Clash of the Titans - TT Tai Chi vs. CM Stacker 830
by Joshua Buss on February 23, 2006 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Cooler Master Stacker 830 (cont’d)
Speaking of the hard drive cage, here is the 830's with a side plate removed to expose the rubber shock-mounts.
All in the all, this hard drive cage is superior to the Tai Chi's in almost every way. It can hold four drives as opposed to the Thermaltake's three, it has rubber mounts to minimize transferred vibrations, and it is not as difficult to get screws into the drives with this cage.
The fan on the drive cage is quite different cosmetically from the other two fans included with the case, but it can be used interchangeably with them.
Once the drive(s) are in the cage, the assembly can be secured in the case, which is easy if a single black plastic clip is on each side already in the bottom position.
Here are the black clips in more detail. The outside has a plastic stub to grip, which when moved towards the lock position, it forces the metal prongs outward.
The larger plastic tabs at the bottom of the clip serve to align drives properly in a vertical fashion, which helps in some ways, but is not completely needed either.
To accommodate a floppy drive or fifth hard drive, a 5¼” to 3½” adapter set is included, as well as a front bezel piece with a 3½” sized opening.
Speaking of the hard drive cage, here is the 830's with a side plate removed to expose the rubber shock-mounts.
All in the all, this hard drive cage is superior to the Tai Chi's in almost every way. It can hold four drives as opposed to the Thermaltake's three, it has rubber mounts to minimize transferred vibrations, and it is not as difficult to get screws into the drives with this cage.
The fan on the drive cage is quite different cosmetically from the other two fans included with the case, but it can be used interchangeably with them.
Once the drive(s) are in the cage, the assembly can be secured in the case, which is easy if a single black plastic clip is on each side already in the bottom position.
Here are the black clips in more detail. The outside has a plastic stub to grip, which when moved towards the lock position, it forces the metal prongs outward.
The larger plastic tabs at the bottom of the clip serve to align drives properly in a vertical fashion, which helps in some ways, but is not completely needed either.
To accommodate a floppy drive or fifth hard drive, a 5¼” to 3½” adapter set is included, as well as a front bezel piece with a 3½” sized opening.
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BubbaJudge - Thursday, February 23, 2006 - link
I was wafting between the Tai Chi and the Koolance PC3-725BK based on the Lian Li PC-V1000, it would have been great to include both watercooled versions for review, but great review regardless. I think I will go with the Koolance, as I agree the Tai Chi looks a little heat sink gimmicky. Hopefully I can stuff a PC P&C 850 in the Lian Li chassis.chynn - Thursday, March 2, 2006 - link
The PCP@C 850W might not fit in the Lian-Li V1000 case; however, it will definitely fit in the Lian-Li V1200 case. I have the latter Lian-Li case but will be replacing it with RC-830 Stacker case ... the RC-830 case is just that much better.mkruer - Thursday, February 23, 2006 - link
Call me old fashion but I like the simple designRip the Jacker - Thursday, February 23, 2006 - link
first.tuteja1986 - Thursday, February 23, 2006 - link
I am buying Cool Master Stacker now :) . its an awesome case and goes arround $200AUD in Australia. I am going to use 2 PSU 480W antec and 550W antec. Go full crossfire when i sell my Asus A8N SLI-32 and buy either a RD580 mobo from ABit or ASUS or DFI.