Strange Happenings at the CompUSA

[Fozzik]

One of the weird and truly geeky things that I often do is head over to CompUSA to browse around and pester the sales associates. I love asking them questions I know they can't answer...but I almost never buy anything. Generally, their prices don't come close to what you can get online.

With something like computer cases, it's always nice to see them in person and get a feel for what they are like before buying them. I've been working on deciding about what computer case to get (as you all probably know) and I had narrowed it down to two or three choices. I decided to go up to CompUSA today and see if they were stocking any of the ones I was interested in, so I could touch them and sense their mojo.

They happened to have all three in stock, amazingly enough. So I'm standing there taking one of them apart, getting a better feel for the interior layout... and I glance at the price sticker.

CompUSA had the case for $15 cheaper than NewEgg, and had a $20 mail-in rebate to boot!

I couldn't believe it. I thought I had entered the twilight zone, so I had the sales rep smack me in the face a few times just to make sure I was awake.

Not only was the case $35 cheaper (yes, I do actually mail in all of my rebate forms, I'm like that), but I also really liked the way it looked and felt. So...I walked out with a new case.

The case I got is the Thermaltake Tsunami (http://www.thermaltake.com/xaserCase/tsunami/bwa/bwa.htm). You can check out some pictures of it here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?image=11-133-132-25.jpg,11-133-132-20.jpg,11-133-132-18.jpg,11-133-132-06.jpg,11-133-132-05.jpg,11-133-132-07.jpg,11-133-132-23.jpg,11-133-132-31.jpg,11-133-132-09.jpg,11-133-132-26.jpg,11-133-132-27.jpg,11-133-132-28.jpg,11-133-132-29.jpg,11-133-132-30.jpg,11-133-132-32.jpg,11-133-132-33.jpg,11-133-132-34.jpg&CurImage=11-133-132-25.jpg&Description=Thermaltake%20Tsunami%20VA3000BWA%20Bl ack%20Aluminum%20ATX%20Mid%20Tower%20Computer%20Ca se%20-%20Retail).

I got it home and took it apart, and I'm extremely happy with the quality feel of it and the classy looks. It is very well put together, and has many little touches that really will make it nice to build in and use.

The case has two 120mm fans (front and back) and a 90mm fan that blows inward from the side. The whole case is aluminum, with a really nice mirror-ish black finish. The front door is a brushed aluminum solid piece, and is probably a quarter or more of the total weight of the case. The door swings open to reveal the drives, LEDs, and power and reset buttons. A second set of hinges allows the front panel to also swing open, allowing access to the dust filter on the front fan, and easy installation of exposed drives.

The side panel comes off easily with two nice latches (and large thumbscrews on the back), and the inside is well laid out. The hard drive cage is removable, and has rubber grommets in the screw holes to cut out any possible vibration noise. There is lots of space to conceal and route cables to keep things looking nice and keep the airflow as unrestricted as possible.

As I said, lots of little quality touches, like nice labeling stamped into the motherboard tray to tell you which holes should be used for standoffs depending on the motherboard size. Also, it has a completely tool-free mounting method for expansion cards and for 5 1/4 drives. The grill over the rear exhaust fan is aerodynamically shaped (no really, it is) to cut down on noise, and the rear fan sports blue LEDs to complete the ub0r clear side panel look.

Since I don't have anything to put inside it yet, I'll have to wait on finding out how loud the fans are. At the moment, that's really the only concern I have. I can't wait to throw some parts in it and see how it works...In short, I'm very happy with the case.

[Sergo]

Very nice looking case. I'm starting to aim toward my Vanguard computer now, so I'm beginning to pay attention to such things again, though it's very doubtful I'll try to build my own. Probably order online from someone who resellerratings.com says doesn't suck.

Or maybe I'll by one off the shelf from CompUSA. :eek:

[Fozzik]

I'd say the reasonable price was definitely the exception at CompUSA. Probably not a good idea to buy a whole machine there, especially not if you want it to be good for games.

Just to add to the original story, I got impatient (yeah, that didn't take long) and I rigged up a power supply from one of my other computers inside the new case so I could check out the fans and LEDs.

The fans move a decent amount of air, but are nice and quiet (definitely not silent, but I don't find the pitch or the volume to be in any way annoying). The LEDs on the front look pretty neat, but they are quite bright and I will probably not keep them connected when I build the new machine. The LED fan in the back gives off a nice blue glow, and illuminates the inside of the case without blinding you when you look directly at it.

[_Aatlaar_]

how much did you pay for it? cheaper than this? (http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake2.html)

[Fozzik]

Xoxide has it for $114,

Newegg has it for $105

I got it for $69.99.

[_Aatlaar_]

Kick ass

[SirOddball]

Xoxide has it for $114,

Newegg has it for $105

I got it for $69.99.

GRRR Fozzik, my loan officer would like to have a word with you!! Seriously though, that is a great price for that case. I might have to go down to Comp Usa and check it out.

[Valdemeric]

I never really go to the compusa near me...But there is a great "fry's" store that sells almost everything at the same prices as newegg or sometimes even cheaper.

[Fozzik]

No Fry's on the east coast. =(

I'd love to live near a place like that.

[Valdemeric]

One of the weird and truly geeky things that I often do is head over to CompUSA to browse around and pester the sales associates. I love asking them questions I know they can't answer...

hah...those poor sales associates.

