Around the Case

With the Hydraulic door open we see the back of the case and if you look closely you can sport the screws used to hold the changeable back panel to add the BTX capable panel. At first I had assumed the BTX panel was part of the hardware in the box of the Tai-Chi, but as stated in the contents section the kit is purchased separately. Still a feature Thermaltake presents, as well as the easy lift handles seen on top of the case. Trust me there's nothing easy about lifting this case, especially once we fill it with components.


Like most Thermaltake cases there are USB, Firewire, Headset and Microphone ports on top of the case. I think they're a little to far back and would have preferred them a tad closer to the front. Not like you’re going to be setting this thing on top of the computer desk, so being under or beside one is more likely, the ports being closer to the front would be a little more advantageous. This can be said of the drilled holes for the top blow hole, which is made up of 90 1/4" (6.35 mm) holes. Setting over the power supply the holes do not have a fan and not really sure they provide much intake nor exhaust. Being partially blocked by the PSU it may serve to allow heat from the PSU to dissipate upwards, but most PSUs have one or more exhaust fans.


Tipped up on its back we can see the bottom of the case and the mesh covered 10" x 6" (25.4 x 15.24 cm) opening. The mesh is also made of aluminum and to me this opening provides the best intake air flow, positioned right under the dual 120cm radiator. As we'll see farther along in the review once the Hydraulic door is closed things are a lot more cramped than I would have guessed. Under the front swinging doors there is a small slot which acts as a handle when tipping the case and also provides air intake for the front case fan. A side shot of the fins measuring 7/8" (198.12 cm) high.


From the side with both doors open we can see the layout of case internals. In the next picture a close up of the Hydraulic door, which if not careful swings right open after removing the long thumbscrew.


Something I didn't notice at first but caught my eye when I was looking for a good way to run the tubing. If you look at the picture on the left the in and out tubing lines are tie banded together, to which I don't have a problem with as long as they are not pulled too tight. When you run your tubing it's going to run along the door and across the back of the case which puts it right in the path of the fan, no problem except there is not a grill on the fan, as we can see in the second picture. That will be something we'll have to deal with during the install.