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Thermaltake Tsunami: A Complete Visual Overhaul

 by Purav Sanghani on September 10, 2004 12:00 PM EST
31 Comments | Add A Comment
31 Comments

Benchmarking - Thermal

When benchmarking the Tsunami Dream, we test the temperatures of key components including the actual CPU temperature, the actual temperature inside the heatsink, the temperatures of the DDR, Northbridge, Southbridge, HDD, PSU, and the ambient temperature inside the case, all during normal operation. During our testing, the PSU and CPU heatsink fans remain on to measure temperatures during normal system operations.

Chaintech VNF3-250
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
OCZ PC3200 DDR x 2
Zalman CNPS7000 Copper
Seagate Barracuda 120GB SATA
ATI 9800XT AGP8x
OCZ 520W PowerStream

Click to enlarge.
Since we have updated our test bed motherboard from a VIA chipset board to an nForce chipset board, the Northbridge results should be read as temperatures of the single nForce chip. Southbridge results are not associated with nForce boards and are therefore not applicable.


The thermal readings for the key components and points on the motherboard during operation were as follows:

Thermal Benchmarks - CPU

Thermal Benchmarks - Heat sink

Thermal Benchmarks - HDD

Thermal Benchmarks - DDR

Thermal Benchmarks - Northbridge(VIA)/nForce Chip(nForce)

Thermal Benchmarks - Southbridge(VIA Chipset Only)

Thermal Benchmarks - Power Supply

Thermal Benchmarks - System Ambient

The dual 120mm fans with the single side mounted 90mm fan performed well in the Tsunami as they kept temperatures of all components and the ambient system temperature down and lower than any of the other cases in the chart. The power of these fans did come with a price, however, in sound...

Installation Benchmarking - Sound
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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?
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