#eatx

Fractal is launching the new version of the Meshify case line which is all about airflow, the Fractal Design Meshify S2. Fractal tends to build a more subdued case. Lacking from Fractal's line up are RGB LED-laden chassis. Don't get me wrong, there's a time and a place for RGB LEDs. Fractal has taken lessons learned from their other lines and has incorporated those features in the Meshify S2. With airflow over aesthetics being the priority for the series, it is easy to see why it is quite popular with enthusiasts and overclockers alike. The Meshify takes what was good about the original design and attempts to improve on it.   Technical Specifications Meshify S2 Black Tempered Glass Edition Model Name FD-CA-MESH-S2-BKO-TGL Front Panel Color Black Dimensions (mm) L538 x W233 x H455mm Material Steel, Metal Mesh, ABS, Tempered Glass M/B Type EATX (up to 285mm wide), ATX, mATX, ITX Front Ports 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C 2 x USB 3.0 Audio I/O Drive Bays 5.25″ 0 3.5″ 2 (Convertible to 2.5″ bay) 2.5″ 5 (2 x Converted from 3.5” bays) Expansion Slots 7 + 2 vertical Fan Slots Front 3 x 120/140mm (2 x Dynamic X2 GP-14 included) Rear 1 x 120/140mm (1 x Dynamic X2 GP-14 included) Top 3 x 120/140mm Bottom 2 x 120/140mm Radiator Support Front 120/240/360mm Rear 120mm Top 120/240/360mm 140/280/420mm (max 35 mm MB component height) Bottom 120/240mm 140/280mm PSU max length 300mm Maximum Compatibility VGA Card Length: Max 440mm with front fans mounted CPU Cooler Height (From M/B to side panel): 185mm Cable routing space 23mm   Packaging The Meshify S2 ships in a thick cardboard box. On the front of the box is a line art depiction of the case as well as the color indicator. Black and White are available at launch. On the rear, an exploded view is available. The sides of the box list the additional features. Internally, the Meshify S2 is protected from damage during shipping as it is capped with large pieces of Styrofoam. A thin plastic bag covers the case underneath the Styrofoam to protect the case's finish from scuffs and scrapes.

The installation kit is tucked away in one of the 3.5" drive bays on the back of the case. Fractal includes enough screws, zip ties, hard drive dampeners, and other accessories to get your system installed in the case. A user guide and warranty instructions are also included. A Closer Look At The Meshify S2 The most prominent feature on the "business" side of the case is the tempered glass panel. The sample that I received has a light tint to it making the interior of the case clearly visible. From the factory, the glass, as well as a handful of other parts, are covered with a light plastic film that gives a satisfying feeling when removed.

The front of the case features the Meshify's signature angular mesh panel. The panel can be removed to clean the foam behind it. To remove the mesh panel, you'll need to reach under the lip of the front bezel and press upwards on the catch that releases the mesh panel. There is a layer of foam behind the mesh with acts to absorb sound as well as trap dust, although I'm not sure trapping dust was intended. Either way, it is easy to take off, clean, and reassemble. The front of the case can support a 360mm radiator with a maximum width of 147mm. Moving up to the top of the Meshify, you'll find the front panel I/O as well as the power and reset buttons. The front I/O include two USB 3.1 Gen-2 ports, a single USB type C, and 3.5mm audio jacks for headphones and microphone.

The top of the Meshify is, well, mesh. This mesh panel pops up by using a button on the rear of the case to release the plastic catches. The panel can be removed to get easy access to the cooling bracket underneath. The cooling bracket is removable as well. This allows you to install radiators or fans outside of the case and grants easy access to the top of the motherboard. Once the components are in place on the bracket, simply secure it back in place. The top cooling bracket also features a dedicated fill port allowing you to fill your loop without opening the side panels of the case.

On the rear of the case, the power supply is mounted at the bottom of the case. An adapter is included to aid in the installation. 7 horizontal expansion slots, as well as two verticle slots, are available for use. A single 120mm fan is also present on the rear of the case.

