After debating for some time on what new case to purchase, I finally settled on the Cooler Master Stacker 810 in black: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119093.
This case is a bit bigger than I wanted, but has all the features I was looking for. In my old case, my AMD 3700+ (overclocked to 2.77Ghz with a XP-120 & Panaflo) was about 35C at idle and now it is at 29C.
The screwless locking feature on this case is superb, and unlike many cheaper cases, has the locks on both sides of the 5.25" bays. These are simply the quickest and best I have ever come across. With the PSU at the bottom, hiding extra cables up behind the motherboard is a cinch, without the headaches of trying to tuck away cables that want to hang down in a typical case. All the power cables with my TruePowerII 550 worked great with the case. Since the PSU is at the bottom and a mesh intake at the bottom of the case, a thick carpet could be an issue, but that is easily bypassed as the PSU plate is reversable, and I just mounted by PSU 'upside down.'
UPDATE: I just bought an Aerocool ZERODBA modular 620W PSU, and all the power leads reached without any hassle or trouble. Quiet PSU, looks really great, and the sleeved cables are surprisingly flexible.
CONS: The manual is pathetic. Even though the case came with a Stacker Bracket (for mounting 3.5" devices like a floppy in a 5.25" bay) the manual did not even mention how to mount the side brackets to the 3.5" device. I had to go to the CM global site to get the installation instructions there: http://www.coolermaster.com/installation_manual/Stacker%20FDD-02.pdf
The rails for the screwless locking feature (which themselves don't even need screws) have 'right' and 'left' markings, but again, no direction from the manual. FYI - right and left is referenced from looking at the item or case head on from the front.
Noted by other owners, installing expansion cards can be a hassle. The 'tongues' on the end of the expansion card bracket must be worked into a slot that secures the opposite end from the thumbscrew. Needless to say, the slot could stand to be a bit wider. The cards will go in, but it takes patience and care. Once in, they are very secure. Would hate to have to change them out frequently though. However, maybe with use the slots would loosen up.
Strange note: the majority of the case is steel frame, however, the side panels are a nice brushed aluminum. The top is painted black. Why not make the top brushed aluminum as well? Stupid, but only noticeable in a brightly lit room and up close to the case. I am thinking of modding the top to put in a 120mm blowhole.
The 4-3 device module doesn't dampen drive noise well because only the device is isolated by rubber grommets and not the individual drives. So drive noise can still be an issue. I ordered some Zalman heatpipe drive coolers/silencers to replace the 4-3 module. This is why I love a case with all 5.25" bays.
The stock fans are silent but don't move a whole lot of air, so I replaced with Arctic Cooling 120mm fans. (Had a spare Nexus 80mm I had sleeved for the blowhole, but it performs just like the original). I also removed the 120mm grills at the back to get better airflow.
Overall, I am really pleased with the case. I like the look, and the size really isn't that bad. To be perfect, this thing could be fully aluminum like the 830, but the 830 has that love it or hate it look with a stupid front door! I wish CM would have forgone the 830 and just made an all aluminum version of this case. Now that would have been perfect. Oh well, I still like the 810, and its cooling is wonderful.
BTW -- The side panels are interchangeable as well, though you will need to remove the side panel fan bracket (using an allen wrench). I did this because my case has the left side up against my desk (I wanted it flush) and by swapping the panels, the case pulls more air through the front, cooling my drives better (as they are now passively cooled by the Zalman coolers).
This case is a bit bigger than I wanted, but has all the features I was looking for. In my old case, my AMD 3700+ (overclocked to 2.77Ghz with a XP-120 & Panaflo) was about 35C at idle and now it is at 29C.
The screwless locking feature on this case is superb, and unlike many cheaper cases, has the locks on both sides of the 5.25" bays. These are simply the quickest and best I have ever come across. With the PSU at the bottom, hiding extra cables up behind the motherboard is a cinch, without the headaches of trying to tuck away cables that want to hang down in a typical case. All the power cables with my TruePowerII 550 worked great with the case. Since the PSU is at the bottom and a mesh intake at the bottom of the case, a thick carpet could be an issue, but that is easily bypassed as the PSU plate is reversable, and I just mounted by PSU 'upside down.'
UPDATE: I just bought an Aerocool ZERODBA modular 620W PSU, and all the power leads reached without any hassle or trouble. Quiet PSU, looks really great, and the sleeved cables are surprisingly flexible.
CONS: The manual is pathetic. Even though the case came with a Stacker Bracket (for mounting 3.5" devices like a floppy in a 5.25" bay) the manual did not even mention how to mount the side brackets to the 3.5" device. I had to go to the CM global site to get the installation instructions there: http://www.coolermaster.com/installation_manual/Stacker%20FDD-02.pdf
The rails for the screwless locking feature (which themselves don't even need screws) have 'right' and 'left' markings, but again, no direction from the manual. FYI - right and left is referenced from looking at the item or case head on from the front.
Noted by other owners, installing expansion cards can be a hassle. The 'tongues' on the end of the expansion card bracket must be worked into a slot that secures the opposite end from the thumbscrew. Needless to say, the slot could stand to be a bit wider. The cards will go in, but it takes patience and care. Once in, they are very secure. Would hate to have to change them out frequently though. However, maybe with use the slots would loosen up.
Strange note: the majority of the case is steel frame, however, the side panels are a nice brushed aluminum. The top is painted black. Why not make the top brushed aluminum as well? Stupid, but only noticeable in a brightly lit room and up close to the case. I am thinking of modding the top to put in a 120mm blowhole.
The 4-3 device module doesn't dampen drive noise well because only the device is isolated by rubber grommets and not the individual drives. So drive noise can still be an issue. I ordered some Zalman heatpipe drive coolers/silencers to replace the 4-3 module. This is why I love a case with all 5.25" bays.
The stock fans are silent but don't move a whole lot of air, so I replaced with Arctic Cooling 120mm fans. (Had a spare Nexus 80mm I had sleeved for the blowhole, but it performs just like the original). I also removed the 120mm grills at the back to get better airflow.
Overall, I am really pleased with the case. I like the look, and the size really isn't that bad. To be perfect, this thing could be fully aluminum like the 830, but the 830 has that love it or hate it look with a stupid front door! I wish CM would have forgone the 830 and just made an all aluminum version of this case. Now that would have been perfect. Oh well, I still like the 810, and its cooling is wonderful.
BTW -- The side panels are interchangeable as well, though you will need to remove the side panel fan bracket (using an allen wrench). I did this because my case has the left side up against my desk (I wanted it flush) and by swapping the panels, the case pulls more air through the front, cooling my drives better (as they are now passively cooled by the Zalman coolers).
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