Best Thunderbolt 3 Motherboards Of 2022
Whether you’re looking for a great Intel or AMD motherboard, there are amazing options on the market that come with Thunderbolt 3 support. To spare you an arduous search for the perfect motherboard, I’ve compiled a list of my pick of the best Thunderbolt 3 motherboards available right now.
Table of Contents
Best Motherboards with Thunderbolt 3 Overview
Buying Guide
Along with looking at the other important motherboard specifications that should influence your decision (CPU, RAM, PCIe slots, connectivity, and brand), here are some Thunderbolt features you need to consider.
If Not Ports, Then Headers
Not all motherboards come with separate Thunderbolt 3 ports. Some only come with Thunderbolt support via headers on the board itself. You’ll need to get a corresponding Thunderbolt add-in card to plug into the header which will enable you to use a USB Type-C port as your Thunderbolt port.
Not all motherboards come with this header, however, so be sure to check ahead. You’ll also have to make sure to buy a compatible TB card for your motherboard model as they’re created to match specific boards. Just search for one from the same manufacturer as your motherboard.
How Many Thunderbolt 3 Ports Do You Need?
The more the merrier, right? While having more Thunderbolt 3 ports is arguably better, there’s usually also a price tag attached to that. Part of picking the best motherboard for you while staying on budget is assessing how many Thunderbolt ports you actually need. Creators will likely appreciate at least 2, but it definitely depends on how many devices you’ll want to connect at the same time.
Are There Ports Heading to the Front?
Motherboards with Thunderbolt ports generally have them headed to the rear I/O plate on the PC. But it’s usually much more convenient to plug your devices in at the front, as that’s typically within reach. It’s also better if you have multiple devices that you want to plug in and out regularly as you swap them out.
If this is an important feature to you, then make sure to look for a motherboard with Thunderbolt headers that head to ports at the front of your computer and not just the back.
Best Thunderbolt 3 Motherboards of 2022
Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Xtreme – Best Overall Thunderbolt 3 Motherboard
Key Specifications
- Chipset: Intel Z490
- Number of Memory Slots: 4 x DIMM, DDR4
- Maximum Memory Supported: 128GB
- Channel Supported: DUAL Channel
- Wi-Fi / Bluetooth: WiFi 6 / V5.
1 - USB SUPPORT: 9 x USB 3.2, 6 x USB 2.0
- Form Factor: E-ATX
This gorgeous motherboard is a unique testament to Gigabyte’s dedication to creating powerful motherboards as well as incorporating the incredible design. It has 2x Intel Thunderbolt 3 connectors that connect to the back I/O plate, as well as 9x USB 3.2 and 6x USB 2.0 ports for plenty of device connectivity.
As for other internal specifications, it’s got 4 x DDR4 DIMM sockets supporting up to 128 GB with speeds up to 5000 Mhz (when overclocked with Intel Core i9/i7 processors). There’s also 3x M.2 sockets, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors, and both Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 and Bluetooth 5.1.
Gigabyte also makes the Z490 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce version which, like the name implies, comes with a unique water-cooled block. That’s the main difference between these two motherboards, but the Waterforce has almost twice the price tag. The addition of water-cooling can be amazing for enthusiasts and overclockers, but I don’t know if it’s worth that price tag.
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ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming – Best AMD Thunderbolt Motherboard
Key Specifications
- Chipset: AMD X570
- Number of Memory Slots: 4 x DIMM, DDR4
- Maximum Memory Supported: 128GB
- Channel Supported: DUAL Channel
- Wi-Fi / Bluetooth: NA
- USB SUPPORT: 12 X USB 3.2 Gen2, 2 X USB 2.0
- Form Factor: ATX
It’s quite a struggle to find an AMD motherboard with Thunderbolt support because it was an Intel exclusive feature for a long time before the company made it open-source in 2020. This is one of the few AMD AM4 motherboards that does support Thunderbolt 3. Things will probably change with the upcoming AM5 boards.
While the lack of choice is frustrating, thankfully the ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming is an amazing motherboard. It supports AMD Ryzen 2000 through 5000 CPUs (no Ryzen 1000 processor support, unfortunately).
The board also comes with 2x PCI Express 4.0 x16 slots, 2x PCIe 4.0 x1, and 2x M.2 slots. You can mount 2 GPUs on the x16 slots with AMD CrossFire support.
