CoolerMaster Al Cases

[FiL]

I'm currently looking at the Coolermaster ATC200 and ATC201 Aluminium cases, does anyone have any opinions on these cases?

presently i've got a VERY cheap case ($35 with 300W PSU too)

and it locks up a lot, i was wondering about getting a lovely Al case and enermax PSU to stop random (heat related) lock ups.

<font color=red>isit alan?</font color=red>

 

[DeViLgunner]

My friend has the Coolermaster ATC-200 and it is great. Not only is it very quiet, it also is great at cooling. But the downside is the price on them. Since I plan on going watercooling my next case will be the Koolance PC2-601.

 

[FiL]

well with 4x80mm case fans and Al casing (and the price tag) i'm glad they're great at cooling.

I'm personally put off water cooling, as i don't really OC, but my cheap case (no case fans) gets VERY warm just at stock temperatures, hence the ATC-200 should solve this.

<font color=red>isit alan?</font color=red>

 

[dad11345]

I have the 101 and love it looking at the 410 now. Cooler master is expensive but I feel its the best.

 

[kdo2milger]

I have the ATC-210 (Fog Verdant), my first DIY pc. I love this case, sometimes I just sit and look at it, and I can't believe I actually have it. Do yourself a Huge Favor and invest your money in one, you will not be disappointed. I also spent the extra doe on an Enermax EG651VA (FMA) power supply, so I don't think I will need to upgrade my pc for sometime to come...

We all love disassembling things to see how it works, but who wants to put it back together again?

 

[FiL]

well my 431W Enermax PSU arrived in the post this morning, i feel that 431W is far in excess of what modern, single CPU PC's require, so that's my PSU sorted out, now I'm shopping for a case.

Yes the 210 looks very, very nice, but is the cooling as good as the 201 though? Also i'd like a case with Front Firewire ports, the CoolerMaster cases only have USB at the moment.

<font color=red>isit alan?</font color=red>

 

[kdo2milger]

My ATC210 has a passive bottom front airflow access hole, but if your looking for one like the ATC201, then you should check out the Enermax CS-989AL case @ directron.com, it also has front device access to include USB and a firewire port that you want. The price is a little high, $255.00, but thats Enermax qualiy...High quality...High price...We get what we pay for...I'm willing to pay a little more for that quality. I purchased my ATC210 @ directron.com, and it arrived 2 days later, fast good service.

We all love disassembling things to see how it works, but who wants to put it back together again?

 

[FiL]

yes i know, i'm prepared to pay a little more if it means the components will work as they're supposed to.

I still might get the CoolerMaster 201-SX, and hope that i can get an upgrade to install firewire ports later

<font color=red>isit alan?</font color=red>

 

[kdo2milger]

UPDATE!!!
I found the Enermax CS989AL-01-1 for $240.00, @ newegg.com, w/ stunning pics to enjoy...as for quality, we are talking about Enermax, one of the best in manufacturing PSU's. I also think they offer up among the best performance in cases as well. If you are that keen on getting the ATC-201, you could always purchase the Enermax Multi-Function Access Panel, I got mine from crazypc.com in silver to match the aluminum color. I't has 2 USB, a Firewire, an AGP, and an LCD w/ one flat temperature probe to monitor cpu, HD, or case temps. Only set back that I can really say about it is that you will have to sacrifice a 5 1/4 bay....Happy hunting in which ever one you decide to go with

We all love disassembling things to see how it works, but who wants to put it back together again?

 

[FiL]

I've just been talking with coolermaster here in the UK, and they say they have their own USB/Firewire upgrade kit which fits in a 5 1/4 drive bay.....I might well get that and the ATC 200 or ATC 201 now

<font color=red>isit alan?</font color=red>

 

[kdo2milger]

Would you post that link to the 5 1/4 bay panel, I am unable to find it myself.

We all love disassembling things to see how it works, but who wants to put it back together again?

 

[FiL]

Yes I'm unable to find a link for it too, I've written an email to Coolermaster UK requesting an URL for this Firewire peice, so I'll post the URL up as soon as they respond.