Taking a look at the bottom of the case, a removable full-length dust filter held in place by four brackets between the case feet. The chrome plastic case feet have thin rubber pads to keep the Meshify S2 from sliding around the desk. Internally, the Meshify S2 is wide open. Front to back, the case measures 465mm without the front fans installed and 440mm with. The motherboard tray features a large cutout that gives access to the back of the CPU socket when installing a backplate for CPU coolers. The front section of the case features verticle slots, these are the reservoir mounts. Fractal as also included reservoir brackets to aid in mounting.  Rubber grommets are in place at each opening where wires would pass from the component area of the case to the backside of the motherboard tray. Fractal includes three of their Dynamic X2 GP-14 140mm fans. These fans push air at 68.4 CFM at a sound level of 18.9 dBA.

  A full-length power supply shroud runs from the font to the back of the case. Not only does this allow you to hide wires and preserve a clean looking case, but the shroud also provides alternate mounting locations for 2.5" drives as well as serves as the mounting location for the vertical GPU mount. For those that prefer large reservoirs, the front panel of the shroud can be removed.   Looking at the top of the case, you can see the removable cooling bracket. This bracket supports a 420mm radiator with a maximum thickness of 35mm

A Closer Look Continued The backside of the motherboard tray features two 2.5" mounting locations and three 3.5" drive cages. Access to the power supply connectors is provided by a cutout that runs roughly 1/2 the length of the case.

The two 2.5" drive mounts can be removed from the back of the motherboard tray and mounted to the top of the power supply shroud.  The three 3.5" drive trays are completely removable when not in use. The design allows them to mount behind the reservoir with little to no interference. The drive trays will also accept 2.5" drives as well. In order to help tidy up cabling, Fractal as included a SATA power extension for 3.5"/2.5" drives installed in these locations.

  The Nexus+ PWM fan hub is mounted to the backside of the motherboard tray. The input for the hub comes from the motherboard's PWM header and is powered by a SATA connector. The hub can support three PWM fans as well as six 3-pin fans.

  To get the installation started, I chose to start with the power supply. Simply remove the mounting bracket from the back of the case, screw it to the power supply and slide it into place.

  Next up I installed the motherboard. All was well and good until I installed the CPU cooler. The cooler I chose to use for this build is EKWB's Predator AIO. The cooler uses 120mm fans, however, as I attempted to install the cooler more towards the center line of the case, the motherboards VRM heatsinks prevented this. Thankfully there are multiple mounting points for 120mm and 140mm fans and radiators.

The rest of the installation went smoothly. Cable routing was made a bit easier as there is ample space behind the motherboard tray. I did find my self wanting longer fan cables to route to the PWM hub, however, an extension fixes this issue.  The back side of the case features two velcro strips to help secure cables. Fractal included plenty of zip tie locations, 14 as a matter of fact, to help manage the cables.

The front side of the case came out pretty clean as well. I chose to use the vertical mount GPU as well as mounted the SSD to the power supply shroud.

  Conclusion and Final Thoughts Putting together a system inside the Meshify S2 was fairly painless. As I mentioned before, I did find myself wanting a little longer cables to the front fans from the Nexus PWM fan hub. An extension did solve this issue and would allow most of the cables to run as a single bundle. That is except for the USB Type-C cable. Depending on the location on your motherboard, it may be a challenge. The pass-through for the motherboard tray and the power supply shroud do a lot to help hide wires and keep things nice and tidy. There's plenty of space for me to get my meat hooks in and out of the case without too much of a challenge. No sharp edges exist inside as I was able to put our system together unscathed.

Lian Li proudly introduces the latest addition to their family of enthusiast chassis with the PC-O11 Dynamic.

