Retro Case Flashback: Thermaltake Xaser III

[Arethusa]

Anyone remember these things??? Built like a tank and so large you can park a jet inside. I've had mine for years and finally upgraded to something more modern.

 

I found this review from 2003:

https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/457/thermaltake_xaser_iii_super_tower_case_review/index.html

 

Some cool features:

• 7 80mm fans
• can fit 12 hard drives
• temperature and fan control expansion
• The front panel has a lock and key!
• can fit a server ATX board.

Cons:

• USB 2.0
• VERY HEAVY, solid thick steel supports and panels all around
• large pci-e cards get in the way of the side fans
• no back panel (cable management was not big in 2003)

 

Might make a cool project if somebody were to 'modernize' this case. Has anyone else owned one of these cases, and has there been any such projects recently?

 

 

[Kilrah]

Linus regularly refers to this as the cliché of early 2000 looks 

[Arethusa]

3 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

Linus regularly refers to this as the cliché of early 2000 looks 

I would totally donate mine to LTT so they could make a early 2000s sleeper build. Too bad shipping would cost a fortune

[BobVonBob]

That case would be 12 year old me's dream case, and would make current me cringe at the thought of having to look at it on a desk (or the floor, given the size). Are the crappy early 2000's digital photos making it look worse than it is?

[SkilledRebuilds]

Tt MX Armor is a nice case too.. I've seen this Xaser in store at the time but never liked the look of the front with that huge X.

[Zaniak88]

I just got one of these at a yard sale for 2 bucks with some older parts inside. It doesn't have the key, but thankfully it was unlocked, although it would be nice to have the key lol

[LordFlibbles]

I have been using this PC case since 2003.

Ive been thinking about upgrading since I really can't do any cable management with it. 

 

Not a case for the modern age, that's for sure.

 

 

[thrasher_565]

On 8/9/2020 at 11:12 AM, Arethusa said:

Anyone remember these things??? Built like a tank and so large you can park a jet inside. I've had mine for years and finally upgraded to something more modern.

 

I found this review from 2003:

https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/457/thermaltake_xaser_iii_super_tower_case_review/index.html

 

Some cool features:

• 7 80mm fans
• can fit 12 hard drives
• temperature and fan control expansion
• The front panel has a lock and key!
• can fit a server ATX board.

Cons:

• USB 2.0
• VERY HEAVY, solid thick steel supports and panels all around
• large pci-e cards get in the way of the side fans
• no back panel (cable management was not big in 2003)

 

Might make a cool project if somebody were to 'modernize' this case. Has anyone else owned one of these cases, and has there been any such projects recently?

 

 

i had the aluminum one. lightest case at the time. the stupid fire led thing made nose so i got rid of it. there no behind the mb tray or vary little at lest with the one i had and i had to cut a hole.

[OCNewbee]

Ha its the xaser iii! This case was so fugly lol. I think i had a voodoo 3 back then and i made a huge upgrade to gainward geforce 5700 golden sample. Yeah, i remember this ugly case. A friend of mine had like 10k to burn, and he wanted to do a custom build using this. I thought it was hideous but my case was a gateway 2000 so lol. I was in no position to assert my pc aesthetic insights. Yup. The good ol days of napster and limewire. 

[coff3ninja]

Still using this case since release due to its size and weight if all components put together. Question is does it support liquid coolers? XDD

 

[thrasher_565]

22 minutes ago, coff3ninja said:

Still using this case since release due to its size and weight if all components put together. Question is does it support liquid coolers? XDD

 

i dont think so cant remember the fan setup but its not good. its probably one in front, one in back, and one on side depend on witch case you got that it. dont think it has anything on top,bottom. but it was an $100 aluminum case. also has no back so no place to hide cables, its an old case...

 

has a cheap 4 fan 3pin manual fan rpm control in front, had a door over the 5.25 bay, feet,

 

front is blocked off mosty so not ideal for cooling. top psu mount.

 

i guess you could mount a rad on the back out side the case or on top... but you can do that with any case...

Edited January 1, 2022 by thrasher_565

[raymond26170]

Still using mine!

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, ASRock X570 Steel Legend, 32gb corsair, bequiet! DR TF2.

Looking to add 120mm intake fan to side panel.