UPDATE 8th November 2023: Cooler Master has responded to our review and will be making changes to the dust filter design as a result of our feedback - result in a better product for everyone! See the statement they sent us, and get full details in our news story: bit.ly/47p7H8S
hello, since you have a direct line to them, could you ask whether they will send out the updated filters to owners of the current version, etc? it will be really hard to make sure you are buying an updated version for a while, while current stock is cleared, etc.
I hope they can send it to current users, at lease we can apply for a new kit free with shipping cost covered by ourselves or collect at some places like some local dealers' shops/office
Just built a system with this case and am very happy with it. The instructions are a bit scattered but far from as bad as some youtubers say, and honestly, if you can't build a case this simple, you might want to give a second thought about building your own system. The design, materials, paint and fit quality are excellent. It's compact and has huge breathing room (it's 07/07/2024 and mine already came with the higher flow dust filters). The chassis does flex a little as depicted on the video, albeit with the glass panel still not attached and thus incompletely assembled. In the end, even without the glass its structural qualities are more than adequate for the application and once installed it will not flex. I did purchase fans for the bottom of the case to make it a positive pressure chamber. After my experience I bought three more for systems I'm building. If you want a very compact full ATX case with great configuration flexibility, I'd highly recommend the Qube 500.
what aperture does the new dust filters have? 1.5mm? Are you using an air cooler? How are the temps? There are a simple magnetic 1.5mm diy filter from amazon that I could buy for cheap to replace mine in case they are the old ones
Hi, I want to get this case but two things I’m unsure on, I’m looking at purchasing it through Amazon and it doesn’t say if it comes with the new dust filters and the second thing is nobody on there reviews seems to mention / show there HDD / SSD MOUNTS, or not that I’ve seen, I run 4 ssds and a hdd in my current rig, will they all fit inside this case?
I just built a PC for my daughter in this case. I mounted the PSU on the floor ( its a bit quirky and the manual doesn't show it but there is a mounting point for it) and installed two 140mm fans up front and one on bottom. Thermals are great with all the filters on. A miniATX mobo is best for the PSU on the floor but a microATX does work but there's little clearance for bottom connections. Great case. Was even able to fit my old AIO cooled 3080Ti in it.
Filters always restrict airflow. I’m guessing this is a perfect storm in this case. Small design and physical size. Limited airflow. Dense filters. At least you can remove them easily if your room is warmer or you are running hotter hardware.
Just built a system with this case and am very happy with it also, came from an old tower with about 50cm sitting on the floor, got this case to use on my desk with the same system and so far there isn't any noticeable termal diference from the old one. Using Ryzen 5700x on Aorus x570 atx plus Rtx 4070. Using intake fan 120m on the front below the psu and another 120mm on the radiator in the back.
These kind of metal mesh fliters just tend to worsen airflow more than true filters we typically see in premium cases. The thing is, like you mentioned, relatively small area of perforation determined by pattern. And the worst thing is diameter of openings being balancing between sacrificing airflow or dust filtration. I also have the feeling, that true filters (we typically see in premium cases) when obviously being less restrictive are also better at catching dust, but maybe it's just me seing things due to hating metal mesh filters :]
great observation, never thought about that and the difference in metal and premium air filters we see in higher grade cases. its worth an article James ?
🙂 Neat, thats a good idea for shipping in containers and trailers, you can haul alot more cases that way, i'm surprised that this isn't more common yet among more cases and manufacturers
That was a superb build and follow-up assessment!! Indeed, those dust filters are too restrictive. Nonetheless, it is quite the innovative design. One option would be to have the AIO fans setup for intake, thus bringing in cool air from the top. There are enough perforations with the case that passive exhaust should be achievable. Moreover, liquid cooling really is a necessity here for mid-range CPUs such as a 12700K or 13600K. However, it would need to be no larger than a 240 mm unit.
I never like that cooling config. You are fighting the natural system of ‘warm air rises’ by bringing cool air in and it can really cause a lot of problems as it’s just fighting with hot air rising inside and wanting out the top.
The NR200 (and NR200P) have that same side mount bracket. It's there for people who want to use a mesh side panel. I use it for intake fans on my NR200. It helps keep my overclocked 9900K and 3070 below 70C. I built a system for my daughter using the NR200P and I didn't use that side mount bracket because her system has a glass side panel. Although, the NR200P comes with an extra mesh side panel, just in case you don't want to use the glass panel.
Yep, if there was another vented side panel included the side fan/rad bracket would be very useful. I wouldn't want to swap side panels over and have the tempered glass on the opposite side but some people will probably run the case like this.
I have the older version of this case, the MasterBox Q300L TUF and in this one, you'll have the same situation: restricted airflow caused by the external magnetic dust filter being too close to the metal-perforated case. The case is otherwise very nice; if Coolermaster had only removed the small round hole pattern to "squarish" openings (after all, the case is called MasterBOX), it would keep the strength of the case while allowing more airflow. Unfortunately, it seems they still need to learn from customer feedback.
Good review as always James. The wobble on the chassis was more concerning for me than the filters blocking a percentage of airflow. Final build looked well. Didn’t they do coloured versions of these ? Why do these companies not send coloured versions to media. They look so much nicer. !
@@Volker_A4the advantage is that it's modular so painting it yourself its easier, than painting a bigger frame with more hard to reach surfaces and having to drill rivets
I like the size/concept and would purchase if Cooler Master were to offer the RHS Metal panel separately (the Qube 500 replacement parts catalog is rather lean).
I greatly enjoyed this video. I've been mildly curious about these Cooler Master Flat Pack cases and you've done a fantastic job demonstrating the build process. As an aside, I've been rotating only three PSUs in my personal builds for well over ten years now. An Antec HCP-1200, an Antec SG-850, and a Seasonic SS-1000XP. I've been advised by many to update my PSU collection, but I refuse to do so. Thank you for reading.
PLEASE showcase some completed builds of the optional configurations suggested by Cooler Master?! Of note, the "southpaw" and "totally rad mode" would be interesting, no other channels are building the non-basic configuration.
