coolermaster stacker...

[nefariouscaine]

I have the chance to get the case for the tone of $75 bucks -- opened box, unused with all original parts

for reference
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119039

I'm using a TT Tsunami Dream Case right now but I'm getting limited in space now

3 hdds
dvd combo
fan controller
sound card
front sound card panel
8800gts
pci slot fan
scythe ninja
etc...

I really can't dream about putting my hand in there with out touching 3 things at once
cable management sucks as there isn't much slack on any given cable

I was debating on stepping up to a dual psu rig as I use most of the output I'm comfortable putting on a 500w unit (and I have psu's sitting around) and as the move on to a bigger vid card isn't too too far off. but I can't barely fit one card now...

If you've used this case, use this case, or use another case of similar ability please give me advice or suggestions regarding this case

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: nefariouscaine
I have the chance to get the case for the tone of $75 bucks -- opened box, unused with all original parts

for reference
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119039

I'm using a TT Tsunami Dream Case right now but I'm getting limited in space now

3 hdds
dvd combo
fan controller
sound card
front sound card panel
8800gts
pci slot fan
scythe ninja
etc...

I really can't dream about putting my hand in there with out touching 3 things at once
cable management sucks as there isn't much slack on any given cable

I was debating on stepping up to a dual psu rig as I use most of the output I'm comfortable putting on a 500w unit (and I have psu's sitting around) and as the move on to a bigger vid card isn't too too far off. but I can't barely fit one card now...

If you've used this case, use this case, or use another case of similar ability please give me advice or suggestions regarding this case

Have it LOVE it for 75 bucks get it fast.

 

[covert24]

Meh, looks too much like my thermaltake armor tower which is a piece

 

[KTL]

For $75, GET IT! I have one and granted, there isn't much hidden area to route all the cables, but there's enough room inside there to tuck it neatly. I recently put the GeminII in there and didn't even make that cooler look any bigger than it actually is!

Picture

I also had two PSUs in there before (550-W on top and 500-W on bottom), but if you get one that's powerful enough, you don't need to have two.

 

[WildHorse]

I have a CM Stacker. It's a real good, very large, case.

You can hide some of your cables between the right side wall and the outer removable panel that goes over that side wall.

Also, it's well worth it to buy the extra sideflow fan. That sideflow fan makes a tremendous difference for me. Costs around $30 for the fan as an aftermarket item at Newegg..

 

[MotF Bane]

get it get it get it get it geitgietigeitiegiietiiegetigeti!

Just remember it weighs about 35-40 pounds empty.

 

[nefariouscaine]

got it for 73 bucks -- sitting in my back seat waiting to install this weekend

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: nefariouscaine
got it for 73 bucks -- sitting in my back seat waiting to install this weekend

I H8 you.

 

[nefariouscaine]

Originally posted by: KTL
For $75, GET IT! I have one and granted, there isn't much hidden area to route all the cables, but there's enough room inside there to tuck it neatly. I recently put the GeminII in there and didn't even make that cooler look any bigger than it actually is!

Picture

I also had two PSUs in there before (550-W on top and 500-W on bottom), but if you get one that's powerful enough, you don't need to have two.

thought about doing that but I already have some spare "decent" antec and ultra psu's kicking it around collecting dust so I might as well use one to split up power and give me the extra connectors i've been looking for -- all those fans and drives but only so many molex connectors

 

[nefariouscaine]

installed now -- I'll post up a pic or two later today -- a little hard to hide the cables from 2 psu's but I have connectors to spare for all 9-10 fans in there now

it is massive now - was heavy empty but now...sheesh, its gotta be close to 80 lbs

but now i have room for a gtx or sli and power to spare

 

[WildHorse]

Welcome to our CM Stacker owners' club.

Your club initiation is to dance the chicken naked around the campfire while singing the AT Forums theme song.

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: scott
Welcome to our CM Stacker owners' club.

Your club initiation is to dance the chicken naked around the campfire while singing the AT Forums theme song.

I just hate it when you guys do that!

 

[CP5670]

If you aren't using all the drive bays in the front, you can put in 120mm intake fans there (without having to buy extra 4 in 3 modules) by suspending them with cable ties. I use this arrangement and it works very well.

