Conclusion:
The CSX cases all offer incredible paint jobs applied to already impressive Cooler Master products. They look great, are alot of fun, and offer a new way for enthusiasts to personalize their systems. With two case models and just over a dozen finishes to pick from, the selection may not be for everyone, but there are some great designs to choose from. Many of the designs are based on tried and true themes that seem to appeal to the macho side of guys whether they are found on cars, motorcycles, tattoos, or even computer cases I suppose. Things like skulls, flames, and monsters are always popular, and the CSX line up offers several variations to cover things fairly well.
I chose the Shag Wagon to be different and for the nostalgia factor, since it looked about as much like my first car as a computer possibly could. Many people probably wouldn't care to keep their gaming system in an old hippy van, but perhaps others will feel a similar connection to one of the other designs.
There isn't much to say in terms of negatives regarding this case, as it is simply a top notch paint job applied to an already exceptional case. The Cooler Master Stacker 830 has a few small drawbacks, but overall it is a high quality case with loads of desirable features and plenty of internal space. The only thing I would have rather seen in terms of the design is for the side panel window to be removed or changed, in order to better fit the look of the case. The four fan grid definitely needs to go for the sake of functionality and appearance, but just having a solid painted side would look great, too.
The main thing that will keep people from buying up these CSX cases in large quantities is the price tag. These are not mass produced items rolling off an assembly line, and the custom paint job applied to each one has to be somewhat labor intensive. Whether you buy the CSX cases directly from Cooler Master's CSX Store or from a variety of other online retailers, you will be laying out about $800 (US)! That is a huge amount of money for a computer case, and you have to be pretty passionate about your system in order to spend that kind of money to dress it up.
The "basic" Stacker 830 case sells for around $200 by itself, which isn't cheap, but at least Cooler Master has chosen a quality starting point for this project. A gaming system built in one of these cases has the chance to be a real hot rod, instead of just an old junker with a few racing stickers slapped on it to make you think it's fast.
The bottom line is that Cooler Master has taken a couple great cases and made them even more interesting by having some absolutely amazing paint jobs applied to them. The available designs may not appeal to everyone, and the price tag may scare even more people off, but there is no questioning the quality. While the "Highly Recommended" award is generally applied to items that can boost a system's performance or offers some kind of tangible benefit, it is going to be used a bit differently here. The Cooler Master CSX cases, as represented by the Shag Wagon for this review, earn the "Highly Recommended" award for those looking for a top-notch case with an over-the-top and highly unique appearance.
Pros:
» Paint job is absolutely incredible
» The Stacker 830 is a great case, with or without the custom finish
» Packed very well to insure that it arrives unharmed
» Variety of unique designs to choose from
Cons:
» Would be more functional and attractive without a side window
» Huge investment for a computer case
» Even with over a dozen choices, most designs are limited to macho things like flames and skulls
Special thanks to Cooler Master for providing the Cooler Master CSX Shag Wagon Aluminum Chassis to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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