The 10-phase power design and 4x DDR4 slots that support speeds up to 4666 MHz make this board great for overclocking. The only disappointing part is that it only has a 1x Thunderbolt Add-In Card (AIC) connector and if it’s enabled then the one SATA type M.2 slot will be disabled.
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Asus ProArt Z490-CREATOR – Best Motherboard for Creatives
Key Specifications
- Chipset: Intel Z490
- Number of Memory Slots: 4 x DIMM, DDR4
- Maximum Memory Supported: 128GB
- Channel Supported: DUAL Channel
- Wi-Fi / Bluetooth: NA
- USB SUPPORT: 11 X USB 3.2, 4 X USB 2.0
- Form Factor: ATX
The first thing you need to know is that this board comes with two Thunderbolt 3 Type-C ports (you can daisy-chain up to 12 Thunderbolt devices) and Asus’s ProArt Creator Hub.
These features alone make this motherboard a fantastic option for creatives, though it comes with a whole swoon-worthy bag of tricks on top of that.
This high-powered board comes with 12+2 DrMOS power stages, great VRMs, and multi-GPU support for overclockers. It also comes with 4x DIMM slots with a maximum memory of 128GB and supporting speeds of up to 4800 MHz (when overclocked). If you’re not into buying separate GPUs, this board also supports integrated-graphics processors and works with Intel’s 10th Gen CPUs.
Unfortunately, this board doesn’t come with PCIe 4.0 slots, but it does have 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, and 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. The ProArt Z490-CREATOR also has 2x M.2 Socket 3, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports, and plenty of USB 3.2 ports. All of these are great features for a creator-centric model.
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MSI MEG Z490I – Best Mini-ITX Thunderbolt motherboard
Key Specifications
- Chipset: Intel Z490
- Number of Memory Slots: 2 x DIMM, DDR4
- Maximum Memory Supported: 64GB
- Channel Supported: DUAL Channel
- Wi-Fi / Bluetooth: WiFI 6 / Bluetooth 5.
1 - USB SUPPORT: 6 X USB 3.2, 4 X USB 2.0
- Form Factor: Mini-ITX
The MSI MEG Z490I proves mini in size doesn’t have to mean mini in features when it comes to motherboards. This tiny motherboard isn’t just great for creators, it was built with gamers and overclockers in mind too. The board comes with fantastic heatsinks, a great design for heat distribution (especially for an ITX board), and a 10-layer PCB design.
You get access to the current Intel CPU tech with the Intel LGA1200 chipset, and 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (with support up to PCIe 4.0 for 11th Gen Intel CPUs). There’s also 2x DDR4 memory slots that can reach a maximum speed of an insane 5000+ MHz (with one memory stick) and support for up to 64GB. Plus you get 2x M.2 slots, which is rare on a Mini ITX model.
It comes with a 1x Thunderbolt 3 port, which is situated on the back I/O panel. A port at the front would have been great, but if it’s not a dealbreaker for you then this is still a fantastic option.
There’s also 6x USB 3.2 slots and 4x USB 2.0 slots for all your other connectivity needs.
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Asus Prime X299 Edition 30 – Best Value for Money Option
Key Specifications
- Chipset: Intel X299
- Number of Memory Slots: 8 x DIMM, DDR4
- Maximum Memory Supported: 256GB
- Channel Supported: DUAL Channel
- Wi-Fi / Bluetooth: WiFI 6 / Bluetooth 5.0
- USB SUPPORT: 11 X USB 3.2, 6 X USB 2.0
- Form Factor: Mini-ITX
This incredibly stylish board hides a lot of strength. Along with sporting 2x Thunderbolt 3 ports (you can daisy-chain up to 12 Thunderbolt devices), it’s also packed with the latest high-tech features including incredible 8x DIMM slots. The DDR4 memory support includes speeds up to 4266 MHz (when overclocked) with a maximum memory of 256GB.
The Prime X299 Edition 30 is built to provide more than you enough features whether you use it for work or gaming at home, with up to quad-GPU support (both SLI and CrossFire), triple M.
2 sockets, and AI Overclocking. It also comes with 8 x SATA 6Gb/s ports, 11x USB 3.2 ports and 6x USB 2.0 ports, as well as the latest Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
3x PCIe 3.0 slots. Though PCIe 4.0 would have been great since it’s newer, the Intel Core Skylake-X processors only support PCIe 3.0.
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FAQ
What Is Thunderbolt 3 on a Motherboard?
