Cooler Grasp put its new midsize MasterBox-family PC case, the MasterBox MB350P, on the reducing fringe of PC DIY trendiness by loading it with three panes of tempered glass and a tower of addressable RGB (ARGB) LED followers. The brand new, brightly coloured followers will not hook up with the majority of motherboards in the marketplace (ARGB assist could be very new), however a built-in controller ensures you could energy and modify the lights no matter your motherboard mannequin. And with a worth of $109.99, the MB350P makes it very tempting to see what all of the ARGB fuss is about. PC builders seeking to deck out a tower of glow-and-glass will discover this a nice worth.
The Design: Radical Transparency
Most ATX circumstances additionally assist smaller motherboard sizes, however not all assist each MicroATX and Mini-ITX. The MasterBox MB350P handles all three sizes, making it a flexible PC case. Though players will probably be drawn to the MasterBox MB350P in spades, I can see what number of DIYers would love this case for a home-entertainment PC, too. These techniques can get by on smaller motherboards.
For those who favored older fashions in Cooler Grasp’s MasterBox sequence, the brand new designs will most likely really feel like a pure development to you. The MasterBox MB350P retains the sturdy, hard-cornered form of earlier fashions, but it surely sports activities a revamped entrance face that showcases your entrance consumption followers whereas offering loads of (considerably hidden) area for airflow.
As a result of the MasterBox MB350P is a mid-size tower, it does not take up an unreasonable quantity of desk area. The case measures 18.5 by 9 by 19.25 inches (HWD). As slim throughout because the case seems, these 9 inches purchase you loads of respiration room, together with cable-management area behind the motherboard tray and first rate clearance between your video card and the facet panel.
Earlier than I dig additional into the case’s internals, I’ve a couple of ideas in regards to the exterior. The entrance panel would look nice even with a typical clear-plastic slab, however the tempered-glass panel’s smoky look is an actual head-turner, particularly when paired with the pulsing colours of the ARGB followers. The slanted entrance panel leaves room for big consumption grilles, all of which have a mesh filter to maintain out particles.
The entrance panel’s sloped design creates a great place for the facility button and ports. Cooler Grasp opted for 2 USB 2.zero, two USB three.zero, and two audio ports right here. It additionally added a button that allows you to management the lighting for the MasterBox MB350P’s ARGB followers. You press it repeatedly to cycle via modes, which vary from static to pulsing.
Cooler Grasp opted for tempered-glass facet panels, as properly. Glass facet panels will be difficult to deal with as a result of they are much extra fragile than typical steel panels. They’re additionally heavier and vulnerable to amassing fingerprints on the within, which you solely discover if you’ve constructed out the PC and fired it up. And, I am unhappy to say, I do know from expertise that cup home windows can shatter spectacularly when dropped. Fortunately, I hung onto the MasterBox MB350P’s panels with out incident.
The tempered glass is not darkish sufficient to obscure your PC’s parts, significantly if they’ve built-in lighting. The glass is a good function for the MasterBox MB350P’s left facet (assuming you are going through the case from the entrance), offering a window into the PC. I might say that it is among the many finest tempered-glass panels I’ve seen and dealt with, based mostly on its transparency and the convenience with which I can connect it to the case.
I am not as excited in regards to the different facet panel, which exposes an space historically hidden in PC circumstances: the realm behind the motherboard tray. That is the place all however essentially the most demanding of us DIYers are inclined to let aesthetics slide. It is commonplace for the realm behind the facility provide to have a rat’s-nest look, nor can we shoot for perfection when operating cables alongside the tray. It is the DIYer’s behind-the-scenes area—till you set a glass panel over it.
To its credit score, Cooler Grasp did extra than simply drop a glass panel on the case’s facet. The corporate payments the MasterBox MB350P as “Showroom Prepared” and clearly put thought into how this space ought to look. It did DIYers a favor by including a detachable steel cowl that hides a large chunk of the cabling. It additionally ensured that your SSDs are seen, which can get the eye of customers who’ve invested closely of their storage and need to exhibit the . So, the third tempered panel is an asset, if you wish to exhibit your entire PC’s parts and for those who’re prepared to be extra-diligent about cable administration.
Take off the MasterBox MB350P’s proper facet panel, and also you’re wanting on the motherboard tray. The “flooring” of the inside is especially near the place you may set up an ATX motherboard as a result of the MB350P has a power-supply compartment that separates it from this facet of the case. Cooler Grasp places cable passthroughs (with rubber grommets, a pleasant contact) close to the motherboard tray and the power-supply compartment, supplying you with loads of choices for sneaking wires in from the opposite facet.