 

[Pyrokinetic]

Hi nefariouscaine! I have the Stacker 810, which is very similiar to the STC-T01; the only real difference being the dual 120mm exhaust fans in back with no option to mount the PSU up top. I posted a review here of the 810 some time ago, it might provide you some insight:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...yword1=Stacker+AND+810

BTW -- I love the case, and have never had a reason to regret buying it.

 

[nefariouscaine]

Originally posted by: CP5670
If you aren't using all the drive bays in the front, you can put in 120mm intake fans there (without having to buy extra 4 in 3 modules) by suspending them with cable ties. I use this arrangement and it works very well.

so far i had to remove the mounting on the side for the 80mm fan - way too small to begin with but it was hitting my ninja when closing the door

I zip tied a couple of yate loon fans i had laying around and thats working for now // might add one more intake fan with zip ties

I'm looking for a cam to take pics with now but hiding cables is a chore with 5-120mm fans (3 are exhaust, 1 intake and 1 internal flow) / 2 80 mm fans (1 exhaust, 1 for ram) / 3 40mm fans (1 for NB, 1 for SB, 1 for ram) / pci slot fan / scythe ninja with a silverstone 120mm high cfm fan / 2 psu's / sound card with front panel / 8800gts

 

[BonzaiDuck]

My opinion: 1) too many fans; 2) I'd allocate more of the 120mm fans to intake.

I had been considering purchase of this same Stacker case for more than two years. Here's what I would've done with it:

1) Block off the circular side-panel vent with a Lexan panel
2) Use at least two or more 120mm fans for intake running at speeds below 1,800rpm.
3) Duct the heatpipe cooler to a rear exhaust fan
4) Duct the motherboard to a rear exhaust fan

I'd try and limit the number of fans to 5, but I'd also be inclined to keep the CoolerMaster barrel-fan as a sixth.

Again, I would've bought the Stacker, but I got this for free:

1994 Compaq ProLiant Business Server Case

This case is about 8.5" wide, 24" deep and about 3" higher than most full-tower cases, but it only provides some extra space over what a Stacker might have given me, and -- like I said -- "it was free."

Here's the preview-glimpse of what I will eventually post at this site as a project -- once it's finished:

1994 Compaq + (1997 IBM Midtower and 1999 Dell parts)

The double-wheeled casters have a 3-inch wheel-diameter -- a fact that provides a sense of scale to the pictures. There are four 140mm intake fan-ports, and I've cut Lexan squares to cover fans or ports not in use. One of the intake fans will be mounted to the rear of the large drive cage; two 120mm fans will serve as exhaust. I've constructed a duct-box for two of the 140mm fans in the case bottom, which, for the casters, will have unrestricted air-intake from the floor with minimum noise.

 

[nefariouscaine]

Originally posted by: BonzaiDuck
My opinion: 1) too many fans; 2) I'd allocate more of the 120mm fans to intake.

I had been considering purchase of this same Stacker case for more than two years. Here's what I would've done with it:

1) Block off the circular side-panel vent with a Lexan panel
2) Use at least two or more 120mm fans for intake running at speeds below 1,800rpm.
3) Duct the heatpipe cooler to a rear exhaust fan
4) Duct the motherboard to a rear exhaust fan

I'd try and limit the number of fans to 5, but I'd also be inclined to keep the CoolerMaster barrel-fan as a sixth.

Again, I would've bought the Stacker, but I got this for free:

1994 Compaq ProLiant Business Server Case

This case is about 8.5" wide, 24" deep and about 3" higher than most full-tower cases, but it only provides some extra space over what a Stacker might have given me, and -- like I said -- "it was free."

Here's the preview-glimpse of what I will eventually post at this site as a project -- once it's finished:

1994 Compaq + (1997 IBM Midtower and 1999 Dell parts)

The double-wheeled casters have a 3-inch wheel-diameter -- a fact that provides a sense of scale to the pictures. There are four 140mm intake fan-ports, and I've cut Lexan squares to cover fans or ports not in use. One of the intake fans will be mounted to the rear of the large drive cage; two 120mm fans will serve as exhaust. I've constructed a duct-box for two of the 140mm fans in the case bottom, which, for the casters, will have unrestricted air-intake from the floor with minimum noise.

i'm a bit nutty with fans - yes i know this. I should just go to water but I trust air...

