Cooler Master MasterBox 5 Closer Look

Cooler Master set out with goal in mind when it came to the MasterBox 5, create a example that's feature rich, flexible, and affordable. The results were two very interesting cases, and today nosotros'll be looking at the White, MeshFlow variant today.

While information technology's no secret that I'm quite the fan of the MasterCase 5 series, I discover it hard to recommend a lot of the time to new system builders because it'southward non exactly wallet friendly. And so when nosotros were asked to take a look at this more upkeep friendly ($69.99USD) instance that's function of the Master Serial I felt inclined to have them up on that offer.

Exterior

The overall build quality of the example is best described as simply 'skilful' as information technology isn't overly heavy, but doesn't experience similar information technology'south going to buckle under the weight of some heavier components. The main construction of the case is a lighter gauge steel with plastic accents, including the front panel. Forth the top of the case we observe that in that location are no cutouts for fans or radiator support, a solid flat top that does a good job keeping airflow linear inside the example and grit from settling when the PC is powered downwards.

On the top forepart of the case nosotros're greeted by the front I/O placed on a askew edge featuring:
- Ability and reset switches
- USB iii.0 ports
- Microphone and Headphone jacks.

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The front of the example is void of whatsoever v.25" trophy and instead features a total translucent 'MeshFlow' panel. This panel keeps the front of the case very clean looking and is easily removed to install fans or radiators to the front. Something disappointing near the front end of this model is the lack of a forepart dust filter (Black Example has mesh filter)

The Front of the case has very generous radiator back up feature support for
- Upwardly to 3x 120mm Radiator Support (2x 120mm native, 3x requires accessory)
- Upward to 2x 140mm Radiator Back up
- Up to 2x 120mm fans or 2x 140mm fans

The side panel features a generously large smoked window to prove off the entire interior of the example. Nonetheless, dissimilar the MasterCase 5, these side panels do not feature captive thumbscrews. This isn't a large deal, simply something worth noting.

The rear of the case comes with little flair and sticks to the nuts. It has a unmarried 120mm fan mount, rear I/O and 7x PCI expansion slots, besides as the PSU Mount.

The Interior

The interior of this case is where the magic happens. Starting with the Motherboard tray and its insane CPU cutout expanse, meaning you'll never have bug accessing the dorsum of the CPU changing coolers. Motherboard mounting back up ranges from m-ITX all the way to East-ATX. The fact that a case of this price point supports E-ATX is actually actually impressive as not even the MasterCase 5 natively supports that size.

The MB5 comes with i SSD sled (more can be purchased online) that can exist installed in i of 7 configurations as information technology tin be moved down the front end of the case, or flipped to the backside with an additional mounting point under the CPU cutout. It besides comes with two-bay HDD caddy that can be moved both horizontally to allow for thicker radiators, or vertically for 'strategic fan placement'.

Quite maybe my favorite feature in the interior has to be the PSU shroud. I take to say that seeing these become more and more common since the release of the NZXT H440 has been a blessing. At that place was a time when I had to make these from plexi and a heat gun, at present they're in even the virtually upkeep minded cases. This design I quite like as it's removable by simply taking out one thumbscrew and sliding frontwards. I similar this because yous don't have to go creative with the installation of the PSU, it just goes in like normal.

Infinite backside the motherboard tray is more than aplenty room with a minimum of 25mm clearance for cablevision direction.

Simply there'due south no rubber cutouts? No, no in that location aren't and thank you to the pattern of the cake shaped cutouts and obscene amount of tie downward points (something missing from the MC5) makes it okay. This approach was interestingly brilliant every bit if y'all were to install an E-ATX board in the case y'all return the left gear up of block opening useless and but use the ones of the right. But, if you're using a standard ATX or smaller motherboard you now have room for a reservoir to be mounted.

Conclusion

In the terminate I have to acknowledge that when I started looking at the case I thought it was decent enough but I didn't know the price. After finishing the build I was given the final toll for the case and was pleasantly surprised as I expected information technology to cost a fleck more. So basically this example will permit for a lower budget on the example and more toward the components and still have a beautiful custom build. Until this bespeak the cases in this cost point have been very limited, most of them beingness extremely budget cases with lilliputian expandability or features. This case, while may non be for you, will assistance spark a continued competitive nature at the sub $100 cases and that's a great aspect for all future builders.