Widescreen Gaming Forum

OEM installs are tied to the case of the PC.

thats where the sticker that comes with is it meant to be stuck.

if you take their rules literally

That's primarily OEM builds like Dell, HP, etc, and it's mainly to avoid the possibility of the customer misplacing or tossing the OS key, which is on a label on the disc package. Nothing like crawling under your desk just to read the CD key when formatting.

It doesn't mean your OS is "tied to the case". Any reputable custom PC build shop will leave the sticker on the disc package if you want, and a lot of them prefer to do it that way to make formats easier for the customer.

Yea my sticker is stuck to the package (havent tried peeling it off).

So I guess I should stuff my mbp in an envelope ;)

They tie to the hardware somehow.

On another note, this Noctua cooler. It looks rather big. Will there be any issues with physically fitting the thing in an Element S case?
My current case I have some big Zalman, and it's a tight fit due to the side panel coolers. (As in: they actually touch eachother, I have to press a bit to close the case.)

If you need actual numbers I can measure the inside of my case. Let me know.

when you get an OEM version of the software, which is what i assume most people do you are meant to fix the sticker with the CD key to the case. therefore the key is "tied" to the case. In theory the product activation where if you add a hard drive it should flag up and make you re-activate is too big brother ish.

im real terms, i have 2 copies of XP both 100% legit OEM ones, the sticker is on the CD case, and i have had no problems installing XP on 4 completely different hardware configurations for myself. (2700+ athlon, 2600+ barton, 3200+ Winchester, E8400 and a P4 system where it runs now)

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Thanks for that phantom.

Apparently the Element S is 230mm wide.
The dimensions of the Noctua are:
Cooler 120 x 120 x 25 mm
Heatsink 126 x 158 x 71 mm
Total 126 x 158 x 126 mm

So I need 158mm available width inside the case. The outer width is apparently 230mm, but a lot of that is taken by the case itself, the MoBo and the side fan. If you could measure whether there's 160mm or more left between the processor and the side fan, that would be great :)

Go to the Thermaltake forum. There's a thread there in which someone stated the actual CPU HS clearance on an Element S. It's on the Chassis board. And you better hope for more like 160mm clearance, you don't want that thing even slightly touching the case panel. :wink:

One thing I don't get about the Element S is they ever so slightly slanted the backs of the side panels inward, apparently to make the mesh vents on them facilitate a more front to back flow. IMO it is too much of a detriment to CPU HS and cable storage space.

I'd certainly hope that the mobo tray, side panels and mobo mounting standoffs didn't add up to 7cm...!

Thanks for that Frag Maniac.
Found the thread, and here's what it says:

Q: What is the tallest cooler that will fit this chassis?
A: This chassis will fit a cooler that is no taller than 163mm(6.4")

Q: What is the longest graphics card that may be used with this chassis?
A: This chassis will fit a video card that is no longer than 10.5".

this is hand measured by me in our lab. If you use a card over 10.5" you will have to remove the HDD cage.

the height of cooler is the actual height of cooler that can be installed.

Made me happy. Then I read his next post...

as for the side fan,
It will reduce cooler height by about 25cm.
max cooler in non side fan is 163mm or 6.5".
in the fan model chassis it is around 138mm.

And I'm like: Huh? That doesn't leave a lot of room for a proper cooler, now does it? Maybe I'll have to settle for the €10 cheaper non-sidefan version.

I think I'll just go search that forum for more info on this...

And I'm like: Huh? That doesn't leave a lot of room for a proper cooler, now does it? Maybe I'll have to settle for the €10 cheaper non-sidefan version.

I think I'll just go search that forum for more info on this...

Don't even worry about the "G" version of the Element. It's ironic that the G stands for gaming, as it gives you far less CPU HS room than the "S" (studio) model supposedly made for video editing pros and such.

Thermaltake's answer to this, the case has plenty of cooling without using a CPU HS. Serious OCers were like, yeah right. :roll:

I call the G version the discotheque version, because in reality, the only gaming specific feature they added was the tri colored LED lights on the fans that run in a variety of modes, one of which has them all blinking in rotating colors, like THAT"S a big help for your gaming needs. I can see gamers pausing to "Do the Hustle" with all that going on. :roll:

The S model was the one first introduced in the US, the G model more specific to the UK/Europe as far as I know. Don't be confused into thinking it's the better way to go. Somehow the US got the more practical case upon the Element's debut here, I don't know why. God knows what lurks in the minds of public relations employees sometimes.

Both regions should have availability for each model by now. You may want to wait a month or two if you can though. Newegg was blowing out the Element S pretty cheap recently here in the states, though I don't know if your area would have such deals.

Yeah, I think the non-sidefan S will suffice. I have a special spot on my desk for a tower, which is used by a cd rack at the moment, because my XaserIII doesn't fit (too high). The Element S should be significantly smaller, allowing me to put it there instead of on the floor. That'll have some advantages. The left side (looking from the front) will then be blocked by the desk, so trouble might arise for a side fan anyway. Might be for the best not to have one of those things I reckon. Plus, cooling should be plenty with the big front, top and back fans, and a big fat Noctua inside.

I might be in the market for alternative cases, if there's anything good about. What about Lian Li for example? They worth it? I heard good things about them quite a while ago. Prices seem to start just about where Thermaltake ends though, except for the extreme TT cases. Any specific models that would be worth looking into?