Thermaltake Tenor HTPC case for $89.99 shipped at Amazon.com

[Karaktu]

Black

Silver

Thermaltake Link

$85.49 with free Super Saver shipping. Definiteily the best price around on a nice HTPC case that can take a full-size ATX board, regular PSU and multiple hard drives (you can squeeze 5-6 in there).

Edit:

Lots of reviews via Google

Edit:

MicroCenter carries these cases if you want to see one.

 

[cremefilled]

How does the 5.25" access work? It looks like there is only one externally accessible drivebay, and they specifically recommend not to use that one. Huh?

 

[llars]

Go to the TT website. The entire right side opens up and there are total of three 5.25 bays including the bottom one.

Perconally I think the Ahanix cases are nicer, but you can't go wrong for the price.

 

[BATCH71]

Awesome post Joe

Thanks,
Dave

 

[uwannawhat]

Does this only use 1/2 height PCI cards?

Also does anyone no where to get the VFD Media Kit?

 

[Karaktu]

It uses full height cards. You can use any VFD media kit that fits a 5.25" bay. Also, Sony and Lite On optical drivers are significantly shorter than your standard ones, so if you really wanted to use the bottom bay for an optical, those would be the ones to try.

 

[dchilder]

I went to SPCR to see if this was reviewed, and could only find this forum thread:

SPCR Forum Discussion on Tenor

They mention this review (which the poster suggested came from a site paid off by Thermaltake):

Potentially biased review of Tenor

 

[cremefilled]

There is one tiny jpg on the TT site showing the right panel dropping down. This case looks great on the front fascia, but if you need to access the optical drives, that looks pretty clunky to me (unless you are using that non-recommended bottom slot).

I take it that this is being recommended more for TIVO / PVR use? I need a HTPC that is being used for access to all my discs, especially for scaling DVD's to my DLP projector's native resolution, and also for many DVD's full of archived lossless audio. Saving $10 or $20 isn't that important -- does someone have a different recommendation?

This is a nice find, by the way. To save even more money, this one at Newegg at $56 delivered seems very functional.

 

[Karaktu]

I actually went and look at the Thermaltake Tenor before buying it. The panel covering the 5.25" bays just pulls down on some pretty solid gears. The little door is really intended for VFD use. For me personally, I very rarely use the optical drive on my HTPC as I usually access my movie and music library from "backups" that are stored on hard drive, and this case hides the "ugliness" usually associated with PCs (makes the wife happy).

That $56 case is a good choice if you don't need a lot of internal bays.

My main HTPC case is an Antec Overture, which comfortably fits 3 hard drives and then has 2x3.5" and 2x5.25" bay drives left over. I've looked at the Overture II, and while the top ventialation venting is better, you lose one 3.5" internal bay to the placement of the blower-style fans. An Ahanix D.Vine4 also fits a good number od drives, and if money is now object, the Uneed x815e is the way to go.

Take a look at the HTPC cases at www.coolerguys.com for some other good ideas.

 

[Karaktu]

Price raised to $89.99 shipped.