Designed for the enthusiast

Lian Li proudly introduces the latest addition to their family of enthusiast chassis with the PC-O11 Dynamic.  Featuring a multi-chamber box design, the PC-O11 Dynamic chassis focuses on flexibility with plenty of space for watercooling options including support for up to three sets of 360mm radiators. The full view front and side panel tempered glass allows for…

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CaseLabs New Bullet BH8 EATX Small Form Factor Case

CaseLabs has released to the world a small form factor EATX case called the Bullet BH8. What sets the new case apart from the the others is that the BH8 is 2 inches taller than its predecessor, the BH7, which allows better cooling options. It is also 2 inches longer for additional GPU and radiator possibility. It also has a single 5.25” bay that can be used for a bay reservoir, fan controller,…

Cooler Master’s current chassis line prioritize function and its design aim is to provide users with the flexibility to make any system they want inside. As part of Cooler Master’s massive streamlining process beginning from last year, the simplified look is a distillation of what a Cooler Master case is at its core. Gone are the wildly varied CM Storm gamer line or the military inspired HAF series or the conservatively practical styled N-series; there is only the MasterCase and now the MasterBox, catering to a wide variety of users through a highly modular layout. In a way, this move by Cooler Master is refreshing in the sense that for the first time, a manufacturer is showing respect for the user’s intelligence. What really makes a case a gaming chassis or an overclocker’s case or a productivity case after all? It is all about what kind of components you put inside, not what the manufacturer tells you or how many LED’s it has that determines what system it is.

The MasterBox 5 is a mid-tower case with a straight-forward, no-nonsense design on the outside and a highly configurable modular system inside. It supports two 5.25″ drives, two 3.5″ drives and has a 2.5″ bracket for SSDs by default but can be expanded and configured with additional accessories to support up to eight 3.5″ drives in a workstation setup, or cleared of its drive mounts to install a 360mm radiator-based custom water-cooling loop. That is the entire point of this case, the user gets to decide what kind of case it will be.

This particular release is the Canada Model version, and while it does not come with a bottle of Maple syrup or a Tim Horton’s gift card, it will be available nationwide for only $89.99. That is the launch price in Canadian dollars without the baggage of severe cross-border market markup that all Canadians are familiar with (thankfully).

[sc name=”sponsor” sponsor=”Cooler Master” product_link=”http://us.coolermaster.com/product/Detail/case/MasterBox-5/masterbox-5-ca.html” product_name=”MasterBox 5″ product_price=”$89.99 (CAD MSRP)” ]

It will be available on launch day (June 21, 2016) in Canada from the following retail locations:

Canada Computers: http://bit.ly/1Qc3oFf

Memory Express: http://bit.ly/1WRDCIv

NCIX: http://bit.ly/1UEgZ4d

  The MasterBox 5 ships in a brown box with black print, a the classical approach to packaging as is expected of a case under $100. The foam padding is specifically customized for the MasterBox 5 case with a small cutout at the top for the accessories and manual that are exposed upon opening the top. The case itself is wrapped in a large plastic bag with the warranty information sheet also sitting on top.

The manual is a simple fold-out sheet illustrating the various combinations and flexible functions available with the MasterBox 5. The accessories are not sorted as is common with Cooler Master case accessories.

Contents of the accessory pack:

13x motherboard mounting screws

7x motherboard stand-offs

1x motherboard stand-off mounting adapter

1x security lock accessory with 1x mounting screw

8x 2.5″ screws

8x matching pairs of tool-less fan mounting pins

Other accessories pre-installed inside the case:

1x 120mm 3-pin fan

1x CM StormGuard theft-prevention security tool

Specifications

Product Number MCY-B5S1-KKYN-06 (Canada Model) Available Color Black Materials Steel body, Plastic mesh bezel Dimensions (LxWxH) All Internal Structures 500 x 220 x 475mm 450 x 220 x 440mm Motherboard Support E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX Expansion Slots 7 Drive Bays 5.25″ Combo 3.5″ / 2.5″ SSD 2 2 1 I/O Port USB 3.0 x 2, Audio in / out Pre-installed Fan(s) 120mm x 1 Fan Support Front Top Rear 120mm / 140mm x2 120mm / 140mm x1 120mm x1 Liquid Cooling Support Front Rear 240mm / 280mm radiator, up to 50mm thickness without fan 120mm x1 Clearances CPU PSU GPU 167mm / 6.5″ 180mm / 7.1″ 285mm / 11.7″ (w/ 3.5″ HDD cage) 410mm / 16.1″ (w/o 3.5″ HDD cage) Cable Routing Behind Motherboard Tray 25mm – 35mm Dust Filters Front, bottom Power Supply Support Bottom mount, ATX Product Weight 7.64kg 16.8 lbs Warranty 2 Years

  [section_title title=A Closer Look at the Cooler Master MasterBox 5]

A Closer Look at the Cooler Master MasterBox 5

Much like the MasterCase series from Cooler Master, the MasterBox 5 has a very conservative look using strong straight lines and heavier emphasis on form following function. The entire front area is ventilated with a honeycomb pattern; the larger pattern forming the stability frame while a finer mesh between the larger honeycomb and the smaller honey com at the front act as dust filter.