I really thought exhaust was more important for air flow than intake was -- I mean I might only have the one active fan pulling air in the the front is mesh and I can feel the air getting pulled in by the amount of exhaust

as far as limiting the number of fans to 5 thats not gonna happen - 4 alone are for active cooling on my NB, SB, and ram - I might be able to go to 1 fan on the ram but I need (want) active cooling on my NB, SB and ram as I overclock and being in Los Angeles with no air conditioning I need all the help I can get...

i'm not too worried about noise as the pc isn't louder than the fan I have going in my room 99% of the time

i might try some of those suggestions but as it stands right now I'm happy with my temps

stressed out I'm getting 55-57 core temps full load orthos top end @ 3.2ghz
35ish C on my ram/nb/sb (separate heat sensors)
RAM at DDR2-1000 with 2.259v /
NB at 1.56v and
my video card over clocked is topping out at 70c stressed with ATI tool at 650mhz Core and 1050mhz(2100) memory

really i just want to lower my cpu temps but i will just wait to get a quad core to upgrade all that

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm not heaping criticism on you, and frankly -- I'm in a snit today because of a dead BIOS chip, and some SATA cabling difficulties. And there are "other domestic" distractions as well. So if my post here seems either terse or blunt, do not take it personally.

I've been a proponent of motherboard ducting on this forum -- for either air or watercooling -- for at least two years. It started when some member posted his "accomplishment" with a referral to an OverClockers.com article on the technique.

At the same time, many have argued that pressurized cases are warmer cases, and I regard this as myth and half-truth. It is true if warm air is allowed to mix in the pressurized case with fresher air. It is false if the pressurized air is kept cool before it serves its purpose moving past hot components toward an immediate and swift exhaust. Low air pressure inside the case means that each cubic foot of air has less molecules and therefore "stuff" to gather heat from heatsinks and components, so depending on a high exhaust rate may depressurize the case if intake is restricted.

You will find that many OEM computer manufacturers have some simple ducting arrangement around the CPU cooler -- and generally such that the duct ports air toward an exhaust fan. OEMs deliberately choose two things: their case-designs, and their motherboards. This means they can mass-produce plastic-ducts with little inconvenience or additional costs.

So why doesn't "ducting" prevail? Several reasons, and the OEM phenomenon only hints at them.

First -- if you do it yourself, it's a lot of tedious work.

Second -- ducting must be custom-fitted to a) CPU coolers, b) the motherboard, and (even) c) other expansion cards and components.

Third -- ducting must be custom-fitted to the computer case and its exhaust ports, and it might even be custom-fitted to the intake ports as well.

This explains why Intel made the big promotion on BTX case design, because the BTX design allowed intake air to go right past the motherboard and CPU toward an expeditious exhaust at the case-rear. It also explains Silverstone's case-design with the four-inch Lexan/Acrylic duct-tube.

If there were only one, single standard for computer-case designs, motherboard manufacturers might provide plastic ducts bundled with their motherboards. If there were only one single motherboard design, case-manufacturers might supply plastic ducts bundled with their cases.

On to the "number of fans" issue:

Anyone doing case-mods should be making those mods with an eye toward keeping the number of fans at a minimum -- OR -- balancing the number of fans against the desired CFM to flow through the case, the most efficient use of air brought in by the intake fans, and the most efficient means of exhausting that air. There is a minor issue about power consumption, and another minor issue (or major -- depending on your preferences) about noise.

That's why I would advocate blocking off the Stacker "modder's mesh" sidepanel hole. If you don't intend to do any ducting, and you intend to deploy more fans or more powerful fans on the exhaust side, then you would do just the opposite. You would then want as little restriction on passive air intake as possible. The more "ventilated" the case under those circumstances, the less likely that an exhaust-driven airflow will become depressurized or limiting to the thermal properties of the air flowing through the case.

Frankly, if you wanted to, you could probably find a 240mm fan that would more or less fit that side-panel vent for intake!

 

[nefariouscaine]

Originally posted by: BonzaiDuck
I'm not heaping criticism on you, and frankly -- I'm in a snit today because of a dead BIOS chip, and some SATA cabling difficulties. And there are "other domestic" distractions as well. So if my post here seems either terse or blunt, do not take it personally.

I've been a proponent of motherboard ducting on this forum -- for either air or watercooling -- for at least two years. It started when some member posted his "accomplishment" with a referral to an OverClockers.com article on the technique.

