My main work system is a bit aging (AMD X2 3800+, DFI LanParty UT Nforce4 SLI-D, etc.) but it still gets the job done. The removable motherboard tray made for a quick and painless board install. The power supply fit perfectly into its slot using the removable bracket. Front panel cables had plenty of length to reach the required pins on my motherboard.
The internal hard drive rack can hold up to four drives and is adjustable, so you can install it in any set of bays you wish. I decided to leave mine in the default bottom bay location, as this puts the 120mm cooling fan as close as possible to the open slot under the door. Cooler Master had a good idea here to install break-away covers at the front of the drive cage. Getting rid of these will allow the 120mm fan to properly cool the drives inside the cage. You can even elect to take it one step further and leave off the drive bay covers for even better cooling, but doing so will result in more dust entering your system that would have otherwise been trapped by the perforated bay covers.
First I will cover the CSX aspect of the case, that being the paint job. My thoughts about the CSX paint job is not much different than it was when I saw them at CES this past year; absolutely incredible. The air-brushing looks stunning and the clear coat really adds shine and extended protection to your investment. The case arrived without any fingerprints or other "screw-ups" in the paint, which is to be expected.
As I said earlier, each CSX case is numbered in a series, making it an instant collectible. Since each case is hand painted, no two cases are exactly alike, ensuring you have a truly unique item. A Certificate of Authenticity is also included with your purchase.
Each CSX case comes with a limited lifetime paint warranty (with registration). Out of the box, you will receive a 5-year warranty along with the manufacturer's warranty.
CSX offers the majority of their cases in either the Stacker 830 or the Cosmos case in the designs you see on their site. You can even send in your own artwork and have their artists recreate that on a chassis to your exact specifications. CSX also offers custom painted iPods, gaming systems and even laptops.
My only issue with the paint, which isn't really an issue at all... it's just so nice, that I am scared to even touch it without a microfiber cloth (gloves would have been a nice addition). Also, you must be very careful when reinstalling the side panels. I barely bumped one of the edges of the case with the side panel and noticed a tiny chip in the clear coat.
Moving on to the CM 830 chassis, this was my first time working with this platform and overall, I was really impressed. The aluminum construction helps to keep weight down (the case is still heavy, but if it was constructed of steel, it would be an absolute brick). As mentioned earlier, the ability to convert the case to BTX form factor is neat, but not practical with the CSX paint, because if you wanted the windowed side panel to show your hardware, you would need to flip the panels which would then put the artwork upside-down.
The toolless drive bay clips are a nice addition, but I wonder why CM didn't do something similar for the riser card slots. These slots use reusable inserts and thumbscrews, so all hope isn't lost.
The included hard drive cage holds up to four drives and an additional drive can be installed in the top of the case (or you can install a 120mm cooling fan here). Five drives should be plenty for most users.
Cooler Master included only two fans with the 830, one intake and one exhaust. Another area of concern is the four fan frame. This frame sits right against the side panel window. The window does not have any vented slots, so any air that would be blown over your hardware would be recirculated. Also, the frame completely blocks your view of the hardware inside, thus defeating the purpose of the window. The saving grace here is that the frame can be easily removed.
Speaking of the window, CM (like most other manufacturers) left the protective plastic strip in place on the exterior of the window, but for whatever reason, it was missing on the inside, which resulted in some scuff marks on the Plexiglas. I was able to buff out most of these, but a few small ones still remain.
I really liked the fact that caster wheels were included with this case. This makes moving the system around on my desk effortless and adds an extra inch or so of ground clearance; perfect for those who will put the case on a carpeted floor.
As you would expect, a case (or any product) with a paint job of this caliber isn't going to be cheap. As of writing, the Wraith retails for $999.99.
OCIA.net has awarded the CSX Wraith our Seal of Approval for its absolutely breathtaking artwork!
