Cooler Master ATCS 840 Aluminium ATX Case
Test Setup & Results
Published: 26th November 2008 | Source: Cooler Master | Price: £225.94 |
Test Setup & Results
While hardware such as graphics cards and power supplies are always extremely easy to test and the results they produce easily comparable, cases are a different animal all together. You can't (unfortunately) just install a copy of CaseMark06 on the machine and read back some numbers once it's done. Therefore, Overclock3D has a standard testing methodology and set of hardware that is used in times like this, so that we can at least get a rough feel for how the case performs.
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 4.0ghz (1.40v)
Graphics Card: ASUS HD 4870X2
Motherboard: Asus P5K3 Deluxe
Hard Drive: 1x Hitachi Deskstar 80GB 7K80 SATA2 7200RPM
CPU Heatsink: OCZ Vendetta II
Graphics Card: ASUS HD 4870X2
Motherboard: Asus P5K3 Deluxe
Hard Drive: 1x Hitachi Deskstar 80GB 7K80 SATA2 7200RPM
CPU Heatsink: OCZ Vendetta II
Today we will be placing the Cooler Master ATCS 840 head-to-head with another similar sized case currently in our labs; the Lian Li v1010. To ensure that we didn't give either of the cases any unfair advantages only the stock fans were used during the testing. In addition to this, all fans were connected directly to a +12v molex to prevent any potential skew in the results from the motherboard trying to manage the fan speed.
Temperature readings for the CPU were taken using OCCT, GPU via ATITool and System / Hard Disk via digital thermal probe. While we fully understand that the results taken using software appications may not be entirely accurate, they serve only to display the comparitive differences between the two cases when tested under the same conditions.
At idle, the ATCS 840 is already showing its superior cooling performance by keeping each of the components at least 3°C cooler. It is worth mentioning at this point that despite each of the fans inside the 840 running at full speed (12v), the overall noise emmited from the case was lower than that of the V1010 and barely audible above the 4870x2 GPU cooler.
At load, little changes in terms of CPU and GPU temperatures, with the ATCS 840 still keeping things around 3°C cooler. However, while the system temperature inside the V1010 hits 41°C, the ATCS 840 manages to keep everything an impressive 6°C cooler at 35°C.
Most Recent Comments
Wow what a gorgeous looking beast and I agree with the areas that you highlighted for further improvement. I've gotta get me a black one of these 

wow that's stunning! i'd easily have one of these with a full black interior possible window or mesh side panel and a BLACK badge... hrm...
I'm due a new case, be nice to have one thats basically ready to go for watercooling too... tempting...
how much is this? i didn't see a price
I'm due a new case, be nice to have one thats basically ready to go for watercooling too... tempting...
how much is this? i didn't see a price
Been waiting for this review. 
Absolutely gorgeous case though, easily able to hold it's own against a Lian Li or Silverstone. I also like how they took all the good bits from the Cosmos S aswell, the tool-less drive bays and radiator-compatible roof particularly.
Also, lovely artwork on the front of the box, if a little out of place.

Absolutely gorgeous case though, easily able to hold it's own against a Lian Li or Silverstone. I also like how they took all the good bits from the Cosmos S aswell, the tool-less drive bays and radiator-compatible roof particularly.
Also, lovely artwork on the front of the box, if a little out of place.

That case is stunning
. Love all the little details. This would definitely be in my case wishlist xD
. Love all the little details. This would definitely be in my case wishlist xDWow Jim thats a great review as usual! I think thats a lovely case with some insane cooling, but I dont get how they can call it an ATCS
At least to me the ATCS cases were nearly all smallish mid towers with beautifully simple design...
Even though I've butchered it a lot, my old Praetorian (last rev. ATC-201 in black ano) still makes me go wow at the engineering involved, if you took out the fans, switches, LED's and the front IO thing you wouldnt be able to find a piece of plastic in the whole case.
The ATCS 840 is lovely but I don't have one on my christmas list. If anyone from CM can read this (yeah right
) come out with a beautiful mid tower (think ATC-110), and I'll buy one, maybe even two!
On a side note, didn't CM fire the ATCS engineers years ago and they went to work for silverstone?
Alex
At least to me the ATCS cases were nearly all smallish mid towers with beautifully simple design...Even though I've butchered it a lot, my old Praetorian (last rev. ATC-201 in black ano) still makes me go wow at the engineering involved, if you took out the fans, switches, LED's and the front IO thing you wouldnt be able to find a piece of plastic in the whole case.
The ATCS 840 is lovely but I don't have one on my christmas list. If anyone from CM can read this (yeah right
) come out with a beautiful mid tower (think ATC-110), and I'll buy one, maybe even two!On a side note, didn't CM fire the ATCS engineers years ago and they went to work for silverstone?
Alex
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='MeltedDuron'
Wow Jim thats a great review as usual! I think thats a lovely case with some insane cooling, but I dont get how they can call it an ATCS
At least to me the ATCS cases were nearly all smallish mid towers with beautifully simple design... |
http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/...c-s4000-sx.jpg
S4000-SX baby

