CoolerMaster Cavalier 4 desktop case

[Wolfshanze]

I never did catch on to tower cases... always prefered desktops. Since I build my own systems, I have been able to stay current using desktop cases, but have been looking for something "jazzier" then a standard beige box.

I ran across the CoolerMaster Cavalier 4 Desktop case recently and thought it looked good.

My only problem with the case, though it is an ATX case, it doesn't seem to have a standard ATX PSU. The one that comes with it is only 300watts... not enough for my needs. I want to drop a beefier (480w) PSU in the case, but alas, the whole "proprietary" power supply thing scares me.

Anybody have this case? Anybody know if there's a way to drop a GOOD power supply in here? I can't use this case if I'm stuck at 300watts!

 

[wisdomtooth]

I had a Coolermaster Cavalier desktop case.

Worst $100 I've ever spent.

The PSU is noisy, it is an SFX-form factor unit that is very difficult to find replacement for, and the bezel underneath the door was plastic painted to look like "metal."

Do yourself a favor.. Save yourself $100 and get something better from the start. Like a Silverstone LC03.

HTH.

 

[Insomniak]

If you're going with CoolerMaster, the WaveMaster or Centurion will serve you much better.

 

[wisdomtooth]

Like me, the OP is old fashioned and wants a desktop case, not towers.

 

[Wolfshanze]

Thanks wisdomtooth... that is the response I needed to hear, though not the one I wanted to hear! You confirmed my suspicions/fears.

Unfortunately, I had already ordered the case before I realized it was a propriety PSU... after all, who the heck sells end-user custom cases with non industry-standard parts?!?! Especially a case advertised as an ATX case without the proper place for an ATX PSU?!?! I have an Antec 480 true-blue PSU in my current desktop case, and had every intention of simply moving it over to the new case until I realized there was no ATX PSU mount to be found in the case!

DANG, DANG, DANG, DANG!!!!

The case arrives on Monday, and I already don't want it! At least I ordered it from NewEgg... BACK IT WILL GO!

Wisdomtooth, you were also correct on my old-fashioned tastes... I prefer DESKTOP to Tower. I have neither the desire nor the inclanation to ever go to tower if I can avoid it at all.

My second choice was the Silverstone LC03... I guess that should have been my first choice! So I take it that it is a good case to go with for a desktop case then?!?!

Exactly how many good custom black desktop cases are there to choose from? I could honestly only find about three that were full ATX black desktop cases (for some reason, case manufacturers seem to think the only people interested in desktop cases want either a boring beige case or a mini-ATX or FLEX form factor case).

I will probably go with the Silverstone LC03-B... are there any other FULL ATX black desktop cases out there?

P.S.
I wrote Coolermaster about the PSU and mentioned it was not enough and I would want to swap it out with a bigger ATX PSU... this was their response:

We will have 350watt PSU in March. Please check back with us for the PSU. Thank you for choosing our Products!

Oh joy... instead of being four years behind the power curve, the PSU will now only be three years behind the power curve! Way to keep up with the times Coolermaster! Instead of wasting our time with wussy SFX form-factor PSUs, why not make the bay accept a standard ATX PSU so if we don't want your worthless PSU we can put our own in?!?!

 

[wisdomtooth]

Ah feel your pain, compadre. Nice-looking desktop cases were so hard to find, I had to stick with an Enlight 7200 for the past 6 years. It is the only decent-looking full ATX desktop case I could find back then.

The HTPC movement is bringing back desktop ATX cases though, and some of the real beauties like Silverstones now gives us a choice. Finally.

I've never liked towers... I hate having to dive under a desk or get on my knees every time I want to open my computer to mess with innards. With a desktop case, I just whip open the cover and it's right there at convenient waist-height. Anyway, I digress...

I LOVE the Silverstone LC03 I got to replace the banished Coolermaster.

My beastie

It is a great desktop case IMHO... Removable motherboard tray, ALL METAL construction, beautifully styled with shiny automotive lacquer finish, takes a standard ATX PSU (I use a truly-silent Seasonic Super Tornado 350), and it's actually shorter than most desktop cases out there at less than 16 inches deep. The only downside is that it can get just a bit cramped inside with the optical drives in position, but it's a small price to pay IMHO for all the other nice features.

BTW, I bought my LC03 from PC Alchemy. Much cheaper than Newegg, and they got good service. (cheaper by almost $30)

HTH!

 

[Wolfshanze]

Thanks again for the info wisdomtooth.

I completey agree with you with the "desktop love" reasons. I'm getting too old to be diving under desks every time I want to swap out a CD/DVD! If folks want towers, more power to them, I just don't understand why they stopped supporting custom desktop designs!?!?

Thanks for the pic of your desktop... perhaps you are a bit too old-fashioned... you might want to clean off that keyboard! :laugh:

Switching from Beige to Black, I decided to change out my faceplates or pick up new drives... so I'm getting a black LS120 drive and I actually located a black Toshiba SDM1912 DVD drive (that was a hard find). My Plextor 716A DVD burner already came with an optional black plate, and my new LCD monitor is all-black... now I'm just waiting on my new black keyboard (104keys of course... hate those multimedia keyboards) and my new black optical mouse.

I guess I need to order the Silverstone then... thanks again for the advice on the case. I found another store called Sundial Micro.com that has really good prices too... just need to check resellerratings.com to see which company has the best rating(s) between Sundial and PC Alchemy.