At the same time, many have argued that pressurized cases are warmer cases, and I regard this as myth and half-truth. It is true if warm air is allowed to mix in the pressurized case with fresher air. It is false if the pressurized air is kept cool before it serves its purpose moving past hot components toward an immediate and swift exhaust. Low air pressure inside the case means that each cubic foot of air has less molecules and therefore "stuff" to gather heat from heatsinks and components, so depending on a high exhaust rate may depressurize the case if intake is restricted.

You will find that many OEM computer manufacturers have some simple ducting arrangement around the CPU cooler -- and generally such that the duct ports air toward an exhaust fan. OEMs deliberately choose two things: their case-designs, and their motherboards. This means they can mass-produce plastic-ducts with little inconvenience or additional costs.

So why doesn't "ducting" prevail? Several reasons, and the OEM phenomenon only hints at them.

First -- if you do it yourself, it's a lot of tedious work.

Second -- ducting must be custom-fitted to a) CPU coolers, b) the motherboard, and (even) c) other expansion cards and components.

Third -- ducting must be custom-fitted to the computer case and its exhaust ports, and it might even be custom-fitted to the intake ports as well.

This explains why Intel made the big promotion on BTX case design, because the BTX design allowed intake air to go right past the motherboard and CPU toward an expeditious exhaust at the case-rear. It also explains Silverstone's case-design with the four-inch Lexan/Acrylic duct-tube.

If there were only one, single standard for computer-case designs, motherboard manufacturers might provide plastic ducts bundled with their motherboards. If there were only one single motherboard design, case-manufacturers might supply plastic ducts bundled with their cases.

On to the "number of fans" issue:

Anyone doing case-mods should be making those mods with an eye toward keeping the number of fans at a minimum -- OR -- balancing the number of fans against the desired CFM to flow through the case, the most efficient use of air brought in by the intake fans, and the most efficient means of exhausting that air. There is a minor issue about power consumption, and another minor issue (or major -- depending on your preferences) about noise.

That's why I would advocate blocking off the Stacker "modder's mesh" sidepanel hole. If you don't intend to do any ducting, and you intend to deploy more fans or more powerful fans on the exhaust side, then you would do just the opposite. You would then want as little restriction on passive air intake as possible. The more "ventilated" the case under those circumstances, the less likely that an exhaust-driven airflow will become depressurized or limiting to the thermal properties of the air flowing through the case.

Frankly, if you wanted to, you could probably find a 240mm fan that would more or less fit that side-panel vent for intake!

Well I went and did some minor modding on the case -- did a little better job on hiding some cables

built a half shroud duct over the HSF going to the exhaust fan -- seems to allow a higher amount of flow out of that rear fan

plan on making the 80mm exhaust fan into an intake fan -- might change it out for something higher CFM

covered up the open space on the side panel around the 2 exhaust fans there - the air feels like its moving out a lot more -- might make them intakes like suggested as I'm trying to picture the airflow in my mind and that might be better

move the internal 120mm panaflo up to the front for intake now -- thats a 100 cfm fan

zip tied a lot of the cables and made it look a bit better than before

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Let us know your progress on cooling that case. I've never had one, but coveted one for about two years or so, and I'm convinced it has great potential.

Also, I"d buy one, but I don't need it.

My Striker-Extreme system will get moved from the test-chassis to my own "DIY" "CHrome Lightning" tonight or tomorrow.

 

[nefariouscaine]

Looking to do some different things this weekend.

I'm going to seal up the top fan

flip around the fans i put on the side and make them intake fans

check out the fans on the bottom psu and make them into exhaust fans if they aren't already

change my configuration on my ram fan(s) and how they move the air -- try to make them more stream lined with the rest of the flow in the case

 

[aigomorla]

if you ever think of watercooling:

Here's some inspiration of how nice this case is to watercool:



http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0406.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0399.jpg

 

[CP5670]

That's why I would advocate blocking off the Stacker "modder's mesh" sidepanel hole. If you don't intend to do any ducting, and you intend to deploy more fans or more powerful fans on the exhaust side, then you would do just the opposite.

I essentially have this arrangement as I have the window panel installed (which has no mesh), but it led to a 1C or so rise in both the CPU and GPU temperatures even though I have more intake airflow than exhaust.