Thermaltake recently sent us the latest entry in its attractive, highly functional Core series of PC cases, the Core V51. The Core V51 is a roomy mid-tower that bears the Core series’ distinctive rounded, perforated steel front panel and wide feet. At 21.3 inches high, it’s only a couple inches shorter than its fulltower sibling, the V71, and the case’s interior is as roomy as many full-tower cases we’ve seen.
Behind the standard left-side acrylic window, the motherboard tray accommodates boards ranging in size from Mini-ITX to Extended ATX, and the interior of the V51’s front and top panels will both accommodate radiators up to 420mm long. (You can also install up to a 240mm rad in the bottom, and the back panel will hold a 120mm radiator.) Your fan options are similarly extensive with the Core V51; the front panel will hold three 120mm fans (two of these come pre-installed), two 140mm fans, or a single 200mm unit. The top panel, which has mounting slots that give you lots of discretion where placement is concerned, can hold three 120mm or 140mm fans, or two 200mm monsters.
While we’re on the subject of the top panel, Thermaltake cleverly put its dust filter on the outside of the case and keeps it firmly in place with thin magnetic strips that run around its outer edges. Simply pop it off and you have easy access to the screws holding your top panel fans and/or radiator in place, but at a glance there is no sign that the top panel’s perforated inset is not part of the panel itself. There are lots of cases that claim to be designed with cooling in mind, but little touches like this prove again and again that Thermaltake’s Core series enclosures truly are. Tinkerers will absolutely love this case.
The Core V51’s two 5.25-inch internal drive bays are fitted with tool-less side rails, as are its five internal bays, which all have mounting holes for 3.5- and 2.5-inch drives. The internal bays are arranged into two modular cages, one containing three bays and one with two, which attach to a support on the right side of the interior. You can take one or both out as needed, and they are affixed to the support with big thumbscrews that are a snap to twist in and out. Even with the drive cages installed, the V51 supports video cards up to 12.2 inches long, but if you decide you want them both out, you can easily snap two of the drive trays with drives attached to the back of the support rail just inside the left side panel (they attach vertically, one on top of the other). In this configuration, you have plenty of real estate for fun stuff like pumps and reservoirs, or whatever else you have a yen for.
If you like the Core V71 but think maybe you’d like something just a hair smaller (or if you loved the Core V1 but need more elbow room), Thermaltake’s Core V51 is very likely right in your wheelhouse. And at $110, it’s an eminently affordable way to kick off your next build, watercooled or otherwise. CHRIS TRUMBLE
Specs
Dimensions: 21.3 x 9.3 x 22 inches (HxWxD); Materials: SPCC steel; Motherboard support: Mini-ITX, microATX, ATX, E-ATX; Drive bays: 2 5.25-inch external, 5 3.5-/2.5-inch internal; Fans (included): 2 120mm front, 1 120mm rear; Fans (optional): 3 120mm or 2 140mm or 1 200mm front, 3 120mm or 3 140mm or 2 200mm top, 140mm rear, 2 120mm bottom; Ports: 2 USB 3.0, audio I/O