Cooler Master CM Stacker 830 Evolution Review

Cases & PSU/Cases by jmke @ 2007-01-29

What has four wheels, high performance and comes with an insanely high attention to detail? The CM Stacker 830 Evolution is Coolermaster´s latest high end enclosure which can fit up to nine 120mm fans, has 9 5.25 inch drive bays and full ATX/BTX compatibility. The equivalent of a high priced exclusive sports car? Let´s find out.

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Closer look from the outside

Size Comparison

To give you an idea of the size of the CM Stacker 830 Evo I place it next to a 2L Coke bottle; compared to the Antec 900 Mid-size tower, you can clearly see that the Stacker is a full tower.

Antec Nine Hunderd Gaming Case
Madshrimps (c)Madshrimps (c)


Coolermaster CM Stacker 830 Evolution
Madshrimps (c)Madshrimps (c)


Outside features

The 83x series has a unique design, with curved surfaces and ridges in black anodized aluminum, the design portrays a “bad-ass” look and once you’ve seen it up close in person you’ll most likely agree, pictures alone don’t do justice to the overall design and structure.

Madshrimps (c)


Although aluminum is used throughout the building process this case is not a lightweight, carrying around to LAN parties will be a challenge, but CM has a solution for that by means of carrying handles and optional “wheels”.

The front door is also made of brushed aluminum and has a very solid feel, the hinges can be unhooked and the position swapped around, allowing you to choose how the door will swing open. A pair of magnets keeps the door closed and it swivels very smoothly on its hinges, you only need to push it very slightly for the door to close shut. With the door open you can see the 9 5.25” drive bays, each covered by a plastic mesh faceplate.

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A closer look at the top reveals the power/reset button, HDD activity LED, 4 USB ports, 1 Firewire and Audio connections.

Madshrimps (c)
When powered on the custom CM logo lights up blue.

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Comment from SuAside @ 2007/01/29
looks like they fixed some of the previous gripes i had with it.

still, it's a lil' steep in price & i wouldn't really like dragging it to LANs (regardles of the wheels).
Comment from thorgal @ 2007/01/29
Excellent review J.

Only one Q. : doesn't it deserve the High End recommendation ?
Comment from jmke @ 2007/01/29
got another high end case for test this week, and few others which need to be checked before tagging anything
Comment from Sidney @ 2007/01/29
thorgal = award giver?
Comment from thorgal @ 2007/01/29
Quote:
Originally Posted by lazyman View Post
thorgal = award giver?
Not at all Jmke decides over all things big and small
Comment from jmke @ 2007/01/30
there is no such thing as awards!

 

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