Gold Award at Overclockerstech

CM Storm Trooper by Overclockerstech : 01-04-2012 One could say that Overclockers Tech really appreciate this case, it has very few faults, with the case handle issue being the only one and that it really does support two radiators. The installation of the second (lower)radiator was simply a breeze. Going back to the top radiator issue, we believe this can easily be resolved by using nuts and bolts for the handle rather than rivets and a new revision can address this issue. However looking at the overall picture of the CoolerMaster Storm Trooper then we get an inkling of what the product is all about and its evil looks. Forget the wimpy Sith-Lord this case whispers in our ears of dark dreams of seduction and power. It tantalises our senses with its eerie glow and promises a dark prophecy. With the risk of sounding like a ‘marketing stooge’ we would say that if this chassis were a Megalomaniac, then it would be James Bond Uber-villian but one that is not stupid enough to explain all his plans no matter how close he thinks he is to winning. If the product were a Science Fiction film then it would be the first two ‘Alien’ movies waiting to hug the face of any unsuspecting water cooling enthusiast. Finally if one were to compare this chassis to a horror film then it would be the first Amityville movie where the blank-dank walls bleed to death  and the eye-like windows seep into your soul. It is fair to say (and as we mentioned at the start of the review) we have become quite jaded about so-called ‘water cooling ready’ cases, however this one with its price range of £136 Sterling has lived up to the name as an  ’exceptional product’ It is good to see a company that is FINALLY listening to us Water Cooling Enthusiasts and are offering us products we can actually use! An inspired design with an orchestra of ideas for the water cooling enthusiast, all brought together into a pure symphony of evil. » Details

Gold Award at Overclock3D

COSMOS 2 by Overclock3D : 01-03-2012 Lets hope the video covered all of your questions plus a few more you hadn't thought of as well, but we really should try and recap. The problem is the Cosmos 2 is just so feature packed we literally don't know where the best place is to start!  Ok lets start with the price. Rumors are that the Cosmos 2 will weigh in with a £350 price tag. Ouch right? Well let's face is £350 for a case is never going to be cheap is it. I have a funny feeling the only people that will moan will be people that want it and cant afford it. The case has though been designed and built for people looking to spend thousands on their system, people that wouldn't want to put a £3000 investment in a £100 case. Well for those lucky few Cooler Master have pretty much built a case to please you all. Not only that if you can't afford the Cosmos 2..... save for it. It really is worth every penny of that £350 asking price. The design is there, build quality, enough options to please pretty much everyone that's not wanting to go subzero. Everything about this case screams quality, but not just that, it also shows what a manufacturer can do when they design a case for an enthusiast rather than for an accountant. We were all gobsmacked at the amount of options with this case. The ability to remove the lower HDD bays and fit a 240mm radiator was a high light for us, another was the fact this case is compatible with the EVGA SR2 and upcoming SR3. So let's wrap this up. Multi-channel fan controller, dual radiator support out of the box, room for even the largest motherboards and graphics cards, ample cooling for even the hottest air rigs, plenty of cabling options, built like a tank and last but not least it looks the sex! We honestly think the aesthetics could only be bettered if it had a side panel window and if it was white! (Ok who wasn't expecting that one!!) Cooler Master have kicked 2012 off with a bang, we honestly think they are back to their best and they've also delivered the case that all other big cases will be compared to. The other case manufacturers out there need to take their feet of the desks and get back to work. This is the case to beat, this is the best case on the planet. Will any one deliver a better option before the world ends in December? The race is on. » Details

