The Chaser MK-I is a full-tower case from Thermaltake with several additional features, such as a headset holder, an HDD/SSD docking bay, “colorshift” fans, and more. Let’s check it out.
One of the highlights of the Chaser MK-I is the presence of a headset holder on its left-side panel. In Figure 2, you can see this holder in use.
Figure 1: Thermaltake Chaser MK-I case
Figure 2: Headset holder in action
Figure 3: Thermaltake Chaser MK-I case
The left panel of the Chaser MK-I has a transparent window, a mesh with big holes, and an air filter. This panel doesn’t support the installation of fans.
Figure 4: Left-side panel
The front panel of the Thermaltake Chaser MK-I has four external 5.25” bays, all using meshed covers with air filters. Usually, full-tower cases have more than four of these bays.
Figure 5: Front panel
At the bottom part of the front panel, the Chaser MK-I comes with one 200 mm fan dubbed “colorshift” (TT-2030). As we always like to point out, “200 mm” is the distance between the installation screws of the fan; the actual size of this fan is 190 mm. You can change the color and pattern of this fan through a button located at the top panel. We made a short video showing the color and pattern possibilities for this fan. It spins at 600 rpm (13 dBA) or 800 rpm (15 dBA), depending on the speed you select on the top panel. There is an air filter in front of this fan. You can replace this fan with a 120 mm model, if you want.
Figure 6: Air filter for the front fan
The top panel of the Chaser MK-I can be seen in Figure 7. It has a mesh, coming with a 200 mm “colorshift” fan identical to the one used on the front panel. It also has a space for you to install an additional 120 mm, 140 mm or 200 mm fan. One important feature of the Chaser MK-I is the support for a 240 mm radiator installed on the top panel. For this installation you will need to remove the 200 mm fan that comes with the unit, of course.
Figure 7: Top panel
Figure 8: Top panel
In Figure 9, you can see the buttons and connectors of the Chaser MK-I. At the left-hand side, we have the audio jacks, the reset button, and the fan controller with three buttons for the top and front fans. Through this controller you can select between two speeds (high or low) and the color pattern of the fans. See the video in the previous page.
On the right-hand side, we have two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and one eSATA port. The USB 3.0 ports use an internal header, meaning that you won’t need to connect these ports to the rear USB 3.0 ports of your motherboard. When buying this case, make sure to buy a motherboard that has an internal header with two USB 3.0 ports.
Figure 9: Buttons and connectors
On the top panel we also have the external HDD/SDD docking bay, supporting both 3.5” and 2.5” devices.
Figure 10: The HDD/SDD docking bay
The bottom panel has a big, removable air filter, covering the meshes available for the power supply fan and for an optional fan. Thisfilter is removed from the rear panel, so you won’t need to lift your case to remove it. The feet of the case can be rotated 45°, so you can choose between hiding them or showing them.
Figure 11: Bottom panel, feet hidden
Figure 12: Bottom panel, feet exposed
The rear panel and the interior of the Chaser MK-I are painted black.
One of the highlights of the
Thermaltake Chaser MK-I is the presence of eight expansion slots. (Usually, cases have seven.) This allows you to install three or four video cards in your system, depending on your motherboard. The slot covers are vented.
There are three holes for hoses of liquid cooling solutions, all with rubber covers.
The Chaser MK-I comes with a 140 mm fan installed on its rear panel (1,000 rpm, 16 dBA). This fan uses a three-pin power connector, so you must install it on your motherboard, allowing you to monitor its speed. You can replace this 140 mm with a 120 mm model, if you want.
Figure 13: Rear panel
The reviewed case comes with a loop for installing a padlock or a warranty seal, in order to prevent unauthorized people from opening your computer. It also supports the installation of a Kensington anti-theft device.
Figure 14: Padlock loop and hole for a Kensington anti-theft device
The product also has an anti-theft device for corded devices, such as mice and keyboards.
Figure 15: Mouse and keyboard anti-theft device.
