Four Unique ATX Cases Compared

King Of Capacity: Thermaltake Mozart TX

Thermaltake is targeting the media server market with a reduced-depth case that's anything but small - in fact, it might look good sitting next to your mini-bar refrigerator!

External Design

Though it does look like a computing device, the Mozart TX looks like anything but a PC. In fact, it resembles a styled-up server, which is exactly its intended role. Yet in spite of its enormous 28.3" height and 13" width, a scant 14" depth allows it to fit into several traditional living room spaces.

In fact, the Mozart TX's narrow depth is partly responsible for its increased height, as all lower drive bays had to be moved upward above the motherboard. Its added width also enables it to accommodate a second motherboard, so that one platform can play media while the other handles more strenuous tasks.

An oversized bay on top is able to support an optional 7" pop-out display module, similar to in-dash DVD players found in cars, leaving five standard 5.25" and one 3.5" external bay. A window above the 3.5" bay supports an optional VFD function display panel.

Front panel connections include one IEEE-1394 FireWire and four USB ports, headphone and microphone jacks, an external SATA (eSATA) port, and a proprietary eSATA power plug. The power plug uses the same connector style as old-fashioned PS/2 ports, which seems a great place to blow old keyboards if you're so inclined...

The back panel features five 120 mm and one 80 mm fan mount, a double-drilled power supply mount that allows the power supply fan to face towards either the inside or outside of the case, and several "knock out" holes that support optional cable and water cooling hose ingress/egress.

Thermaltake includes three of its "silent" 120 mm fans in exhaust orientation on the back panel.