The facility-supply compartment additionally has a big cutout close to the entrance of the case to accommodate your liquid-cooling gear. The MasterBox MB350P helps radiators from 120mm to 360mm up entrance with out making you sacrifice these shiny ARGB consumption followers. The highest of the case helps radiators in 120mm or 240mm varieties, and the again of the case handles simply 120mm radiators (which is typical). The case ships with a 120mm fan mounted within the again vent place.
As for inner area, the MasterBox MB350P has a most graphics-card size of 410mm and a CPU-cooler top most of 165mm. That is loads of room for typical .
The opposite facet of the MasterBox MB350P offers entry to the power-supply compartment, with as much as 180mm of room there. The close by exhausting drive cage helps two three.5-inch drives or two 2.5-inch drives, relying in your wants. Every drive sled has a sliding mechanism that makes it straightforward to snap a three.5-inch drive into place.
CoolerMaster additionally provides two spots for two.5-inch drives on the again of the motherboard tray. Due to some thick rubber grommets, all you need to do is connect the included drive sleds after which push your drives into the motherboard tray.
When you end the construct, you’ll be able to cowl a lot of your cables with the MasterBox MB350P’s steel shroud. The shroud goes a great distance towards making this facet of the case look clear, but it surely does not do a lot to make this facet of the case very thrilling, both. If it had an array of LEDs or some type of seen design, that may give this facet rather more persona.
Taking On the Check Construct
On the subject of the MasterBox MB350P’s equipment equipment, Cooler Grasp retains issues easy. A bag of screws, motherboard standoffs, and plastic ties accompanies the ARGB splitter and a guide.
The guide sports activities loads of illustrations, however little or no textual content. A picture-heavy guide is likely to be sufficient for primary PC circumstances, however the MasterBox MB350P ought to have a guide that features higher textual content directions. The pictures that depict the 2 methods to attach the ARGB cables, for instance, would actually profit from written explanations. I believe nearly all pc merchandise ought to embody manuals with written directions, however at this worth, the case actually ought to.
Eradicating the facet panels (and placing them again in place) is a simple process, due to a small shelf that helps the decrease finish of every panel. Place the glass panel on the shelf, press it gently to the case, twist the 2 thumbscrews, and also you’re achieved. It is price noting that I can take away the entrance panel with minimal effort. Entrance panels are notoriously troublesome to take away from many circumstances, however Cooler Grasp nailed it on the MasterBox MB350P.
ARGB connectors do not assist commonplace RGB LED headers. Until your motherboard is a cutting-edge mannequin, it will not have the suitable headers, which suggests you will not be capable to use the motherboard’s lighting software program to regulate the MasterBox MB350P’s three front-panel followers. That does not imply you are out of luck, nonetheless.
The case features a splitter and controller for the followers, so all you may have to do is present energy out of your energy provide, and the followers will mild proper up. I discovered it straightforward to cycle via the built-in mild settings with the button on the entrance panel. For those who merely will need to have full management of each mild in your case, you may need to be sure to have an ARGB-compatible motherboard. (The case is designed to adjust to ARGB headers on boards by main manufacturers.) In any other case, you may most likely be very proud of the built-in controller.
A Clear Editors’ Alternative
The MasterBox MB350P hits all of the excessive notes. It is beautiful, it has loads of area for cumbersome gaming , and it makes constructing a PC a enjoyable expertise. Simply as essential, all three panels detach (and re-attach) simply.
I actually just like the ARGB followers and the best way that the MasterBox MB350P’s entrance panel showcases them. It is a case that is going to get loads of consideration for those who take it to LAN occasions, or anyplace else public, for that matter. Even so, I can see how some PC builders will get a way of improve fatigue when studying that the majority motherboards will not have headers for the ARGB followers. Attempting to maintain up with must-have parts (corresponding to video playing cards and processors) is tough sufficient on one’s pockets. With new lights requiring new …it is simple to see how some players will say, “Eh, I will follow commonplace RGB LEDs.”
As for the MasterBox MB350P as an entire, it is a very stable purchase. Midsize circumstances not often look imposing, however with its tempered-glass panels and that front-panel stack of followers, the MasterBox MB350P brings on the beast on an affordable finances. Issue within the cable-management choices and the beneficiant area for liquid-cooling gear, and you’ve got a clear PC case that is…anticipate it…clearly a bit higher than the remainder of the pack.