Computer Upgrade King Stratos Mini ITX

Darksaber · May 15, 2020

The CUK Stratos Mini ITX ships with a 650W PSU and 240 mm AIO liquid cooling unit, alongside a whole bunch of extras, like an ARGB/fan controller, remote, and four ARGB fans. Where compact ITX cases usually demand a higher price, the Stratos Mini ITX is absolutely affordable, making it an excellent entry option into the SFF segment.

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Nordiga · May 15, 2020

With frequent upgrades on my PC and peripherals, you may say i am a CUK as well.

Caring1 · May 15, 2020

Definitely overpriced, not sure how it was described as cheap.
The 240 AIO should be optional to reduce cost, and preferably mounted on top, saying that the Temperature test is incomplete if only tested with the radiator mounted on the front blowing hot air into the case.
I'd like to see those rerun to get a correct reading with the radiator in the top position blowing the hot air out.

oxidized · May 15, 2020

240$ for this little thing, they must be smoking something pretty good.

LTUGamer · May 15, 2020

oxidized said:
240$ for this little thing, they must be smoking something pretty good.

Value of bundled PSU is about 100 USD, value of bundled CPU cooler is about 70 USD, so value of the case is about 70 USD. Not good, not terible. Maybe there is better solutions for same price but 70 USD is still acceptable

bmacsys · May 15, 2020

OK, you say it has tempered glass panels then you also state that its acrylic side panels scratch easily? Does it have tempered glass or acrylic?

Caring1 · May 15, 2020

bmacsys said:
OK, you say it has tempered glass panels then you also state that its acrylic side panels scratch easily? Does it have tempered glass or acrylic?

Both.

bmacsys · May 15, 2020

Caring1 said:
Both.

Seems kind of weird. Who uses acrylic for cases in 2020?

Cranky5150 · May 15, 2020

bmacsys said:
Seems kind of weird. Who uses acrylic for cases in 2020?

ALOT of low end cases still use acrylic..like DIY etc.....

MDWiley · May 15, 2020

Woah... this is actually the perfect case for my ITX water loop! Just wish I could buy the chassis without all the extra hardware.

bmacsys · May 15, 2020

Cranky5150 said:
ALOT of low end cases still use acrylic..like DIY etc.....

Yes, but this case also has tempered glass panels. Why throw an acrylic panel in there too?

MDWiley said:
Woah... this is actually the perfect case for my ITX water loop! Just wish I could buy the chassis without all the extra hardware.

Yeah. I don't get it. When people look for cases they don't want other stuff bundled in.

oxidized · May 15, 2020

LTUGamer said:
Value of bundled PSU is about 100 USD, value of bundled CPU cooler is about 70 USD, so value of the case is about 70 USD. Not good, not terible. Maybe there is better solutions for same price but 70 USD is still acceptable

I totally missed it had a CPU cooler and a PSU bundled with it, that changes everything, still not insane pricing but reasonable.

Vayra86 · May 15, 2020

Huh, 240 bucks is cheap in ITX land? What are we smoking today?

Also the case has notable drawbacks that cause it not to stay with 240 either. You need new fans, because 52 dB is hairdryer/jet plane level and sound dampening is non existant. Fixed cooler and PSU... sounds to me like that is also not directly an advantage because you know that is a cost effective choice to begin with, not a quality first choice. You're paying them, with margins applied.

Seriously questioning the value of this review and who it was actually written for. Puzzling, really.

Caring1 · May 15, 2020

bmacsys said:
Seems kind of weird. Who uses acrylic for cases in 2020?

Corsair, and probably quite a few others.

bmacsys · May 16, 2020

Caring1 said:
Corsair, and probably quite a few others.

Yes, but not in conjunction with tempered glass panels on the same case. Unless the reviewer got it all wrong.

So the case costs $240 and is bundled with things 99.9% of system builders don't want. Then you probably want to replace the fans to boot. How does this product get a positive review?

Caring1 · May 16, 2020

bmacsys said:
So the case costs $240 and is bundled with things 99.9% of system builders don't want. Then you probably want to replace the fans to boot. How does this product get a positive review?

I already have the Cooler Master 240 AIO, and those included fans are crap and should be replaced.

bmacsys · May 16, 2020

Caring1 said:
I already have the Cooler Master 240 AIO, and those included fans are crap and should be replaced.

They should sell the case barebones.

