Cooler Master Mastercase H500 ARGB

I was really impressed with this case when I first saw it at CES and to be honest I was drawn to the dual 200mm fans up front.  During my private showing I didn’t get to spend much time with the case aside from being told about the unique features and how it fit into the Mastercase lineup.  Since the H500 was released there have been a number of cases on the market that feature dual 200mm fans including SETA A1 from SilverStone and a the View 51 from Thermaltake. 

Obviously there is customer demand for cases with better cooling and yet users are not willing to compromise when it comes to functionality and If a hardware enthusiast or system builder is making correct decisions they are finding chassis designs they like and checking specs to ensure their builds will fit.

This is the quandary case makers face every day.  Designers are challenged to come up with creative designs.  These designs also need to be affordable, due to market demands and, eye catching because, ugly cases do not sell.

In this review we looked at the H500 ARGB from Cooler Master.  This is a refreshed design of the existing H500 that fully supports Addressable RGB system builds by swapping out the stock 200mm fans with ARGB lighted versions.  The lighting option supports all four of the major ARGB motherboard lighting systems along with any controller using the 3-pin ARGB plug.

As we saw in the review the case comes with ample room to install any high-end gaming build and supports both AIO and DIY watercooling setups.  AIO would be the preferred option given the case modifications needed to support many of the external pump and radiator combos available. 

Cooling is handled by two 200mm ARGB fans up front and a single 120mm fan at the back.  It is clear that the 200mm ARGB fan is intended to be a show piece given the build quality of the fan and overall construction.  To provide reverse compatibility with 280mm and 360mm radiators the fans are not fully vented.  While this may sound bad it actually promotes better cooling for common AIO radiators despite the larger cooling fans being installed.

Overall case construction is excellent.  The metal is “thicker” giving the case a solid feel that isn't all that much heavier than you would expect.  The case resists bending and flexing and should support extensive mods to both the metal and overall chassis.  You’ll find plenty of room behind the motherboard tray for cable routing.  Given that most everything is accessible from the front of the case once you have installed the PSU you may never need to remove the back panel again.

My feelings for this case are mixed.  The overall design, fit and fitment are extremely good, I like the tempered glass side panel and am not bothered by the solid metal back panel or how the front bezel design offers a mesh or clear plastic insert. 

In terms of modifications the case is just begging to be cut.  I can clearly see options to open up the front panel to allow the 200mm fans to breathe better and remove the 3.5” drive cage to install a watercooling loop.  Color accents can be applied to internal panels along with the metal mesh parts.  I would even go so far as to fabricate a new basement panel to completely cover the PSU and drive cage giving you options to mount SSDs and a pump res combo on top.

Thing is, Cooler Master could have easily done this on their own.  They have done it for other cases but, I suspect the H500 ARGB was designed with a different intent and one that favored style over functionality.  Many of the features found in this case were designed to be cost savings and really do not detract from the overall design. 

As I mentioned before I was drawn to the H500 due to the large RGB fans and I suspect many users will do the same and not be disappointed.

Dual 200mm Fans Up Front
360mm Radiator Support
ARGB Fans included
Plenty of Fan Locations
Excellent Design Geared for Modding
Good Metal Construction

The big fans are all show
Tempered glass on one side
Options to make this a great case left on the table