But yeah i do agree, the original ATCS cases were midi-towers, but tbh that was more because most people had little use for anything larger at the time rather than CM's choice.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='MeltedDuron'
Even though I've butchered it a lot, my old Praetorian (last rev. ATC-201 in black ano) still makes me go wow at the engineering involved, if you took out the fans, switches, LED's and the front IO thing you wouldnt be able to find a piece of plastic in the whole case.
|
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='MeltedDuron'
On a side note, didn't CM fire the ATCS engineers years ago and they went to work for silverstone? |
well nice
does it come with a window
i dont usually like CM cases, but i think they've turned a corner
the stacker was horrible
the new stacker was horrible
most of their cheeper cases were cheep and nasty
the black widdow was nice
and the wavemaster, but thats it
this joins the nice club methinks
does it come with a window
i dont usually like CM cases, but i think they've turned a corner
the stacker was horrible
the new stacker was horrible
most of their cheeper cases were cheep and nasty
the black widdow was nice
and the wavemaster, but thats it
this joins the nice club methinks

ok seriously? a price and a place to buy and a date?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='SuB'
ok seriously? a price and a place to buy and a date?
|
hrm that's steep... but tbh reasonable
cheers Jim i'll be keeping an eye out for them... this review really has made a decision for me tbh lol
cheers Jim i'll be keeping an eye out for them... this review really has made a decision for me tbh lolOoo it is a lot but it is also very nice 
*wants*

*wants*
hi guys, i'm new to this site. I know its and old thread but Id like to add something to the article. I was looking around the net to check the compatibility between the atcs 840 and the swiftech cmr 320.
first I find a thread from a guy who was planning to build the same computer as me : i7 920 atcs swiftech mcr 320... that guy also found a thread from a guy who built that computer (sorry i cannot post the link...)
but he decided not to use the swiftech cmr320 because of qc3d's article about the atcs 840 saying there s no compatibility between the 2.
do you follow me guys, I'm sorry english is not my language...
well, I was surprised and disappointed as I was planning to buy the atcs to watercool my cpu. i decided to check and sent a message to coolermaster asking about the compatibility between atcs 840 and swiftec mcr320
this is the answer from coolermaster :
Dear customer,
You will not have a trouble doing that in that case, you will have plenty of room for that radiator.
Respectfully,
coolermaster
I'm really happy I did that because I'm going to order that case and do the watercool i planned...
I m sure many people read this article and changed their plans... maybe it would be a good idea from the author to check, edit and change the wrong informations, even in 2009, they stay on the net...
first I find a thread from a guy who was planning to build the same computer as me : i7 920 atcs swiftech mcr 320... that guy also found a thread from a guy who built that computer (sorry i cannot post the link...)
but he decided not to use the swiftech cmr320 because of qc3d's article about the atcs 840 saying there s no compatibility between the 2.
do you follow me guys, I'm sorry english is not my language...
well, I was surprised and disappointed as I was planning to buy the atcs to watercool my cpu. i decided to check and sent a message to coolermaster asking about the compatibility between atcs 840 and swiftec mcr320
this is the answer from coolermaster :
Dear customer,
You will not have a trouble doing that in that case, you will have plenty of room for that radiator.
Respectfully,
coolermaster
I'm really happy I did that because I'm going to order that case and do the watercool i planned...
I m sure many people read this article and changed their plans... maybe it would be a good idea from the author to check, edit and change the wrong informations, even in 2009, they stay on the net...
The review does state that CM said it supports the same radiators as the Cosmos which from the previous test were..
So it was only taken on the information that Coolermaster provided at the time.
Although I can't see why any 15mm spacing rad shouldn't fit.
So it was only taken on the information that Coolermaster provided at the time.
Although I can't see why any 15mm spacing rad shouldn't fit.
I understand but still, when you're new to watercooling, and you dont know the case if u read this article you may change your initial plan like the guy I was talking about. I just added that comment for the people who like me want that case and the same watercooling system and who want to know about compatibility.
Hi Mushikun,
The list of radiators posted in the review were actually tested by our friends over at WaterCoolingUK. I can only assume that either the Swiftech radiator used was damaged, or that since the review Swiftech have updated their radiators to follow the 15mm spacing that other manufacturers use.
Either way i'll update the review.
Jim
The list of radiators posted in the review were actually tested by our friends over at WaterCoolingUK. I can only assume that either the Swiftech radiator used was damaged, or that since the review Swiftech have updated their radiators to follow the 15mm spacing that other manufacturers use.
Either way i'll update the review.
Jim

thank you, I hope you didn't get me wrong, my purpose was just to help.
I mean, when I found this article I was very disapointed, because I was planning to get these parts. so no compatibility implied looking for another shop... maybe more expensive... it took me a long time to check on the net and I finally decided to contact coolermaster directly.
still, your article was very helpful and the people here know a lot. I learnt many things about watercooling and I feel more confortable now with the new parts I'm going to get soon.
thank you guys
mushi
I mean, when I found this article I was very disapointed, because I was planning to get these parts. so no compatibility implied looking for another shop... maybe more expensive... it took me a long time to check on the net and I finally decided to contact coolermaster directly.
still, your article was very helpful and the people here know a lot. I learnt many things about watercooling and I feel more confortable now with the new parts I'm going to get soon.
thank you guys
mushi
Sleek, shiny look. Looks durable, too!
I was thinking about getting one of these but unfortunately the cubby hole in my desk is only 500mm depth leaving 130mm overhang. I suppose i could remove the legs on the tower (is it possible?) and just pull back the desk a little bit. I was wondering though, would an h50 fit into the removable tray, if not are there any recommendations on similar style cases (around £150 limit)? I watched Toms recent review on the Fractal v H2 and agree about the hard drive bays and airflow for front fan.
Inside the desk ive a 700mm available for height, 260mm width.
Inside the desk ive a 700mm available for height, 260mm width.

http://www.overclock3d.net/gfx/artic...135323205s.jpg
Cooler Master ATCS 840 Aluminium ATX Case