We have all three cases in the Element lineup in our lab at this very moment. We're bringing you the Element G right now as it is one of our favorites. Thermaltake labels the Element line as professional cases but the G version is more gaming than professional, making it a favorite of ours. The Element G has a lot to offer in addition to plenty of room for storage and very colorful lighting. To control the flashy colors illuminating from the fans, Thermaltake put a knob at the top of the case . What else is there? Read on and find out. 

Introduction to the Thermaltake Element G Tower

Thermaltake has recently opened up a new line of cases geared towards professionals. Professionals being music makers, office workers and everyone between. So far Thermaltake has released three cases in this new line, titled "Element". The three cases are T, G, and the S. The Element line is a change from the cases we are use to seeing from Thermaltake like the V9, Xaser, Armor and the Spedo, which are all gamer cases for the most part.

We have all three cases in the Element lineup in our lab at this very moment. We're bringing you the Element G right now as it is one of our favorites. Thermaltake labels the Element line as professional cases but the G version is more gaming than professional, making it a favorite of ours. The Element G has a lot to offer in addition to plenty of room for storage and very colorful lighting. To control the flashy colors illuminating from the fans, Thermaltake put a knob at the top of the case . What else is there? Read on and find out.

Specifications

Features

Closer look at the Element G from the outside

You can say what you want about Thermaltake, but I am here to let you know that the Element line is built solid and right. At the same time, it looks really nice. The entire line including our Element G all come in black with some sort of red trim. The G is one of our favorites due to the lack of doors and not so plain front panel. The front has a gamer's appeal to it, but a professional look to it as well. The front has three 5.25" bays and no visible 3.5" bays. Below the bays, you have just a large open grill for ventilation. We will show you the heart of this area in a moment. To remove the front panel, this level separates it from the metal casing.

The top of the Element G features a lot of what the case is about. We begin with the 200mm multi-color cooling fan. The fan is rated at 600-800 RPM not exceeding 14 dBA. Up ahead we have the I/O input panel which consists of four USB ports and audio connections. The large knob you see on the left is for the control the fans speed and colors. If your turn the knob left or right, it will slow or speed up the fans. Press the knob inward will change the color of the LEDs on the fans. Blue, red, green are the colors that Thermaltake chose for the G.

The left side panel consists of a mesh frame that covers another huge fan. In this case, a 230mm cooling fan aimed directly at the area a GPU would be. You do not need to worry about plugging the fan into the PSU or the motherboard as the power cable is molded to the edge of the side panel and connects when the panel is slid into its rightful place.

To continue the flow of the Element G, Thermaltake also left the back of the case black as well. The whole black concept is what people have been asking for some time. Thermaltake listened. For air exhaust, you will find the smallest fan the Element has to offer here, a 140mm. Also quiet at 16 dBA. Below the fan is two fan grills for two additional 60mm fans. Fans not included. The expansion slot is covered with break away covers that you will have to take extra time to remove. Not a big fan of this as it leaves you with an open slot if you change up cards. Here we have a place for a bottom mounted PSU.

Closer look at the Element G from the inside

If you are in the market for an all black case, you definitely need to look at the Element G. Removing the side panel, you are greeted with total darkness. In many cases, darkness is gloomy and dead, but the inside the Element G very handsome. The layout is a typical ATX arrangement. Looking directly forward to the motherboard tray, you see plenty of outlets to allow the routing of cables for a neater arrangement. There is even an opening behind the CPU area of the motherboard for changing out coolers without removing the motherboard. Depending on your motherboard, the opening may not be large enough or in the right position.

At the rear of the case, we get a more detailed look at the 140mm exhaust fan, which is all black to match the interior of the case. The expansion slots are covered with one vented plate and the rest are break-away covers leaving us with open slots, if we need to arrange cards differently later.

The area in which the power supply would be mounted has a lot going on. First, you can install any length PSU you want without issues. The location where the cables would pass up through the PSU mounting adjusts to make room for all. The entire cage can be removed to give you full access to the area. Also at the top of the cage, two 2.5" drives can be mounted with ease.

In addition to the three 5.25" bays that are permanently attached to the case, the cage can house seven 3.5" drives and can be removed to allow for easy installation of the hard drives. Perhaps, it can be removed in order to maybe place a water-cooling rad upfront.

Installation

I don't foresee too many people having any real issues with the Element G. The minor ones that I came across were when I had to use an extension for the aux 12v 8-pin plug and I had trouble placing the side panel back on. The plastic connection was slightly too thick.

Here are a few images of the installation, beginning with the placement of the power supply. I like the whole cage idea alone with the black interior as it made hiding cables a lot easier.

Next, I worked a few minutes on the insertion of the motherboard. This was painless until I got to the mounting of the CPU cooler. I installed the cooler after putting the motherboard in and I found it bothersome to clip the metal brackets to the plastic bracket of the motherboard. The difficulty was due to the fact the motherboard is too close to the fan located at the top of the case. So, a word of wisdom: mount the cooler before placing the motherboard inside the case.

The HDD was simple to install as all you have to do is screw in these bolts into the side of the HDD and slide the drive in until it locks in place.

Not really being tool-less the CD-Rom slides in place and uses screws to secure it in place.

Feel the rainbow.

Conclusion

The Element G is one of the better cases that I have seen in a while. This includes cases from Lancool, Coolermaster and other Thermaltake cases. I think Thermaltake was reading my mind, as well as many others, when it came up with the interior of this case. The first thing that hits you is it is all black inside. With every manufacturer making black components like motherboards, coolers and video cards, it is easy to get a dark theme going with this case. The interior of the Element G is not made of some weak and filmsy metal we have seen in many cases, but a heavy SECC alloy that makes it very sturdy.

There are a ton of minor features that will make a lot of people fall for it too. These features include fan speed and color control via one knob. The shiftable colors between blue, green, red and combinations of all three is another reason to go crazy over the Element G. For those fat in the wallet, the Element G can hold SSD drives without the use of adpaters.

The Element G can use just a millimeter or two more space between the right side panel and motherboard tray. The area can get a little tight back there. It also lacks in the I/O area as well. It's missing firewire and eSATA ports, but there are plenty of USB connections. Last, the slot covers for the expansion slots in the rear are spot welded to the case meaning that you would have to twist and turn to remove them. They are not vented and there aren't any extra to replace the ones removed.

Overall a great case for a gamer as well as a professional.

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