Coolermaster TC-100A ... fanless Mini iTX case

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The Coolermaster TC-100A




Main features: fanless & dustrestistance
Dimension: 200 mm (W) x 256 mm (D) x 75 mm (H)
Available space: 2.5" HDD / SSD
Operating temperature: up to 50 degrees C ambient


Ok, first thing I noticed, I don't seem to find any online retailer who has this case. WTF ?
Hell, I can't even find anything about this case at all (except on Coolermaster's website). WTF again.
I challange you to come up with any info at all.
Then, running a Q9550S passively would mean instant death, right ? (for the CPU I mean, duh!)
But how could I implement an active CPU cooling without having sufficient airflow ? I can't see enough space in such a tiny case.

This case looks awesome anyway I think.
I love the symetric of this case, with the power button exactly in the middle.
I wonder whether the power LED was built into the power button, and the LED for HDD too (outer circle possibly) ?

And regarding the external PSU ? Isn't that only an external transformator 220 V to 12 V ?
And inside the case might be a tiny panel above the duplex connector which divides the 12 V into whatever the motherboard needs, as well as power for the 2.5" HDD or SSD.
Funny thing is that such a "PSU" is rather primitive compared to high quality PSUs, but it still cost about DOUBLE the money while it should cost HALF, the most.
That's actually not funny but rip-off.


The hottest parts in a common PC are ...

1. GPU, if there is an external graphics card.
In our case there is no space for external graphic cards, so the IGP would be the number 1 heat source I guess ?

2. CPU can get rather hot too despite the modern 45nm process.
That's why I thought about UC/UV.

3. PSU. Because the transformator would be located outside the PC case, I can't see a heat problem there.


By the way ... not as beautiful, but interesting too is Coolermaster's other PC case, called the Cube ...

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Here is a reviewof the TC-100:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Cooler..._mini-ITX_case

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Most interesting part of the review:

While this review was being written, several new products appeared on Coolermaster's Fanless Thermal Chassis page.
Two of the newly posted products are for mini-ITX: TC-100A and the Cube.
They offer higher cooling capability (55W and 85W, respectively), and Core 2 Duo Intel processor
support is mentioned on both product pages. Both look of interest to SPCR audiences.

Three things I notice while reading this review.

1. The motherboard used was low performance (Atom) and not compareable with core2duo / core2quad CPUs which develope more heat, correct ?

2. The way the heat is being conducted to the chassis (via heatpipes) is not as effective as it could be.
The whole passive cooling idea is just a bad compromise in my eyes.

3. When reading that such a small case cost about $ 250.- (US) incl. 60W PSU, then I presume that the TC-100A version would cost aprrox the same.


Makes me realize that Mini iTX is still so far behind ....

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Alright, here are two other "minimalistic" Mini iTX PC cases:

M350 (about $ 40.- / 50 Euro)



- 192 mm x 210 mm x 62 mm


JCP MI-102 (~ £80.-)



- 60W external PSU
- 1 slimline DVD drive
- 1 internal 2.5" HDD
- 180 mm (w) x 65 mm x (h) 242 mm (d)
- hidden: 2x USB, 1x mic, 1x audio