Cooler Master Storm Enforcer
- Details
- Category: PC Cases
- Published: Friday, 15 April 2011 05:10
One of the cases that Cooler Master showed off this year at CES was its upcoming Storm Enforcer Mid-Tower case. A while back we received a sample and today we finally are posting our experience with their newest addition to the Storm gaming lineup (a few days late). With a tank like appearance it’s easy to figure out where they came up with the name, but will it have what it takes to stand up against todays cases? Let’s find out.
There's only one thing worse than having to pack up a 70-pound gaming rig to go to a LAN party: Packing two. Being married to a gaming girl is wonderful but it does have the downside that I have to pack up and transport two rigs for every LAN we travel to. After building a Shuttle for myself it was only a matter of time before I miniaturized her rig also. Looking for any excuse to upgrade her I contacted Lian Li about a Mini ITX case that they carried and went on with selecting the rest of her parts list. That case is the Lian Li Mini-Q PC-Q08, with Lian Li’s style and quality I have high hopes!
Back in June I had the chance to take a look at a a Mini ITX test bench from Lian Li called the T6. This wasn’t Lian Li’s only Mini ITX solution, nor their only Mini ITX test bench. Today we will be taking a look at their PC-Q06 test bench. The main difference between the Q06 to the T6 would be T6’s fully open design as opposed to the Q06’s half enclosed design. We loved the T6, let’s dig in to find out how well the PC-Q06 performs.
Themed cases are becoming more and more popular, helping to bring that aspect of art and individuality to users who may not have the time or the gift for case modding. In-Win has been creating these sort of unique chassi long before it was a trend, the latest of which occupying the DESTINY-Extreme series roster. We've had the pleasure of reviewing two of the cases in this line, the Maelstrom and the Dragon Slayer, and today In-Win has sent us the naval-inspired twin of the former.
It's unbelievable how many different cases there are out there. They come in a multitude of shapes, colors, styles, and from countless manufacturers. With that kind of pool to choose from, how does one decide which one to get? There are, of course, a few popular ones that get all the attention, but who wants their computer to look the same as half-a-dozen other computers at the LAN party. You want something unique, something that is a little different than everyone else's. Well, the guys over at Xion have been making cases since 2002, with that in mind. Their latest, the Predator, might just be that little something different you're looking for.
Having reviewed almost the entire HAF lineup from Cooler Master there was an obvious missing piece in their lineup when it comes to a small low cost case to compete with Antec’s 200. Today Cooler Master released their answer to the 200 in the form of their HAF 912. Keeping with their “High Air Flow” theme and keeping the price inline it could very well be one of the best values on the market. Let’s take a closer look to see if this is the “case”.
When looking for a case for your first build or for a budget build for someone your obviously not going to be looking at an ATCS 840 or a HAF X. Because of that Cooler Master has a wide selection of budget cases for any price range. Today we are taking a look at their USP 100, a budget gaming case that includes a 550 watt power supply along with it. With a large red grill up front, this is obviously not your normal budget case. Let’s find out how it performs.
Tired of carrying your massive desktop computer to LAN parties? Our editor, Garfi3ld, must have been when he got his "lunchbox" Shuttle computer. It's pretty fast, but some compromises have to be made to get everything in such a small space. Most noticeably, the graphics card. While a Radeon 5770 fits, I doubt anything bigger and faster will. For some, this isn't a compromise they're willing to make. This is where the In-Win Dragon Slayer comes in. Although it is bigger than a Shuttle, a large high-end graphics cards will fit in it. Plus, you'll make it to the lan without breaking you back.
Tired of hiding behind your case, only to find out that bullets penetrate its wimpy aluminum? When competing with friends, do you feel that you lack certain “combat ambiance”? Fret no longer, the Armor A90 can take your rig and turn it into an angry and stylish machine! Kind of like a glowing mechanical bulldog… with a tie. Allow me to explain how that works in this review of the stunning Armor A90 by Thermaltake.
These days, it's hard to justify spending crazy amounts of money on a PC when so much performance can be had for very little money. You can put together a decent PC for just a few hundred dollars. You've done your research and picked out the parts you want, but somehow you've got to fit a case into your limited budget too? If you spend too much on one, you might have to cut back on something else. Sacrificing performance isn't something you want to do just for the sake of having a big fancy case. An ugly beige box isn't an option either. What do you do? In-Win thinks they have the solution to this predicament.
Lian Li has made a name for themselves by producing top-quality all-aluminum cases. Generally they are mid- and full-sized and fairly plain. Recently Lian Li has produced a few crazy designs including the case we are reviewing today. The T7 is also known as Mini-ITX Test Bench, a much more descriptive name. I am going to toss our Mini-ITX test setup on the T7 and see how it works. Does it still have the qualities that we expect to see from a Lian Li case? Let’s find out.
Sometimes I think that I have reviewed just about every variation of case over the past few years. I received an email from a company called Microcool who wanted us to check out something a little different. Their Banchetto 101 is a full acrylic test-bench with an Italian design. Is this a case the average user is going to want to use, or will it be limited to overclockers and press? The best way to find out is to throw one of our test rigs into it and see how it turns out. Lets jump in!
As PC enthusiasts, we tend to gravitate toward bigger and better, but not everyone needs a huge case with all sorts of fancy features and accessories. Sometimes small and simple is better. Let's say your mom finally decides to take you up on your offer to build her a new computer. Do you think she really cares if there's a fan controller or connections for water cooling? Mom just wants to turn it on and get her email. This is where the Cooler Master 430 Elite comes in.
The word Tempest holds the meaning of a strong windstorm, a description that any user would want to define their tower. A few months ago we reviewed NZXT's basic model, living up to the name but falling short in a few minor aspects in the enthusiast category. To satisfy those users, the Tempest EVO was introduced, an enthusiast steel tower that retains it's predecessor's functionality and pairs it with an improved appearance. Today we see how the 'Airflow King reborn' performs.
Anyone who has had the pleasure of hauling a full tower loaded with expensive hardware to and from LAN parties will appreciate NZXT's approach to their aluminum chassis line and it's latest addition The Panzerbox. The Panzerbox is designed to be light-weight, portable, and support much of the enthusiast hardware popular among gamers and LAN goers. After returning home from a LAN only this past weekend, heavy steel mid-tower in hand, I was anxious to try this chassis out for size, literally.
The new crafted chassis from NZXT makes several claims to fame, including being the self-proclaimed 'Airflow King'. If you've read some of my past reviews on cases, you know that cooling options is a criteria that I hold in very high regard, so naturally I was excited to get my hands on the Tempest. Today I sit down with the case, and see if it truly does: "realize the dreams of gamers worldwide."
Conformity in the world of technology is rare these days, each company aspiring to create their own unique solution to suit our computing needs. The majority of the time, its' a change that's as drastic as it is risky, and only appeals to a certain demographic. But every now and then, a revolution comes along that makes everyone stop and think, "Why isn't this the standard?" Silverstone has discovered such a design, exemplified in their new Raven 2 chassis, and has sent us a sample to see for ourselves.