The bottom part of the mesh easily comes off allowing for access to front fan mounting without removing the entire bezel. Flexible fan mounting support for a pair of 120mm or a pair of 140mm fans are available.

Two 5.25″ drive bays are available towards the top and the front IO panel is positioned at an angle as a part of the bezel frame. The power button is squarely in the middle with the audio jacks toward the right with the small reset button while the HDD activity LED and pair of USB 3.0 ports are to the left. The USB 3.0 ports are colored gray instead of blue to create a more uniform look.

The cables inside stemming from the front IO are all uniformly black to conform with the color scheme as well. Removing the bezel allows for 360 mm radiator installation but requires an additional fan mounting accessory to be purchased separately. Some models use a drivebay-less bezel, although it is not clear at the moment whether that will be available as an aftermarket option later on.

More ventilation is available at the top, supporting 140mm or an offset 120mm fan / radiator. There is no dust filter on this area.

The bottom has a wide-base feet assembly that raises the MasterBox 5 up to 30mm, clearing carpeted surfaces easily. There are no screw tops or rivets visible for the 3.5″ drive cage which means removing it does not require accessing the bottom area. The dust filter for the PSU is accessed from the rear.

The last point of active ventilation is at the rear, providing support for 120mm fans (a black 3-pin fan already comes pre-installed).  There are seven expansion slots in total, all with reusable covers and the seventh one is the CM StormGuard which can be used if users attend public LAN parties and want to secure their peripherals. An eight vertical expansion slot is also available to be punched out towards the side of the expansion slot array. The thumbscrew locking the PSU cover is accessed here at the rear and both side-panels also use thumb screws for security.

Both side-panels are identical and plain, made of steel and rolled on three sides for stability. A window side-panel option is available for after-market purchase.

Although not grometted, the MasterBox 5 presents many options for cable routing and management. There is the requisite 8-pin EPS12V routing at the top rear corner and there are also plenty of smaller routing holes toward the bottom of the motherboard for the front IO and USB cables.

The motherboard tray extends all the way to the front and has an open area at the bottom for the power supply and 3.5″ drive cage cable management.

[section_title title=Hardware Installation and Clearance Compatibility]

Hardware Installation and Clearance Compatibility

The default layout of the MasterBox 5 is just one way to install components inside, the rest of the pieces are reconfigurable in multiple ways in order to support a particular build or component. The 3.5″ hard drive cage, 5.25″ cage, 2.5″ mounting plate, and PSU cover all come off easily, held in place by screws. With the exception of the PSU cover which is made of plastic, all the other removable mounting cages are made of metal. Cooler Master offers these individual pieces separately as well, giving users the option to add-on mounting cages if they require so later on. Removing both the 5.25″ cage also extends motherboard support to EATX standards, although extra stand offs need to be purchased separately.

Front mounted radiator:

120mm fan x 2 / 140mm fan x 2/ 240mm radiator/ 280mm radiator

120mm fan x3 / 360mm radiator is supported if the 5.25″ drive cage is removed and the optional front fan bracket is used (accessory kit not included in default configuration and must be purchased separately).

Rear Radiator:

Rear 120mm fan / radiators supported

Top Radiator:

120 mm or 140mm fan / radiators supported

There is 29mm of space between the ceiling and before the motherboard begins, hence the offset space is crucial for the 120mm fan / radiator. 140mm radiator possible but not possible unless the fan is mounted outside the case.

Video Card clearance:

Since there is no HDD cage on the way, there is a 385mm clearance even with a radiator in the fan installed, more than enough for even an HD6990 video card which is 305mm long.

