Thermaltake DH101 available

Meh. It's still the same crappy case (but with a face lift) that Thermaltake has been pedalling for the last few years.

It's pretty but looks only go so far until the terrible airflow melts your CPU.

I think the way to tell this is an older design, is that a lot of the newer cases are all about minimalistic design...this thing has so much going on. Again...5 years ago, i would have killed for this But nowadays, i'm actually a fan of simplicity. (still love my Silverstone LC-10m though )

I'm really leaning towards this case as well.  Could you explain what you mean by simplicity of case design?  It seems many, if not most, HTPC cases have only two fan mounting positions, mainly in the rear (side by side).  This one includes a 120mm fan in front pushing cool air inward.  Quite often, this is more beneficial than 120mm blowing hot air out.  With a side-flow CPU cooler blowing air towards the back, perhaps 1 of the 60mm fans operating at the lowest speed, and the PSU fan sucking additional air out of that area, I would think this case would keep things cool nicely compared to most cases out there.  I realize that the SPCR-designed Antec cases are ideal, however, many are looking for full sized ATX mobo-supporting cases. 

This is my first PC build (aside from a Shuttle), so I don't have much experience with this at all, but judging by this case having 3 fans and a PSU fan blowing air out, not to mention all of the case venting, wouldn't this case fall into a better-than-average category of cooling potential? 

I think it's cute that we're already seeing people mimic our designs...

Interesting.  You have something in mind that resembles this case, or one with "terrible airflow"?  I can't seem to find it.  :-\

I don't really see the resemblance at all, save for perhaps the black color.  Although Thermaltake has not had tremendously chic designs in the past, I think they have a winning design here.  I would hasten to say that it would match existing high end hi-fi equipment much more readily than the Omaura units, which have squarish feet.  Don't get me wrong, I do like Omaura's designs and would be more than happy to have such a case on display in my living room.  However, the Thermaltake has a very nice retro chic design with its volume knob that harkens back to many older hifi equipment that people are paying TOP dollar for at the moment, and in that sense, I think the Thermaltake design to be very timely.  As for the gaudiness comment- sure, a graphic equalizer on display is a bit 'rice', but the display can be highly customized of course.  The front button layout will match quite nicely with my Marantz equipment, whereas the Omaura would utterly clash.  I think the Omaura would be more suited in its own rack complete with the HDD and TFT screen.  That would look stunning. 

I'm not sure why there is conflicting thoughts regarding the air flow within the Thermaltake case.  One poster above claims that a CPU would melt under such conditions, whereas our resident Omaura rep quips you don't need a wind tunnel to provide more than adequate air flow.  Having an internally directed air flow provided by a front mounted Scythe 120mm fan in addition to one (or two) 60mm exhaust fan plus PSU fan in the rear (with a side-flow Minja) should provide more than adequate air flow for such a case and be pretty silent.  Of course, I could be blowing hot air. 

Yep, I don't see much resemblance at all.

[img width=450 height=450]http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Chassis/desktop/dh101/+_image/03_angleView_450.gif[/img]
[img width=650 height=194]http://www.omaura.com/IMAGES/CONTENT/HARDWARE/TF11/TF11_HEADER.JPG[/img]

That's fine guys. 

That's the same basic chassis TT has been using for years. I reviewed the Thermaltake Tenor back in 2006 and I can tell you that the DH101 is simply that design but tweaked with an 120mm fan intake in place of the 80mm fan the Tenor had, the second crossbar piece removed, and somewhat better asthetics, it looks like a Zalman HTPC case and a TT desktop case had a bastard child.