Cooler Master 830 Custom and 832

Results

Our PC's idle temperature was 25.7°C inside the case, with an ambient of 24°C and an idle CPU temp of 41°C. Once we started stressing the RAM, temperatures began to rise. The CPU peaked and hovered around the 58°C mark while the case's interior held at a steady 26°C – nothing to really worry about for a passively-cooled system.

The CPU test produced almost exactly the same results, with a processor temperature of 58°C again. This time, the case interior got half a degree warmer than before, peaking at 26.5°C.

When we came back later to tax the graphics cards, the ambient had fallen to 21°C. Somebody probably left a window open just to ruin our testing process. The idle results this time put the case temperature at 24°C, the CPU at 40°C and the ATI control centre told us the GPU was a healthy 42°C.

Looping the demos for a little while (with everything on maximum and the prettiest models and effects) pushed the inside of the case up a single degree to 25°C while the CPU levelled at 50°C.

The GPU fluctuated up and down a few points, but got a high of 58°C for most of the time. Again, it wasn't much to worry about really and shows the mesh windows which cover almost every surface of the 832s exterior certainly do their job well. However, as with the 830, we can't help but wonder if they won't soon clog up with dust, especially if users choose to use the four possible side mounted fan bays. All four running on intake would clog the system faster than we'd dare think.

Conclusions

So, how does the 832 measure up against the 830, not to mention all the other cases in the world?

To be honest, it performs exactly the same as the 830. Primarily because the 832 is almost exactly the same. Sure, there's now support for a 230mm EPS power supply, the airflow has been supposedly improved somehow and the door looks a little different, but in reality the case seems more like an alternate version of the 830 rather than a new and improved design.

Which, in our opinion, just isn't a bad thing.

The Stacker 830 is one of the best cases out there and the 832 model is a feather from the same hat. If you need a high quality case that's feature stocked and full of cool, then you couldn't do a lot better than either Stacker case.

A quick search on bit-tech Shopping shows that the original Stacker 830 sells for around £160 in the UK and about US$240 in the US. The Stacker 832 is in the process of being indexed but the street price so far appears to be very similar to the 830. Personally, we prefer the clean lines of the 832.

Naturally, not everybody will be looking to spend over £150 on a case but like a luxury car, you get what you pay for. Cheaper cases keep your PCs guts in place just like a Nissan Micra will get you to work and back; the Stacker series oozes quality and style like a Bentley. It may cost more but if you've got the cash, you won't be disappointed.