A pretty cool concept. Used the Parvum in the past. Was a fun project, but steel construction is a much better option. For small-ish cases, considering how much modern GPUs benefit from bottom intake, and how much direct airflow from front intake towards CPU cooler (using aircooler) would be nice to see some design similar to the Torrent, as front and bottom intake is king. At the moment using the Torrent with solid panels. Went through quite a lot of cases (G500A, Lancool 3, Lancool 216, Fractal North, Lian Li O11D Evo, NZXT H7 and H9 flow versions, Phanteks NV7, and surprised how the Torrent, paired with the Thermalright U120EX outperform them at similar, if not lower noise levels. All that was required for the Torrent was some 10mm spacer for the bottom fans to eliminate resonance, as they seat too close to the bottom bracket/metal parts. A smaller Torrent that could accommodate the “common” 350mm long GPUs would be a blessing. Sadly the smaller Torrent won’t, at least without sacrificing its strongest point: the huge front intake fan.
20:45 - The mesh side and the glass side can be replaced, so you're not blocking airflow with the glass panel on the hinge. That's what the hinge is for.
I completely understand that the side panels can be swapped but I don't like the aesthetics of the glass on the right hand side. It would be better if Cooler Master supplied an additional mesh side with the case so that you can run mesh on both left and right hand sides simultaneously. Or added another SKU with two mesh sides and no glass. My main issue is that the user guide shows images of a glass panel being fitted to the right hand side in front of the side fan/rad bracket, which could be confusing/misleading to novice users and cause problems with temperature. I know some might like the look of glass on the right side. It's just personal preference.
Many thanks for the review, James. I think this case is reaaly well engineered and have a really few flaws (to dyi freak like me). In fact I was planning to put same 4080 +cpu AIO but 7800x3d :) Anyone who wants to squize some >300W to this qube just need to cook it right ;) So only SFX psu - there are plenty today, and only mesh left panel!! It will allow to install 240(280?) AIO on the left side bracket taking fresh air through bigger holes, +3× 140 fans as intake at the bottom (incl. under PSU) - to feed the GPU, and 3×120 or even 140 at top to exhaust. How many 33L cases on the market can do that? OK, how many 50L cases on the market can do that? - I found none to buy, well not having other major flaws :( Full towers - yes. But thats for people who don't like challenges :) But my primary idea, and what I missed in all reviews of this case - to test it upside down! - whether it possible to fix psu not falling and with correct airflow, - how to fix 2kg GPU vertically (due airflow needs to be revert, so it'd be great to intake it from the side panel). Due this is way more efficient to keep most of the heat at the top and exhaust it immediately up. Leaving bottom half for AIO and fresh air to vrms/ram. I might even build it, unless I finally get tired of waiting CoolerMaster to start selling this case.. and buy some Torrent/Meshify instead.
I've been considering this vs the Fractal North, especially since it's quite a bit cheaper here ($129 AUD vs $229, though the North includes 2 fans). I like the cheese grater aesthetic, the holes make convenient mounting points for all sorts of weird DIY hardware, and I wouldn't mind the extra cleaning that permanent removal of the dust filters would bring. It's a shame you can't get a version with two of the steel/mesh side panels (rather than one steel and one TG), given the so-called "modularity" of the case. edit: I guess I could just move the TG panel to the right side -- even if I cared about seeing cable clutter, I could stick a piece of paper over it, or use it as a glass frame for a cross-stitch piece.
@@KitGuruJames I just watched a couple of unboxings of the Macaron edition (including one on Cooler Master's own channel) and it looks like it only comes with extra top & front panels, no extra side panels. ..kinda emotionally invested in this cross stitch idea though ;-)
@@wereoctopus yes it seems it's the top, front and bottom panels/dust filters. Hopefully Cooler Master will sell the side panels seperate as the side fan/rad bracket is a complete waste if not. Unless you are happy to run the TG panel on the other side? Not something I would like to do.
@@KitGuruJames Yeah, I would move the mesh panel to the left, use the fan bracket, put something pretty on/behind the TG panel, and put the PC on the left of my desk. Or perhaps just put it on its side, TG panel facing down, but that takes up more desk space. Thanks for making this video -- if I do end up getting this case, it's good to have a heads-up about the removable mesh's poor airflow.
i love this case (maybe similar with Asus ap201) ! It can fit at the same time a 4080 (or 4090) and the greatest cpu air coolers like cooler master ma824 or noctua nhd15...great !!
lovely quality of video james, b roll was sublime - really showcased the chassis well. Im going to buy one even with the problems - just cant find it anywhere in UK yet....
Change the aio fans to pull/intake, it will pull cooler ambient air in through the radiator,and bring the cpu temp down. Your setup is pulling warm internal air into the radiator, increasing temps.
@everyone watch the coolermaster video of using this pc case. There are so many ways to use the case and reconfigure if you plan!!! Its a multi case plus a test bench as well.
You could have easily added the fans and radiators before you mounted the panels. That way you have no issue with mounting after putting together the panels. Dont think of building in this case like a traditional one. When using the extra radiator fan shroud, Just swap the side panel with the glass panel which is perforated.
Looked like a fun build from scratch! Though I'm kind of dreading the idea of how it would look like swapping the motherboard out of there in the future.
I like the initiative, too bad it is practically the same bad design as the Q500L. And that it comes unassembled in a smaller box is nice for consumers outside the USA (I for example am from Venezuela and buy from Amazon USA, this reduces shipping costs for me).
i would reccomend a sfx power supply if you are going to build in this case... Really awesome case though hopefully we see more of this type of case.. They really made it easy to build this case.
i honestly think its a really neat little product. putting it together like a table out of IKEA. funny. Those filters seem very poor grade. thats why I like kitguru reviews, you guys use the latest gen hardware to test (which runs hotter than 3-4 gens ago) and you analyse the cooling a little better than most. Its say Cooler master have a good product here - just maybe not yet. Id actually buy one for a bedroom, its a good size, looks decent, and if I ran cooler, less powerful hardware, it would likely run ok.