Performance Award at Hardware Heaven

COSMOS 2 by Hardware Heaven : 01-03-2012 For its time the original Cosmos 1000 was a very impressive case and other than a few minor issues such as not quite enough room behind the motherboard for wiring and a slightly flimsy back panel it still stands up well against a large number of today's cases. In the high end though chassis such as Corsairs 800D, Xigmatek's Elysium and Cooler Master's own HAF X have taken the product segment to new levels but with a more industrial styling. The Cosmos 2 brings something new to the comparison with a more refined, stylish design which looks great while retaining the classic handles from the original. Nice touches such as the brushed aluminium sides and metal buttons really add a feel of quality, just like the smooth action on the top and front sliding sections. The high level of quality continues elsewhere with the rugged door hinge/locks which also highlight one of the Cosmos 2's key features, sides which swing open with removal an option, making quick changes inside the case much easier than with panels which must be removed. The design used by Cooler Master also allows for plenty of flexibility in terms of component choice thanks to support for e/XL ATX boards, 10 PCIe slots, 38.5cm graphics cards, additional fans, 13 hard drives, water-cooling and extra fans. We are also pleased to report that there is plenty of room behind the drives/motherboard tray for wiring and that the back panel, actually the whole chassis, feels solid. There are however a couple of minor things which some users may need to take into account. Firstly dual width radiators, especially those with dual fans, need to be installed at the rear exhaust, there isn't quite room above the motherboard and those with modular PSUs will want to plug in the wires before slotting in the power supply as there isn't much room between the wiring area and the bottom drive bays. Minor issues really. In terms of performance the Cooler Master Cosmos 2 scores well, offering low noise levels and plenty of airflow which can be enhanced by adding additional fans if required. For value, we are still waiting to hear what the case retails at but given our experience with previous Cooler Master products we fully expect the Cosmos 2 to be priced appropriately for its features, performance and quality. » Details

Must Have Award at Kitguru

COSMOS 2 by Kitguru : 01-03-2012 I was extremely impressed with the Cooler Master Storm Trooper case, which I reviewed in November last year. It is a great looking case, and is well designed, inside and out. It also has formidable presence which suit an audience who yearn for something a little different from a surplus of generically styled cases available on the market today. I didn’t think it could get much better than that to be honest … well until today. The Cosmos II is without question one of the finest, most beautifully designed cases on the market, and has replaced the stunning Lian Li X2000 as my top choice high end enthusiast chassis. The first thing you will notice when receiving the Cosmos II are the dimensions of the box. As I watched the courier struggle with the case from the van to the door I realized this is a without question a no compromises design. The photography for the review was the equivalent to a full work out in the gym as I had to move the case around the studio for several hours to get all the right angles for the gallery section. Using aluminum would have made the Cosmos II much more portable, but the cost of manufacturing would be significantly higher. I have a feeling the construction density and subsequent weight will take a lot of people by surprise, because when I had finished the system build, the Cosmos II topped the scales at around 30 kg. Sure, it is built like a M1a2 Abrams tank, but it is assuredly not an ideal solution if you frequent lan events. The more time you spend with the Cosmos II, the more rewarding the experience. There are deft, intuitive touches which enhance daily use. The side panel door locking system for instance might seem frivolous on first glance, but in practical terms it really works well. Yet again, the metal bracketing and attention to detail deserves a mention because you are under no impression that something may break after a few months use. Internally we have no qualms with any area of the design. The lower compartment keeps the power supply isolated from the main system build and the front drive bay area is both practical, while offering plenty of space for complex system configurations. If you demand a profusion of hard drive storage then the Cosmos II is the case for you. With 385mm width support for graphics cards, there is plenty of future proofing for the years ahead. In regards to cooling proficiency, the Cosmos II can handle the highest end components as our review today has highlighted. Even with an Intel Core i7 3960X EE @ 4.6ghz and dual GTX590?s in Quad SLI the ambient case temperatures were class leading. At time of publication we have not received confirmed United Kingdom pricing, but I would assume it will cost more than the £150 Storm Trooper chassis. We will update this page when we have more information. » Details