Let’s now take a look inside the Thermaltake Chaser MK-I.[nextpage title=”Inside the Thermaltake Chaser MK-I”]
Both panels are attached to the chassis using black thumbscrews. The motherboard tray has a huge hole for you to access the backplate of the CPU cooler without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several holes protected with rubber covers for you to route cables behind it, and several metallic clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties.
Figure 16: Overall look
Figure 17: A view behind the motherboard tray
In Figure 18, you have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using black thumbscrews. The Chaser MK-I supports video cards up to 13” (330 mm) long.
Figure 18: Overall look
The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. Note that it can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. The case has an adjustable bracket for the power supply.
The reviewed case supports the installation of a 120 mm fan on this bottom panel, and you can have a power supply up to 7.7” (195 mm) deep together with this fan.
As shown before, the bottom panel has an air filter for the power supply fan and for this optional fan.
Figure 19: Power supply compartment
The Thermaltake Chaser MK-I has four 5.25” external bays and six 3.5”/2.5” internal bays, plus the external 3.5”/2.5” docking bay that we’ve already talked about. All bays use tool-less installation mechanisms, except when you have 2.5” devices.
Figure 20: Disk drive bays
Each 3.5”/2.5” bay is actually a small drawer, with rubber rings around its pegs to absorb vibrations and, thus, reduce noise.
Figure 21: Drawer
The Chaser MK-I also supports the installation of an external 3.5” device in a 5.25” bay, using the adapter that comes with the product. This adapter also supports the installation of a 3.5” hard drive, so you can have up to eight hard drives installed.
Figure 22: The 5.25”-to-3.5” adapter
In Figure 23, you can see the accessories that come with the case.
Figure 23: Accessories
The main specifications for the Thermaltake Chaser MK-I case include:
- Style: Full-tower
- Application: ATX and smaller form factors derived from this one
- Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
- Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
- Available colors: Black
- Side panel: Meshed with transparent acrylic window
- Dimensions: 22.4 x 9.3 x 22.9 inches (568 x 237 x 581 mm) (H x W x D)
- Net weight: 24 lbs (11 kg)
- Gross weight: 29.5 lbs (13.4 kg)
- Bays: Four external 5.25” bays, six internal 3.5”/2.5” bays, one external 3.5”/2.5” docking bay, one external/internal bay converted from one 5.25” bay
- Expansion slots: Eight
- Maximum video card length: 13” (330 mm)
- Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
- Fans: One 200 mm “colorshift” fan on the front panel (600 rpm/13 dBA or 800 rpm/15 dBA), one 200 mm “colorshift” fan on the top panel (600 rpm/13 dBA or 800 rpm/15 dBA), and one 140 mm fan on the rear panel (1,000 rpm/16 dBA)
- Optional fans: One 120 mm, 140 mm or 200 mm fan on the top panel and one 120 mm fan on the bottom panel
- Extr
a features: Anti-theft device for corded peripherals, loop for padlock, hole for Kensington anti-theft device, headset support - More Information: https://www.thermaltakeusa.com
- Average Price in the US*: USD 160.00
* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.
The Thermaltake Chaser MK-I is clearly targeted to the gamer that goes to LAN parties, and it excels at this application because of its three different kinds of anti-theft mechanisms. It is more expensive than good mid-tower models, but we think it is fairly priced for a full-tower model with so many additional features.
Strong Points
- Meshed bay covers with air filters
- Vented slot covers
- Air filter for the front fan
- Air filter for the power supply fan
- Air filter for the optional bottom fan
- Two-speed fan controller for the top and front fans
- Button for changing color and pattern of the top and front fans
- Support for a 240 mm radiator
- Eight expansion slots
- A huge hole in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
- Holes for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
- External 3.5”/2.5” docking bay
- Support for seven 3.5” or six 2.5” internal devices
- Headset hanger on the left panel
Weak Points
No support for fans on the left-side panel
