- Steel / Plastic
- USB 3.0 x 2, USB x 2, Audio Front Ports
- 3 + 1 (915R) External 5.25" Drive Bays
- 9 (3 x modular cage) Internal 3.5" Drive Bays
Very big, very nice case
07/20/2014
This review is from: Cooler Master HAF Stacker 935 Two-Piece Mod-Tower Computer Case with Top Compartment for Extra Storage Space, Water Cooling Support, or Mini-ITX System
Pros:
- The case is very big with many cable routing possibilities (and many CM - that is, cable management.. just occurred to me that we're talking CM which is also Cooler Master - holes).
- As suggested, and as can be seen with pictures, it is very modular.
- For someone like me who is generally:
a) too lazy to improve ability of cable management (I don't have too many components and I don't need multiple video cards or even one large video card).
b) horrible at the cable management (see a).
I can still have the cables in a much nicer arrangement than other cases.
- It is sturdy, well built (inside and out with one minor thing, see cons) and it is hard to move itself (which of course makes it harder to knock over although in Southern California I know very well an earthquake could do that but it could also do that with the rest of the house... and the computers would be the least of my worries). The hard to move can be a problem in some ways (obviously it is only a problem in the rare times I need to move it) but overall I prefer it the way it is.
- The thumb screws that secure the sides of the case, can stay in the holes (of the sides themselves) while you have it left aside (...) while installing cards, moving cables, ...).
Cons:
Most of these are minor I admit and I certainly would buy this case again (whether I might try another case or not - absolutely - but I like this case and this is the first case I can truthfully state that... and I've had a lot of cases over the years):
- The thumb screws for the case sides can be stubborn. Specifically, I have (more often than not) have tightened one (or all) and for each one I have to loosen it, straighten it and then tighten it again. This is more than I remember with other cases (even those with thumb screws).
- The sides can appear to be bent and/or seem to not properly close the case (this could partly be one of the personal preferences I refer to in other thoughts: how the side window protrudes out a bit and is not just a flat side... I actually like the look but it at least has thrown me off (but so has the other side)). This could possibly seem more so when you consider the first con (the appearance as well as the fact the thumb screws are not going in straight, can throw you off if you aren't aware or you're like me and doing this stuff at 3am or thereabouts).
- As at least one other person noted: the standoffs are very stubborn. I actually thought I had them in the case properly tightened and had to at some point (because they weren't tightened after all) unscrew the motherboard (only to find out they weren't tightened when the screw stayed attached to the standoff but the standoff actually came out of the case (so I had someone carefully balance the motherboard so that I could unscrew the screw from the standoff)). Then I did exactly as one of the other reviewers suggested (actually I had done this with some of them already but this one seemed to be OK hence not using it with this one): use plyers (British spelling: I mean pliers).
- It is very big. Yes this is a pro and a con. It takes a lot of space. But it offers great expandability so that is also good.
- The side (with the window) doesn't come with a fan. However, at CM's website you can buy this and it is fairly cheap ($20 or thereabouts). Comes with the fan unlike one of the reviewers suggest (at the CM website I mean). Or that's what I was told by a CM staff member who checked.
- The only flaw (or, if you're into computer security and also like puns, which very much fits me: hole) that bothers me - and not terribly so but enough to point out - is that they have no covers for the cable routing holes at the bottom (this is not a problem for the top of the cases because they supply a cover for the top; I've not looked into the possibility that that same cover could maybe - again, pardon the pun, close this hole). And at some point you will stop stacking and there you have the holes so you have potential for more dust to enter. Probably not a huge issue in that it is not simply a hole but rather a hole with rubber grommets.... but it is still something that might want to be considered (and I raised the issue with them, for what it is worth
Overall Review:
There is a review here that suggests that the Sickleflow fans will not work for hard drives. I noticed this but I decided to take up the issue with CM and here is what they told me as a general rule (and so indeed it worked):
When you buy a case the manufacturer (including but not limited to CM) expects that you have different uses and so they supply the screws that fit the holes for the case in question. This means that you should use the proper screws (which are conveniently not marked...) - which is to say, case supplied screws - for the case including (in the example) the Sickleflow fans. So yes they do work (as a related point: the screws will work at the top of the case where the fan slots are available... although they are a bit tight). I also wrote about (on review of that fan) how you need to thread the holes on that fan first and that would help here too.
Another general rule: if you have kittens like I do, and in particular, a kitten that loves to steal things from you, be certain to either keep the room closed (with the kittens OUT of the room!) or to keep track of the items that come with the case (and everything else in your build or realistically everything in general!). Yes, I failed here and while I caught some of it I'm uncertain if I caught all of it (the accessories of the case and the motherboard - ASUS sabertooth z97mark 1 has many, many accessories... well, I don't know what I should or should not have).
There is one thing that also is lacking on this case that occurred to me now: lack of a manual of any kind. There is a sheet of paper showing how you can stack the modules together but that was about it.
Aside those: I really like the tinted window. I also like how it somewhat protrudes out rather than being flat (as I noted, however, this can give the look and feel that the case sides are not properly placed. However, I have had this same problem on the other side of the case so it probably is less the protruding window and more perception - or lack thereof - on my part.. but it does seem that the sides - or the case in general - has some stubborn properties). I don't consider these pros or cons (you either like the tinted window and how it protrudes out/is not flat, or you don't. That's a look and if you don't like the look of a case and it matters to you, then rating it badly for that is ludicrous. Constructive criticism is great but criticism itself is unhelpful to others. Alternatively, you could try rating your decision or preferences as you bought the case and there ARE pictures!).
Another look I find appealing: the case really has an industrial grade look to it. If you're into computer history (or indeed were part of) and you have a longing (or nostalgia of some kind) for it, then you might see this. I somehow think it is the (is it honeycomb?) mesh grids but for whatever reason, it just reminds me of the much older days. The eye of the beholder, I suppose.
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- Cody F.
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Verified Owner
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Owned For:
1 month to 1 year
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