Thunderbolt 3 is a connector extension for a computer, like USB, that lets you transfer data back and forth. This includes audio, video, and storage files. Thunderbolt 3 has data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps, which is double the speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (the latest USB version at the time of writing).
What Can I Plug Into a Thunderbolt 3 Port?
Thunderbolt 3 ports look the same as a USB-C port and work with Thunderbolt devices. Because of this, you can plug USB-C cables into Thunderbolt 3 ports, but they won’t be able to transfer data at the Thunderbolt connector’s normal rate and will revert to the maximum rate of the USB-C cable.
Is Thunderbolt 3 Better Than HDMI?
Thunderbolt 3 supports significantly higher refresh rates and speeds than HDMI. With Thunderbolt 3 ports, you get refresh rates of up to 240Hz with resolutions as high as 4K. With HDMI your refresh rate is limited to 60Hz with 4K screens.
Is Thunderbolt 3 the Same as USB-C?
While they use the same type of connectors, Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C are not the same. USB-C ports and cables can sustain much smaller data transfer rates than Thunderbolt 3. Also, while you can connect a USB-C cable to a Thunderbolt 3 port, it doesn’t typically work the other way around.
6 Best Motherboards with Thunderbolt 3 in 2023
What are the best motherboards with Thunderbolt 3?
If you’ve decided to build your own PC system and need a motherboard with Thunderbolt 3 port, get ready to look through multiple offers and compare their specs. Or you can read this brief yet informative review and learn about the top 6 motherboards.
We have coped with the most tiresome part of the selecting process and defined the criteria that can affect your choice.
Besides, we explained the interdependence between a motherboard and other elements of the setup. So, read till the end to learn all the nuances.
Top 6 Best Motherboards with Thunderbolt 3
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GIGABYTE Z390 —
Our Choice
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MSI MEG Z490I —
Solid performance
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ASUS Prime X299 —
RGB LED lighting
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GIGABYTE Z490 Vision —
Thermal designed
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ASUS ProArt Z490 —
Budget
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ASUS ROG Strix B460 —
Excellent build quality
Check the list of available models and pick the best motherboard with Thunderbolt port.
1. GIGABYTE Z390
Our Choice
Chipset:Intel Z390 | Memory: 4 x 4,266MHz DDR4| Expansion slots: 3 x PCI-E x16, 3 x PCI-E x1 | Video ports:HDMI, 1 x optical S/PDIF,| USB ports:5 x USB 3.1, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 4 x USB 2, 1 | Storage:
- ✚ 12-phase CPU VRM
- ✚ Enhanced heatsinks
- ✚ SLI support
- — Inconveniently located power switch
- — High price
$
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Rating
If you decide to save on building a home gaming system with one of the 8th or 9th Gen Intel Core processors, then you can fully rely on GIGABYTE Z390.
The layout of the on-board elements is well-thought-out, so you won’t have any problems with assembling a system based on this Thunderbolt ready motherboard.
The manufacturer clearly emphasizes the possibility to use the board for creating a gaming platform. However, the model can also be used for active experiments with overclocking.
2. MSI MEG Z490I
Solid performance
Chipset:Intel Z490 / | Memory: 2 x DIMM; Max. 64GB; 5000 MHz | Expansion slots: 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot | Video ports: 1x Thunderbolt 3, DP, HDMI | USB ports:USB 3.2 Gen 2, | Storage:
- ✚ Fancy all-black design
- ✚ Very performant
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✚ USB 3.
2 Gen 2×2 - ✚ Decent overclocking potential
- — Thunderbolt support issues
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MSI MEG Z490I Unify motherboard is based on Intel LGA1200 socket and can be paired with all current 10th Gen Intel processors. It is equipped with two DIMM slots of DDR4 RAM with a maximum supported capacity of 64GB.
The manufacturer declared support for the clock frequency of 2133/2666/2933 MHz in the standard mode and in the range of 3000 — 5000 MHz during overclocking.
An additional pair of SATA-III ports is now placed between the DIMM slots and the chipset. This motherboard with Thunderbolt 3 stands out for its aesthetic, compact design.
3. ASUS Prime X299
RGB LED lighting
Chipset: Intel X299| Memory: DDR4 x 8| Expansion slots: 2 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x1 slots | Video ports:2 x DisplayPort IN ports for Thunderbolt 3 | USB ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Type-A)1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB Type-CTM)4 x USB 3.1 Gen 14 x USB 2.0 (one port can be switched to USB BIOS Flashback)| Storage:
- ✚ Remarkable UEFI BIOS design
- ✚ Great set of features and utilities
- ✚ RGB LED lighting & case lighting controls
- — Pricey
$
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This motherboard interests with a large number of ports for storage – 3.
