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A Closer Look :::...
Here's how the finished system looks from overhead. This isn't a case, it's a tardis. Despite being more compact than the two previous cases I've worked with, assembly was simpler, there are considerably more internal and external bays and there were more little nooks and crannies available for tucking cables and wires out of the way and keeping things tidy looking.
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System Assembled - Top View |
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System Assembled - Front View |
Firing the system up it's fair to say this is no silent operator. It isn't however as noisy as some I've heard using similar fan layouts, and better a little noise than an overheating PC.
The two LEDs on the front are more effective than those used on the Tsunami, possibly due to the angle. The picture doesn't really do justice to the effect which, while not exactly Jean Michele Jarre, is pleasing enough.
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Assembled and Working |
All in all the Tenor is an accomplished case for those who want a bigger case and plan to take advantage of that extra space. You can smaller, but you'll lose the flexibility
Conclusion
The 3DVelocity 'Dual Conclusions Concept' Explained: After discussing this concept with users as well as companies and vendors we work with, 3DVelocity have decided that where necessary we shall aim to introduce our 'Dual Conclusions Concept' to sum up our thoughts and impressions on the hardware we review. As the needs of the more experienced users and enthusiasts have increased, it has become more difficult to factor in all the aspects that such a user would find important, while also being fair to products that may lack these high end "bonus" capabilities but which still represent a very good buy for the more traditional and more prevalent mainstream user. The two categories we've used are:
The Mainstream User ~ The mainstream user is likely to put price, stock performance, value for money, reliability and/or warranty terms ahead of the need for hardware that operates beyond its design specifications. The mainstream user may be a PC novice or may be an experienced user, however their needs are clearly very different to those of the enthusiast, in that they want to buy products that operate efficiently and reliably within their advertised parameters.
The Enthusiast ~ The enthusiast cares about all the things that the mainstream user cares about but is more likely to accept a weakness in one or more of these things in exchange for some measure of performance or functionality beyond its design brief. For example, a high priced motherboard may be tolerated in exchange for unusually high levels of overclocking ability or alternatively an unusually large heat sink with a very poor fixing mechanism may be considered acceptable if it offers significantly superior cooling in return.
The Mainstream User ~
An HTPC case is unlike a regular case in that the potential uses can vary so widely from person to person. For the user wanting a simply, no-frills MP3 server then all those bays may well seem like overkill, but I have to say that on balance I'd sooner be spoilt for choice than need an additional bay and not have it.
Having worked with many HTPC cases recently while building for people, not all of which I've reviewed , I think it's fair to say that nothing to date has left me feeling quite so positive as the Tenor. Given a choice I would use only this case for all future builds, and I'll certainly be heartily recommending it to anyone who cares to listen.
I hope the door catches go the distance because if they do the Tenor is about as friendly and flexible as I've come across.
The Enthusiast ~
Never mind HTPC cases, the Tenor puts most fully-featured regular desktop cases to shame! It's big and bad enough to cope with just about anything you'd care to build inside it has the looks to suit most environments from living room to LAN.
You'll find smaller, you'll find heavier, you'll find stronger, you'll possibly find prettier, but I think you'll struggle to find better. And if that hasn't swayed you, check out the price!
My current HTPC case of choice!
We're always looking for ways to make our reviews fairer. A Right To Reply gives the manufacturer or supplier of the product being reviewed a chance to make public comments on what we've said. They can explain perhaps why they've done the things we were unhappy with or blow their own trumpet over the things we loved. It's easy for us to pick a product apart but sometimes things are done a certain way for very specific reasons and here the company concerned can explain the reasoning behind their decisions.
Should Thermaltake decide to exercise their "Right To Reply", we'll publish their comments below:
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