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Stacker STC101 Build

L

lw3d

Gawd
Joined
Aug 20, 2004
Messages
577
Well I decided to get the stacker. The price was the same as the Praetorian plus there is a btx upgrade. The wheels really helped my decision too :)

I have never dealt with a case like this so any advice would be great.

Any thoughts on where I should put the Psu ... top or bottom
I also hope to get all USB ports working
I also hope to keep everything cool so I bought an extra HD compartment even though I will not be puting any drives in it for now

The box says the top fan is the only exhaust, if my back fans are set to intake should I turn them aroun and set them to exhaust

I will be using
Opteron 165 UPMW Reatil With Retail Heatsink
DFI Ultra - d
Enermax Liberty 500



Thanks
 
What an awesome case and its not that heavy either :)

ANyways, do you guys have a half open slot right under the USB, Power button slot ... is that for the floppy or what

Also, the directions are not to helpful ... I am not to sure how to take out the mesh and plastic covering for the drives ...anh help would be great
 
lw3d,

I caught your other post on cases... I am also in the market for a new case for my new rig. I was wondering what was it that made you decide to go with the Stacker?

I am looking at the Silverstone TJ05 or possibly the TJ06. Also considering the Ultra Aluminus... seems like a good case. I just can't seem to find much in the way of reviews and owner reviews on that case. I did find that RadioShack online has the Aluminus for $110 with a $20 and $30 rebates, bringing it down to $59!!! For what you get in that case, real good price.

So again, why the Stacker? And do you like it and why?
 
I've got three Stacker STC-101's. Great cases. They aren't heavy so much by themselves, but when you put a bunch of components in there like myself and Kyle did, they are heavy bitches.

Both of my machines have got to weigh more than 60lbs. Reguardless, I needed the room as both of my machines use E-ATX motherboards. The layout, the cooling, room, and the quality of the case as well and it's very simple asthetics are why I like them so much. Building in that case makes for about the easiest assembly you could have.

To get all six front USB ports open, you need a motherboard that has three open USB headers. Few of them do. The only board I've seen with that many are the A8N-SLI Deluxe/Premium boards. I didn't look on the A8N32 I worked with though. My Tyan Opteron boards both are lacking in that area. I can only get four working.

The front fans should be setup as intakes and the rear as exhaust. That keeps my system cool. Which is kind of hard to do. Dual CPU's,. dual graphics cards, and a few drives can make heat a challenge in any case.

You've made a fine choice though.
 
The s940 FoxConn NFPIK8AA-8EKRS also has three open headers. It also has 8 SATA connectors, which adds to fun on a case the size of the Stacker.

I added a third module with its fan for even more intake. The fans also look nice if replaced with clear LED versions - the black mesh keeps the somewhat subdued. It's also possible to mount floppy drives backwards in the empty drive module and still keep the fan. You have to pull the side panel off to use the floppy, but how often is that?
 
I put the PSU on the top, unless it won't fit, then put it on the bottom.

Also I turned the top fan around, and now it is no longer exhaust only but rather it is blowing in cool air. I used the rear 120 for exhaust but replaced it with a better fan, hell I replaced all the fans but the 80, which may go in favor of a resevoir if I can find a non Aluminum one.
 
By themselves, they aren't as heavy as everyone says they are. Packed with 24 hard drives, dual opterons with TT sonic tower, two video cards with zalman copper heatsinks, soundcard with heatsinks, 3 raid cards, and two psu's...

Mine weighs about 120 pounds fully loaded.
 
BlizzofOZ said:
Also considering the Ultra Aluminus... seems like a good case. I just can't seem to find much in the way of reviews and owner reviews on that case. I did find that RadioShack online has the Aluminus for $110 with a $20 and $30 rebates, bringing it down to $59!!!
Click to expand...

Holy crap!!!! I just saw that! $59 for a toolless, all aluminum case with window and removable motherboard tray?!!?!?

I think Radio Shack is out of their freaking collective minds with the rebate deals they've had so far this month.
 
The Psu came with 4 molex / sata [ 2 of the molex have a 4 pin FDD power and 2 of the molex have a 6 pin ( only five pins inside ) at the end of the chain ], 2 PCIE 6 pin on both ends, a 24 pin main, a 8 pin main, and a psu fan connector.

The Ultra - d had 4 power connections. The 2 main plus a molex and a 4 pin floppy power connector.

