Thermaltake Kandalf Grange-over-Sands
Kandalf is a PC case that looks as if it's been smeared in superglue and then tossed around a plumber's yard. It is exactly the same as the rather good Thermaltake Armor. The front panel is hidden away behind two small doors, but the strangest feature is the protruding aluminium pipe, which, even more bizarrely, has a mirror at one end. Quite what purpose this serves, apart from resembling a broken submarine periscope, is beyond us. When the pipe lights up with the blue glow of a hidden LED, it looks even weirder.
Glasson Electronics Ltd?.
0152 475 2208
0152 475 2208
Harbour House, East Quay
Morecambe
Morecambe
Hi-Tech Computer Services
01524 400054
01524 400054
1-3 Queen St
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Morecambe
Compute-Aid
01524 412121
01524 412121
299 Marine Road Central
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Mattick Computers
01524 400351
01524 400351
35 Yorkshire St
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Morecambe
Computers & Things
01539 737361
01539 737361
207 Windermere Rd
Kendal
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Hillingdon TV & Video Services?
0152 441 4468
0152 441 4468
30 Oak Avenue
Morecambe
Morecambe
J C F Ltd
01524 417772
01524 417772
Unit 4-5 Plaza Shopping Arcade Queen Street
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Morecambe
Ace Computers
01524 411666
01524 411666
165 West End Rd
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Morecambe
CPN Computer Services
07916 280537
07916 280537
27 Aldingham Court
Morecambe
Morecambe
PC HomeHelp
015394 45892
015394 45892
Twin Oaks, Victoria Rd
Windermere
Windermere
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Thermaltake Kandalf
In the classic fantasy novel 'The Lord of the Rings', Gandalf is a crotchety old wizard who makes a career out of saving the world from the powers of Mordor. He's also one of the lead characters in some of the most successful movies in cinema history. Unfortunately, the Kandalf is a PC case that looks as if it's been smeared in superglue and then tossed around a plumber's yard.
This is a shame because, on the inside, the Kandalf is exactly the same as the rather good Thermaltake Armor. The front panel is hidden away behind two small doors, but the strangest feature is the protruding aluminium pipe, which, even more bizarrely, has a mirror at one end. Quite what purpose this serves, apart from resembling a broken submarine periscope, is beyond us. When the pipe lights up with the blue glow of a hidden LED, it looks even weirder.
In a similar vein to the Cooler Master Centurion 530 and Stacker, the Kandalf has a fully ventilated front panel, with four external 3.5in and five 5.25in drive bays. However, when the doors are closed, very little air can get inside. An additional three internal 3.5in drive bays are provided in a removable cage that sits above the motherboard next to the PSU. This cage has its own dedicated 92mm fan, so it's ideal for hot-running drives. At the bottom of the front panel is a compartment the size of a 5.25in bay for storing CDs and case accessories.
Cooling is provided by two 120mm fans - one intake and one exhaust - plus a 92mm exhaust fan on the roof. The latter suffers from poor airflow, due to the air vent being too small. In order to get effective cooling from the 92mm fan, you'll need to cut open the plastic surround with a Dremel. However, at least Thermaltake supplies all three fans with the Kandalf as standard.
While there's nothing technically wrong with the chassis, the front panel of the Kandalf leaves a lot to be desired. Perhaps it's one of Gandalf's spells gone wrong, resulting in a nightmarish hybrid of a submarine and a troll.
This is a shame because, on the inside, the Kandalf is exactly the same as the rather good Thermaltake Armor. The front panel is hidden away behind two small doors, but the strangest feature is the protruding aluminium pipe, which, even more bizarrely, has a mirror at one end. Quite what purpose this serves, apart from resembling a broken submarine periscope, is beyond us. When the pipe lights up with the blue glow of a hidden LED, it looks even weirder.
In a similar vein to the Cooler Master Centurion 530 and Stacker, the Kandalf has a fully ventilated front panel, with four external 3.5in and five 5.25in drive bays. However, when the doors are closed, very little air can get inside. An additional three internal 3.5in drive bays are provided in a removable cage that sits above the motherboard next to the PSU. This cage has its own dedicated 92mm fan, so it's ideal for hot-running drives. At the bottom of the front panel is a compartment the size of a 5.25in bay for storing CDs and case accessories.
Cooling is provided by two 120mm fans - one intake and one exhaust - plus a 92mm exhaust fan on the roof. The latter suffers from poor airflow, due to the air vent being too small. In order to get effective cooling from the 92mm fan, you'll need to cut open the plastic surround with a Dremel. However, at least Thermaltake supplies all three fans with the Kandalf as standard.
While there's nothing technically wrong with the chassis, the front panel of the Kandalf leaves a lot to be desired. Perhaps it's one of Gandalf's spells gone wrong, resulting in a nightmarish hybrid of a submarine and a troll.
Author: James Gorbold
