec.

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  • 5
  By member: libertybell - Dec 10, 2007

Best case for the enthusiast builder

Strengths: Spacious

Weakness: Heavy

With all it's space and practical features this case is aimed at the serious computer builder. It is a well-designed case with good fit and finish and has plenty of air flow to keep components cool. It's distinctive looks will stay up to date and you're sure to get plenty of comments. This case is what the name suggests -- armor for your expensive computer components.

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  • 4
  By member: xyknewtry - Dec 8, 2007

A huge case!

Strengths: Roomy, versatile.

Weakness: Heavy, no handle.

This will be the case for my first build. Hopefully there will be some updates in the coming months when I put everything together and learn more myself.

The first thing you'll notice is its size, it's enormous! With it comes the benefit of plenty room to work with, which should help a lot when installing the components. The overall build quality is good, some of the edges could be rounded more but if you use a little caution you should be fine. There are enough expandability with over 10 dive bays. The rear and front 3.5" HD cage can be easily removed. The case comes with 2 12cm fans (blue LED), 2 9cm fans, and a huge 25cm side panel fan. So I'll go with the stock CPU HSF and no additional cooling first and see how the temp goes. If you are a water cooling fan, this case is fully compatible as well, with pre-drilled tube holes on the rear panel, and enough room inside to hold a pump/tank.

One important thing: if you use a ATX mobo, be sure to stick the plastic sheet provided onto certain spots on the mobo tray, before installing your mobo. This prevents unwanted shorting.

On to the negatives:
1. The case weighs about 15kg by itself so without a handle(s) it is kind difficult to move it around.
2. The manual is a little difficult to understand, especially for someone new to DIY PCs.
3. The side panel locking mechanism (I mean when you install it back onto the case) could be a little more friendly.

Overall I don't regret getting this case, more so considering the price I paid :)

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  • 5
  By member: usatu - Dec 7, 2007

Great case for the money

Strengths: Lots of space so that you can pretty much put in everything you have in this case. And this case is built solidly and air flow is really good too.

Weakness: Too heavy and difficult to move around.

This is probably the best case for the money if you can manage to get it below $70 shipped. The temperature stays low and the case is large enough for all of your hard drives and optical drives. I'll definitely get another one if I ever need to build another computer.

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  • 5
  By member: joolie51 - Dec 2, 2007

Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS Black Full Tower...

Strengths: The case looks really cool. Not too big for a Full Tower. With the number of fans, the case kept my CPUs cooler than expected.

Weakness: May be too big for some. The plastic lid for USB, Firewire, and audio on top of the case is made of plastic. It seemed to be very cheaply made in comparison to the rest of the case.

The Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS is a very slick looking case. The two aluminum pseudolids in the front serve no purpose whatsoever. For some, it serves to add the cool factor cosmetically to the case. For some, it is a distraction since you have to open the two lids in order to use your CD-Rom, DVD-rom, etc. disk drive. Overall, this case kept things really cool, and, as such, overheating is a nonissue with this case.

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  • 5
  By member: hv43082 - Dec 1, 2007

Superb Case

Strengths: Plenty of room. Good built quality and material. Plenty of airflow and even room for water cooling.

Weakness: Too heavy but it's all metal so that is expected.

One of the best case bar none. Can now be had for less than $70 after MIR from various vendor. Definitely worth while and my pick over the ever popular Antec 900.

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  • 5
  By member: liushengpu - Nov 30, 2007

solid case, large, heavy but quiet

Strengths: Solid Case. Literally. Depending if you use a turbine heatsink or not, you can have the perfect "tunnel" effect. A fan at the north & south end makes for a perfect cycle. A mass load of bays make for great customization. Uniquie window cut outs allow fo

Weakness: Some might complain about its size. This case is large...do not let the pictures fool you otherwise. And with its size comes a serious weight. I would rough it to a solid 40-50lbs, easily. And thats only using 3 bays, 1 hdd, socket 939, single mem stick,

Who says cutting edge cool has to be a pain to set up? Thermaltake's VA8003BWS begs to differ. This easy to install case doesn't need any fancy words to show its edge of cool, one picture is more than enough. But don't think this is just another pretty face. With an unbelievable ten external 5.25" drive bays, two 3.5" external drive bays, and six internal 3.5" drive bays, this case has room for whatever you need of it and then some.

The side panel has the required window with a whopping 250mm side fan. It has two 120mm fans with blue LED's and two 90mm fans: one of each in the rear and the front to make sure the heat from this system are just from its looks. With all this, what more could be asked of it? How about the durability of 1.0mm steel to protect your investment, or the ease of quick connect drive bays. This could indeed be the total package you've been looking for.

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  • 5
  By member: packertown4 - Nov 30, 2007

WOW LIKE WOW

Strengths: BIG AND BOLD

Weakness: NONE

HUGE case, nice fans, better than Antec 900 imo, great looking, great airflow, not as noisy as you'd think, great value! Buy this if you need plenty of room in your computer case for components wow like WOW

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  • 4
  By member: dlphnman12 - Sep 4, 2007

VA8003BWS Armor Series Black Full Tower...

Strengths: big space, nice color, highly recommend

Weakness: its just heavy but thats not to bad.

i like it very much! its has plenty of space to upgrade later on which is good. very good with cooling products to. i have a geforce 8800 ultra and that stays very cool with it

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  • 5
  By anonymous - Jul 2, 2007

ThermalTake Armour VA8003BWS Chassis

Strengths: This is a case for growth. Internal and external bays are a bounty. A case for healthy cooling!!

Weakness: My modular power supply is almost too big for the side mounted slot,had to remove the rear HDD cage and fan to fit.

I researched what I wanted in a case and this case had everything that I needed. This case has so much room for me to grow in. The cooling fans are more than adequate. The large 25cm side fan has been a blessing to my motherboard/CPU. Plenty of external drive bays and the ability to move them around for future configurations. I would recommend this case to anybody who wants a case to grow in.

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  • 5
  By member: mojo_lo - Feb 4, 2007

Nice & Roomy, Looks Sharp and Great Airflow

Strengths: Big case with room for lots of hard drives. Looks sleek. Fannage & Airflow without being noisy.

Weakness: Not as easy to install components as you might think

Overall, I love this case as it looks great, has plenty of room to hold all of my current and future drives and it has tons of fans. The airflow is great. The 25cm fan is a very nice touch. Still, the case is not any noisier than my previous case with 3 80mm fans.

I had some trouble installing components in the case though. Being that it is so large, I thought this would not be a problem. However, there are still some tight fits, and some of the screw holes aren't aligned perfectly. i even had to remove the clip-on pci slot brackets so that i could install my pci cards. Also, this case is HEAVY, especially if you are coming from an aluminum case.

Having got everything installed, I am more than happy now with what this case offers. I recommend it to anyone looking to make the move to a new case.

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  • 5
  By member: daytonboi - Dec 1, 2006

Armor Case Review

Strengths: Size. The finish. Built for water cooling or fanless cooling.

Weakness: Very Heavy.

I've only have the case a day and i love it. Its just so huge. I can say I would purchase another one of these cases for my sister or my cousins if they didn't already have new cases.

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  • 4.5
  testseek.com - Oct 30, 2008

ThermalTake Armor VA8003BWS

TestSeek.com has collected 3 expert reviews for ThermalTake Armor VA8003BWS and the average expert rating is 90 of 100. The average score reflects the expert community’s view on this product. Click below and use TestSeek.com to find all ratings, product awards and conclusions.

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