As motherboards get smaller and CPUs run cooler the demand for smaller cases grows. The idea of the small form factor case is nothing new but these days awe find the number of these is growing as well. The idea is simple; stuff a motherboard (complete with CPU, GPU etc), optical drive and some type of storage into a small area while keeping things cool, pretty easy right? We take a look at one entry from ThermalTake; The Element Q. This is a small form factor case that has a few nice things to offer (like a 200 Watt Power Supply). So let’s take a look that the Element Q and see how it handles a system built around the Intel Core i5 661 CPU.
Value -Value is another very subjective topic. What is expensive to some might be a deal to others. You can look at this topic in multiple ways. One is raw price and the other is what you get for the money. Each is accurate and both are correct ways to look at price/value. We tend to look at features, performance and real-property when we discuss value. However, we also take into account the raw cash cost of the item. The Thermal Take Element Q sells for around $65 on most E-tailer sites. This is a very good deal considering the included power supply and the general construction. It would be an even better deal if it had included some adapter rails for a 2.5 inch drive (like an SSD) or a side mounted cage for one at the bottom. Still I really have to admit that it is a good deal for what you are getting. Conclusion -What can I say about the Element Q? It is a small and decently built case. It is intended for a low power CPU like the Atom or AMD’s new Llano. We chose to push it to its limits and dropped in a Core i5. We ran it for two weeks with this CPU inside without powering down. The case got very warm but the system never overheated or powered down due to heat. In fact the system is still running with an extra NIC in it as a standalone domain controller in my enterprise testing environment (for the networking and SAN/NAS reviews to come). If you are looking to build a small quite system as an HTPC or a simple desktop then the $65 Element Q is a case you will want to take a look at.