<font color=red>isit alan?</font color=red>

 

[FiL]

Mm i made a mistake, the firewire part actually fits in a 3 1/4 drive bay.
I know that Cooler Master have already made a "USB only" 3 1/4 part, you can see it at the bottom of this page <A HREF="http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Aluminium_Cases_29.html" target="_new">http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Aluminium_Cases_29.html</A>

we'll just have to wait for CM to respond for the URL for the Firewire upgrade

<font color=red>isit alan?</font color=red>

 

[kdo2milger]

I have the Soyo KT333 Dragon Ultra Platinum Edition, it came w/ a Sigma 3 1/2" bay panel w/ 2 USB 2.0 ports, CF, and SM ports, So my two 3 1/2" bays are utilized, looks like I'll have to settle for my Enermax Multi-Function Access Panel.

We all love disassembling things to see how it works, but who wants to put it back together again?

 

[FiL]

Here's a link to my case as it is at the moment.

<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/mol_gen" target="_new">http://www.geocities.com/mol_gen</A>

the AL case is on it's way at the moment

<font color=red>isit alan?</font color=red>

 

[FiL]

here's the link as promised

<A HREF="http://www.coolermaster.de/ieee1394.htm" target="_new">http://www.coolermaster.de/ieee1394.htm</A>

<font color=red><A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/mol_gen" target="_new"> And Safe</A></font color=red><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by FiL on 07/08/02 12:39 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[kdo2milger]

Yes I believe your right about the fluctuating voltage, looks a little fishy. Good decision on going w/ Enermax, 450w should be adequate, and still leave you with room to expand...

We all love disassembling things to see how it works, but who wants to put it back together again?

 

[FiL]

I've got the Enermax, the ATC 201 (which is beautiful)

and it's all great, and about 7 degrees Celcius colder than the previous case when on full load (but similar idle temps)

but i still have the lock ups

so now it's either my

CPU
Mobo
or my Mains Power Supply...I'm in an old building perhaps it can't take the drain of an AthlonXP : )

<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/mol_gen" target="_new"><font color=red>My Computer</font color=red></A>

 

[kdo2milger]

What kind and how old is your mobo?

<font color=red><b>Wealllovedisassemblingthingstoseehowitworks,butwhowantstoputitbacktogetheragain?

 

[FiL]

mobo is a Soltek 75-DRV2 that uses the VIA KT266A chipset.


It got bought in February/March time

<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/mol_gen" target="_new"><font color=red>My Computer</font color=red></A>

 

[kdo2milger]

Here are some pics of my new toy!!!

<A HREF="http://home.earthlink.net/~kdo2milger" target="_new">http://home.earthlink.net/~kdo2milger</A>


<font color=red><b>Wealllovedisassemblingthingstoseehowitworks,butwhowantstoputitbacktogetheragain?

 

[kai_kai]

hey there
i notice my voltage fluctuates alot, does that mean i need to upgrade my psu since my current psu is a generic (crappy eh) 400w on a single cpu setup therefore the cause of fluctuation in voltage may not be due to insufficient power rite??
should i go w/ enermax 431w or 550w to be safe?? i do overclock like hell on my cpu, gpu and mem.

btw your cm case looks very elegant! luv it
in fact i spent much more then the cm case you paid for on all my modding tools and parts on my generic case...LoL...it looks more crappy then before..i was so into heavy modding, cut too many holes and windows w/ my inmature skills and spray painted it in fluorescence..ha it looks like pos now

 

[kdo2milger]

I've read from alot of different sources that generic psu's do not perform on the same scale as far as power ratings are concerned; for ex. a generic 400w and a antec or enermax 400w, the antec and enermax will give you the rated power that they claim, but the generic may only give you a true 300 to 350w power rating. It has become my educated opinion that when it comes to building and oc'ing pc's with amd one should always consider a well established name when it comes to the psu, after all would'nt it be thought of as the heart of your system...and the extra headroom will give you peace of mind, so antec or enermax with atleast 400w would be my recommendation, ya they can be a little pricey and more than most people are willing to pay for, but the psu is an essential part of the system when it comes to oc'ing and is a key integral part of the whole...I think most people probably take that for granite.

<font color=red><b>Wealllovedisassemblingthingstoseehowitworks,butwhowantstoputitbacktogetheragain?

 

[kai_kai]

thx for your reply
i know very little when it comes to the psu. now i kinda understand why most oc'ers would rather pay more for a brand name psu. =) i think it worths it as i have 10+ case fans, 2 hds, 2 optical drives and other power-consuming peripherals, im sure a true 400w power is what i need! i decide to get a brand name (either antec or enermax, whichever is available in my area) psu asap. thanx again. =)