I would prefer to just be able to get the thing shipped with 2 proper panels, instead of a glass one I have zero use for. I suppose I could buy two, and sell one on E-Bay as a custom job with 2 tempered glass side panels to recover some value ;) But I'd just put the tempered glass on the back realistically speaking as I wouldn't be buying this for the purpose of a luxurious case but for ease of building and modification and being able to hang stuff off the pegboard. Looks like a great product, and I hope to see many more flatpack cases in the future. It's the way to go.
Their previous Q-series had terrible airflow too. Despite this, it might be their most popular case ever. I think people were simply attracted to "cube" aesthetic and the way you could configure it multiple ways. The idea of just slapping on dust filters to a metal box seems like genius in simplicity, but it's actually terrible for airflow. The holes aren't big enough, and the filters being directly on there just makes it worse. To really get good airflow from this kind of concept you have to do something more like the Meshilicious/Meshroom cases, which are much less restrictive.
quite a few haters here for the concept. I think its fun - a few issues they can iron out I think in a future revision, including the chassis strength - its not something I usually care too much about, but that flex and movement was staggering in the video when James put a moderate amount of pressure on the sides. Would you ever do that in the real world? probablyt not, but its never reassuring to think corners were cut a little on the metals...... id just run without the filters - i never have those cheap filters in place on any case. you need to spend a lot more money to get good, proper filters on anything.
Like the case which can be set on desk flat instead of upright and would buy IF they changed the covers and filters as they have large round holes to far apart on the outside and full mesh not fine at all behind with filters in between. Love the Half X EVO but not built for todays hardware and would rather they had it as a dual chamber but a little smaller. Instead of fan brackets they should just be bars screwed to the case in 120mm or 140mm holes and smaller honey comb hole all around with finer filters.
I still think psu should be either on the top or at the bottom, so the case can accommodate front fans. I like the concept and the aesthetics. I hope they also make matx and itx.
Very nice presentation. I was quite interested to see this case. It seems a to be an excellent concept but still has a bunch of flaws: case could be more rigid, air flow is BAD for a heavy processor/GPU and lateral frame for radiator, near the glass, is a shame. Maybe, mATX boards and lighter GPUs can have a more comfortable temperature operation.
@@justindavis7600 I am wondering if there are optional screws somewhere that weren't screwed in. I know he mentioned optional screws. but mine does not flex anywhere near that bad. Entire thing feels solid.
This case has a very similar airflow profile to the NR200. I have an NR200P MAX, and setting all fans (2x top rad, 2x bottom) to exhaust decreases CPU temps while keeping GPU temps low. Mesh side panel becomes passive intake. Bottom intake is great for the GPU, but then your only main exhaust is through the radiator, which is sucking up most of the heat from the card. I wonder how the temps change just swapping bottom to exhaust.
It looks like this could be used for an open air test bench by only partially assembling it. I like that there is easy access for cable managing as you go along. Hoping this is successful enough for them to make larger cases of this design.
I like the size but think it should be dual chamber to get the power supply out of the way. Having 2 sets of panels only blocks air as the inside should just be fan strips that you can mount for 120 or 140 mm fans or AIO's. Fine mesh Screens will also would better then just punched holes for a filter. reducing the hole size and adding more holes will help with air flow as the large holes leave to much metal between. If the mesh was like the Cooler Master HAF X all the way around with close to the same looks but No Handles and a Little higher for CPU cooler height I would have bought it but the way it is No way.
its only bad airflow because you crammed it. the intake fans can't get passed the gpu. this case isn't really designed to be packed like that. sff cases that are more designed for a card like that have a separate chamber for the gpu.
In this setup the rear fan should be set as intake, is it? Also, a slim fan could fit at the bottom front. The double AIO fans should be ok as exhausts, keeping positive the pressure positive.
Thank you for the vid , very informative. I am planning a Ryzen 7000 mATX build. Was going to use the Q300l v2 because of the easily removed magnetic dust filters. However, it's still out of stock, so I´m thinking the Qube 500 could work. I would remove dust filters on exhausts and possibly `modify´ intakes. I´m in south Spain so cooling will be important. Would you agree the smaller mobo should resolve some of the other problems you experienced with the full-size ATX?
Could you glue the glass side panel to that hinged fan bracket, giving a nice hinged glass side panel? On the whole that looks like a lovely case to build in for someone like me who cannot lift and hold heavy items in the air. Great ideas. But more configurable options would be even better, and more colours.
I just migrated my itx sub workstation to this case. It surely was fun to build and seen many potentials.. But I cannot still understand why the PSU needs to be at the front... Since this build is ITX, I could have attached PSU at the bottom. But there was not any stable location for PSU... Probably ok for anything below mid tier which is this sub machine with Linux installed. But I would not put anything high end here... I think the weird fan mount is there to reinforce the frame? But yeah, it is not screwed on both end... Not sure why it is there... perhaps for benchtop mode. My setup is 5600G+7600 with Wraith cooler. So yeah, it never goes beyond 65 degrees. I think I have seen this kind of set up in OEMs..Dell gaming desktop from 2020 etc.
I get great themals and I only have one fan under the psu in front, I just think this case isnt built to have so many fans, one of two is enough to be honest, airflow is going to be all over the place.
problem that happen in my country, they only shipped this one Pre-Build and after research, we can't tear down the case because they use like lock screw or i don't know what the official name of it.
at last there's a brand who made this case posible. i imagine it years ago case like this who will build n sold it massive. this a pc case should like. easy to accsess nn friendly build
I would love one of these but amazon shipping is crazy... they're somehow charging as much for this as for larger sized case boxes, almost doubling the price.