0 PCI-Ex16 slots, while the number of USB ports has been reduced. However, there are very fast USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (due to Thunderbolt 3 support), which means this is a top-end product. X299 chipset supports a total of 30 I/O lines, which can be configured to USB, SATA, PCI-E ports. Asus Prime X299 supports Intel Core X processors of the 7th, 9th and 10th generations.
There are eight DIMM slots for installing memory modules. The board supports unbuffered DDR4 (non-ECC) memory, and the maximum memory capacity is 256GB using the latest generation 32GB UDIMMs with Core i9 10000X/9000X processors.
4. GIGABYTE Z490 Vision
Thermal designed
Chipset:Intel Z490 | Memory: 4 x 288-Pin | Expansion slots: 1 x PS/2 | Video ports: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4Output1 x HDMI 1.4Output| USB ports: 4 x USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A3 x USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A1 x USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C2 x USB 2.0 Type-A | Storage: 6 x SATA III»
- ✚ Stylish design
- ✚ Unmatched performance
- ✚ Great price-quality ratio
- — VRM incapable of maximum overclocking
- — Lacks integrated Wi-Fi
- — Style may disappoint some buyers
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This motherboard with Thunderbolt 3 has no overclocking potential, and the entire Vision series is designed for those involved in content creation.
The model belongs to the middle class (not the most budgetary, but also without bells and whistles).
Gigabyte Z490 Vision supports 10th Gen Intel Core processors made for LGA1200 socket. Though it lacks Wi-Fi, great design and stable performance are well worth the price.
5. ASUS ProArt Z490
Budget
Chipset: Intel Z490| Memory: 4×288pin | Expansion slots: 1 x Optical S/PDIF out port | Video ports: 1 x HDMI port 2 x DisplayPort IN ports for Thunderbolt 3*| USB ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s) (2 x Type-A)4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s) (4 x Type-A) 2 x Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C port(s)| Storage: 6 x SATA 6Gb/s
- ✚ Performant model
- ✚ Great build quality
- ✚ Intel Thunderbolt 3 ready
- ✚ Bundled 10Gbps LAN
- — Could use a Wi-Fi 6 version Lacks integrated IO shield
- — Lacks integrated IO shield
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This Thunderbolt 3-compatible motherboard has a classic design without flashy items.
It has a built-in 2.5-Gigabit network controller, which may be insufficient for some, so the manufacturer has added a 10-Gigabit network adapter, which is based on the Aquantia AQC107 controller.
There are also 2 PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots for installing video cards and expansion cards. Next to the main power connector, you can find connectors for a high-speed USB Type-C port and a pair of USB 3.0 ports. All in all, this motherboard is designed for flawless and speedy operation.
6. ASUS ROG Strix B460
Excellent build quality
Chipset: Intel B460| Memory: 2×288pin | Expansion slots: 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 | Video ports: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 **1 x HDMI 1.4b | USB ports: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port(s) (1 x USB Type-C)6 x USB 3.2 Gen 11 x USB 2.0 *| Storage: 4 x SATA 6Gb/s
- ✚ Looks stylish
- ✚ Gaming-oriented model
- ✚ Robust design
- — Not really affordable
$
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Classic red and black color scheme and futuristic cyber-text pattern instantly signifies the gaming nature of the ROG Strix B460 motherboard with Thunderbolt 3.
Designed for gamers and enthusiasts of all skill levels, this model offers all the hardware and software functions necessary to build a full-fledged gaming computer. The ProCool power connector ensures reliable cable connections, reduced electrical resistance and improved heat dissipation.
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
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GIGABYTE Z390 Our Choice |
|
CHECK PRICE → | |
|
MSI MEG Z490I Gaming |
|
CHECK PRICE → | |
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ASUS Prime X299 Prime |
|
CHECK PRICE → |
64GB; 5000 MHz
0/2.0 x1 slotsHow to Choose the Best Motherboard with Thunderbolt 3?
If you are determined to get the best motherboard with Thunderbolt 3, you need to clearly define your requirements. Primarily this refers to how you are going to use the future computer system. Are you building a gaming PC and need something with advanced characteristics? Or you want to create a regular computer for resource-tolerant tasks and can settle for a cheaper but less powerful model?