System Name	Meshlicious Monster
Processor	Intel Core i5-10600T
Motherboard	MSI Z490I Unify
Cooling	NZXT Kraken Z53 with 2x Noctua Redux 1300 RPM PWM fans
Memory	ADATA 16 GB 3200 Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s)	MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
Storage	TeamGroup 1TB NVMe SSD
Display(s)	Asus ProArt 27" 1440P, 75Hz
Case	ssupd Meshlicious with mesh side panels
Power Supply	Fractal Design Ion 660 W Platinum ATX
Mouse	Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless
Keyboard	Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard
Software	Windows 10 Home

Processor	Intel Core i7 10700K
Motherboard	Asus Rog Strix Z490-G Gaming (WI-FI) mATX
Cooling	Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240
Memory	HyperX Fury 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3200MHz CL16 @3466MHZ
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte RTX 3070 8GB Aorus Master
Storage	Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 256GB M.2 NVMe // Samsung 850 EVO 500GB // Seagate Firecuda 2TB
Display(s)	Dell S2417DG @165hz @1440p @G-sync / 24" inch
Case	Fractal Design Meshify C Mini TG @mATX
Audio Device(s)	Creative Sound Blaster G6 USB // Philips SHP9500S 50mm
Power Supply	EVGA SuperNova 850 G2
Mouse	Razer Viper Ultimate
Keyboard	HyperX Alloy Origins Core (HyperX Red)
Software	Windows 10 Pro

System Name	Lenovo ThinkCentre
Processor	AMD 5650GE
Motherboard	Lenovo
Memory	32 GB DDR4
Display(s)	AOC 24" Freesync 1m.s. 75Hz
Mouse	Lenovo
Keyboard	Lenovo
Software	W11 Pro 64 bit

Processor	i7 2600K
Motherboard	Asus P8Z68-V PRO/Gen 3
Cooling	ZeroTherm FZ120
Memory	G.Skill Ripjaws 4x4GB DDR3
Video Card(s)	MSI GTX 1060 6G Gaming X
Storage	Samsung 830 Pro 256GB + WD Caviar Blue 1TB
Display(s)	Samsung PX2370 + Acer AL1717
Case	Antec 1200 v1
Audio Device(s)	aune x1s
Power Supply	Enermax Modu87+ 800W
Mouse	Logitech G403
Keyboard	Qpad MK80

Processor	Intel Core i5 4670K @ 4.8 GHz
Motherboard	AsRock Z87 Extreme 4
Cooling	Lepa NeoIllusion RGB CPU cooler
Memory	2*4GB Patriot G2 Series RAM
Video Card(s)	MSI Radeon R9 380 4GB
Storage	Transcend SSD 740 256GB + WD Caviar Blue 1TB
Display(s)	Samsung SA 300 24" Full HD
Case	NZXT Phantom 530 + Bitfenix Recon fan controller
Audio Device(s)	Creative SB0770 X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
Power Supply	PC Power and Cooling Silencer MkIII 750W 80+ Gold
Mouse	Logitech G502
Keyboard	Steelseries Apex RAW
Benchmark Scores	IT WORKS

System Name	Satan
Processor	AMD 2700x with EK waterblock
Motherboard	MSI X470 Gaming Pro
Cooling	Custom open loop watercooled
Memory	16 GB Corsair Vengance RGB Pro @ 3466 Mhz
Video Card(s)	Powercolor 5700 xt with EK full cover block
Storage	Intel 660p 512 GB nvme Samsung 860 Evo 1 TB for storage SATA
Display(s)	Viotek 32" curved 144 Hz 1440 P
Case	Thermaltake Tower 900
Audio Device(s)	Realtek onboard
Power Supply	Corsair Rmx 750
Mouse	Logitech G 602 wireless
Keyboard	Corsair K68
Software	Windows 10 Pro

Processor	i7 8700k 4.6Ghz @ 1.24V
Motherboard	AsRock Fatal1ty K6 Z370
Cooling	beQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 3
Memory	16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200/C16
Video Card(s)	ASRock RX7900XT Phantom Gaming
Storage	Samsung 850 EVO 1TB + Samsung 830 256GB + Crucial BX100 250GB + Toshiba 1TB HDD
Display(s)	Gigabyte G34QWC (3440x1440)
Case	Fractal Design Define R5
Audio Device(s)	Harman Kardon AVR137 + 2.1
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova G2 750W
Mouse	XTRFY M42
Keyboard	Lenovo Thinkpad Trackpoint II
Software	W10 x64

Computer Upgrade King Stratos Mini ITX

Senior Editor & Case Reviewer