Cheap Midi-Tower in 2009

[Bruno007]

Most manufacturers differentiate their products, often for up to four classes or more said criteria. Thus, there is in computer hardware is often the gradations "Low-End, Mid-Range, High-End" and "enthusiast". A majority of the buyers of computer systems do not require an extremely powerful computer , so this on the low and the middle segment to fall back often. It makes little sense to a complete system to be fitted in a high-performance housing, which increases the overall costs dramatically. Although in the past always cost housing have gone through our testing process, however, this highly dynamic market now developed into a harder and harder manageable complex. In fact to make at this point for a little more clear, we send in our today's test four housing up to 40 € the race, which will be in addition to the usual single test criteria also provide a direct comparison with their competitors. The test is, as usual, take place in two main sections. Starting with the field equipment and experience can shovel the candidates, the first points on their account and securing yourself in a metaphorical sense, the front row. With our test criteria room for graphics cards, system temperatures and noise, we shall see, ultimately, which housing the race wins.

[Pauline]

As a global manufacturer of coolers, case fans as well as Cooler Master has a huge range of products represented in the market. Frequently, however, only the top models are known to do with marketing campaigns and recent positive test results, attention. That there are also made by Cooler Master affordable housing, although known to many, but skipped it in the product overview is often generous, to take a look at the spectacular specimens. Since the current test is four good candidates devoted to skip us look at the just-called high-end Tower and contemplated this subsection, the Cooler Master Elite 310th Marked by a striking design is in the front is a colorful accents, to refresh the otherwise all-black housing something. To address individual needs of the buyer, Cooler Master offers the edition with a blue border in the high-gloss painted front, two other black version with orange and gray border, and two white versions, available with orange or blue edges. Looking at the exterior of the elite 310 so striking at first glance that the house Cooler Master has been trying to direct all eyes of the buyer on the front. The colored frame stands out very strongly. In our blue version of the framework initially worked as anodized aluminum, but it is, like the rest of the front, made of plastic and high gloss finishes. In the upper area there are four 5.25" drive bays, which are covered in each of apertures in the design of the front. This is a clip on both sides of, and thus reliably held on the front, which, fortunately, from an emotional jolt Chassis separate leaves. In the 5.25" bays, there are two 3.5" drive bays, one of which is the upper removed to block, for example, a card reader, a small fan controller or something in the days have come floppy drive.

[Janet J]

The lower slot contains the power and reset switches and two status LEDs that indicate the operation of the computer and hard drive activity. In a large Cooler Master logo is finally the port kit (consisting of two USB, an audio and a Microphone) place. Although Cooler Master has no other housing with this front in the portfolio, is located at Port-Kit also a not entirely punched hole in the form of a FireWire port, which is not used in the elite 310. If the front once removed, the buyer will benefit from clean installed cables, which even in cases in the price range of 100 € is not always the standard. Is particularly interesting is the lowest part: There is a small circuit board that contains the USB and audio ports and prepared for the aforementioned FireWire port. Meaning, there are all openings for this connection on the board in place and even the etched traces. The connection is missing. The lower third of the front is filled in on the back of a U-shaped grille to provide an optional front fan to be fixed with fresh air. Both the cover and the right side wall made entirely of solid material that is in the case of the elite 310 about 0.65 mm thick steel, which is with its black, powder-coated finish for the third different black in this case. Certainly it is not easy to paint plastic and steel in the same color, and that the high-gloss black lacquered front to another involves as the walls are, of course, it is noticeable, however.

[Aanand]

The processing is appropriate according to the price range and especially the front stands out as a real eye-catcher. The case is continuing its around 5.8 kg over four feet of plastic on the ground. The interior of the Cooler Master Elite 310 was designed in the typical steel-gray, which is perfect for the price of about 31 € in order. It was dispensed with all bits and pieces and still is all 'the present, which is required for a simple operation. The motherboard tray has some die-cut areas because of their location can not be used for hidden cable routing but are simply the weight reduction. In the upper part two bulges are in place to provide the built-in power supply some stability and a guide rail. Also at the rear wall of such a surface. As already noted, the aperture of the slots for expansion cards from the chassis out to be broken and can thus, once removed, not replace it. inserted into the bottom four feet of plastic, which can take account of their hardness no dampening effect and ensure only that the case leaves on a scratch-sensitive surfaces without a trace. In the front area is typical of the cage to accommodate a maximum of four 5.25" - and a total of seven 3.5" hard drive, a slot can be used as external. The processing in the interior is solid, there are no sharp edges or burrs dirty areas to find only one more 120-mm fan, we would have wished, in order to allow proper air flow through the housing. If the elite equipped 310 with hardware, there are basically no problems. It should only be noted that the power adapter and then the motherboard and all other components are installed. In this way prevents you from unpleasant surprises and circumvents the complex threading of the processor power connector.

