Cooler Master Lab Test Bench V1.0 Review

Cases & PSU/Cases by massman @ 2009-11-05

Today we have a look at the Cooler Master Lab open casing, which is built and designed for people who switch hardware on very regular basis. Ideal for reviewers and overclockers and luckily I am both.

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Introduction

Madshrimps (c)


I’ve been a bit more inactive at the site as I’ve helped set up the HWBot Country Cup at HWBot.org, in the meanwhile "big" boss JMke found a way to keep me performing my favorite past time (overclocking) while providing content for the site. When he suggested I could have a look at one of the latest cases of Coolermaster, built and designed for, well, me, I just couldn't refuse.

In any case, I know Coolermaster mostly of their CPU cooling and desktop cases, so I wasn't totally surprised when I had a first quick look at the product in front of me.

Madshrimps (c)
The case wrapped in plastic;


Madshrimps (c)
Looking quite good and feels light.



Madshrimps (c)
Power on and reset button present; the front panel has been kept clean.



Madshrimps (c)
Screws and more similar things. Vital if you want your motherboard and other components to remain in one place!


Let's start building up the test platform! ->
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Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/06
I must say it would have been nice if you had compared this to the HSPC Tech station, which is cheaper, plastic (special insulation material), and just plain simpler (which is good).
There is no need to any screws (at least I don't bother with them). It is taller, which means you can stack more components.

Since you reviewed the Cooler Master, would you have a go at the HSPC, too?
Comment from JimmyJump @ 2009/11/07
I thought the review was good; comprehensive and explanatory, which is what a review should be, right?

That there's no manual included is no surprise to me, as things should be pretty clear to folks who tend to use these set-ups for testing.

The complaint about the rudimentarity and the fact that the rig hasn't space for a second hard drive, to me doesn't hold ground, because the rig is for testing/overclocking purposes, so, how many discs do you want to hang onto a test set-up? Granted, if/when you would be testing a new PSU, a multi disk set-up could come in handy. But then again, if the discs are already built into the case, it could prove easier to just connect the new PSU to the computer harbouring the discs, instead of disassembling your computer to connect the lot to the testing rig...

My two Eurocents.
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/07
having space for multiple disks does come in handy, especially for benchmarks, some apps work better under a certain OS, with multiple disks installed you don't need to swap them out, just connect the sata/power plug differently

@Faiakes: we have another test bench incoming for review, not a HSPC though
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/07
@ jmke
Thanks, that will be interesting!

I forgot to add that even the buttons are not necessary. Quite a few boards have them onboard now or you can buy a very cheap set for your motherboard




Here is my old setup.





The cooldrive contained a Raptor and as you can see I could easily add a second one.

Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/07
effective setup
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/07
Thanks jmke
I know you're not a fan of no case 24/7 setups

Since I'm showing off...I might as well show what the whole setup looked like:



(that's my 24" BenQ FP241W, Accoustic Energy - Aego Series M 2.1 speakers, Enermax Aurora keyboard)
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/07
never said I'm not a fan of it
if I were to test motherboards, ram, hard drives, it would be an essential part of my test gear; but for case, cooling and video card tests it's not needed

you got a clean desk, was that on purpose for this pic?
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/07
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmke View Post
never said I'm not a fan of it
if I were to test motherboards, ram, hard drives, it would be an essential part of my test gear; but for case, cooling and video card tests it's not needed

you got a clean desk, was that on purpose for this pic?
Fair enough

No, I'm a bit of a neat freak. I like minimalistic, clean environments.

Plus when I play I don't want anything interfering. I tend to set the keyboard to the left and use the arrow keys instead of WASD, so I need the space.
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/07
my desk is a little bit more... uhm.. populated?

Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/07
JESUS H. CHRIST !!!

But that is a working space, right?
(please tell me that it is. Otherwise I may fly to Belgium just to sort that room out).
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/07
on the left 2x24" for VGA benches, on the right case/CPU cooler test bench hooked up to 20"; in the middle 24"+22" for workstation. yes it's working space
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/07
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmke View Post
on the left 2x24" for VGA benches, on the right case/CPU cooler test bench hooked up to 20"; in the middle 24"+22" for workstation. yes it's working space
Few...I feel better now

Why would you need 2*24" to test a graphics card?
I fact, why do you need more than 3 monitors?
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/07
speeds up testing, I can test 2 VGA cards at the same time, head to head
Quote:
We used a VIP-844-BC 4 port PS/2 Keyboard Multicaster, which allows you to control up to 4 PCs simultaneously with one keyboard, for the mouse we used 2 Logitech MX1000 receivers and synchronized one MX1000 with both receivers, with this setup we are able to control both PCs 99% simultaneously. It proved a challenge to set up at first as every window and field in Windows has to match up 100% otherwise you would have to focus on one system each, using a HDD image copy we got a complete setup match and benchmarking could start.
http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&articID=953


there are 7 working PCs in that room
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/07
OK, too many PCs for me...
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/07
I use only 1 for data, others are test
Comment from Massman @ 2009/11/07
I don't think you want to see my 'working space'. It'll give you a stroke for sure.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyJump View Post
The complaint about the rudimentarity and the fact that the rig hasn't space for a second hard drive, to me doesn't hold ground, because the rig is for testing/overclocking purposes, so, how many discs do you want to hang onto a test set-up?
Actually, I have more than three harddisk drives to begin with: Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. The reason is quite simple: when installing a new operating system, there will be no issues with the multi-boot options.

