In the last few Centurion case reviews we've covered here at VL, we've mentioned that despite the mainstream pricing, feature-wise these cases offer a lot of bang for the buck. Meanwhile, some of their premium cases, while much prettier, could learn a thing or two from their Centurion lineup such as the tool-free design and use of 120mm fans.
This is the argument we hold against the Praetorian series, but their Stacker series are a whole different story. These cases are on a whole different level, leaving very little to be desired with a price point to match. We were very impressed with the Stacker STC-T01 though there were a couple minor shortcomings. These items have been addressed in the new we'll be looking at today. Is Cooler Master's latest a worthy addition to their lineup? Read on and judge for yourself.
Cooler Master Stacker 830 – Exterior
The Stacker arrived in a huge box with the case wrapped tightly in plastic with two foam braces keeping the case away from the edges. We already knew the case would be very large, but we were quite surprised that the box was not nearly as heavy as it looked.
Small and discreet the Stacker 830 is not. The case measures 25.12" x 21.10" x 9.84" (D x W x H), and while we mentioned it was not as heavy as we expected, Cooler Master's specifications state it's 40lbs. The majority of the case is made of brushed silver coloured aluminum (very good quality we should add). We're not talking about soda cans here, but something similar to the quality aluminum used in the WaveMaster series.
Several spots of the case feature a black aluminum mesh. While mesh hasn't exactly fired up the fashion world since the 1980s, the look suits the Stacker 830 quite nicely here. The main purpose of the mesh is for cooling though, which is something we'll cover in more detail shortly.
Both of the side panels feature the mesh screen as well as the top of the case and the main swing door. Like the side panels, the mesh serves dual purposes which are aesthetics and cooling assistance.
One problem with the previous Stacker was the size made it difficult to move around. The new Stacker is actually a bigger case overall, so Cooler Master devised an interesting feature to make transport easier. The top of the Stacker 830 is designed to allow for a user to carry the case via two handles so to speak.
These handles are forged from the same metal as the top panel itself, which in turn is bolted onto the main frame of the case. Make no mistake, despite appearances the Stacker is still heavy and these handles do make it much easier to carry around. They are also very strong and even a fully loaded system poses no problem or fear that they may snap. I personally didn't have any problems moving a fully loaded PC around the house, but putting it on top of my desk was no easy feat.
In the top left image above, you can see a couple of USB 2.0 ports as well as the power button. There is also a HDD and power LED and provided your motherboard has the correct pin layout, both of these LEDs as well as the power button glow a nice and bright blue when the system is powered on.
Immediately beneath the previously described front top area are a couple more USB 2.0 connections as well as a stereo output (for headphones) and a Mic input. There is also a FireWire connection for those who need it. We always did prefer these connections on top since accessing them is easiest from this position. It's not obvious from the picture above, but when closing the main Stacker front door, the connections are still accessible.
There are 9 external 5.25" drive bays that can be occupied by either external drives and/or devices or used to stealth additional 120mm fans. As with other key areas of the Stacker, these drive bays also feature a mesh covering. There are extra 5.25" panels and parts, one of which that can convert one of these bays into a standard 3.5" external bay. Quite useful if you're one of the last 3 people on the planet who relies on internal floppy drives.
You may have noticed the front door opening from the left now as opposed to the default right at the start of this review.
By sliding out a couple of plastic pins, you can easily switch the door's opening direction. Since I normally keep my PC on the left side of my desk, switching the default door position makes it easier to access the 5.25" devices.
Moving on to the back of the Stacker, you can see that the two side panels give it something of an aerodynamic look, as well as partially blocking unsightly cables protruding from the back if you're big on desktop aesthetics. A stock rear IO panel is included, which you'll probably replace for your motherboard, as well as a 120mm fan grill and PSU opening.
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