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CoolerMaster Wavemaster TAC-T01 Case |
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I sidetracked to check out the CoolerMaster fans included with the case. Yes, these are GENUINE CoolerMaster case fans and not some dodgy cheapie. Having said that I expected the fans to have decent airflow and be comfortably quiet to boot. The rear fan was simple and easy to remove being in plain sight, however the front 2 fans were more problematic. Needless to say, I managed to figure it out and got the fans out (hint: you need an allan key for this operation). Sticking the CoolerMaster fans into my old case and powering up, I was indeed greeted by a relatively quiet hum. Using extremely scientific methods (I heard one and then I heard the other), I compared them with my previous Vantec Stealth case fans. I found that the CoolerMasters were indeed a little louder than the Vantecs. Airflow was pretty much ordinary for case fans. I would however like to see fan holders instead as these make removal and installation much easier. Some vibration dampeners would also be great.
Having installed all my cards, I started sliding in my drives. Again, I found that metal on metal is very disturbing. My personal preference is for drive rails, so I would like to see drive rails and rubber grommets supplied with this case. Another little issue I found with the WaveMaster was that once I had replaced the motherboard tray, my CD burner was a touch too long to fit into the 3rd 5.25" bay. So I had to change the position of it to the 2nd bay which wasn’t so bad. I suspect many people with newer drives will have no problems with it. Meanwhile my DVD-ROM occupied the first and my Aerogate 1 fanbus in the 4th.
The last thing I had to connect up was my power supply. While the top mounted USB2.0, FireWire and Audio ports were great, I was a little concerned that the card controlling them stuck out on the inside where the power supply’s octopus of wires was meant to go. This created some worry whether or not the card would snap. That said, I pulled out the whole module before putting my power supply in. Once it was in, I replaced the module and fired up the box...
 
And no go! Going frantic that I may have static zapped something, I went over everything. Turns out the supplied USB2.0 cable wasn’t compatible for some reason or another. I’ll have to look into this one as it seems to boil down to wiring. Removing the cable completely allowed my system to boot and we were running. The LEDs are beautifully blue and in my opinion just right. For those who find it too bright, you can just power one of them as they are on separate molex connectors.
If you would prefer an extra case fan and choose not to use the supplied USB2.0/FireWire/Audio ports, you can actually rip out the whole module and install an 80mm fan instead. The WaveMaster comes with a fan holder (sadly it requires a tool to install the fan) and air filter.
Conclusion:
The CoolerMaster WaveMaster is an excellent case bar a few minor problems. I expect that most people will not have any problems with clearance of their HSF’s nor their drives. The only real issues that stand at the moment are:- Scratchy metal on metal and also getting stuck when removing/replacing the motherboard tray.
- No drive-rail system.
- Tool-less fan holders are not included.
- Some power supplies may have difficulties accommodating the rear plate.
- Top installed USB2.0/FireWire/Audio ports get in the way of the power supply wires.
- Front bezel removal is not included the instructions.
- Thumbscrews are a little too stubby for larger fingers.
With everything in my system installed, I found that the case weighed quite a bit. In my opinion if you are after a case to tout about to LAN parties, don’t get a WaveMaster. Because it is solid aluminium, it is still fairly heavy. I wouldn’t think the aluminium would like being bumped about either as any dents or scratches would mar the beautiful finish. On a whole, despite some issues, I would recommend the CoolerMaster WaveMaster as a good case to get if you are after an aluminium case. It has the build quality you would require in a case and the beauty to make Mac owners eat their hearts out.
Specifications:
Dimension: 540 x 198 x 458 mm (L x W x H)
Weight: 7.8 Kg, 17.2 lbs
M/B Form factor: Standard ATX
Exposed: 5.25" Drive Bay x 4
Exposed: 3.5" Drive Bay x 1
Hidden: 3.5" Drive Bay x 4
Built-In Extras (Top Cover):
USB 2.0 x 2
Mic Input x 1
Headphone Output x 1
IEEE 1394 x 1
Ventilation:
Front Intake: 80 x 80 x 25 mm x 2 (included)
Rear Exhaust: 80 x 80 x 25 mm x 1 (included)
Optional Accessories:
Side Window ATC SPB-FV - about $55 AUD
 
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