Sharkoon T9 Value review

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Verdict:

An absolute bargain at £50. No other case offers this many features for such a low price

Review Date: 18 Feb 2012

Price when reviewed: £50

Supplier: http://www.amazon.co.uk

Reviewed By: Tom Morgan

Our Rating 5 stars out of 5

ExpertReviews Award

Sharkoon’s T9 Value case proves that you don’t have to miss out on high-end features or design just because you’re on a budget. It might only cost £50, but it has everything you could want from a midi tower chassis.

This minimalist case really comes alive when powered on. The power LEDs match the two 120mm front intake and single rear exhaust fans, which can be seen through the mesh front panel and transparent side panel. The motherboard tray is painted to match, having a choice of three colours (or plain black without LEDs if you prefer).

The two front-facing fans can be removed if the three external 5.25in drive bays aren’t enough for your needs, although there’s nowhere else to install them. Our equipment stayed very cool, but high-end system builders won’t be able to add additional cooling without the use of a drill.

Cooling aside, we had no trouble building a system inside the T9. The six tool-free 3.5in drive bays are a little on the flimsy side, but they certainly help if you don’t have a screwdriver handy. Unfortunately, you’ll still need a caddy to install 2.5in disks because there are no included mountings for them. The pre-cut cable management holes don’t use rubber grommets, but the rolled steel is smooth enough not to damage your cables.

With its three fans, colour-coded interior and tool-free mounting systems, the T9 Value is ideal for anyone on a budget. High-end users may bemoan the lack of upgrade potential, but for most people it’s a superb PC case.

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