If I plug in the boards 4 pin floppy, I am left with no floppy power ... if I plug in the boards 4 pin molex [ between the cpu and chipset fan ] I am left with 3 molex ... and I still have 4 or 5 Stacker 4 pin fans to connect

And all is this is with out my HDs and Optical drives. Everywhere I read about this Psu it says you will have enough connectors for every use, huh ..

Does anyone know where I can get some good quality connectors. I guess I need some pretty long 4 pin molex Y cables. I am willing to pay a few dollars extra for some good quality products
 
I am going to need some good quality Y cables, anyone know a place that has rather nice ones?
 
lw3d said:
I am going to need some good quality Y cables, anyone know a place that has rather nice ones?
Click to expand...

4pin molex ones? make them yourself, any length you like. why is BTX a plus for the case? BTX was a failed idea..
 
Buy the Pins, female Plugs and some 18guage wire. 14guage wire's great if you wanna string up more then a couple drives. Google tells me 14guage wire can transport up to 6 amps without melting. That's quite a few drives! You can even get some awesome 90degree black plugs, pair them with some black wire and there's no need for sleeving, It's already stealth :rolleyes:. You can get all these supplies online, maybe at that place you can get masterkleer tubing... it's 2 words... with a hyphen...

Oh, and Google how to make the plugs if you need reassurance on how to make them (they're easy, don't worry).
 
Hell you can get a nice UV reactive plug kit but I prefer getting all 90 degree connectors as mentioned above. It's worth it just to cut all of them off inside the psu case and then have all custom connectors; plus you can sleeve them however you like while you're at it.
 
what about something like this to connect the stacker case fans

or is this a piece of crap :)
 
lw3d said:
I have never dealt with a case like this so any advice would be great.

Any thoughts on where I should put the Psu ... top or bottom
Click to expand...
I've always put mine in the top as the upper PSU cage is useless for anything else.
I've seen waterloop installs where the entire cage has been removed and the radiator mounted in the roof panel, but I don't care for that arrangement too much. One of my coworkers placed his PSU on the bottom just so he could admire it (Hiper 580...which does look pretty spiffy).
lw3d said:
Also, the directions are not to helpful ... I am not to sure how to take out the mesh and plastic covering for the drives ...anh help would be great
Click to expand...
The mounting flanges for the bay covers are quite sturdy, making removal somewhat difficult. Remove the sidepanel and reach through the bay area from the inside and lever one out, pushing as you go. Once you get the first cover off the rest can be removed the same way but you can access from the front.
lw3d said:
The box says the top fan is the only exhaust, if my back fans are set to intake should I turn them aroun and set them to exhaust
Click to expand...
The useless 80mm roof fan is my biggest gripe with the design...why it's not a 120mm I'll never know. I removed mine and made the entire roof panel a meshed vent.
As with any case, only a bit of experimentation will tell you the best arrangement for your particular fan install.
compugoop said:
just wondering about the stacker though, how much dust etc gets in the mesh in the front?
Click to expand...
Depends entirely on how many fans you have as intake and how dusty your room is.
I've never actually used the stock bay covers long enough to know how they work.
BlizzofOZ said:
So again, why the Stacker? And do you like it and why?
Click to expand...
I have never worked with any case that offers so many install options as the Stacker.
By way of reference, currently sitting in my closet are a Silverstone TJ-06 ( also a great case with killer looks (IMO), but just too small) and a Lian-li v2000B (the biggest disappointment I've ever had)...I keep coming back to the STC-101 (I'm now on my third) as the case of choice.
I watercool my PCs and the Stacker offers so many install options without modifying the case (which didn't stop me from modding it, of course) that I would recommend it without reservation.
 
I put the psu on the bottom ...

I have not checked what the top rear 120 mm fan is doing but wouldnt it make sense to have the top rear 120 mm fan exhausting air to make a parralel exhaust system with the psus fan ... then making the top 80 mm an addition intake

is this a correct way of thinking or is this buggered
 
lw3d said:
... then making the top 80 mm an addition intake

is this a correct way of thinking or is this buggered
Click to expand...
Personally, I think it's "buggered".
The stock 80mm fan moves so little air (IIRC...like I said, mine is long gone) that I can't imagine it's actually going to move air anywhere (or onto anything) useful.

There are too many variables in play to know what might work best.
As always, a bit of experimentation will quickly show what is most effective for your install.