Recommended Award at Guru3D

COSMOS 2 by Guru3D : 01-03-2012 Concluding, Cooler Master has been able to release a long list of esteemed cases over the past few years from that renowned CM690, Trooper, Silencio up-to the Cosmos, to the gamer oriented HAF and Storm series. Each and every time they hit the nail on the head as CM designs cases that appeal to gamers and enthusiasts, this audience. Pricing aside, the CM Cosmos II is an excellent combination of features, requirements, looks and sheers space. We can wholeheartedly recommend it as one of the most versatile chassis' we have tested to date. Honestly guys, the photos do not do the product any true justice, once you meet and greet it for real, it will impress, massively. But yeah, that price level hurts alright. The Cooler Master Cosmos II will be available starting today and is covered by a two year carry in warranty. » Details

Gold Award at Overclock3D Value for Money Award at Overclock3D

Xornet by Overclock3D : 12-14-2011 To say that the Xornet is a pleasant surprise would be a huge understatement. If you just look at the specifications it's easy to be underwhelmed. It has no lighting or customisation. The sensor is definitely at the bottom end of what can still be considered a gaming mouse. It's only available in black and is quite plastic-y to say the least. Finally that price tag of under £20, and from a company with a lot of brand identity, tends to ring alarm bells. However the moment you start using it all those things melt away and it's impossible not to love the Xornet. The design is amazingly comfortable. That bit of extra room out on the right really helps keep the compact little mouse under control and although a lot of the case is made out of that hard shiny plastic it has soft grippy rubber in all the right places. It doesn't even feel cheap. Sure it's really light as there are no weights in it, nor any frippery to increase the standard weight but it's not flimsy. When thinking of the Xornet the word that springs to mind is chunky. Because of the reduced length and increased width, along with a decent height, even my rather large mitts could hold it comfortably. The buttons have a lovely reassuring click to them and the scroll wheel, often a stumbling block on affordable rodents, is precise but quiet. Of course the sensor, at 2000DPI, is by no means up there with the mega sensors we've seen on some really high end mice, but for the average person this isn't an issue at all. 2000DPI is plenty responsive enough for nearly every application without being so fast that daily tasks require endless profile switching. At the higher end of the price spectrum designers often feel they need to justify the price with strange angles and features. The Xornet is the polar opposite of this. It's like beans on toast. Cheap, but flawless. It has a refreshing simplicity to it that works so well you find yourself questioning if you really do need all those extra bit of frippery we normally demand. For under £20 it's impossible not to fall in love with it. It's amazing value for money, comfortable, and does all that you require a mouse to do. Sure it wont cause anyone who passes to drop their jaw in wonderment but for a plug and forget solution to your pointer needs it's a gloriously honest, blue-collar product. All the production cost and design focus has been spent in all the right areas, leaving you with a product that makes its low price tag seem like the bargain of the year. Worthy of our Gold Award and our Value for Money. Brilliant. » Details

Value Award at Gamersedge

Xornet by Gamersedge : 12-13-2011 The Xornet is a bargain at only £19.99; it has some high end features packed into a small and comfortable package.  A simple, easy to use and solid performing mouse, the Xornet is a welcome addition to the CM Storm line of mice. » Details