There is a distinct difference between Thunderbolt-compatible boards and ATX models, and you need to consider this factor as well.
In some cases, an ATX motherboard is a good choice.
If you plan to build a medium-range PC with a less extensive feature list, you can even get a Mini ITX motherboard with Thunderbolt 3 or MicroATX boards.
PCIe Slots (Expansion Slots)
A PCIe slot is meant for upgrading your computer with more features by dint of add-ons. Remember that ATX boards have more PCIe expansion slots in contrast to other models.
If you get a motherboard with numerous PCIe x16, you can connect different GPUs via SLI by Nvidia and Crossfire by AMD.
Other Features
Manufacturers constantly monitor what buyers say about their products and try to create new motherboards considering their demands and wishes. That’s why, the latest boards have many appealing features that make users open their purses and spend even more money. The most praised feature is an efficient cooling system, so make sure the board you’ve chosen has it integrated.
DIMM Slots Dual In-line Memory Module
DIMM slots are necessary for connecting RAM.
The larger the number of slots, the more RAM you can add.
In general, motherboards have from 2 to 8 DIMM slots. Think about whether you’ll increase the amount of RAM in the future and choose the board accordingly.
FAQ
Yes. But currently, there are only few motherboards that support both Thunderbolt 3 standard and AMD CPU. These are the ASRock Phantom Gaming ITX TB3 for Ryzen and the Gigabyte Designare TRX40 for the Threadripper platform.
This technology is rather costly. Though more and more computers are equipped with this type of interface, it is rather of a niche type. A Thunderbolt-equipped drive costs several times more than a USB 3-equipped drive, but the investment may pay off depending on how you are going to use it.
Probably yes. Intel has officially announced this technology at CES 2020. The company promises to release Tiger Lake mobile processor with Thunderbolt 4 integrated.
The USB-C connection has proven to be extremely popular, and it was actually adopted as physical hardware by Thunderbolt.
Thus, you can use any Thunderbolt 3 cable as a USB-C cable, and plug a USB-C cable in any Thunderbolt port.
Review of Thermaltake Tower 100 Compact Tower Case for Mini-ITX
Boards
We received a rather original Thermaltake case for testing — Tower 100. The case has the shape of a tower, it is a parallelepiped with a square base. It is designed to install Mini-ITX boards, but it cannot be called absolutely miniature: the length of the sides of the base is 266 mm with a height of 463 mm.
The optimal installation place for such a case would be a table or cabinet; the case is not very suitable for floor placement due to its dimensions. nine0003
The model we tested is green, but in general this case is offered in several bright colors and classic black or white.
Layout
The case is a tower-type solution with a vertically placed Mini-ITX board and a bottom-mounted power supply placed horizontally on the bottom of the case near the rear wall.
The power supply can be ATX format, but if desired, you can install an SFX model via an adapter.
The motherboard is installed vertically, but rotated 90 degrees from the standard layout so that the ports are facing up. Accordingly, all expansion boards, including the video card, will also be located with ports up. The power supply is installed quite standardly — horizontally below.
The cover partially covers the power supply installation area, giving the inside of the case a neat and complete look. This is precisely its main function — to hide the power supply with wires. The casing is not full-sized, and there are also a large number of ventilation holes on it. nine0003
There are no external drive bays in the chassis.
Cooling System
The chassis can accommodate 120mm or 140mm fans.
They are located on the top, rear and on the power supply cover.
Two 120 mm (1500 RPM) fans are pre-installed in the chassis, one at the rear and one at the top.
The case is equipped with fans from Thermaltake’s own production. They do not have built-in lighting. The connector for the fans is a standard three-pin connector with control for changing the supply voltage. nine0003
Instead of a fan, a 120 mm cooling system radiator can be installed on top, but the case is not the best suited for this equipment, since neither a 140 mm model, nor even a model with two fans, can be installed.
The filtration system is complete: all inlets are protected by fine-mesh nylon mesh filters.
A filter made of nylon mesh is also installed on the top wall, and the filter is quick-detachable, it can be removed from the outside of the housing without dismantling any additional structural elements. This filter can be quickly washed out completely. It is mounted on a plastic frame, which is held in the top panel with two two-position spring-loaded clamps on one side and two ridges with reciprocal grooves on the other side, a plastic grill covers the filter from above.