Long story -> Short; most all (IMO all) 2 dimensional PC air filters are sub par and will clog and hinder airflow from day 1 or allow half the dust through in the best case using the little bit of dust to catch more dust. IMO if you PC is always on, it should be cleaned out completely every year if you want it to last you longer than you need it. With either a large can of compressed air, air compressor if you got one, the mini blowers work well but generally aren't strong enough to get the heavy bits Short story -> Long; the 2D filters that flow more are will always allow dust through then completely clog. No way around it, literally. Furthermore, dust when humid WILL conduct and cause soft shorts on your components, usually will dehumidify after the boards warm up. Which is mostly why some electronics seem to have to "warm up" to start working well, because there shorting out. Quick simple test, get a multi-meter and go out to your car's battery then stick one probe on one terminal then the other on the plastic body of the battery. If you battery is slightly dusty and there's any humidity outside you will see a reading and the battery is shorting itself. That's why they sell that insolating spray for terminals. I see computers do weird things because of dust all the time My background is freelance I.T. for small and medium businesses. Been building PC's since Highschool, first PC build was back in 2001 and build about 5 a year and was building about 10 a month at the peak. I don't solicitate, just my I.T. clients for specialized PC's and friends, family. My first PC was a Slimline Gateway Piii 733 that i got when i was 13, within a year i OC'ed it to 950Mhz by cutting a hole on the side with ducting i made to prevent air cycling inside the case. Pro Tip; Use a $2 hardware store HVAC filter if you can fit it. FAR more capacity before clogging and FAR better filtering. Place it on top of the filter you already have as to prevent the fiberglass from running into the fan blades. You can use window screen if you don't have a filter to hold back the fiberglass. I personally used that method on plenty of PCs but on my own i designed fan grills specifically to hold the HVAC filter i cut out to fit There should be a MASSIVE market for replacement fiberglass filters for PC's like there is for homes, huge market missing *Don't use any "better" filter, as there far too restrictive **If the computer is porous enough to allow air to bleed out and the PC isn't using more than 200 watts full load, i generally disconnect the intake/exhaust fans. The dust they bring in will cause more heat after a few months
Great review as always. That flex in the case is very worrying but does it still flex if you have both side panels on? I do agree with you about how bad the front of the case looks without the mesh. It's probably a reach but how about raiding your stock of cases to find other meshes and seeing what works best, both temperature-wise and looks-wise? You mentioned the difficulty of fitting a 280mm AIO - what if you used a SFX-L PSU instead of dropping the ATX PSU?
Still has the same amount of flex with both side panels on. I just showed it with the TG panel off in the video as it was easier to see. The best type of dust filter is the nylon type for sure. You could use an SFX power supply but the choice of high power SFX is limited.
Good review video, however, black case with black parts makes for not a lot of detail to see. perhaps more light on case or something would help. Otherwise keep up the generally good work.
We reported the air flow issues, and they looked into it. They found our testing methodology was right and due to our feedback they fixed the design. More here: www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/cooler-master-to-improve-dust-filter-design-following-kitgurus-qube-500-review/
Thank you for the review! Could the flex/wobble issue be something that varies in severity per unit? Trying to decide between this and the InWin DUBILI... I would prefer a cheaper/smaller case, but the flexing does not make me think the Qube 500 will travel well.
I doubt there will be variation in the flex between units. The amount of screws holding it together is less compared to the amount of rivets you would have in a pre assembled case. Also the lack of a power supply shroud probably doesn't help with rigidity.
@@ToddFreeman85I just got this case. Everything feels very solid once screwed together. Handle is easy to hold and no issues. Now I am coming from an old giat NZXT case that flexed when I picked it up. Compared to that this case just feels solid and premium.
@@Cassienope Thank you for the feedback! I ended up going with a larger case this time around, but I am still considering the Qube500 as a replacement for my backup build. Good to know the flex/wobble isn't an issue!
@@KitGuruJames Will that improve the thermals 1. Top exhaust 2. Bottom intake and 240/280 rad on side This will create natural flow. Will you be able test this?
I'm curious if anyone has tried this case with one of the Corsair SHIFT power supplies. I'm looking into replacing my Phanteks P350X with this, for reasons; do already have a Corsair H115i 280mm AiO, and a Corsair RM1000x SHIFT with a Gigabyte Windforce RTX 4070 Super, R7 5800X.
UPDATE 8th November 2023: Cooler Master has responded to our review and will be making changes to the dust filter design as a result of our feedback - result in a better product for everyone! See the statement they sent us, and get full details in our news story: bit.ly/47p7H8S
hello, since you have a direct line to them, could you ask whether they will send out the updated filters to owners of the current version, etc? it will be really hard to make sure you are buying an updated version for a while, while current stock is cleared, etc.
I hope they can send it to current users, at lease we can apply for a new kit free with shipping cost covered by ourselves or collect at some places like some local dealers' shops/office
So, how do we know if our model has the new filters?
Just built a system with this case and am very happy with it. The instructions are a bit scattered but far from as bad as some youtubers say, and honestly, if you can't build a case this simple, you might want to give a second thought about building your own system. The design, materials, paint and fit quality are excellent. It's compact and has huge breathing room (it's 07/07/2024 and mine already came with the higher flow dust filters). The chassis does flex a little as depicted on the video, albeit with the glass panel still not attached and thus incompletely assembled. In the end, even without the glass its structural qualities are more than adequate for the application and once installed it will not flex. I did purchase fans for the bottom of the case to make it a positive pressure chamber. After my experience I bought three more for systems I'm building. If you want a very compact full ATX case with great configuration flexibility, I'd highly recommend the Qube 500.
what aperture does the new dust filters have? 1.5mm? Are you using an air cooler? How are the temps? There are a simple magnetic 1.5mm diy filter from amazon that I could buy for cheap to replace mine in case they are the old ones
Hi, I want to get this case but two things I’m unsure on, I’m looking at purchasing it through Amazon and it doesn’t say if it comes with the new dust filters and the second thing is nobody on there reviews seems to mention / show there HDD / SSD MOUNTS, or not that I’ve seen, I run 4 ssds and a hdd in my current rig, will they all fit inside this case?
@@Aza35617Facts I've been wondering where you mount them also. But I'm sure the instructions will tell you
I just built a PC for my daughter in this case. I mounted the PSU on the floor ( its a bit quirky and the manual doesn't show it but there is a mounting point for it) and installed two 140mm fans up front and one on bottom. Thermals are great with all the filters on. A miniATX mobo is best for the PSU on the floor but a microATX does work but there's little clearance for bottom connections. Great case. Was even able to fit my old AIO cooled 3080Ti in it.
Filters always restrict airflow. I’m guessing this is a perfect storm in this case. Small design and physical size. Limited airflow. Dense filters. At least you can remove them easily if your room is warmer or you are running hotter hardware.
Really cool idea you can build as youre going along with as much access as you want.
