Thermaltake Mozart Tx Dual-ATX Tower Case Review

Cases & PSU/Cases by KeithSuppe @ 2007-12-05

Thermaltake has been around as long as most of us can remember. This is a compliment to product innovation, expansion and longevity. Today we test a PC chassis poised to change the shape of things to come

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ITC Technology & H20 Versatility

ITC Technology

Borrowed from Thermaltake’s site the diagram below numbers each of four sections in the Mozart Tx.

Madshrimps (c)


Thermaltake describes ITC Technology in the following vernacular: Divide the whole case into 4 sections - 5.25" device, 3.5" device, primary system, and secondary system. Each section has its own thermal solution. Heat generated from each section will not intermix with each other and create thermal chaos.

Madshrimps (c)


In the diagram above the front panel is removed exposing the internal front panel and vents supplying the 3.50" HDD, primary motherboard, 5.25" optical and secondary or Mini-ITX/PSU sections. Airflow is exemplified although albeit somewhat vague insofar as the ITC design. While the tone of this review seems to attack this case in truth I am most impressed with the Mozart Tx. What has become a conundrum for me is the defeatism in a design which attempts to isolate airflow within the case.

Madshrimps (c)


The photos above and below exemplify Mozart Tx with side-panels removed and supporting the Danger Den NVIDIA 4101 H20 kit, it's single radiator replaced by the Black Ice Xtreme III. This is where Mozart Tx fulfills its workstations role although components certainly aren't as accessible as an HTPC design, however; just like an HTPC rack we've eliminated the differential in internal case and ambient temperatures. For those unfamiliar with this concept it usually means every component in your system is now running about 10C ~ 20C cooler then it might even in the very best thermally designed cases.

Madshrimps (c)


In the photo below the camera was placed at the base of the chassis aimed up at the case ceiling (note the edge of the BFG 8800). If you look carefully the four upper vents are visible at the rear of the case and challenging the ITC design there is little to obstruct airflow rising to the exhaust vents.

Madshrimps (c)


Looking down into Mozart, we see HDD’s, LAING D-38 Vario pump, Danger Den TDX CPU cooler and just on opposite sides of the mainboard panel, the PSU. Concerning the latter, in many tower case designs the heated air rises encountering the PSU raising its temperature and potentially fan thermistors. I've stated repeatedly many of today's chassis still rely on what is an antiquated system so long as the PSU's cooling and exhaust fans are doubling as case exhaust. This is one reason many PSU fans are over worked producing unacceptable noise levels. Fortunately Mozart's height and PSU placement both eliminate the problem described.

Madshrimps (c)


I chose to mount the pump shown just atop Danger Den's Bay reservoir which is included with the NVIDIA 4101 water-cooling kit. There were numerous places to mount this device I chose to place it at an equal height to the large radiator.

Madshrimps (c)


Let’s take a look at a few more examples of water-cooling options...
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Comment from shaolin95 @ 2007/12/06
Would it be possible for you to try that Q6600 with the Mercury Pro WC reviewed recently?
Thanks!
Comment from jmke @ 2007/12/06
impossible Keith (who did this review) lives in US, Geoffrey (who did Mercury review) lives in EU

 

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