Cooler Master ATCS 840 Aluminium ATX Case

Conclusion

Published: 26th November 2008 | Source: Cooler Master | Price: £225.94 | Author: James Napier

Conclusion

Starting with the basics, there is simply no denying that the ATCS 840 is one very good looking case. While some people have had their reservations about the shield-like plate on the front panel it is by no means a deal breaker, and from a personal standpoint I believe it to add character to what could have been an otherwise bland design. Other aesthetics such as the no-gimmick side panels and high quality power switches mounted atop the solid aluminium console all give the case a premium feel that picks up from where the ATCS series of yesteryear left off.

Moving on to cooling, it's instantly apparent that Cooler Master have designed the ATCS 840 with the aim of making it the best cooled case on the market. With three 230mm fans and a 120mm fan factory installed, the case is not only deadly silent but also has more airflow than the back-end of a Boeing 747. Water-cooling has also been catered for too, with the inclusion of brackets to convert the dual 230mm fan holes into a mount suitable for a wide range of triple radiators.

Finally, installing a system inside the ATCS 840 is a breeze thanks to its removable motherboard tray and well placed holes for routing cables. It would have been nice for Cooler Master to include an SATA backplane for easy connection of hard disks along with the ability to 'hot swap', but this comment belongs more on the wish list rather than as a negative about the case.

To sum things up, the ATCS 840 comes very close to being our dream case. Not only is it one of the coolest cases we've ever tested, but it's also one of the best looking. Expected to retail at around £200 when finally released in December, the 840 is at an acceptable price point for a case of its calibre and sits snugly between the likes of the Lian Li V1010 and PC-X500.

The Good

- Classic styling. Sexy yet simple.

- Quality workmanship.

- Quiet, yet extremely effective cooling via 230mm fans.

- Ability to install triple radiator with included brackets.

- Easy to remove filters on all fans.

- Removable motherboard tray and largely tool-less installation.

- Room for up to 3 additional 120mm fans to increase airflow further.

The Mediocre

- Side panels made from quite thin Aluminium

- Silver Cooler Master badge spoils appearance of black version.

- Front plate secured with plastic latches that feel prone to failure.

- Very low to ground. Fans at base of case could use more ground clearance.

The Bad

- Nothing to report.

The Wishlist
- Black interior. Enthusiasts like showing off the inside of their PC's just as much as the outside.
- Wheels. A case that draws air up from the floor needs more ground clearance.
- Screws not rivets. Not on every part of the case, but adding modularity to the Hard Disk rack would be a great start.
- Thicker Aluminium side panels.
- Less plastic. Replace catches and brackets with something more substantial.

Overclock3D Editors Choice Award

Thanks to Cooler Master for sending the ATCS 840 in for review. Discuss this review in our forums.

Most Recent Comments

27-11-2008, 17:55:36

SuB

ok seriously? a price and a place to buy and a date?

28-11-2008, 09:17:59

Jim

ok seriously? a price and a place to buy and a date?

The only confirmed stockist I've got at the moment is YOYOTech and it should be available early December. The RRP i was given + 15% Tax adds up to around £202, but it could be £210 tops I've been told.

28-11-2008, 10:15:38

SuB

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

28-11-2008, 16:21:42

Bungral

Ooo it is a lot but it is also very nice :yumyum:

*wants*

08-08-2009, 02:51:28

mushikun

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...

08-08-2009, 08:56:13

VonBlade

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.

08-08-2009, 09:12:26

mushikun

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.

08-08-2009, 10:13:46

Jim

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 :)

08-08-2009, 15:02:41

mushikun

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

08-08-2009, 18:45:02

ScottALot

Sleek, shiny look. Looks durable, too!