Puget Custom Computers TJ07

Product: Stealth Watercooled TJ07
Author:Carlos Echenique

Category: Cases
Product cost: $1350
Manufacturer: Siverstone Technologies
Modified by: Puget Custom Computers
Spelling and Grammatical editor:   Ian King

Puget Custom Computers of Kent, WA bring us an amazing bit of kit: a Silverstone Temjin TJ07 case with a stealthed watercooling system. Does it perform as good as it looks? Read on and find out?

When Silverstone Technologies introduced the Temjin TJ07 case, the world+dog beat a path to their door to purchase this sleek, full tower wonder. After winning a string of awards (including being used in Maximum PC’s Dream Machine 2005), Silverstone moved on to other models and styles. Why mess with with the perfect tower case?

Well, Jon Bach and his crew over at Puget Custom Computers set out to do just that. PCC produces custom built PC’s, workstations and servers and normally this case would arrive as part of one of their high-end systems. I had a long chat with Jon and convinced him to let me look at just the case, as I had all the other parts worthy of it.

Packaging

Silverstone does a top notch job in packing the TJ07 for shipping. The heavy-duty cardboard box is complemented by 6 inch thick styrofoam inserts on the top and bottom of the case which hold it securely centered inside. However, Puget Custom does not stop there. They place that box inside a larger, equally sturdy box with an additional set of foam corner inserts (8 in total) holding the already well armored OEM box in the center.

This is possibly the most well packaged system I have ever seen in my long years in this business.

Score:    5 out of 5

Aesthetics

OK, I’m a sucker for black full towers. The TJ07 is one of the sleekest I have ever seen. A lot of times, watercooling kits are added with the help of a Dremel?, sacrificing the looks of a fine case. I managed to add a complete watercooling system internally to a CM Stacker 810 (the original one), maintaining the case’s outward appearance. However, the CM Stacker 810 is one of the largest available on the market.

Puget Custom took the TJ07 (which is a full tower but not as big as a CM Stacker 810) and carefully thought about the placement of the cooling gear in order to maintain the case’s looks. From the outside, you cannot tell that this case is liquid cooled. The only giveaway is the Aquacomputer reservoir occupying two drive bays. This cyclopian port makes it easy to check the fluid levels and looks extremely cool with the lights out.

PCC did a magnificent job in stealthing in the cooling system. The only hint is the Aquacomputer reservoir and the plumbing visible through the window.

Score:   5 out of 5

Installation/Build

Normally, this would not be an issue as PCC provides complete systems. However, I had the opportunity to “roll my own” with this case and it gave me an insight into the brilliance of the design. This was not the typical watercooling experience. The system came preinstalled in the case and only needed to have the included Swiftech cooling blocks installed on the feed and return lines.

The radiator is nestled in the top of the case hidden out of sight and cooled by a pair of 120mm fans. The fans have 3-pin connectors and can be driven from the fan jacks on the motherboard. I decided to connect them to the CPU fan jacks but, due to the layout of my motherboard (Tyan Tiger K8WE -S2877), I needed an extension cable. Hank at Performance PC’s came through with a sheathed extension cable that matched my sheathed PSU cables.

The Aquacomputer reservoir is a German made component that occupies the top two 5.25″ bays. It performs several duties including:

• Providing an easy way to check fluid levels.
• Allows air bubbles to be extracted from the system automatically.
• Provides a method to fill the system.
• Looks damn cool.

When operating, the Aquacomputer Reservoir reminds me of viewports they had on the nuclear reactor in the show “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea”. I even have a video here.

I will note that one bit about this reservoir had me befuddled. How exactly do I fill it? The unit did not come with any instructions (which I will not ding them on because they normally ship fully assembled systems) and it wasn’t obvious to me. A quick check on the PCC website revealed that this system is filled by tipping the case on its back, unscrewing the five hex bolts that hold down the plexiglass reservoir cover, and pouring coolant in there.

Another important note to all who want to try liquid cooling: remember to check for leaks before installing the motherboard and any sensitive (read expensive) components. How does one power up the system without the motherboard installed? Well you used to have to play tricks on the PSU using a straightened paperclip and shorting out two pins on the motherboard connector plug. The problem is I never remember which two it is. Once again, Performance PC’s rides to my rescue with this little gem:

This is a remote PSU starter switch. Just plug this little $12.95 baby into your main PSU cable and you can safely turn your PSU on and off allowing you to run the pump and fill your system properly. Just don’t forget to mount the plexiglass cover back on the reservoir or it will send a jet of coolant shooting up to the ceiling.

{mospagebreak title=Installation/Build Cont’d}

The pump is a Liang DCC unit housed in the two bays below the reservoir. These two bays retain their stock covers completely stealthing the pump. I was warned by Jon that this pump, being a high performance one, was louder than their standard pump. I have no idea what he is talking about. This assembly is one of the quietest liquid cooling rigs I have ever had the pleasure of using.

The TJ07 makes motherboard mounting a snap with its removable motherboard tray. The PCC cooling system does not interfere with this feature.

The PSU is mounted in the bottom of the case and the cavernous TJ07 can easily accommodate even the gargantuan PC Power & Cooling 1Kw Turbo Cool Quad SLI.

Score:    4.75 out of 5

Thermal Analysis

The real point of this case, besides looking good and holding all of your gear, is cooling. To test this, I played City of Heroes for about two hours straight giving the system a good workout. I then used my Fluke 63 Laser IR Thermometer and measured the temperature of the system in several key areas. The results are displayed below (remember, the computer was idling for about 90 seconds after having played for two hours straight):

As you can see the cooling system rapidly dissipated the heat generated by the gaming and quickly brought the system down to normal temperatures. In some areas the case was reading only 5F above ambient. This will help extend the life of all internal components, not just the CPU’s.

Pricing

The price of this pre-modded chassis weighs in at a whopping $1,350 USD. For that price you get the following:

• Silverstone TJ07 Case with Window Mod
• Aquacomputer Reservoir
• Liang DCC pump
• 360mm x 120mm Radiator
• 2x 120mm Fans
• 2x Swiftech Cooling blocks
• 2x UV cold cathode lights

All this is pre-assembled and ready for installation of the cooling blocks and filling. However, this case is sold as part of a complete system and you don’t have to do it yourself. PCC will ship the system pre-filled and leak-checked. Just plug it in and turn it on.

Score:    4.25 out of 5

Conclusion

Sleek clean lines, unmarred by the massive cooling system hidden within, are the hallmark of this chassis. Ease of access and assembly adds to its mystique. Throw in that it comes as part of a custom system of your choosing and you have all the makings of a winner.

PlanetX64 proudly awards Puget Custom Computers a Best on The Planet with a final score of 19 out of 20.