I always enjoy getting a new case on my desk to review and this time we have the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB case with a nice flash of RGB in the front panel and a really neat tempered glass hinged door panel. A nice and simple aesthetic with this case so let’s stop faffing around and get into this review!
ThermalTake H200 TG RGB Case: Specifications & Features
| P/N | CA-1M3-00M1WN-00 |
|---|---|
| SERIES | H Series |
| MODEL | H200 TG RGB |
| CASE TYPE | Middle tower |
| DIMENSION (H X W X D) | 416 x 210 x 454 mm (16.4 x 8.3 x 17.9 inch) |
| NET WEIGHT | 7.6 kg / 16.75 lbs. |
| SIDE PANEL | 4mm Tempered Glass x1 (Left) |
| COLOR | Exterior & Interior : Black |
| MATERIAL | Steel |
| COOLING SYSTEM | Rear (exhaust) : 120 x 120 x 25 mm fan (1000rpm, 16dBA) |
| DRIVE BAYS -ACCESSIBLE -HIDDEN |
|
| EXPANSION SLOTS | 7 |
| MOTHERBOARDS | 6.7” x 6.7” (Mini ITX), 9.6” x 9.6” (Micro ATX), 12” x 9.6” (ATX) |
| I/O PORT | USB 3.0 x 2, HD Audio x 1, RGB Button x 1 |
| PSU | Standard PS2 PSU (optional) |
| FAN SUPPORT | Front: 3 x 120mm , 2 x 140mm Top: 2 x 120mm , 2x 140mm Rear: 1 x 120mm , 1 x 140mm |
| RADIATOR SUPPORT | Front: 1 x 240mm , 1 x 280mm Top: 1 x 240mm |
| CLEARANCE | CPU cooler height limitation: 180mm VGA length limitation: 320mm |
ThermalTake H200 TG RGB Case: Closer Look
Right let’s get building in this case then and for a steel case with tempered glass the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB isn’t a super heavy case either. The first thing I noticed that I thought was a neat feature is the hinged glass panel which is held tightly shut with a magnet but not strong enough to stop you opening the door! The hinges also replace the traditional screws to hold the panel in place, and sliding the panel up on the hinges removes it entirely so you can quickly get to building in the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB.
The build process in itself is a relatively painless experience, I had little bother routing all the cables including the additional mess associated with an RGB controller too! One thing I would have liked to see with this case though is an additional connection in order to have addressable RGB on the front panel so that the case and internal RGB could sync together.
Something I would like to note is that removing the front panel of the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB case is not as difficult as some other cases we’ve looked at. It will support a 240mm or 280mm AIO radiator in the front and a 240mm radiator (or 2 x 120mm fans) in the top of the case – at least the spec sheet would tell you that it can. Realistically though, once you have your motherboard installed there isn’t quite enough space in the top for a radiator and its fans as it’s a tight squeeze. This might be a motherboard specific issue, but it’s something that anyone looking to use this case should be aware of if they are going for watercooling. Still, front radiator support is available with ample room which is a big relief for me. One big downside though is that the front panel is basically a solid panel with very little ventilation meaning airflow isn’t too great.
I have yet to see any thermal issues during testing as a result of the limited airflow so I won’t mark it down there at all, but anyone purchasing this case with a view to doing some competitive overclocking might find that excess heat is an issue. As for design and styling, the RGB accent on the front panel helps separate the H200 TG RGB from the usual ‘black box’ theme quite nicely. A lot of cases I’ve seen tend to break up the front panel with RGB fans seen through a grill or some other vent, but the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB case with it’s nice slither of colour looks awesome under my desk.
As we take a look at the buttons and ports I have to say that I like the RGB Cycle button on the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB. It’s discrete, being somewhat smaller than the power button, and comes without any RGB accent so it blends into the top of the case. The RGB control button cycles the front panel RGB through 19 different lighting options from colour cycling to pulsing RGB. There is also the reset button which is a lot smaller than I expected and it isn’t so easy to accidentally restart your pc which is always a big bonus to me while I shift the case around during my testing. In general use it also blends nicely into the roof panel. The power button is the largest of the buttons on the front I/O as to be expected but when the PC is powered on it has a nice blue ring around it too.
