Growing Pains: CoolerMaster ATCS 201

[uzor]

Well, the CoolerMaster ATCS 201 images (not mine) that has served me for many years is starting to feel a bit cramped for space on the inside. I still really like the looks of the ATCS 201 (as do most of those who have one), but need more space. I was wondering if you all could help me out.





(I'll give you a moment to get the sighs and groans of "not another case suggestion thread" out of the way.)










...There.

Now then, here's what I'm looking for. I'd like to stay with something silver/aluminum in color, since I have drives to match already and don't care to dye them black/green/whatever. I can't stand cases with doors on the front covering everything up, so stay away from those. Not into "Bling" and mods will be strictly functional (with maybe an exception for the AC Airplex Evo fan grill - I've always liked the way those looked, and even then a functional argument for that would not be a hard sell). Don't need or care about a window on the side, but the inclusion or lack of one is not a deal-breaker. Strictly air cooling ATM, but who knows, I may look into water cooling at some point in the future.

Going into it I currently have:
- 2 optical drives
- 3 HDD's (will likely be 4 very soon)
- MSI K8N Neo2 Plat mobo
- OCZ Powerstream 520 (long)



Any Suggestions?

 

[autobot]

Well if you don't mind the backwards design, perhaps you should take a look at the silver Silverstone Temjin TJ06. I'm thinking of getting one of these to replace my aging/cramped silver CM Wavemaster case. I watercool, so the front 3-1/4 bays will go bye-bye and my HDDs will go into the 3-1/4 bays under the PS. This will make for plenty of room for the double heatercore I use.

 

[N H O]

how about the ATC-710-sx2? or the P180?

 

[gordy_hand]

Well, the CoolerMaster ATCS 201 images (not mine)

Mine hehe

I can't see why you'd feel cramped in the 201 with that spec. You've got space for all the hard drives and more too.

If you are really wanting to change , the lian li v1000 is a great choice at the moment

 

[uzor]

Mine hehe

I can't see why you'd feel cramped in the 201 with that spec. You've got space for all the hard drives and more too.

If you are really wanting to change , the lian li v1000 is a great choice at the moment

It's not that it doesn't all fit, rather that the msi board is significantly bigger than the board that started in there and that currently the optical drives and HDDs are practically bumping into the back end of the board, which makes cable management and working in the case a bit difficult. And then there's the matter of shoehorning that powerstream in there when my old POS power supply bit it.

::edit::
BTW, you realize you're just about the first result on a GIS for CoolerMaster ATCS 201?

 

[gordy_hand]

It's not that it doesn't all fit, rather that the msi board is significantly bigger than the board that started in there and that currently the optical drives and HDDs are practically bumping into the back end of the board, which makes cable management and working in the case a bit difficult. And then there's the matter of shoehorning that powerstream in there when my old POS power supply bit it.

::edit::
BTW, you realize you're just about the first result on a GIS for CoolerMaster ATCS 201?

Cable management is always a pain in any case wish everything could be wireless hehe.

The v1000 would definitly give you more room particularly when it comes to cabling, also there is an extended version v1200 (think thats the right part no.) Which would give you more room if you have a big mobo.

GIS: Yeah on the first page for most of the older coolermaster cases. Mainly because I've owned nearly every single one Can't stand any of their new ones. In fact I would not have one even if they were given free now.

 

[Dan_D]

If you need large. Theres no substitute for the Cooler Master Stacker. I prefere the STC-101, there is also the CM Stacker 820 and a newer 830 variant on the way. There are other large alternatives, but I don't like them as much. Most of them are a rip off of the Stacker anyway.

 

[br0k3nman]

The 201 used to be my main case and I have since slimmed it down to a single hard drive and a smaller mobo as a spare rig. It was just too difficult to run all the psu wires behind the mobo and deal with 6 hard drives in it. It was solid, but it became too much.

 

[Dan_D]

The 201 used to be my main case and I have since slimmed it down to a single hard drive and a smaller mobo as a spare rig. It was just too difficult to run all the psu wires behind the mobo and deal with 6 hard drives in it. It was solid, but it became too much.

Wow, and I was starting to feel cramped in the Stacker.

 

[uzor]

If you need large. Theres no substitute for the Cooler Master Stacker. I prefere the STC-101, there is also the CM Stacker 820 and a newer 830 variant on the way. There are other large alternatives, but I don't like them as much. Most of them are a rip off of the Stacker anyway.

Does the original Stacker come in an Alum/silver finish? The P180 and the new stacker are out because they both have doors on them, and I'd end up ripping them off, leaving a hole where the door went.

 

[uzor]

The 201 used to be my main case and I have since slimmed it down to a single hard drive and a smaller mobo as a spare rig. It was just too difficult to run all the psu wires behind the mobo and deal with 6 hard drives in it. It was solid, but it became too much.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm planning for mine once I get something bigger. Might use it for my HTPC or my wife's machine which I don't tinker with as much. Unless of course I get an offer I can't refuse.

 

[sprocket]

Does the original Stacker come in an Alum/silver finish?

Yes, it does.

 

[Marduk]

If you want more expansion than even the stacker can handle, the V2000 from Lian Li is a nice choice. (that, and I hate the requirement of 5.25 to 3.5" adapters...

default capability is 12 3.5" hdds, 7 5.25" drives.

Properly configured, you could go as high as 20 3.5" hdds, 1 5.25"