MaximumPC 2008 04

Cooler Master’s big CM Stacker gives you options

for PSU placement. You can mount it in the tra-

ditional spot up top or place it below the moth-

erboard. We’re sticking with tradition here. First,

remove the back plate covering the PSU slot by

removing the two screws that

hold it in place. Then carefully

slide the PSU in place (fan side

down), pushing the wire bundle

from the PSU through the front of

the cage (image A). Now attach

one of the Stacker’s two included

PSU brackets to the case (image

B). The PSU will mount to this

bracket. Oddly, the supplied

bracket lets you attach the sup-

ply with only two screws, but

that’s generally good enough.

To install the optical drive, remove both the left

and right sides of the case. Inside the case, you’ll

see a row of quick-release latches that hold the

drives in place. Open the latches at the spot

where you want to insert your drive. Now remove

the bezel from the slot on the front of the

case where your drive face will be. (While

you’re at it, you should also remove the

three lower bezels that block access to the

hard-drive cage.) The CM Stacker uses a

quick-release rail system to mount optical

drives. Find two plastic rails in the case

parts box (they should be marked Right

and Left) and attach each to the appropri-

ate side of the optical drive (image A). The

rails do not screw into the drive, so don’t

bother trying. Now slide the drive into its

slot in the case and fl ip the quick-release

levers (image B).

1

MOUNT THE POWER SUPPLY

2

INSTALL THE OPTICAL DRIVE

READY, SET, BUILD

Once you’ve collected all your parts, you’re just 13 steps away from a hand-built PC you can be proud of

Videocard

XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 512

Alpha Dog Edition

$350, http://www.xfxforce.com

Motherboard

MSI P35 Neo2-FR

$120, http://www.msi.com.tw

CPU

Intel Core 2 Quad Q

$275, http://www.intel.com

Memory

Patriot 4GB DDR2/

$120, http://www.patriotmem.com

Case

Cooler Master CM Stacker

STC-T01-UW

$120, http://www.coolermaster.com

Power Supply

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610

$120, http://www.pcpower.com

Operating System

Windows XP Professional

$100, http://www.microsoft.com

Hard Drive

Seagate 750GB Barracuda AS

7200.

$184, http://www.seagate.com

Optical Drive

Optiarc AD-7190A

$25, http://www.sonynec-optiarc.com

Soundcard

Creative Labs Sound Blaster

X-Fi Xtreme Gamer

$80, http://www.soundblaster.com

         

PARTS AND

PRICE LIST

20 MAXIMUMPC | APR 08 | http://www.maximumpc.com

A

A

B

B

$1,500 PC