[Recko]

To block a graphics card, the corresponding covers of the expansion card slots need to be broken and therefore remains open to the appropriate slot when a card is no longer operated at this location. Our 9800 GTX + fit easily into the case, although it was quite tricky to put then the outlets on the card. The hard drive cage is easily attached to the left side wall offset so that hard drives must be aligned when installed with the terminals towards the left side wall. As a result, all the cables for the storage media must be moved transversely through the housing. Although the CT-K4 is delivered without any fan, which could be particularly difficult in our semi-passively cooled processor, it falls under the well coordinated design a one or the other features, which in this price range is not necessarily the standard. These among others include the tool-free mounting of all expansion cards, and all 5.25" drives respectively, four 3.5" drives and absorbing feet to prevent vibration.

[joel84]

Even the front of the Cooltek CT-K4 is in a sense, standards, because even though it was mostly made of plastic, it could very well come from a much higher-quality housing. Basically it is to be divided into two sections, each separated from each other due to rounding. In this case, the lower region is formed by a mesh grille in optics, which serves as an air inlet for an option to install 120-mm front fan. Discreet and thus matching the design fits between the two areas, a manufacturer of a small white lettering in the front end. The overlying area is about five millimeters in the front recessed and has space for three 5.25" drive bays and one external 3.5" drive, which in the Consignor's condition all covered by plastic covers. As a small transition to cover the recessed upper portion is slightly rounded up to the cover pulled back. Taking the plugged front of the chassis from initially falling on the back of the front port located in the kit, which includes two USB ports, a pair of audio for connecting a headset. are also adjacent to the two-color illuminated power switch, two welding points to see where the plastic is welded to the front with the Plexiglas of the switch was to reliably keep this in place. This is certainly not the best but definitely the cheapest solution. On the back of the air inlet is happily find a dust filter to ensure that the appropriate use of interior space for long stays clean. Already at this point is to be noted that the CT-K4 Cooltek has actually are four 5.25" drives, which stands out from the viewing of the interior only by removing the front. This fourth slot is offset by the cable held together by tape Port of kits used. The cover is simple, there are no openings for fans and also the Port-Kit has a place in the front already displayed. The left side wall can optionally be installed two fans. Alternatively, there is the possibility of each one 120-mm or 92 mm fan to bring in from about 0.65 mm thick steel finished side wall.

[Lawford]

It is noticeable that the threaded holes are cut from the outside something to plan on the one hand, the typical fan screws countersunk on the outside to screw fitting and on the other side of the fan about an inch from the side wall distances to install. This would make it unpleasant sucking sounds of the fan can be reduced. The back is of simple design. The power supply is at the top, including the following areas for an ATX panel and an optional 80 -, 92 - or even 120-mm fan. The seven-slot aperture for expansion cards are selectively welded to the chassis so that they have to install a card out to be broken and not been able to return to their place when a card is not used anymore. Finally, still waiting on the bottom with four legs that are to play their part to reduce noise in Cooltek CT-K4, as they covered the bottom with cushioning material. Even with this candidate processing is consistently good and the paint against the Cooler Master did a little better. Already at the opening of the side wall in the test section of the outside equipment is noticed that the inside of the buyer does not offer the typical steel gray, but painted silver, which enhances the Cooltek CT-K4 something. It is encouraging that the motherboard tray is placed a little distance from the right side wall, is just a shame that this distance is not sufficient to lay the cables hidden behind the motherboard. In addition to the already very narrow Torso of the Midi-Tower this price range is so diminished by another piece. The aforementioned tool-less expansion card bracket makes at first sight a good idea, because they lock in the open position and are thus both hands to install the card ready.

[CRiley]

Presumably the cards are then trapped in the space between the chassis and card and kept that way in their position, but the show is part of the experience. In front are the aforementioned four 5.25" drive bays, which are fully equipped with clip-systems, but only allow the use of three as the top slot is occupied by the cable of the port kit. For whatever reason Cooltek has provided there still a support system, rather than this area simply free to leave remains a mystery, since no external fan control can be installed and no sound-absorbing hard drive enclosure fits into it. The system for mounting the drive itself is very simple. Thus, only the little lever folded, while the tips, replacing usual screws, pulled out of the drive shaft out and after the onset of the drive simply put back into the basic position.