Thermaltake Tsunami: A Complete Visual Overhaul
by Purav Sanghani on September 10, 2004 12:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
External Design
The external design of the Tsunami reminds us of a car. It has curves and a shiny paint job that we see on automobiles.
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The bezel consists of a door that features an S-shaped curve from side to side. At the top of the door, Thermaltake has printed the market name of the case "Tsunami Dream" with a Tsunami wave under it. Half way down the door is a horizontal silver strip, which resembled the trim on some cars. At the bottom of the door, there is an array of machined out vents for the intake fan mounted on the opposite side. When turned on, there are two blue LED's that shine from behind the column at the right of the door.
Click to enlarge.
To open the front door, there is a key lock located on the right side of the bezel. The lock itself has 3 positions; locked, half unlocked, and completely unlocked. When half unlocked the front door will open to reveal the drive bays, Power/Reset buttons, and an array of vents that covers about 1/3 of the façade. This front bezel also has a glimmering paint job to match the rest of the case's shell.
Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.
This bezel can also be unlocked and opened in the same way as the front door to show the bare front of the chassis. When this final piece is opened, new drives can be installed or replaced by removing the drive bay covers, which are secured to the chassis by Philips head screws.
Click to enlarge.
Moving to the sides of the case, we notice again the shiny paint job. The right side panel is completely bare with no special features besides the mirror-like paint. The left side panel, on the other hand, features an X-type window, which covers about 95% of the panel. The plastic window features the Thermaltake logo and motto pressed into it.
Click to enlarge.
The left side panel also has a new type of locking device to secure the panel to the case. To remove the panel, the two release devices would need to be pulled forward simultaneously and the panel pivoted outward from the back. Though it is not a feature that will especially benefit the average user, it is a luxury to have. The top one of the two securing devices features a key lock to prevent unwanted access through the side panel.
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At the top of the case, we see the auxiliary connections behind a trapezoidal flap. It includes the standard dual USB, audio, and FireWire ports. This pod can be removed if the wires on the inside interfere with other components as we will explain later.
Click to enlarge.
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Spectatohead - Friday, March 25, 2005 - link
I have the original Audigy. I think the Audigy drive is the same. The front cover closes fine. The knobs don't seem to even touch the back of it. Of course the door has to be open to plug headphones, or anything else, into it. I have looked to see if the Audigy has a connector for an external headphone jack so I could use the top connector, but I can't find one. This is a great case. I got the plain silver version. The floppy bay is a bit funky but other than that everything else installs easily.bigdane - Friday, December 31, 2004 - link
#29, Did you have any luck any finding an answer to your question? I am considering the same case with the same issue.yomper - Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - link
Does anybody know if there is any problem closing the front cover of the Tsunami with a SB Audigy 2 front panel installed? I haven't seen this case in the flesh yet, and am wondering if the curved bezel provides enough clearance for the volume knobs on the Audigy line's 5.25" connector panel. (I'd rather not clutter up my desk further with the external connector box of the Pro model of the Audigy 2.)alzheimer - Wednesday, November 24, 2004 - link
I had no problem with instaling PSU after mobo. I have one question. Is ist possible to regulate rpm of 2 12cm fans with multifunction panel?drunknasasin - Sunday, October 3, 2004 - link
This case is nice, I've worked with a couple of them. The only problem that will arrise is mounting a larger Power Supply. It soon becomes a puzzle, and frustrating. Once the Power supply is mounted, the rest is easy.flyboy84 - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - link
Just got the case, it's beautiful!Can't wait to build the system over the weekend :-D
Ringthane - Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - link
I have the case... did not install PSU until after mobo was in place. This required the top mounted USB/firewire/audio jack ports to be removed (4 screws). Probably would have needed to remove the usb ports even if I hadn't installed the mobo first (600w PSU). It was a biatch getting the PSU in, plus I broke one of the small plastic hinges on the usb cover (Thermaltake replaced FOC). It's all in now and looks great, but it is not a quiet ride.Front door is fine of you're not rough with it, but heh, it's a computer case not a football.
treadhed - Saturday, September 11, 2004 - link
I'm done with thermaltake. The designers of this company have got to be smoking crack, because the Xaser was the most regressive design I have ever seen as far as usability and installation is concerned. Now it is eating power supplies. Number two just went out, and I'm going to go get another case, one I can put my hands on and look at before I buy it. I will never buy a case over the internet again. I do not expect the Tsunami to be any more friendly or innovative in design. Expect the worst.deathwalker - Saturday, September 11, 2004 - link
I have a real problem with cases like this...with front doors that open. I see these doors as just one more problem area....something else you can break too easily.GhandiInstinct - Friday, September 10, 2004 - link
Purav, could you answer my question please?