During Computex 2015 in Taipei last June, Cooler Master has unveiled MasterCase, which the world’s first mid-sized modular tower with exterior expandability. The MasterCase represents a new family of cases that offer unmatched control over style and functionality.
Measuring 460 mm in height, the MasterCase will be available in three versions: MasterCase 5, MasterCase Pro 5 and MasterCase Maker 5. The MasterCase 5 came in as the most basic version, comes with dual top handles and standard doors. The next one is MasterCase Pro 5, which features a window side panel and an elevated mesh top cover and bracket for liquid-cooling radiator mounting. The MasterCase Maker 5 has the highest specs, which boasts the sleek lines, a solid top cover and brooding, and an open-vent front door. The MasterCase 5 and Pro versions are now available in the market while the Maker version is set to be launched in Q1 2016.
Thanks to FreeForm solution, Cooler Master allows MasterCase owners to customize, adjust and upgrade their case by replacing exterior parts as well as the interior. According to Cooler Master, these add-on accessories can be purchased separately through the CM Store or through selected retail partners.
Today we are going to take a closer look at the Cooler Master MasterCase 5. Additionally, we will also show you how easy it is to transform the case to the Pro version. At the time of writing this article, we are still unable to confirm the final specifications and product features of the full-spec’ed MasterCase Maker 5. Nevertheless, let’s proceed to the MasterCase 5 and MasterCase Pro 5 review now!
Product Link: http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/mastercase5-series/
Suggested Retail Price:
- MasterCase 5: RM 479
- MasterCase Pro 5: RM 599
Specifications
As mentioned earlier, there are three versions of the Cooler Master MasterCase. While the official specifications of the MasterCase Maker 5 is yet to be confirmed at the moment, the table above shows the comparison between the vanilla MasterCase 5 and MasterCase Pro 5.
The MasterCase is only available in black colour at launch. Out of box only the Pro version will have a window side panel on the left side, vanilla MasterCase 5 owners however can purchase the panel separately from CM Store or retail partners if they want. Additionally, the Pro version comes with a mesh top cover and bracket for liquid-cooling radiator mounting while the vanilla MasterCase 5 only comes with a plain flat mesh cover to accommodate a pair of 140 mm or 120 mm cooling fans.
The MasterCase Pro 5 also has more drive bays than the vanilla version. With the Pro version, you get five 3.5” drive bays as compared to only 5 bays on the vanilla version. Besides that, the Pro version also has seven 2.5” SSD brackets instead of four. There are three 140 mm cooling fans pre-installed on the Pro version compared to only 2 on the vanilla version.
MasterCase 5
MasterCase Pro 5
The table above shows the comparison between MasterCase and its closest competitors: NZXT. H440, Fractal Design Define R5 and Corsair Obsidian 450D. From here we can see that the MasterCase is wider than any offering from these competitor. The MasterCase is capable of supporting CPU cooler up to 190 mm in height! This also means that the legendary Noctua NH-D15 which is 165 mm-tall with fans has no problem to fit it perfectly inside the MasterCase.
Product Features
FreeForm™ - Unparalleled flexibility to upgrade your case via the addition of top panels or doors, adjusting aesthetics, thermal performance and layout flexibility.
- Unique clip-and click components panel for drive cage adjustment
- Supports up to 6 x 140 mm fans – including 3 in the front and 2 at the top
- Easier to install water cooling reservoirs and support for extra-long graphics cards
- Dual chamber design with partition panel to isolate power supplies and cables
- Slip-and-clip solid state drive pockets with four mounting positions – two hidden behind the motherboard and two on top of the partition
- Top cover panel for 240 mm radiator support and exterior augmentation (MasterCase Pro 5 only)
owikh84
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