Having more than 1 space for a harddisk drive is, for me, quite a disappointment.
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/07
Quote:
Originally Posted by Massman View Post
I don't think you want to see my 'working space'. It'll give you a stroke for sure.
Yes. I'd rather you didn't.
I think I'll have trouble sleeping tonight, after seeing jmke's work space
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/07
our places are squeaky clean compared to some other bench setups


src:http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...52&postcount=1

that keyboard
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/07
Jmke I nearly threw up...

Did you have to do that? Are you purposely trying to keep me awake tonight?
Comment from JimmyJump @ 2009/11/07
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmke View Post
having space for multiple disks does come in handy, especially for benchmarks, some apps work better under a certain OS, with multiple disks installed you don't need to swap them out, just connect the sata/power plug differently
Sure, but when you're more or less in the do-it-yerself business, you can make a separate rig for hard drives, like the slip-in HD-area from an 'old' chieftec BA-tower, or the modules from some Antec or Chieftec Dragonmaster cases. The latter even have the possibility to build-in a cooling fan.

I like the CoolerMaster Lab Bench, but should I use a lot of my spare time (in fact, time is usually all that I have left) doing multi-testing, I would still build my own test-bench/rig/set-up/whatever, just like most of you guys 'n' dolls do.

I mean, why spend the better part of 100 euro, or more, on a rig that doesn't meet the general idea of what you need, when you can build it yourself and pretty cheap at that.

Okay, the above doesn't change one iota to the fact that indeed, there's no space for more discs in the CoolerMaster rig, but you catch my drift. I hope.
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/07
Quote:
you can make a separate rig for hard drives
then you can also make a bench table without much problem
the aim of buying a pre-build unit is not to have to waste time building one
Comment from JimmyJump @ 2009/11/07
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmke View Post
then you can also make a bench table without much problem
That was the general idea of/behind my reply...

Quote:
Originally Posted by jmke View Post
the aim of buying a pre-build unit is not to have to waste time building one
Absolutely correct amigo, so open-up the window and shout "pull" and we can have a at the thing...
Comment from Gamer @ 2009/11/07
I haven't used a case in years.

This looks tidy isn't it ?

On the left :


And on the right :




Oeps
Comment from JimmyJump @ 2009/11/08
Hey Gamer, can I come over for a slurp of an overfull cup of coffee, in the close vicinity of yer rigs? yes-yes-yes-phulleeze???
Comment from Gamer @ 2009/11/08
With a zip of whiskey in it ?

Always welcome !!
Comment from leeghoofd @ 2009/11/08
Nutty professors and experts never have a clean desk Sorry Faiakes... I won't even post my piccies of my desk under normal circumstances as it will scare you to death ( CPU's,GPU's, rams everywhere) only thing I put in boxes are the mobo's (unlike Massman)
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/09
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gamer View Post
I haven't used a case in years.

This looks tidy isn't it ?

On the left :
And on the right :

Oeps
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!

(although not as bad as jmke's )

I like the glass but I don't trust myself not to break it.
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/09
Quote:
Originally Posted by Faiakes View Post
(although not as bad as jmke's )
.
thanks for that. You haven't seen the other side of the office either... imagine 120 heatsinks in a huge tower
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/09
No....no.....NOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Comment from jmke @ 2009/11/09
well, at least in my office I can throw around a beach ball without worrying it will destroy my computer
Comment from nigel @ 2009/11/15
hehehe
love that one from Hipro
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/15
Quote:
Originally Posted by leeghoofd View Post
Nutty professors and experts never have a clean desk Sorry Faiakes...
That is not a rule, don't try to pretend that it is

The REALLY cool people have everything under control, neat and tidy (that's what I like to think anyway )
Comment from Massman @ 2009/11/15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Faiakes View Post
That is not a rule, don't try to pretend that it is
Oh no! I thought it was a rule and made a mess of my room this weekend.
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Massman View Post
Oh no! I thought it was a rule and made a mess of my room this weekend.
At best it might be a geek identification tendency but I think even that is a stretch.

Some people are just messy (and lazy )
Comment from Massman @ 2009/11/15
I'm both multiplied by both.
Comment from Faiakes @ 2009/11/15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Massman View Post
I'm both multiplied by both.
Hmmm......messy, lazy, technology obsessed and completely honest about it....definitely a geek
Comment from Massman @ 2009/11/15
I do indeed sound like one ... I described a characteristic of me in terms of a mathematical equation.

 

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