Total clearance is 410mm

CPU Tower coolers:

CPU heatsink height clearance is generous and was able to fit the 165mm tall NH-D15S.

167mm total height clearance

Large CPU backplate cutout

3.5″ HDD installation:

3.5″ HDD cage is made of metal while the caddies are made of plastic, 3.5″ drive installation is tool-less

The 3.5″ HDD cage can be moved back two spaces from the default position to provide front radiator / fan clearance.

The 3.5″ HDD cage can be positioned up to three spaces up from the default position or additional 3.5″ HDD cages can be purchased to fully install up to eight 3.5″ HDDs.

5.25″ installation:

Installation is tool-free, simply requiring the 5.25″ device to be slid in place and locked with a built-in mechanism.

Additional screws are available on the accessory package for further mounting reinforcement, especially for half-length devices such as fan controllers.

2.5″ installation:

One 2.5″ bracket is provided which supports up to two 2.5″ devices

2.5″ bracket can be installed one position down or one position up (after 5.25″ drive cage is removed), or behind the motherboard tray or on top of the 3.5″ HDD cage.

Due to tight clearance on the bottom 2.5″ device, a straight angle SATA power/data cable is recommended.

Cable management:

There are six routing holes in total, unobscured when 5.25″ drive cage is removed and the 2.5″ bracket is re-positioned.

Behind the motherboard tray, there is 25mm of clearance for cable management, and on the PSU level, there is 35mm of clearance.

15 cable tie loops are built into the tray

  [section_title title=Final Thoughts]

Final Thoughts

Usually when one tries to be many things to many people, it does not turn out well. The modular nature of the MasterBox 5 however makes it very accessible to all manner of users. For beginners, the modular aspect lends to ease of installation that make system assembly on mid-tower systems often frustrating. In the MasterBox 5, almost anything can be moved around so there are almost no obstacles or difficulties even if you have large hands. For advanced modders, the modular aspect lends itself to creative solutions and customizations without breaking out the drill to knock out rivets.  The modular configuration also lends itself to custom water-cooling builds.

Most of the MasterBox 5’s limitation involves mounting components that require additional, non-bundled parts. This includes 360mm radiator support and additional 3.5″ drives beyond the two able to be installed on the single default drive cage. Cooler Master is not alone in this approach to offer extras for  ~$5 to $20 per additional accessory, with Phanteks doing the same thing for the MasterBox 5’s closest rival which is their P400 and Pro M cases.  Phanteks has the edge of supporting 360mm radiators out of the box and fully steel construction (including drive cages and PSU shroud) but lack of availability and pricing once it crosses the border into Canada makes it significantly pricier (having a viewing window side panel adds to that price) at $119.99 compared to the US price of $79.99. The MasterBox 5 on the other hand is available for $89.99 Canadian ($79.99 for a limited time during launch period) and firmly so with Cooler Master having stronger distribution ties in Canada. This price bracket however is also quite competitive with some strong offerings from Corsair, NZXT, BitFenix with a lot less flexibility but having more features.

The bundled optional parts for the MasterBox 5 Canada model is fairly sensible having a 5.25″ cage, 3.5″ cage and SSD bracket included, however looking at how small the front fan bracket is (practically the size of a PCI-E slot cover that is 5.25″ drive bay wide), I fail to understand why this was not bundled instead of the PSU cover and/or the CM StormGuard expansion slot bracket. Aside from the front fan bracket and the drive cages, Cooler Master is also offering a windowed side panel for the MasterBox 5 and if it follows the MasterCase 5’s side-panel pricing, should have a $19.99 ~ 24.99 price tag.

Customization and personalization is key with Cooler Master’s MasterBox case series, in fact they encourage it with several of their media campaigns and case modding events. The flexible modular design seems to be the forward-thinking approach to cases and we will most likely see more manufacturers following this approach pop-up rather than having a high-end flagship with cascading product lines marketed to sub-groups. The modular approach is both beneficial to manufacturers (less tooling work, cost less in the long run) and users (case adapting as user requirements change, case upgrading modularly like the PC itself) so expect this practical approach to stay around for a while.

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