I love they are trying to go green. Not sure I’d buy this to be fair but I like some of the ideas
Incredible technical and deep review of a case. You are at the top of reviewers.
Just built a system with this case and am very happy with it also, came from an old tower with about 50cm sitting on the floor, got this case to use on my desk with the same system and so far there isn't any noticeable termal diference from the old one. Using Ryzen 5700x on Aorus x570 atx plus Rtx 4070. Using intake fan 120m on the front below the psu and another 120mm on the radiator in the back.
These kind of metal mesh fliters just tend to worsen airflow more than true filters we typically see in premium cases. The thing is, like you mentioned, relatively small area of perforation determined by pattern. And the worst thing is diameter of openings being balancing between sacrificing airflow or dust filtration. I also have the feeling, that true filters (we typically see in premium cases) when obviously being less restrictive are also better at catching dust, but maybe it's just me seing things due to hating metal mesh filters :]
I think you hit the nail on the head there.
couldnt agree more, and couldnt have said it better myself if I tried!
yes you nailed it Stanisawkowalski
great observation, never thought about that and the difference in metal and premium air filters we see in higher grade cases. its worth an article James ?
@@powermaster5004 that might be worth looking at.
🙂 Neat, thats a good idea for shipping in containers and trailers, you can haul alot more cases that way, i'm surprised that this isn't more common yet among more cases and manufacturers
Always honest and fascinating results about the filters. Seems to be an issue with that particular design. 😢
Another hard working and honest video from James.
That was a superb build and follow-up assessment!! Indeed, those dust filters are too restrictive. Nonetheless, it is quite the innovative design. One option would be to have the AIO fans setup for intake, thus bringing in cool air from the top. There are enough perforations with the case that passive exhaust should be achievable. Moreover, liquid cooling really is a necessity here for mid-range CPUs such as a 12700K or 13600K. However, it would need to be no larger than a 240 mm unit.
I never like that cooling config. You are fighting the natural system of ‘warm air rises’ by bringing cool air in and it can really cause a lot of problems as it’s just fighting with hot air rising inside and wanting out the top.
Your builds are always neat man.
Thanks 👍
The NR200 (and NR200P) have that same side mount bracket. It's there for people who want to use a mesh side panel. I use it for intake fans on my NR200. It helps keep my overclocked 9900K and 3070 below 70C. I built a system for my daughter using the NR200P and I didn't use that side mount bracket because her system has a glass side panel. Although, the NR200P comes with an extra mesh side panel, just in case you don't want to use the glass panel.
Yep, if there was another vented side panel included the side fan/rad bracket would be very useful.
I wouldn't want to swap side panels over and have the tempered glass on the opposite side but some people will probably run the case like this.
NR200 non ATX cases
I have the older version of this case, the MasterBox Q300L TUF and in this one, you'll have the same situation: restricted airflow caused by the external magnetic dust filter being too close to the metal-perforated case. The case is otherwise very nice; if Coolermaster had only removed the small round hole pattern to "squarish" openings (after all, the case is called MasterBOX), it would keep the strength of the case while allowing more airflow. Unfortunately, it seems they still need to learn from customer feedback.
Good review as always James. The wobble on the chassis was more concerning for me than the filters blocking a percentage of airflow. Final build looked well. Didn’t they do coloured versions of these ? Why do these companies not send coloured versions to media. They look so much nicer. !
Yes the Macaron Limited Edition is the colourful version with an ARGB fan included.
Definitely, the black and yellow looks really cool, imo. Doesn't seem to be in production yet though.
@@Volker_A4the advantage is that it's modular so painting it yourself its easier, than painting a bigger frame with more hard to reach surfaces and having to drill rivets
You guys always get to use the best components really jealous.
I like the size/concept and would purchase if Cooler Master were to offer the RHS Metal panel separately (the Qube 500 replacement parts catalog is rather lean).
I greatly enjoyed this video. I've been mildly curious about these Cooler Master Flat Pack cases and you've done a fantastic job demonstrating the build process.
As an aside, I've been rotating only three PSUs in my personal builds for well over ten years now. An Antec HCP-1200, an Antec SG-850, and a Seasonic SS-1000XP. I've been advised by many to update my PSU collection, but I refuse to do so. Thank you for reading.
Thanks for watching the video. I'm glad that you found it informative. 👍
Have you three systems you use ?
bringing the Ikea model to PC cases makes sense. Im surprised Cooler Master spaced the vents so far apart. Maybe to prevent bending during shipping?
Putting that case together seems like a piece of cake.
It is very easy.
Qube is a pretty cool name well done cooler master for not being rubbish.
You have to be a real enthusiast for this one.
PLEASE showcase some completed builds of the optional configurations suggested by Cooler Master?! Of note, the "southpaw" and "totally rad mode" would be interesting, no other channels are building the non-basic configuration.
was looking forward to this review, never disapoints great work lml
Thanks. 👍
Cant wait to see the end of days where we use foam packaging.
A pretty cool concept. Used the Parvum in the past. Was a fun project, but steel construction is a much better option. For small-ish cases, considering how much modern GPUs benefit from bottom intake, and how much direct airflow from front intake towards CPU cooler (using aircooler) would be nice to see some design similar to the Torrent, as front and bottom intake is king. At the moment using the Torrent with solid panels. Went through quite a lot of cases (G500A, Lancool 3, Lancool 216, Fractal North, Lian Li O11D Evo, NZXT H7 and H9 flow versions, Phanteks NV7, and surprised how the Torrent, paired with the Thermalright U120EX outperform them at similar, if not lower noise levels. All that was required for the Torrent was some 10mm spacer for the bottom fans to eliminate resonance, as they seat too close to the bottom bracket/metal parts. A smaller Torrent that could accommodate the “common” 350mm long GPUs would be a blessing. Sadly the smaller Torrent won’t, at least without sacrificing its strongest point: the huge front intake fan.
Yeah seems like it’s not option really
20:45 - The mesh side and the glass side can be replaced, so you're not blocking airflow with the glass panel on the hinge. That's what the hinge is for.
