Introduction

The Overseer RX-I is the latest full-tower case from Thermaltake. However, its physical dimensions are similar to mid-tower products from other manufacturers. Unfortunately, there is no official standard to categorize a case as full-tower or mid-tower. According to Thermaltake, they are saying this case is a full-tower model because it has four 5.25” bays, eight expansion slots, and supports E-ATX motherboards, even though the typical full-tower case looks bigger.

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Figure 1: Thermaltake Overseer RX-I case

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Figure 2: Thermaltake Overseer RX-I case

The left panel has a transparent window and a mesh with an air filter for an optional 200 mm fan.

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Figure 3: Left panel

The Front Panel

The Thermaltake Overseer RX-I comes with four external 5.25” bays, all of them with meshed covers with air filters.

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Figure 4: Front panel

The case comes with a 200 mm fan that glows blue when turned on at the bottom part of the front panel. This fan rotates between 600 rpm and 800 rpm, producing a noise level between 12 dBA and 14 dBA, and uses a standard three-pin fan power connector, but you can install it directly to your power supply using the adaptor that comes with the product. This fan is a Thermaltake TT-2030, which is actually manufactured by Hong Chieng. There is an air filter for this fan.

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Figure 5: Front fan

The Top Panel

The top panel is meshed, and comes with a 200 mm fan identical to the one available on the front panel installed. It supports the installation of a second fan, which can be 120 mm, 140 mm, or 200 mm in size. The top panel doesn’t have an air filter.

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Figure 6: Top panel

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Figure 7: Top panel

The case comes with two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA port, and the traditional audio jacks on the front part of the top panel.

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Figure 8: Buttons and connectors

The case also has a 3.5”/2.5” docking bay with hot-swap connectors on its top panel.

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Figure 9: The 3.5”/2.5” docking bay

The Bottom and Rear Panels

The bottom panel of the Thermaltake Overseer MK-I can be seen in Figure 10. It has an air filter for the power supply fan and the optional bottom fan.

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Figure 10: Bottom panel

The rear panel and the interior of the Thermaltake Overseer RX-I are painted black.

On the Thermaltake Overseer RX-I, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.

The case comes with a 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel, which spins at 1,000 rpm and produces a 16 dBA noise level. This fan uses a standard three-pin fan power connector.

This case has eight expansion slots with vented covers, allowing you to install three or four dual-slot video cards, depending on your motherboard.

The Thermaltake Overseer RX-I has two holes using rubber covers for hoses of liquid cooling solutions. These holes are 1” (24 mm) in diameter.

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Figure 11: Rear panel

The rear panel has a security loop for you to fasten the cables of your keyboard, mouse, and headset, to prevent people from stealing them while you are away from your computer. This device uses a thumbscrew, which is located inside the case, so you don’t need a screwdriver to install or remove cables to this device.

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Figure 12: Security device for cabled peripherals

Let’s now take a look inside the Thermaltake Overseer RX-I.

Inside the Thermaltake Overseer RX-I

The side panels are fastened to the chassis using black thumbscrews. The case supports E-ATX, ATX, and smaller motherboards. The motherboard tray has a huge hole for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several holes protected with rubber covers for you to route cables behind it, and several clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties.

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Figure 13: Overall look

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Figure 14: A view behind the motherboard tray

In Figure 15, we have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using thumbscrews. The Thermaltake Overseer RX-I supports video cards up to 12.6” (320 mm).

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Figure 15: Overall look

The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. 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. As already discussed, the case comes with an air filter for the power supply fan.

The Thermaltake Overseer RX-I supports power supplies up to 7.1” (180 mm) deep if a 140 mm fan is installed on the bottom panel. If a 120 mm fan is installed, you can have a power supply up to 7.5” (190 mm) deep.

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Figure 16: Power supply compartment

The Disk Drive Bays

The Thermaltake Overseer RX-I has four external 5.25” bays, one external 3.5”/2.5” docking bay, and five internal 3.5”/2.5” bays. Only the top three 5.25” bays use tool-less mechanisms.

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Figure 17: The disk drive bays

Each 3.5”/2.5” bay is a small drawer. The holes for screwing 3.5” devices have a rubber ring to reduce vibration and noise.

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Figure 18: One of the 3.5”/2.5” drawers

Main Specifications

The main specifications for the Thermaltake Overseer RX-I include:

• Style: Full-tower
• Application: E-ATX, ATX, and smaller form factors
• Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) chassis
• Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
• Available colors: Black
• Side panel: Transparent window and mesh
• Dimensions: 21.1 x 8.7 x 22.8 inches (535 x 220 x 580 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 22 lbs (9.8 kg)
• Gross weight: 26 lbs (11.8 kg)
• Bays: Four external 5.25” bays, one external 3.5”/2.5” docking bay with hot-swap connectors, and five internal 3.5”/2.5” bays
• Expansion slots: Eight
• Maximum video card length: 12.6” (320 mm)
• Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
• Fans: One 200 mm fan on the front panel (blue LEDs, 600-800 rpm, 12-14 dBA), one 200 mm fan on the top panel (blue LEDs, 600-800 rpm, 12-14 dBA), and one 120 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, one 200 mm fan on the left panel, and one 120 mm or 140 mm fan on the bottom panel
• Extra Features: Security device for cabled peripherals
• More Information: http://www.thermaltakeusa.com
• Average Price in the US*: USD 130.00

* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.

Conclusions

The Thermaltake Overseer RX-I is a nice case, offered at a decent price for its features, even though we would prefer to see it costing a little less. It is a solid case for users who are looking for the features it has to offer.

Strong Points

• Good construction quality
• Air filter for the power supply, front, bottom, and side fans
• Vented slot covers
• Eight expansion slots
• Expansion cards are fastened with thumbscrews
• External 3.5”/2.5” docking bay
• Anti-vibration mechanisms for 3.5” devices
• Anti-theft device for cabled peripherals
• A huge hole in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
• Holes protected with rubber covers for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
• Clips for fastening cables using cable ties

Weak Points

• No fan speed controllers
• Could have a button to turn off the LEDs of the fans
• Could be a little bit cheaper