The design is quite reliable and quite comfortable. nine0003
There is also a filter on the back, which is conveniently removed and put in place thanks to the magnetic edging, but it is made of a fairly large plastic mesh. But in this case, this moment is not very critical, since a large amount of dust should not get into it, especially when the fan is running (if the fan is dismantled, then the situation may well change for the worse).
The remaining five filters have a similar design. Each filter is made in a plastic frame and has a combined fastening: with the help of ridges and grooves, which are complemented by a magnetic lock. Such a design is quite reliable. nine0003
The only inconvenience is that the filter is removed from the inside of the panel, so each panel must first be removed. On the other hand, the filters can be cleaned from the outside with a vacuum cleaner.
A nylon mesh filter in a plastic frame is also installed under the power supply, which makes it convenient to use.
Design
Two panels are installed on the side and front walls of the chassis: top and bottom. The bottom panel is a stamped steel piece with a grid in the middle, under which there is a dust filter. nine0003
The top panel on the front is 4 mm thick glass in a steel frame.
The design of the side walls is similar, but differs in that the glass does not occupy the entire area of the panel, but only about half. On the rest of the area there is a ventilation grill, under which there is a dust filter.
The upper wall of the case is completely plastic, but given the thickness and not very large dimensions of this part, its rigidity is at a fairly high level. nine0003
The front panel goes to the top through a beveled platform (structurally, this is the top panel), on which buttons and interface connectors are located: two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3 Gen 2 (USB 3.1) Type-C port, separate microphone and headphone connectors . Thus, the case allows you to connect wired headsets with both digital and analog interfaces from the front panel.
But I would still like to see a little more USB connectors, two connectors (type A) are not always enough to quickly connect peripheral equipment. nine0003
It is gratifying that the power and reset buttons differ in size and appearance, but still they are located next to each other, which can sometimes be inconvenient. The power indicator is blue and the drive activity indicator is red.
The weight of the case is 6.07 kg, which, given its relatively small dimensions, is quite a respectable indicator — the body is not made of foil.
Mounts the chassis on medium-hard rubber feet that provide good stability and dampen small vibrations from fans and hard drives, even when mounted on a hard surface. nine0003
Drives
The case has two storage areas. Two 2.5″ or 3.5″ drives can be installed on the mounting plate located behind the base of the system board on the rear wall.
When installing 3.5″ drives, the fan assembly must be removed from the rear wall.
Another area for installing drives is located under the right wall on the power supply shroud. This place provides for the installation of two drives using removable mounting plates, which are fixed with the help of combs and reciprocal grooves, as well as one screw for a Phillips screwdriver, screwed into the upper part of the PSU casing. nine0003
In both cases, the drives are installed using standard fasteners — screws for a Phillips screwdriver.
Thus, up to four drives can be installed in the case: 4×2.5″ or 2×3.5″ and 2×2.5″. This is quite enough for a typical home or office computer, and a serious workstation is unlikely to be assembled in such a case.
In this case, if 2.5″ drives are installed on the rear seat, the standard fan will provide some airflow. nine0003
Assembling the mainframe
The vast majority of compact cases require more manipulation and time to assemble than full size models. The assembly in this case begins with an almost complete disassembly of the case for further installation of the components of the system unit and subsequent assembly of the case in reverse order.
Start by removing the top filter. To do this, you need to press once on its edge from the side of the latches, and after they are unlocked, lift the edge of the filter and pull it out entirely from the grooves. nine0003
Under the filter you can see the top panel made of plastic, which has four deep holes, they are screws for a Phillips screwdriver. Another screw is located in the same place, but already in a small recess. After removing the five screws, the top panel can be removed.
This makes it possible to remove the upper segments of the front and side panels. The fastening system is used tongue-and-groove, but not in the standard version, when the wall needs to be moved to the side, but in a modified one: the wall needs to be moved up, which is much more convenient. The small linear dimensions of the walls and their rather high torsional rigidity also favorably affect the convenience. As a result, it is quite convenient to put and remove the walls, although the option is not ideal. nine0003
The lower segments can be removed independently from the upper ones, for this it is necessary to unscrew one screw from the side of the bottom of the case, after which the wall will lower and it can be easily removed. But it is already more difficult to install these walls back, and it is more convenient to do this when the case lies on the back panel — in this case, the standard screws act as miniature legs, lifting the case above the table surface.
