Conclusion:
If you check the list of Pros and Cons at the end of the review it may appear that the Thermaltake Swing ATX Mid Tower Case has a few too many issues to make it worth considering, which is by no means the case. It does have a few items worth pointing out, but nothing noted was overly critical. For the most part the problems were based on personal preference and expectations, and the only one that really bothered me was the fact that I could only use one of two 5.25" drive bay devices that I normally use.
The cooling performance of the Swing case was quite respectable, and the fact that it allowed the processor to run cooler than a case with many more fans and a perceived better cooling design was a surprise. The Swing ships with one 120mm fan, which did the job, but I would recommend getting a second fan for better airflow, and to keep drives in the drive cage nice and cool.
The Swing is not one of the higher end cases we have seen from Thermaltake, but it does pack quite a few nice features into a case that may be considered a 'budget' model, with a price in the mid-range of readily available cases.
The price of the Thermaltake Swing Case is a definite plus, and the ClubIT.com price is particularly appealing. ClubIT.com offers it for $67.97 with free shipping, which is about $7 less than any other price (including shipping), according to PriceGrabber.
Given the price and features, I award the Thermaltake Swing ATX Mid Tower Case a final rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Final Rating (3.5 out of 5 stars):
Pros:
• Excellent cooling performance with just one fan
• Mostly tool-less design
• Tool-less features work very well
• Reasonably priced
• Classic, simple styling
Cons:
• Only includes one 120mm fan, but can use two
• Front face is easily scratched, and always seems dusty
• Too shallow to accept common 5.25" drive bay device
• Not all edges are smooth (wound up with a couple of cuts)
• Drive cage removal is not tool-less
Special thanks to ClubIT.com for providing the Thermaltake Swing ATX Mid Tower Case to BigBruin.Com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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