New Case Time
- Mattly
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New Case Time
Thanks Mat at VRconcepts for a good price on my latest purchase. With installing a water cooling system I had become concerned with condensation issues and my inability to keep an eye on things in my current computer case. I did some surfing on case reviews and we very impress with what I read about the Kandalf by Theermaltake.
So I ordered one.
http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Chas ... 000swa.asp
So I ordered one.
http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Chas ... 000swa.asp
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Last edited by Mattly on Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Master Mattly
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- Mattly
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Overclockers Cafe review.
http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/ ... t_Kandalf/
Conclusion
My attitude with all reviews is that no matter how good a product is, there is usually one fault or oversight in construction quality or from a product's original design. The Thermaltake Kandalf is one of those very small percentage of products that I honestly can't find anything wrong with. I'm not going to go into its positive qualities again except by listing its 'Pros' however, it needs to be said again, this is an exceptional case. If I were to design the 'perfect case', the Tt Kandalf would be it. My only real suggestion is one to Thermaltake's design team and that would be more of a request to produce a similar unit but sized like the Tt LANFIRE.
You get what you pay for usually. In this instance, you get a lot more. While a $210USD street price is on the outer edge for high end case priceing; the features, upgrade options, overall design and layout make it a bargain for those who can afford it. If you are shopping around for a new case and have the cash - the Thermaltake Kandalf absolutely should be your next case.
Pros
Exceptionally nice design
Aluminum construction
Magnet/Steel shim bezel catch
Removal of bezel doors makes case extremely light weight
Filtered bay covers
Water cooling hose access holes
Storage tray able to hold 20 discs
Innovative rear mounted HDD rack
120mm intake and exhaust fan
Best tool free drive setup we've ever seen
Tool free expansion card stays
Can be upgraded to take BTX mainboards
Nice lighting effects
Fantastic ventilation
Fat thumb screws rock!
Cons
The price is high compared to some other cases. (better?)
The name
http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/ ... t_Kandalf/
Conclusion
My attitude with all reviews is that no matter how good a product is, there is usually one fault or oversight in construction quality or from a product's original design. The Thermaltake Kandalf is one of those very small percentage of products that I honestly can't find anything wrong with. I'm not going to go into its positive qualities again except by listing its 'Pros' however, it needs to be said again, this is an exceptional case. If I were to design the 'perfect case', the Tt Kandalf would be it. My only real suggestion is one to Thermaltake's design team and that would be more of a request to produce a similar unit but sized like the Tt LANFIRE.
You get what you pay for usually. In this instance, you get a lot more. While a $210USD street price is on the outer edge for high end case priceing; the features, upgrade options, overall design and layout make it a bargain for those who can afford it. If you are shopping around for a new case and have the cash - the Thermaltake Kandalf absolutely should be your next case.
Pros
Exceptionally nice design
Aluminum construction
Magnet/Steel shim bezel catch
Removal of bezel doors makes case extremely light weight
Filtered bay covers
Water cooling hose access holes
Storage tray able to hold 20 discs
Innovative rear mounted HDD rack
120mm intake and exhaust fan
Best tool free drive setup we've ever seen
Tool free expansion card stays
Can be upgraded to take BTX mainboards
Nice lighting effects
Fantastic ventilation
Fat thumb screws rock!
Cons
The price is high compared to some other cases. (better?)
The name
Last edited by Mattly on Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:15 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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using one of those myself (though without the black bit on the front door) and is a damn good case, plenty of room for everything and 120mm fans used everywhere to keep the noise down
Installed a Bigwater cooling kit which the case is designed to use and fitting it all up couldnt have been easier
From Matt as well
Installed a Bigwater cooling kit which the case is designed to use and fitting it all up couldnt have been easier
From Matt as well
- Mattly
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Liquid I copied the review conclusion from an american site without thinking about the price comment. I have deleted that comment from the conclusion. ThanksLiquid wrote:Dohh. does mattly know this is a NZ site
Last edited by Mattly on Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Noice case
With the front cover like that, do you have to open it everytime you want to put in a cd ? I've got a sutpid swinging door cover on the front of mine, and with hindsite - it's a dumb idea. Wish I had a slot loading dvd drive in the top or something. . . . .