The back wall has a different way of fixing: four thumb screws are used. This wall can be removed independently of the top. From below it has a cutout for the power supply. nine0003
After dismantling the outer panels, we are left with eight parts and 12 screws.
Next, you need to dismantle the mounting frame of the power supply and its casing. Dismantling the casing is not a mandatory procedure, but doing so will simplify the process of laying the wires in the casing. But if there are not very many wires, and the main cords are prepared in advance for laying, then the casing can not be removed.
Otherwise, you will need to remove four more Phillips screws: two screws on the chassis legs on the front side, and two more screws on the back of the system board base. If you still plan to remove the casing, then the PSU mounting frame can not be unscrewed, since access to it appears from the inside of the case, and this is quite enough to install the power supply. nine0003
The mounting frame for the power supply is fixed quite standardly — with four screws for a Phillips screwdriver.
A feature of laying wires from the power supply is that the cords with the main power connector and the processor power connector must be rotated 180 degrees relative to their exit from the PSU case, which increases the required length of the wires. For their laying, a place is provided between the casing and the power supply, above the latter. There is enough space to stretch the cords there along with the connectors without dismantling the casing. nine0003
The processor power connector cord is best routed behind the motherboard base if the mating connector on the motherboard is at the top of the motherboard. A cord length of about 60 cm will be enough for this, a power supply with a cord length of less than 55 cm should not be used for this installation option.
The main power connector cord is also first routed past the system board base and then immediately routed through the tabbed mounting hole under the system board. In this case, it is advisable to choose a power supply with all ribbon wires, and even better, so that some of the wires can be removed, leaving only those necessary for a particular system. nine0003
The ATX PSU is fixed with four screws on the mounting frame, after which it is inserted into the case from the rear panel. The case provides for the installation of power supplies with a case length of up to 180 mm (according to the manufacturer). We recommend using a PSU with a case no longer than 140 mm, as this will leave more space for laying unused wires.
Before installing the motherboard, it’s a good idea to pre-arrange and route all cords leading to the motherboard from the chassis and power supply. The distance between the rear wall and the mounting plate for drives is about 35 mm, which allows you to lay wires on the sides without too much difficulty. nine0003
The next step is to install the Mini-ITX motherboard. All racks for mounting the system board are pre-installed by the manufacturer.
There are no special problems with the installation of the board. The controls and connectors of the outer panel of the case are connected to it quite standardly: USB and audio — with monolithic multi-pin connectors, everything else — with single-pin and double-pin connectors. Although the connection of indicators and controls could be done with a monolithic connector, this would simplify the assembly process. nine0003
The case can accommodate a CPU cooler up to 190 mm high (according to the manufacturer). The distance from the motherboard base to the opposite wall is about 215mm. So a medium-sized tower cooler will also fit in, the main thing is that it is not too wide and does not rest against a video card, if one is provided.
Next, you can install the required expansion boards, such as a video card, which can reach a length of up to 330 mm, according to the manufacturer. A more realistic video card length is about 300 mm. nine0003
The practical distance between the rear wall of the chassis with the video card mount and the opposite wall is approximately 335mm.
The thickness of the video card is not regulated, the practical distance between the board and the chassis of the case is about 65 mm, so you can install video cards with a non-standard thickness of less than three slots, that is, less than 66 mm.
To connect drives on the casing, it is better to use L-shaped connectors, and it is more convenient to connect them to the drive after screwing them to the mounting plate, but before installing the plate into the case. nine0003
In general, the system in this case is assembled without any special acrobatic etudes, but it requires a certain amount of time and effort, which, however, is not new for solutions with Mini-ITX boards.
Acoustic Ergonomics
The noise level of the cooling system varies from 23.5 to 37 dBA with the microphone in the near field. When the fans are powered by 5 V, the noise is at a low level, but as the supply voltage increases, the noise level increases. In the typical voltage regulation range of 7-11 V, the noise varies from low (26.5 dBA) to average (33.7 dBA) level relative to typical values for residential premises during the daytime. nine0003
These acoustic ergonomics are very good. By reducing the supply voltage from the case, you can achieve very low noise, and in the maximum fan performance mode, although the noise becomes noticeable, it does not exceed the comfort limit when working at a computer.
Results
The Thermaltake Tower 100 left a good impression thanks to decent workmanship and a quite adequate assembly process. Yes, the ease of assembly is not the maximum, but it is quite difficult to avoid these limitations in the case of a compact case, especially if it is designed to use standard-sized components.