Apr 04, 2007
The Yao Ming of Cases
I’m looking for some new PC gear. My current one is on its last legs due to a failing Motherboard. If I can ever get myself out of cheapskate mode, I may actually buy something. Anyway, in my research travels, I came across this amazing chassis that turns everything I ever thought about case design upside down:
This thing is HUGE! 720MM huge to be exact. That’s 28.4 inches tall. Also known as 2.4 ft!
Doesn’t sound tall? Measure your current case – it probably weighs in at under 2 ft tall. Maybe you have a “full tower” but even then it may just make the 2 foot mark. Sorry, they are Oompa Loompas compared to this bad boy.
Its the Leaning Tower of ‘Puter.
The Yao Ming of Cases.
The Brushed Alluminium Tony Soprano of Computer Chassis Feng Shui.
Ok, maybe I went a little far with that last one, but you get what I mean. Its a big friggin’ enclosure. 
Thermaltake has turned the case design on its end. Don’t think BTX – think a chopped case made by Zatoichi, where the front is up top and the back is on bottom. Make sense? Maybe this will help:
Its taller than your average bear because Thermaltake put all the drive bays on TOP of the motherboard tray – making it narrower than a normal case, and a lot taller. Why is this so cool? Well, that’s what it is – literally. The design creates 4 separate chambers of airflow and head dissipation, which should mean better performance. Who the heck knows if that’s true, but it sure is neat!
It also allows for some other very unique features and options:
- A 7 inch drive bay for that nifty LCD monitor that you see in the picture up top
- Space for a second Motherboard – yup, you heard me. A second motherboard!
- A nifty 2 window design
- 11 Potential Fan locations -10 120mm jobbers and a lone 80mm
- Space for two 12 x 24 cm watercooling radiators
- Space for a mini power supply for the second motherboard
- Space for a multifunction IR remote controlled VFD display panel
Wow! A pop out LCD screen and two PC’s in one?? Ok, its got my vote!
The only downsides:
- its a bit pricey. $249.00 at Newegg.
- its out of stock in a lot of places.
If you are in the market for a case and this one is just too nutty for you, the Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570 is a rockin’ good option for only $159. It was my choice before I found the MozartTX.
Also check out the Antec Nine Hundred - its a bargin at Newegg’s $139.
Wow, the only thing that rig is missing is spinners, a big wing on the back, and maybe some hydraulics that make it raise up and down depending on which keys you hit!
HAHA! I think all that comes in an expander pack they are releasing this month!
hahaha!
Seriously though, that is one sweet case! Two motherboards in one case? Come to think of it, that’s brilliant! It’d actually take up less space than the two mid towers I have side by side.
I used to build all my PCs in cheap-o cases, but I’ve since become a fan of paying a little more for better cases, because things like decent airflow and less noise are well worth it.
I recently put my main home media server in a Lian Li PC-7A all aluminum case, and I’m loving it. Room for big, quiet 120mm fans is now a must for me and computer cases.
Also, I built a system for a friend not too long ago in an Antec P180B case. It was by far the nicest case I’ve ever personally built in. It just had so many nice options, lots of room to build and run cables and such that I got spoiled by it. It kills me that right now, it’s the same price I paid for my Lian Li at newegg ($89), but it’s MUCH nicer.
I agree – a word of caution on the two mother boards… The second is only a mini ITX – very few models available and really not a huge powerhouse. Still, its a great way to have something like a streaming server or web server or linux box, etc. and not have to have a second enclosure. Pretty neat!
I hear you on the cases. The last PC that I bought was the first time that I went for form over function – meaning I bought what I thought was a “pretty” case, and I’ve regreted it ever since. The thing was hard to use and has held up like crap.
I’m all about quiet and PC’s now – I found these fans that are supposed to be amazing! I’ll post another article on them. Check em’ out!