I completely understand that the side panels can be swapped but I don't like the aesthetics of the glass on the right hand side. It would be better if Cooler Master supplied an additional mesh side with the case so that you can run mesh on both left and right hand sides simultaneously. Or added another SKU with two mesh sides and no glass.
My main issue is that the user guide shows images of a glass panel being fitted to the right hand side in front of the side fan/rad bracket, which could be confusing/misleading to novice users and cause problems with temperature.
I know some might like the look of glass on the right side. It's just personal preference.
Many thanks for the review, James.
I think this case is reaaly well engineered and have a really few flaws (to dyi freak like me).
In fact I was planning to put same 4080 +cpu AIO but 7800x3d :)
Anyone who wants to squize some >300W to this qube just need to cook it right ;)
So only SFX psu - there are plenty today,
and only mesh left panel!!
It will allow to install 240(280?) AIO on the left side bracket taking fresh air through bigger holes, +3× 140 fans as intake at the bottom (incl. under PSU) - to feed the GPU, and 3×120 or even 140 at top to exhaust.
How many 33L cases on the market can do that?
OK, how many 50L cases on the market can do that? - I found none to buy, well not having other major flaws :(
Full towers - yes. But thats for people who don't like challenges :)
But my primary idea, and what I missed in all reviews of this case - to test it upside down!
- whether it possible to fix psu not falling and with correct airflow,
- how to fix 2kg GPU vertically (due airflow needs to be revert, so it'd be great to intake it from the side panel).
Due this is way more efficient to keep most of the heat at the top and exhaust it immediately up. Leaving bottom half for AIO and fresh air to vrms/ram.
I might even build it, unless I finally get tired of waiting CoolerMaster to start selling this case.. and buy some Torrent/Meshify instead.
thank you for your detailed review, you are the only one who show the flex in pc case, it's a deal breaker for me
Glad I could help
I've been considering this vs the Fractal North, especially since it's quite a bit cheaper here ($129 AUD vs $229, though the North includes 2 fans). I like the cheese grater aesthetic, the holes make convenient mounting points for all sorts of weird DIY hardware, and I wouldn't mind the extra cleaning that permanent removal of the dust filters would bring. It's a shame you can't get a version with two of the steel/mesh side panels (rather than one steel and one TG), given the so-called "modularity" of the case.
edit: I guess I could just move the TG panel to the right side -- even if I cared about seeing cable clutter, I could stick a piece of paper over it, or use it as a glass frame for a cross-stitch piece.
The Macaron limited edition version comes with extra mesh side panels I believe.
@@KitGuruJames I just watched a couple of unboxings of the Macaron edition (including one on Cooler Master's own channel) and it looks like it only comes with extra top & front panels, no extra side panels.
..kinda emotionally invested in this cross stitch idea though ;-)
@@wereoctopus yes it seems it's the top, front and bottom panels/dust filters. Hopefully Cooler Master will sell the side panels seperate as the side fan/rad bracket is a complete waste if not. Unless you are happy to run the TG panel on the other side? Not something I would like to do.
@@KitGuruJames Yeah, I would move the mesh panel to the left, use the fan bracket, put something pretty on/behind the TG panel, and put the PC on the left of my desk. Or perhaps just put it on its side, TG panel facing down, but that takes up more desk space.
Thanks for making this video -- if I do end up getting this case, it's good to have a heads-up about the removable mesh's poor airflow.
I love the spoilers at the back.
i love this case (maybe similar with Asus ap201) ! It can fit at the same time a 4080 (or 4090) and the greatest cpu air coolers like cooler master ma824 or noctua nhd15...great !!
lovely quality of video james, b roll was sublime - really showcased the chassis well. Im going to buy one even with the problems - just cant find it anywhere in UK yet....
Change the aio fans to pull/intake, it will pull cooler ambient air in through the radiator,and bring the cpu temp down. Your setup is pulling warm internal air into the radiator, increasing temps.
That's a nice cube case! :)
Very detailed,nice!
@everyone watch the coolermaster video of using this pc case. There are so many ways to use the case and reconfigure if you plan!!! Its a multi case plus a test bench as well.
Dang, I was hoping this was going to be the update to the HAF XB EVO.
You could have easily added the fans and radiators before you mounted the panels. That way you have no issue with mounting after putting together the panels. Dont think of building in this case like a traditional one.
When using the extra radiator fan shroud, Just swap the side panel with the glass panel which is perforated.
Looked like a fun build from scratch! Though I'm kind of dreading the idea of how it would look like swapping the motherboard out of there in the future.
I like the initiative, too bad it is practically the same bad design as the Q500L. And that it comes unassembled in a smaller box is nice for consumers outside the USA (I for example am from Venezuela and buy from Amazon USA, this reduces shipping costs for me).
Good they made a provision for vertical mounted GPU.
Cooler master will "fix" the airflow problems eventually but it will be sold as the premium version. Haf 500 cases comes to mind.
i would reccomend a sfx power supply if you are going to build in this case... Really awesome case though hopefully we see more of this type of case.. They really made it easy to build this case.
i honestly think its a really neat little product. putting it together like a table out of IKEA. funny. Those filters seem very poor grade. thats why I like kitguru reviews, you guys use the latest gen hardware to test (which runs hotter than 3-4 gens ago) and you analyse the cooling a little better than most. Its say Cooler master have a good product here - just maybe not yet. Id actually buy one for a bedroom, its a good size, looks decent, and if I ran cooler, less powerful hardware, it would likely run ok.
This case would be so much cooler, if it was a true Cube and implemented a dual chamber designe.
True
I would prefer to just be able to get the thing shipped with 2 proper panels, instead of a glass one I have zero use for. I suppose I could buy two, and sell one on E-Bay as a custom job with 2 tempered glass side panels to recover some value ;)
But I'd just put the tempered glass on the back realistically speaking as I wouldn't be buying this for the purpose of a luxurious case but for ease of building and modification and being able to hang stuff off the pegboard. Looks like a great product, and I hope to see many more flatpack cases in the future. It's the way to go.
very cool
Did you use a dust filter with the AIO at the top? WHY? that alone would make a huge difference.