You haven't mentioned what video card you'll be using.
Chances are, that will be the most heat intensive component in the case and therefore the focus of your cooling efforts.
Get the video under control and everything else will probably be OK.

If you are going to stick with air cooling, consider flipping the motherboard tray to pseudo-BTX configuration...this will put the "hot" side of the video card facing up and (depending on your use of PCI cards and PSU) might allow for better air management.

The Stacker offers so many options that it might take a while to finally arrive at the best layout but you'll get there eventually.
 
The video card is in my sig ...

I can not turn the board upside down ... it fits in one way ... I need access to the the sound card ports, rear usb and firewire ports

I would need the btx unit to do the above

I was just thinking that with my additional 4 - 3 stacker device in front that I would have those two fans intake air, the top 80 mm intake air, and then the rear 120 mm and the psus fan to exhaust air ... why would that be bad
 
lw3d said:
The video card is in my sig ...

I can not turn the board upside down ... it fits in one way ... I need access to the the sound card ports, rear usb and firewire ports

I would need the btx unit to do the above
Click to expand...
No, you don't.
The entire tray/backplane unit flips and the board fits as normal (albeit upside down).
Like so...
mini-totalloop.jpg

Depending on the revision STC you have, a minor amount of trimming may be necessary (just a bit of a flange that will interfere below the upper PSU cage).
You don't do the BTX conversion at all, just flip and mount on the other side of the case.
All your ports, etc are in the back and accessable.
 
The Stacker came with a HD Adio front panel connector, an AC 97 front panel audio connector, and a whole bunch of unnamed connectors at the end of those two connectors

I put the Karajan aduio module on the boards plugs but I can not find where to put the fromt panel audio connectors?

Also, what gets installed on the boards COM PORT underneath the PCI slots?

Is it ok to install the karajan unit with out the plasctic plug unit?

Next to the bottom psu compartment is a 2 pin green and white connector call INT SW. Is this for the internal speaker? The Ultra - d has 4 pins labeled speaker and so far I have nothing connected ... what do I do here?
 
compugoop said:
just wondering about the stacker though, how much dust etc gets in the mesh in the front?
Click to expand...
On the foam mesh, not much. The grill on the outside does a pretty good job of filtering - the mesh stays clean, but you do have to wipe the outside off every so often.
 
I pretty much have the system setup ... the one thing I can not stand is the cables all over the place

I used tie locks and electric taped some wires but it still needs help :)
 
Keep trying, you'll get there.
The Stacker has lots of room to snake cables around...the motherboard standoffs are abnormally tall so you route lots of stuff behind the board and you can stuff unused cabling into the PSU cage.
Take advantage of all the unused holes between the board and the front bay to clip cables and run them neatly.
lw3d said:
Next to the bottom psu compartment is a 2 pin green and white connector call INT SW. Is this for the internal speaker? The Ultra - d has 4 pins labeled speaker and so far I have nothing connected ... what do I do here?
Click to expand...
I think this is a "Chassis intrusion" switch. My older version does not have this but lots of old school cases used to. If your motherboard supports this feature (I don't think the DFIs do), when booting it will tell you if the sidepanel has been opened since the last shutdown.
Meant to protect your ultra valuable Quantum Bigfoot, I think....
 
I am leaving the Stackers HD Audio and AC 97 front panel connectors off since it breaks the rear panels function

The HD audio and AC 97 stackers connectors are identical, what is for what?

And what are those many 1 pin connectors at the end of those 2 audio connectors ?
 
lw3d said:
And what are those many 1 pin connectors at the end of those 2 audio connectors ?
Click to expand...
Dunno.
I'm using an X-Fi card with headphones jacked into the back so I never had to figure out either the Stacker front panel or the DFI Karajan connectors.
 
sprocket said:
Dunno.
I'm using an X-Fi card with headphones jacked into the back so I never had to figure out either the Stacker front panel or the DFI Karajan connectors.
Click to expand...

Thats why the inside of your case is wire free :)
 
Any of you stacker guys out there ... mind showing some pictures of your wire setup ...
 
I'd put the PSU in the top because it is cleaner looking IMO.
 
lw3d said:
Any of you stacker guys out there ... mind showing some pictures of your wire setup ...
Click to expand...

I'm not at home so I don't have any pictures of it. I might post some when I get home tonight.
 
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