If we look back at the first series of aluminum cases to really hit the market they all involved copious amounts of CNC machining. The current models are stamped out with sides barely thicker than a Coke can, so it is not surprising to find aluminum cases retailing for as little as $80USD these days. As more and more cookie cutter cases are swamping the computer market, there is still one company that produces comparatively complex and stylish aluminum computer enclosures; that company is Coolermaster.

Originally, Coolermaster were known for heatsinks, but with growing competition in that area the company has looked towards other product segment to expand its profits. The Coolermaster ATC-410 case being reviewed by PCstats today is the foundation of Coolermaster's design philosophy, and from it we can only expect bigger and better things in the future.

The Coolermaster ATC-410 stands out for a whole host of reasons, but the most predominant one is that the case can be mounted within a standard 19" server rack. As a server case, the 4U Coolermaster ATC-410 aluminum case doesn't really have the room to support a true server motherboard, but it can protect a good ATX-sized work station system with four hard drives and three CDROMs.

The front of the case lies hidden behind a perforated aluminum grill that looks amazing. To maintain control over the system the front grill locks firmly in place with a real tubular lock - one which could just as easily be protecting your bike.

Looking at the Coolermaster ATC-410 chassis, it might seem easy to argue that it is indeed one of the coolest cases ever made... and indeed from the surface it is. All is not as it seems; look past the shiny silver exterior and there are many little problems with the ATC-410 that add up to a lot of inconvenience. So much so, that given the $340USD sticker price, PCstats would recommend you read skip on it entirely.

If you're in the market for one of the coolest looking cases on the planet that conveniently fits into a 19" rackmount then follow along as we walk around the case and point out its flaws.

Front close, front open and rear of the all aluminum Coolermaster ATC-410 case. There is one 120mm intake fan and two 80mm exhaust fans.

Note that there is no way to unlock the front cover and leave it unlocked without modding the lock itself. In the default configuration the keys have to stay in the lock.

Inside the Coolermaster ATC-410 aluminum case. Space is very badly separated into two overly large drive bay regions and a smallish motherboard tray.