Their previous Q-series had terrible airflow too. Despite this, it might be their most popular case ever. I think people were simply attracted to "cube" aesthetic and the way you could configure it multiple ways. The idea of just slapping on dust filters to a metal box seems like genius in simplicity, but it's actually terrible for airflow. The holes aren't big enough, and the filters being directly on there just makes it worse. To really get good airflow from this kind of concept you have to do something more like the Meshilicious/Meshroom cases, which are much less restrictive.
Q series I never had one. Did you buy one yourself ?
I love it ❤
I think vertically mounting the GPU and flipping an Air cooler 90 degrees to have it exhaust from the top might improve thermals a bit.
quite a few haters here for the concept. I think its fun - a few issues they can iron out I think in a future revision, including the chassis strength - its not something I usually care too much about, but that flex and movement was staggering in the video when James put a moderate amount of pressure on the sides. Would you ever do that in the real world? probablyt not, but its never reassuring to think corners were cut a little on the metals...... id just run without the filters - i never have those cheap filters in place on any case. you need to spend a lot more money to get good, proper filters on anything.
I loved Cooler Master years ago. Now I just don't care for anything they make. Seems like there is always a better alternative.
This is my case kind of case, Im so DIY I ripped the side off my old case and installed and external box fan.
Like the case which can be set on desk flat instead of upright and would buy IF they changed the covers and filters as they have large round holes to far apart on the outside and full mesh not fine at all behind with filters in between. Love the Half X EVO but not built for todays hardware and would rather they had it as a dual chamber but a little smaller. Instead of fan brackets they should just be bars screwed to the case in 120mm or 140mm holes and smaller honey comb hole all around with finer filters.
Its a neat idea but dont cases usually have a few spot welds in key places to help them maintain their rigidity?
Usually cases are all held together with rivets and screws.
I still think psu should be either on the top or at the bottom, so the case can accommodate front fans. I like the concept and the aesthetics. I hope they also make matx and itx.
Very nice presentation. I was quite interested to see this case. It seems a to be an excellent concept but still has a bunch of flaws: case could be more rigid, air flow is BAD for a heavy processor/GPU and lateral frame for radiator, near the glass, is a shame. Maybe, mATX boards and lighter GPUs can have a more comfortable temperature operation.
Thanks for doing this James you give me the confidence to give this a try.
It would be great if we could purchase an additional rear panel to eliminate use of glass completely.
Thanks for review. Interesting idea but instability of the case frame is crucial.
its not good is it? surprised me how much it flexed.
@@justindavis7600 I am wondering if there are optional screws somewhere that weren't screwed in. I know he mentioned optional screws. but mine does not flex anywhere near that bad. Entire thing feels solid.
This case has a very similar airflow profile to the NR200. I have an NR200P MAX, and setting all fans (2x top rad, 2x bottom) to exhaust decreases CPU temps while keeping GPU temps low. Mesh side panel becomes passive intake.
Bottom intake is great for the GPU, but then your only main exhaust is through the radiator, which is sucking up most of the heat from the card.
I wonder how the temps change just swapping bottom to exhaust.
It looks like this could be used for an open air test bench by only partially assembling it. I like that there is easy access for cable managing as you go along. Hoping this is successful enough for them to make larger cases of this design.
Open air bench is a great idea man.
Yes it can, Cooler Master lists this as one of its possible uses in the review guide.
I like the size but think it should be dual chamber to get the power supply out of the way. Having 2 sets of panels only blocks air as the inside should just be fan strips that you can mount for 120 or 140 mm fans or AIO's. Fine mesh Screens will also would better then just punched holes for a filter. reducing the hole size and adding more holes will help with air flow as the large holes leave to much metal between. If the mesh was like the Cooler Master HAF X all the way around with close to the same looks but No Handles and a Little higher for CPU cooler height I would have bought it but the way it is No way.
If you have the Corsair rmx shift Power supply i reckon you can fit a fan just underneath it, so its facing the GPU
its only bad airflow because you crammed it. the intake fans can't get passed the gpu. this case isn't really designed to be packed like that. sff cases that are more designed for a card like that have a separate chamber for the gpu.
In this setup the rear fan should be set as intake, is it? Also, a slim fan could fit at the bottom front. The double AIO fans should be ok as exhausts, keeping positive the pressure positive.
Thank you for the vid , very informative. I am planning a Ryzen 7000 mATX build. Was going to use the Q300l v2 because of the easily removed magnetic dust filters. However, it's still out of stock, so I´m thinking the Qube 500 could work. I would remove dust filters on exhausts and possibly `modify´ intakes. I´m in south Spain so cooling will be important. Would you agree the smaller mobo should resolve some of the other problems you experienced with the full-size ATX?
The cardboard box alone is good enough for PC case.
Could you glue the glass side panel to that hinged fan bracket, giving a nice hinged glass side panel?
On the whole that looks like a lovely case to build in for someone like me who cannot lift and hold heavy items in the air. Great ideas. But more configurable options would be even better, and more colours.
Possibly but I don't think he hinge would be beefy enough to take the weight of the glass plus there would be no catch to hold the door closed.
@@KitGuruJames Fair enough.
I just migrated my itx sub workstation to this case. It surely was fun to build and seen many potentials.. But I cannot still understand why the PSU needs to be at the front... Since this build is ITX, I could have attached PSU at the bottom. But there was not any stable location for PSU...
Probably ok for anything below mid tier which is this sub machine with Linux installed. But I would not put anything high end here... I think the weird fan mount is there to reinforce the frame? But yeah, it is not screwed on both end... Not sure why it is there... perhaps for benchtop mode.
My setup is 5600G+7600 with Wraith cooler. So yeah, it never goes beyond 65 degrees. I think I have seen this kind of set up in OEMs..Dell gaming desktop from 2020 etc.
I get great themals and I only have one fan under the psu in front, I just think this case isnt built to have so many fans, one of two is enough to be honest, airflow is going to be all over the place.
Think this is one of those projects where you need to do a lot of prep work before starting off.
problem that happen in my country, they only shipped this one Pre-Build and after research, we can't tear down the case because they use like lock screw or i don't know what the official name of it.
sfx psu would probably solve the gpu/280 aio woes. That said, the TG glass panel is redundant
Have the airflow problem been solved??
