got my CM stacker 830 - impressions inside

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xappie

[H]ard|Gawd
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Ok... just wanted to post some impressions of this case after installing my system into it on the weekend. Feel free to ask questions. I know "this thread is worthless without pics" - I will post some tonight after work.

First off the case is HUGE. Maybe because I have been working with mid-towers for so long I didn't fully realize how big this was going to be. Having said that though, it seems bigger on the outside than on the inside somehow.

Ok a few negative things I noted in quick bullet format:
- The included 3.5" HDD cage only allows 4 drives to be mounted, but they DO include 2 sets of drive rails so out of the box you can install up to 6 3.5" drives with no problems.
- The drive quick release mechanism seems a little flimsy and doesn't seem to apply enough pressure onto the drives. While trying to remove the power cable from one of my raptors, it actually pulled the drive a bit, moving it from it's original position. :0
- The area around the PSU seems really tight. I only have a Vantec Stealth PSU, but if I had anything longer I think it would start to risk bumping into the cage holding the top 120mm exhaust fan. Although maybe PSUs are all a standard dimension?
- The side panels are NOT easy to get back on. At least not as easy as my previous Tsunami Dream or LiLi cases.
- Forget about routing the main 20pin PSU cable behind the motherboard tray if it is much bigger than a pencil. There is not alot of space at all between the tray and the side panel. I had actually routed all my cables back here and had to move them after I couldn't get the panel on. :(
- With all the fan meshes on this case there is basically NO sound dampening. You will hear EVERYTHING that makes any noise inside your case. I first noticed this with my 74GB Raptor which I had never heard before in my old Tsunami case. ALTHOUGH i did have that case fully "sound proofed" with Akasa PaxMate so that might be part of it. Gotta figure out some way to get some paxmate into this new case.
- Not sure if mine was defective, but the little latch that holds the mobo tray in place doesn't work to well on one side. There are two other latches on the other side so it's pretty secure.. still for 300 bones...
- The clear plastic fan cage on the side includes cages for 120mm fans, but mounting any other size will require some long nuts and bolts. Standard fan screws won't work here, at least none that I had.
- The front door goes right to the floor, so since I have the case sitting on carpet it rubs a bit.

And some positive things:
- I didn't notice it in the reviews I read, but the clear side cage that holds all the fans includes adaptors to hold 120mm fans AND the same black grill/mesh that is used elsewhere on the case. I think this vastly improves the apperarance of that part of the case.
- The 3.5" HDD cage is mounted between metal plates with some rubber grommets to minimize vibration.
- The fans that come with the case are fairly quiet. Maybe not as quiet as my silenx fans, but not too shabby.
- The IDE led light actually works! I don't know about you guys, but I have had several cases where the IDE light required too much power and the mobo didn't have enough juice to light it up. On this case the led works and is quite bright!
- The case runs REALLY cool using the supplied fans plus 1 top exhaust and 2 side intakes. Using all silenx fans, it's still pretty quiet. My mobo now runs at room temperature (!!!) and my CPU about 8c more (20C and 28C) at idle. This is a decent
improvement for me, partially due to the extra fans I am sure.
- In reviews I read, they complained that CM only included one mesh face plate for external 3.5 devices - well I got 2 so they must have heard.
- It looks HELLA cool, especially with my blue and red CC tubes in place. :)

Pics to come tonight!
 
i'm actully mulling one of these over....the miillion dollar question i suppose would be whether or not you think it is worth the scrilla and would recommend it to others...specifically, would you say its worth $100 (or so) extra over the original stacker or the other stuff in that price/size range?
 
I have a question for you.

Is there enough space between the plastic Side pannel and the PCI cards to mount 2 120x2mm Radaitors? Or would the radiators hit the PCI cards?

For liquid cooling with a double radiator would this case be better than the new Lian Li V2000?

What about the older PC75?

Just asking cause all 3 of these cases are in my upper price range, and I want to buy Now if not soon, and can't decide what to get for water cooling.

Is it worth the $100 over the origional stacker?
 
I will have to measure to see if that radiator will fit - will do that when I get home tonight. If I had to guess, I would say no - it won't fit. That clear plastic fan cage with the addon fan holders is pretty thick. MAYBE if you took off the fan holders... I'll measure tonight.

I never used any of the other cases you guys mentioned, so I don't know if it's an improvement from those. However, coming with from my TT "Tsunami Dream" case I think it's quite an improvement. For me, it was worth the cash and I WOULD recommend it to others.
 