Something I would have liked to see included to benefit any fans in the front of the chassis would be a dust filter since there isn’t one there out of the box. The top panel though has a magnetic mesh panel that works well, it just would have been nice to see this on the front also.
Speaking of the front panel, it can be removed easily on the H200. The overall build quality as well fit and finish is really good throughout for a case that delivers on the more simple side of things. There aren’t any bits that feel rough, edges are nice and smooth and the finish on the case is clean too.
It’s also nice to see mic and audio inputs at the front of the case’s roof along with 2 USB 3.0 ports. It would have been appreciated if a USB type-C port was included as well but this isn’t a major issue as USB type-C isn’t a widely implemented connector just yet but it would have been nice to see for future peripherals or devices.
Moving around the back / side of the case, the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB benefits from a very generous cutout on the motherboard tray. This makes CPU coolers easy to install without ripping the whole system out. It also has pretty decent clearance on the base as well, its roughly 4-5 cm spacing between the base of the case to the floor depending on surfaces of course! On a hard surface there is plenty of space for the power supply air intake to breathe as well as the front panel gap at the bottom to pull in some additional air too.
The preinstalled standoffs make life easier as you start your build. I’ve found it can be quite fiddly to insert the extra ones into the case and you will need to add these to support your choice of motherboard size, but there are some spares in the trusty bag of screws should any get lost as they’re being installed.
The cable management channels in the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB are really clean and there’s more than plenty of space in the basement portion for the average number of cables in a PC. Something to be aware of though with the cable management holes is that they sadly do not have any rubber grommets so be careful with your cables so as to not damage any when building. For me however as mentioned earlier, my cables were a bit snug as I have the additional ones for my AIO and RGB controller in the mix, but if I didn’t have these the space provided would be spot on.
I was pleased to see that the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB comes with PCI expansion slots which are all fixed in place with screws and not snap-off ones that once removed you can’t put them back in.
The ThermalTake H200 TG RGB Review: The Verdict
After getting everything built into the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB case there a few things I have to note, one being the thermals aren’t quite as good as a case with a more open front panel but, as I said earlier, so far I haven’t noticed any detriment to gaming performance which is a relief. I really like that the tempered glass panel isn’t tinted like a lot of cases tend to be so you can see all the RGB inside your case unfiltered for all that lovely colourfulness!
The ThermalTake H200 TG RGB is overall a really nice case to work with, just be aware that should you have any additional cables in the mix like I do it can be a bit of a squeeze in the basement area, especially if you have a 3.5 inch hard drive populating the bay too. Overall I would recommend this case for its nice and simple aesthetic design with a dash of colour in the mix too and for it being easy to maintain with that hinged panel (the rear panel is attached with screws though). It’s also pretty well priced at a not overly expensive £60.00 from Amazon with free shipping too, which is a tidy little bonus there placing the H200 TG RGB in the more affordable range of cases.
Something else to note with this case is that if you are looking for high airflow it’s not necessarily the case for you. However, if you are looking for a case that will sit under your desk showing off it’s style without being too over the top, the ThermalTake H200 TG RGB is worth considering!
What’s hot:
- Nice clean aesthetic
- Hinged main door panel
- Not overkill on RGB
What’s not:
- Air Flow isn’t the best
- Can be a tight squeeze for cables in the basement
The ThermalTake H200 TG RGB case gets the Play3r Design Award from me as it looks really clean and tidy with a nice flair of customisable colour mixed in. I would certainly recommend the case if you are looking for one to display your components nicely and have a nice clean build.
Thanks to ThermalTake for sending a sample of the H200 TG RGB Case in for review.
Hi ! Im having a problem with this case. I dont know where i shoud connect the 4pin included in the case.
Hi Joseph, what 4-pin connector are you referring to? Where does it come from if you follow the cable? – Dave.
theres really no way to sync the strip on the front panel with software such as mystic lights?
Is the front panel RGB addressable ? , so I could synchronize with other argb fans inside.
thanks
At the base where the Chassis covers the Power source, what is the measurement in MM between that and the ridge that the clear side panel sits flush against? I am looking to install a 5″ USB screen there and want to know the measurement in order to print up case with the 3d Printer. I am wanting to know before I decide to buy this case or not.