I would probably just pull the dust filters off of the top panel only with the config in this video.
Can you fit in the same configuration a 180mm psu lenght ?
at last there's a brand who made this case posible. i imagine it years ago case like this who will build n sold it massive. this a pc case should like. easy to accsess nn friendly build
23:28 Those fans look oriented as exhaust fans.
I would love one of these but amazon shipping is crazy... they're somehow charging as much for this as for larger sized case boxes, almost doubling the price.
A *bit* of flex? Ended up looking fairly nice, though. A SFF PSU might give a little space.
Yes SFX power supply would help. Space isn't too bad for the volume of the case. Cooler Master has done an impressive job with the layout design.
Long story -> Short; most all (IMO all) 2 dimensional PC air filters are sub par and will clog and hinder airflow from day 1 or allow half the dust through in the best case using the little bit of dust to catch more dust. IMO if you PC is always on, it should be cleaned out completely every year if you want it to last you longer than you need it. With either a large can of compressed air, air compressor if you got one, the mini blowers work well but generally aren't strong enough to get the heavy bits
Short story -> Long; the 2D filters that flow more are will always allow dust through then completely clog. No way around it, literally. Furthermore, dust when humid WILL conduct and cause soft shorts on your components, usually will dehumidify after the boards warm up. Which is mostly why some electronics seem to have to "warm up" to start working well, because there shorting out. Quick simple test, get a multi-meter and go out to your car's battery then stick one probe on one terminal then the other on the plastic body of the battery. If you battery is slightly dusty and there's any humidity outside you will see a reading and the battery is shorting itself. That's why they sell that insolating spray for terminals. I see computers do weird things because of dust all the time
My background is freelance I.T. for small and medium businesses. Been building PC's since Highschool, first PC build was back in 2001 and build about 5 a year and was building about 10 a month at the peak. I don't solicitate, just my I.T. clients for specialized PC's and friends, family. My first PC was a Slimline Gateway Piii 733 that i got when i was 13, within a year i OC'ed it to 950Mhz by cutting a hole on the side with ducting i made to prevent air cycling inside the case.
Pro Tip; Use a $2 hardware store HVAC filter if you can fit it. FAR more capacity before clogging and FAR better filtering. Place it on top of the filter you already have as to prevent the fiberglass from running into the fan blades. You can use window screen if you don't have a filter to hold back the fiberglass. I personally used that method on plenty of PCs but on my own i designed fan grills specifically to hold the HVAC filter i cut out to fit
There should be a MASSIVE market for replacement fiberglass filters for PC's like there is for homes, huge market missing
*Don't use any "better" filter, as there far too restrictive
**If the computer is porous enough to allow air to bleed out and the PC isn't using more than 200 watts full load, i generally disconnect the intake/exhaust fans. The dust they bring in will cause more heat after a few months
Will there fit my RTX 4090 Palit GameRock OC?
Can you do one of the macaroon shaded versions of this case?
Great review as always. That flex in the case is very worrying but does it still flex if you have both side panels on? I do agree with you about how bad the front of the case looks without the mesh. It's probably a reach but how about raiding your stock of cases to find other meshes and seeing what works best, both temperature-wise and looks-wise?
You mentioned the difficulty of fitting a 280mm AIO - what if you used a SFX-L PSU instead of dropping the ATX PSU?
Still has the same amount of flex with both side panels on. I just showed it with the TG panel off in the video as it was easier to see.
The best type of dust filter is the nylon type for sure.
You could use an SFX power supply but the choice of high power SFX is limited.
@@KitGuruJames Thanks. That flex alone makes it difficult to recommend.
Good review video, however, black case with black parts makes for not a lot of detail to see. perhaps more light on case or something would help. Otherwise keep up the generally good work.
Yeah, I didn't get a choice of colour with the case sample unfortunately. I would have picked one of the multi coloured Macaron if I had the choice.
@@KitGuruJames Appreciate the response. An alternatively coloured version would have been much easier to film for sure.
my buddy says he has no issues with the airflow
Airflow would not be any problem if you used smaller components ?
We reported the air flow issues, and they looked into it. They found our testing methodology was right and due to our feedback they fixed the design. More here: www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/cooler-master-to-improve-dust-filter-design-following-kitgurus-qube-500-review/
349mm GPU like hard to install in this case
334mm are sick
Thank you for the review! Could the flex/wobble issue be something that varies in severity per unit?
Trying to decide between this and the InWin DUBILI... I would prefer a cheaper/smaller case, but the flexing does not make me think the Qube 500 will travel well.
I doubt there will be variation in the flex between units. The amount of screws holding it together is less compared to the amount of rivets you would have in a pre assembled case. Also the lack of a power supply shroud probably doesn't help with rigidity.
Thank you for the reply! Any chance you tried moving it around using the handle and could tell us how confident you felt doing so?
@@ToddFreeman85I just got this case. Everything feels very solid once screwed together. Handle is easy to hold and no issues. Now I am coming from an old giat NZXT case that flexed when I picked it up. Compared to that this case just feels solid and premium.
@@Cassienope Thank you for the feedback! I ended up going with a larger case this time around, but I am still considering the Qube500 as a replacement for my backup build. Good to know the flex/wobble isn't an issue!
Those filters do look a little off to me
Also isn't this just InWin idea done of the cheap?
Its a bit small do they do different form factors?
Not yet. I would like to see one with improved filters and 360mm radiator support.
Can't we switch the backpanel with tempered glass and vice-versa?
Yes you can swap the right and left hand side panels around.
@@KitGuruJames
Will that improve the thermals
1. Top exhaust
2. Bottom intake and 240/280 rad on side
This will create natural flow. Will you be able test this?
@@VJ_VijayKumar I can't see it making much difference as the same material is used for the side panel filter.
It’s a good concept but they could have made it a bit easier to do.
I'm curious if anyone has tried this case with one of the Corsair SHIFT power supplies. I'm looking into replacing my Phanteks P350X with this, for reasons; do already have a Corsair H115i 280mm AiO, and a Corsair RM1000x SHIFT with a Gigabyte Windforce RTX 4070 Super, R7 5800X.