Coolermaster Cosmos S

[sswilson]

Just picked up a Cosmos S and I'm not sure if I'll have time to put together a proper review so I'll post my impressions (and some pics) in here for now just in case anybody is interested..... :)

[sswilson]

Just got my own personal Cosmos S delivered, and I have to say it's one sexxxxyyyyyy case!!!!!

They've majorly improved cable management issues on the "b" side of the case by removing the center spar and incorporating a top channel.

My initial impressions are very good, but I have to agree with the on-line reviews that it could use a little bit less plastic, unfortunately that would probably also add at least $100 to the price of an already higher-end case.

So far my only gripe (and this was the same on the Cosmos 1000 I built up last weekend) is the side latching assembly. It's a great idea, but it does take some work to get them lined up, and fresh out of the box even when they're lined up they require a little "fonzie jukebox rap" to get them fully locked. I suspect that they'll get easier to work with (and latch better) as time goes on and the mechanism gets a little use.

Probably won't get around to moving out of my old Lian-Li case until this weekend, but I'll try to get some pics of the empty case up before then. (Really looking forward to this build as a no-mod required 320 rad install.... :) ).

[magictorch]

any chance of some pics of the "fonzie jukebox rap"

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by magictorch

any chance of some pics of the "fonzie jukebox rap"

You want to see a picture of me hitting the side of my case????? :)

Couple of other differences I've come across between the Cosmos S (aside from the different layout) are the inclusion of a 24 pin motherboard extender as well as the 8 pin extender which shipped with the Cosmos 1000, and the inclusion of one of those small case speaker replacements which plug into the motherboard. (No case speaker on either).

[sswilson]

Haven't started ripping apart my Lian-Li case yet, but I slapped 3 Yate loons up top to verify fit, and to my great pleasure discovered that the 240mm Swiftech res/rad fits well with the two upper fans lining up perfectly for mounting. Looks good for my 360mm to be able to mount in a full push/pull config without any modifications.

If this is the case, then Coolermaster must have done something with the mounting holes as early reviews mention a spacing between the fans which prevents many (swiftech included) rads from having a "Plug & Play" fit. This is looking better and better..... :)

Gotta pick up some more screws for mounting the extra 3 fans to my rad tomorrow.... I'm going to bring an example with me, but I don't suppose anybody knows off the top of their head what the normal screw length/thread is for mounting fans to swiftech rads????

[magictorch]

Oh nice-I think a cosmos is one of the next things on my shopping list.
youll have to post some pics of the build-

[Supergrover]

Just popped in to subscribe Steve;)

So are you going to be able to use a push/pull with all 6 fans, nice!

You mention the removal of the crosspiece, roughly how wide and deep is this channel?

[Cardboard box with DSL]

I found that 6-32 machine screws fit perfectly with the Swiftek MCR320.
Cant wait to see your project come together!

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by Supergrover

Just popped in to subscribe Steve;)

So are you going to be able to use a push/pull with all 6 fans, nice!

You mention the removal of the crosspiece, roughly how wide and deep is this channel?

Not completely sure of the full 6 fans in push/pull yet (wouldn't work with the ASUS board in the other build) I'll find that out tomorrow.... I'm just glad that I'll be able to do a proper top mount without requiring any mods.

I'll try to get some pics of both up tonight (just happen to have both models taking up space in the living room right now.... :) ) before I start the real build tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Cardboard box with DSL

I found that 6-32 machine screws fit perfectly with the Swiftek MCR320.
Cant wait to see your project come together!

X-cellent!!!!! Thanks for the info. Does that include room for a metal fan guard?

[3.0charlie]

#6-32 thread screws are fine for the fan guard holes.

Subscribed.

[Cardboard box with DSL]

Edit- Dumb comment... I need to read more well better...

[sswilson]

Before I throw everything together, I'm also going to check to see if the full rad would fit up top for folks who might want to mount the rad up top with a single row of fans pushing up through it (would allow for the thicker high CFM fans to be use inside the case).

Anything else folks might want to see pics of/measurements of before I get it built and don't want to take it apart?

[sswilson]

Grrrr.......

No time to play today..... :(

[sswilson]

Not the best pics in the world, but my wife's watching a movie so I can't retake them right now......

This is the original Cosmos 1000.

The center arrow is the locking bar which is tight up against the case side so you can't pass wires over it or they will be crushed.

The top and bottom arrow show the "choke points" when it comes to managing wires on the back of the case.

The bottom one isn't too bad as there is room on the "inside" of the case side which is filled with sound deadening foam.... the top one however is also tight against the case side, so no wires can be passed over it.

Not exactly the best design.

Here's the backside of the Cosmos S.

As you can see, both the upper and lower "choke points" are gone!!!!

There is a minimum of 3/8" clearance now to the case side, and even more in the center part of the case side (no foam any more either).

There is also now a channel which runs behind the main locking bar.

Kinda hard to see the channel in this pic, but I can fit my index finger through it (wide enough for a molex as well) and can't get my thumb into it.

[sswilson]

The third fan is going to fit!!!!! :)

Also noticed that the cosmos s has inset screw holes for the motherboard stand-offs, while the Cosmos 1000 is the standard drilled/tapped hole. Not necessarily a big thing, but it's all of the little things which add up to the extra $60 you pay for the Cosmos S over the 1000.