Silver Award at Overclock3D Value for Money Award at Overclock3D

Hyper 212 EVO by Overclock3D : 12-06-2011 So what do we make of the Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO?  Well I think the first thing to bear in mind here is the price.  £23.98 is not a lot of money for a cooler of this type.  But have Coolermaster cut corners somewhere to bring it to market at this price point?  In essence, is it "cheap" or is it inexpensive and good value? Lets start with the looks, nothing special, but then neither are any coolers of this style.  The inclusion by Coolermaster of a nice looking dark smoked grey fan does lift the appearance over the older 212+ which had a simple solid black fan and the inclusion of plastic fan retention clips rather than the wire spring clips popular with some manufacturers adds to the air of intergration of the fan mounting mechanism (Coolermaster also include a second set of clips and rubber isolating pads to mount a fan on the reverse side of the cooler should you so desire).  According to Coolermasters own figures the 600-1600RPM PWM non LED fan is able to shift 24.9 and 66.3 CFM of air depending on fan speed and does this while emitting between 9 and 31 dBA.  in practice the fan is barely audible at low fan speeds, and not much louder at full tat, although with the case side off a smooth Whoosh can be heard, which may well be the noise of the air moving over the cooling fins more than the fan itself, either way it's nothing to worry about as with the case side on nothing can really be heard over the case fans themselves. Quality wise things are fine too, no bent fins, good solid assembly.  It comes well packed and protected with the packaging adding to the impression that what lies within is a quality product.  I've already mentioned the fitting and the instructions, so I'm not going to go on about them again, they're not so much bad, but as my school reports used to say "Could do better" (turns out the school reports were wrong) In naming this 212 the "EVO" Coolermaster are showing that they have evolved the previous model, the most obvious evolution being the use of 4 x 6mm continuous direct contact heat-pipes, the idea being that the increased surface area and decreased gap between the pipes will better enable heat transfer and so improve performance. £23.98 is good value then, the 212 EVO ticks all the right boxes.  Problem is that it's also a very popular price point for what can be called "entry level performance coolers" There are a lot of other coolers out there ticking the right boxes to varying degrees, such as the Corsair A50, the Arctic cooling freezer 13, the Gelid Tranquillo rev 2 and the Titan Hati to name but a few.  All fall to within a few pence to a pound or so of the price of the 212 EVO.  With all the coolers mentioned above looking basically the same, give or take a fancy fan here and there, the 212 EVO has it's work cut out for it then and must give a good report of itself well when it comes to performance. The review of the Enermax ETD-T40 earlier this month prompted a few people to ask how well it was thought it would stack up against the 212.  As we've now tested the 212 EVO we can answer the question objectively.  A glance at the figures above shows us that it doesn't perform quite as well, with a max temp of 77 degrees compared to the T-40s 74.5  Given that all testing is carried out at max fan RPM it may well be that the T40s higher top fan speed of 1800 RPM explains some of this variance.  Fan speed variance aside, the T40 reports better performance figures, but then lets remember what we said in the first line of the conclusion, this cooler costs just £23.98, a good £10 or so less than the T40.  The decision then as to which is better depends on whether you want to shave a few degrees, or save a few quid. » Details

Gear of the Year Award at PC Format

Hyper 612S by PC Format : 12-02-2011 All in all, there's a lot to enjoy about the Cooler Master Hyper 612S. It's a big cooler which - instead of going down the out-and-out performance route - pulls on to the silent-performance byroads of the air-cooling world, and largely succeeds by doing so. » Details

Bang for Buck Award at eTeknix

Xornet by eTeknix : 12-01-2011 Performance wise, we are always impressed with the CM Storm mice, especially with regards to the tactical sensor, which even in its cut-down version produces impressive results and is unbelievably smooth on all surfaces. A 2000 DPI sensor, while being lower than the new gaming mouse average, it is certainly more than enough for most games and gaming styles. It certainly doesn’t hinder the performance in most games, although most gamers do certainly seem to favour the higher DPI settings and so may be accustomed to expecting more. We do however find the on-the-fly adjustments perfect for everyday use as well, as it allows us to have the precision while using programs like Adobe Photoshop and the speed when navigating across the desktop, it certainly gives you a good compromise and the best of both worlds. Although there are gaming mice out there that can certainly rival this mouse, including its popular brother the CM Storm Spawn, we feel that it is certainly a very competitive mouse. It has been designed for professional FPS gamers, and this really shows in terms of the performance and the build quality. The most staggering point, is that this mouse can be had for around the £20 mark, which is pretty cheap for a mouse that delivers so much more than your standard everyday Microsoft mouse. Admittedly, it doesn’t have the drivers, and has a slightly lower DPI when compared with its brother, the CM Storm Spawn, but it is at least £10 cheaper and as such is certainly extremely good value for money. » Details