With the front cover like that, do you have to open it everytime you want to put in a cd ? I've got a sutpid swinging door cover on the front of mine, and with hindsite - it's a dumb idea. Wish I had a slot loading dvd drive in the top or something. . . . .
YouTube videos
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I've got a Thermaltake Xaser III case that I bought a couple of years ago, thermaltake seem to do the best cases for cooling and been at a good price. I was running s Aquarius II water cooling system until yesturday, when I install my new system and discovered that it didnt fit my new P4 3.6 CPU with a 775 socket.
No, he didnt slam into you, he didnt bump you, he didnt nudge you, he rubbed you, and rubbing son, is racing.
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- Noon416
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After considering both those cases carefully, I actually went for the Coolermaster Stacker case.
Why?
- Fits more. I run 8 HDD's with intent to run 12 soon, and with 12 I won't have to give up my DVDRW & Memory Card reader.
- Space for a second PSU + comes with 2nd PSU adapter (for power on/off)
- Conversion to BTX without the need to buy a kit (like the Thermaltake's do)
- Drive cages fit 4 drives each instead of 3
- If I need to, I can forego all front panels and run 16 HDD's in the case.
- Front panel has 6 USB + 1 Firewire + 2 audio sockets (headphones, mic)
- Can fit a crossflow fan that blows air across the motherboard from right to left (looking straight on), great for enhancing passive cooling
Why?
- Fits more. I run 8 HDD's with intent to run 12 soon, and with 12 I won't have to give up my DVDRW & Memory Card reader.
- Space for a second PSU + comes with 2nd PSU adapter (for power on/off)
- Conversion to BTX without the need to buy a kit (like the Thermaltake's do)
- Drive cages fit 4 drives each instead of 3
- If I need to, I can forego all front panels and run 16 HDD's in the case.
- Front panel has 6 USB + 1 Firewire + 2 audio sockets (headphones, mic)
- Can fit a crossflow fan that blows air across the motherboard from right to left (looking straight on), great for enhancing passive cooling
Last edited by Noon416 on Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Noon416
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btw, they got this wrong. 12 HDD's is the max in the Thermaltake cases (3 x 3drive cages in front + 1 x 3drive cage at rear).Mattly wrote:Overclockers Cafe review.
...
Storage tray able to hold 20 discs
...[/b]
Still a nice case (like I say, I'd considered one), but accuracy is good before people buy things.
- Mattly
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I only took one review Noon. I'm sure that one reviewers inaccuracy really isn't too important in the scheme of things is it?
Here's another review
http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/kandalf/
or this
http://www.insanetek.com/review.php?id=140&page=2
Here's another review
http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/kandalf/
or this
http://www.insanetek.com/review.php?id=140&page=2
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- Jetboy
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Just a quick note, the black ones steel and fairly weighty....almost got the black one as it looks heaps classier (IMO) but for LAN's just not keen to do my back in heh, silver version is AluminiumnCarnaGe wrote:In the process of updating my vitals as well and will be getting one of these....
A few other newbie bits going in this to help make gaming and photo editing easier.
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Whats a DuDNoon416 wrote:btw, they got this wrong. 12 HDD's is the max in the Thermaltake cases (3 x 3drive cages in front + 1 x 3drive cage at rear).Mattly wrote:Overclockers Cafe review.
...
Storage tray able to hold 20 discs
...[/b]
Still a nice case (like I say, I'd considered one), but accuracy is good before people buy things.
They are talking about a 20 CD disc holder
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Is it just me or are pretty much all Thermaltake case front panels hideous?
It's like a Chinese/Taiwanese interpretation of American hi-tech design.
Hideous logo. Check.
Silly pointless checkerboard or strange dagger motif. Check.
Funny doors to get in the way. Check.
Sticky-outy-bits with lights. Check.
Actually I take that back... having just scanned Ascent's list it seems some of them actually look ok. Must be showing my age or something or a subconscious desire to troll.
It's like a Chinese/Taiwanese interpretation of American hi-tech design.
Hideous logo. Check.
Silly pointless checkerboard or strange dagger motif. Check.
Funny doors to get in the way. Check.
Sticky-outy-bits with lights. Check.
Actually I take that back... having just scanned Ascent's list it seems some of them actually look ok. Must be showing my age or something or a subconscious desire to troll.