Thanks I would really appreciate it.

Some people are saying the cas eis not water cooling oriented, others are saying it is becayse you can fit 2 radiators on the side.

So I guess I'll wait till you do that I really appreciate it. I likely get this case for sure if it fits.
 
No problem.
How big are the radiators you want to fit? 120x2mm? That can't be right. Is that supposed to be 120x20mm??

I don't personally think the case is greatly suited for water cooling either, but I have VERY limited experience with water cooling so I might not be the best judge. Like I said - the case looks big on the outside but somehow on the inside it doesn't seem quite as roomy. I have a video card, sound card, 3 HDDs, a DVDROM and some cold cathodes and it's pretty full now IMO.
 
When I said 120x2 I mean a double 120mm radiator like theblack ice ones, I havetn bought any yet, or something like the one from swiftech.
 
Sorry guys, I'm dumb and I didn't get any measurements or pics taken last night. They're coming though, I swear!

D_Maniac - I have added a 92mm and a 120mm fan to that side panel. The 120mm just clips in easily, but I had to use cable ties to hold the 92mm in place. Sounds cheesey, but actually you can't even see it since I used black ties and it's nice and secure too.

I put the 92mm top left near the cpu and 120mm bottom right near the video card. I have an Arctic cooling silencer on my vid card, so it takes air in from that 120mm and exhausts it out the back.
 
ok man, I'm thinking it might not be a good idea to mount the liquid there now, but somehow they pulled it off on the Tai Chai
 
congrats, and get those pics up pronto. i just recieved my COOLER MASTER STC-T01-UW1 SILVER CM STACKER FULL TOWER CASE today. welcome to the "BIG RIG" club. cant wait to start puttin it together.... :D
 
Some do not like the looks of that case, but I like it, and so do you so that's all that matters, the massive amount of fans is pretty sweet too. Very upgradeable.
 
My Stacker build.

BIG PIC. 150KB


StackerBuild2


StackerBuild3


StackerBuild4
 
stacker.jpg

stacker2.jpg

stacker3.jpg

stacker4.jpg


And the space between the side fan cage and the edge of the PCI slot is about 1.5" at the most... !!!
 
xappie, i am getting my case today or tommarow, and will use 4 120 blue coolermaster fans. What made you put the red light in the front?? How does it look?? I was thinking of going with dual blue lights inside the case, one on the floor of the case, and the other running alongside the motherboard.
 
The devil made me do it! ;)

I think it looks good... better with the door closed than open obviously, but I like it.

One thing to consider with the interior lighting is that the fan cage and black mesh seem to block alot of the light. I certainly don't get as much light spilling out as I did with my previous case which had a regular window in the side.
 
Sharp looking case.

I want to use it when I build my socket AM2 system in the fall. :D
 
Ok Thanks for the info, it does not sound like this case is a very good candidate for internal water cooling.

Have to get something else, maybe a PC75 with the bland front.

Shame, I really like the build of this case, a bit different I admit, but I thought it looked like the quality was there.
 
Yeah, for sure the quality is there. I think the only real viable option for the water cooling would be up front in the drive bay area, if you didn't have alot of drives to install.

But then, plenty of people fit water cooling into cases that are far smaller than this so who knows?
 
:rolleyes: Lol, I'm WCing my QPack. Check the sig.

Anyhow, I definitely want this case now! It has tons of potential! Do you people see the possibility of mounting two 120mm dualies on the side, sucking air in? When (or if, lol) I get an 830, I'm going all out with internal WCing. That's after I finish my QPack, of course.
 
M4rk said:
:rolleyes: Lol, I'm WCing my QPack. Check the sig.

Anyhow, I definitely want this case now! It has tons of potential! Do you people see the possibility of mounting two 120mm dualies on the side, sucking air in? When (or if, lol) I get an 830, I'm going all out with internal WCing. That's after I finish my QPack, of course.
Click to expand...

Good luck fitting your radiator fan and shroud between the plastic door and video card, there is only 1.5 inches of space. How are you going to fit it? Remove the Plastic door and make a Plexyglass window that will support the radiators?
 
Nice pics xappie and brent, now that you guys put up those pics, it raises in my approval rating even more...very nice.
 
It seems like the 810 or the Original Stacker are more suited to water systems. This case seems like it was geared more towards air cooling and seems to excel at that. Oh well... I have struck this off my list as a case for water.
 
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