[Yolos]

No Fry's on the east coast. =(

I'd love to live near a place like that.

Great read Fozzik. I didn't know you were on the East Coast. Just noticed you are in Maryland. I'm in Richmond VA and visit Baltimore quite a bit to see my brother.

[Fozzik]

Right coast ftw!! :D

So you're driving right past me. =) I'm in Columbia, about 20 min south southwest of Baltimore.

[bug]

05.08.23
With the MSe OS vs Wxp (W64vista seems to have serious driver issues atm;) and pvr vs HDTV, i am considering utalizing my stereo AV receiver and speakers to supplement the computer. Especially in the upgrading process. Adding the AV computer case to the component rack of electronics that is my stereo system.
For cases i have been looking at the $90ish AV case (http://www.thermaltake.com/XaserCase/tenor/black/black.htm) and so far have to find a gpu that is hdtv compliant + functional in gaming. Mayby the R520 is what i am waiting for.
This thermaltake case looks like the one you got for $70 just it is sideways. I always regret a 2 and 3 lb fan/heatsink hanging sideways off the mobo in conventional tower design. Where a slight bump or forbid it topples over destroying the mobo, cpu and nearby gpu/fan.

[Fozzik]

That does look very nice... the only things I would be concerned about with a desktop case like that are cooling, and full-height expansion cards.

That case looks like it can handle expansion cards that are full-sized, which is really nice... but I'm not so sure if the cooling will be adequate for a high-end gaming type PC. It's hard to say, but those little fans are running fairly slow (in order to reduce noise), and the one 80mm fan isn't placed where it will be moving heat off the hottest components, namely CPU, RAM, and vid card.

I've been pretty scared in the past about some really heavy heatsinks... but for the most part the retention mechanisms have gotten much better. A lot of them actually have a backplate behind the motherboard, and large attachment points between the bracket and the heatsink. Being able to lay the whole thing down flat is always nice, though. ;)

[bug]

"That case looks like it can handle expansion cards that are full-sized, which is really nice... but I'm not so sure if the cooling will be adequate for a high-end gaming type PC. It's hard to say, but those little fans are running fairly slow (in order to reduce noise), and the one 80mm fan isn't placed where it will be moving heat off the hottest components, namely CPU, RAM, and vid card."

Notice the pair of 60mm fans, they would be behind the cpu and above the mobo port cut outs... this would be a prime spot to exhaust heated air, they couldn't be much closer cpu slot on the mobo, and on the right side top of the case there are punched holes for air intake (got to wonder if that right side bridge arm will interfeer with cpu fan/heatsink elevation) to allow outside air to be pulled into the case providing fresh directly above the cpu. Though one likely would place filters there to lessen pulling in outside dust.
Besides the fans in the nearby ps, that would also have an exhaust contribution next to the cpu. So, cpu there are the two 60mm fans in the back of the case, the punch-out holes air inlet in top surface of case, (the adjacent ps with it's exhaust fans) there should be quite an air flow in that corner over the cpu & memory.
The front of the case has the 80mm fan, next to the left "dual support bridge" (2x 3.5" drive bay cage)... again wondering about a screening filter to lessen dust pulled into case. The front 80mm fan bringing air in from the front of the case would add to the air flow toward the back two 60mm fans.
The top surface punch-out holes left side over where the gpu inside would allow a source of fresh air for the gpu/ sound/nic card area. (Again some type of filter will have to be there to lessen dust into case.)
With the 3x 5.25" right-front access drive bays (1 dvd, 1 CD, 1 accessory) one could install a fan voltage tunable device/alarm monitor to adjust custom high airflow fans to tune for dB..

"I've been pretty scared in the past about some really heavy heatsinks... but for the most part the retention mechanisms have gotten much better. A lot of them actually have a backplate behind the motherboard, and large attachment points between the bracket and the heatsink. Being able to lay the whole thing down flat is always nice, though. images/smilies/wink.gif"

I do worry about that cage hanging from the "dual support bridge" that would be next to the front 80mm inlet fan, aparently that is for the three internal 3.5" hd. It looks like it might infringe on the far edge pci/ide slots on the mobo.
This case has SOOO many air-inlets (front, lower edge front, two top,) one has to wonder how many filters will it take. Plus it is EMI shielded while 19 lb.

[Yolos]

Right coast ftw!! :D

So you're driving right past me. =) I'm in Columbia, about 20 min south southwest of Baltimore.


Soooo....

Can I just go out and buy all my parts and stop by your place to put it together with supervision? :p :p :p

[Monsoon Rhayne]

I like that idea, I did that with my PC, I just stopped by my friends house and he supervised...alot easier way to learn :)

[Fozzik]

Yolos, get in touch with me by PM or email, or come find me on AIM... my nick is Fozz1k (that's a one instead of an I)

[Orlun]

I learned something about CompUSA which I never knew before. They are owned by 'Grupo Sanborns'. 'Grupo Sanborns' is a Mexican company headquartered in Mexico City which also has majority control of a 40-store chain of 'Sears de Mexico' and 'Sannborns Hermanos', a 130-store chain of variety drug stores.


Strange global world.

[Azzi]

CompUSA is stocking more mod parts also.
The pricing is higher, but if you absolutely need a part (SATA power adapter for me) then it's a quick solution.

I saw a lot of Zalman fans, water cooling, etc.