[section_title title=Introduction and Packaging]
The Canadian model for the MasterBox 5 was released initially several weeks ago (and was previously reviewed here at Modders-Inc) but the US version has finally arrived starting with two options for Americans to choose from: one black version and one white. The Cooler Master MasterBox 5 MCX-B5S1-KWNN-11 (black with MeshFlow Front Panel) comes bundled with a pair of 120mm fans, a PSU cover, a 3.5″ drive cage, a 2.5″ drive cage and a windowed side panel while the MasterBox 5 MCX-B5S2-WWNN-01 (white with darkmirror front panel) comes with the same configuration.
[sc name=”sponsor” sponsor=”Cooler Master” product_link=”http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/masterbox-5-black/” product_name=”Master Box 5 (MCX-B5S1-KWNN-11)” product_price_link=”http://amzn.to/29zOIkO” product_price=”69.99″ ]
The MasterBox 5 ships in a brown box with black print, a 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.
You can tell from the box that this is the black version with seamless mesh front because the model number MCX-B5S1-KWNN-11 is printed at the 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:
10x black zip-ties for cable management
4-pin MOLEX to 3-pin fan power connector
13x motherboard mounting screws
7x motherboard stand-offs (two are already pre-installed)
1x motherboard stand-off mounting adapter
1x security lock accessory with 1x mounting screw
4x matching pairs of tool-less fan mounting pins (four more pairs are already pre-installed with front intake fan)
Other accessories pre-installed inside the case:
1x CM StormGuard theft-prevention security tool
Product Number MCX-B5S1-KWNN-11 Available Color Black Materials Steel body, Plastic mesh bezel Dimensions (LxWxH) All Internal Structures 500 x 220 x 475mm Motherboard Support E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX Expansion Slots 7 Drive Bays 5.25″
Combo 3.5″ / 2.5″
SSD Cages are Sold Separately
2
1 I/O Port USB 3.0 x 2, Audio in / out Pre-installed Fan(s) Front
Rear 120mm x1
120mm x1 Fan Support Front
Rear 120mm / 140mm x2
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
[section_title title=A Closer Look at the Cooler Master MasterBox 5 (MCX-B5S1-KWNN-11)]
A Closer Look at the Cooler Master MasterBox 5 (MCX-B5S1-KWNN-11)
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. Unlike the Canadian version of the MasterBox 5, the entire meshflow area is seamless without any external 5.25″ drive bays and has a windowed side-panel.
The windowed side panel is a touch darker and has a slightly smoked view. This ships with film on the outside to prevent scratches during transport, although there is no film on the inside to protect it should one of the modular components come off and could scratch it. The opposite side panel on the other hand is completely plain. Both side panels have rolled edges for sturdier flatness and have convenient pull-out handles.
The front IO sits at at angle with all the ports and buttons lined up in a row. The HDD activity LED starts at the left side, followed by a pair of USB 3.0 ports (gray colored so as not to ruin the aesthetic compared to the standard blue). The power button (with built-in power LED) is straight on the middle with a pair of audio ports to the right and ends with the much smaller reset button on the right side. All LEDs are white when turned on.
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. A 120mm fan already comes pre-installed.
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.
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. The top is completely plain without any ventilation or design.
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.
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 MCX-B5S1-KWNN-11 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, 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.
A 5.25″ drive cage is also available separately but the matching front panel with external 5.25″ bay openings must be purchased separately with it as well.
120mm fan x 2 / 140mm fan x 2/ 240mm radiator/ 280mm radiator
120mm fan x3 / 360mm radiator is supported with an optional front fan bracket is used (accessory kit not included in default configuration and must be purchased separately).
Rear 120mm fan / radiators supported
There is 29mm of space between the ceiling and before the motherboard begins, but since there is no vents here like the Canada Model version, nothing can be mounted here without modding.
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.
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 cage is made of metal while the caddies are made of plastic, 3.5″ drive installation is tool-less (can be reinforced with a screw in the middle)
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.
When installing the 3.5″ HDD cage on the variable mounting wall, the clearance for the bottom 3.5″ drive makes it impossible to use angled SATA cables (only the top can use it).
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 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.
The 3.5″ HDD caddy also supports 2.5″ drive mounting with screws
There are six routing holes in total, unobscured. If adding a 5.25″ aftermarket, the top-most routing hole will be partially blocked. This is also one of the optional mounting areas for 2.5″ SSDs so this area can be partially obscured as well if installing those in this location.
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]
Taking the American Motto E Pluribus Unum and flipping it upside down to Ex Uno Plures is essentially what Cooler Master has done with the MasterBox 5. They have their own motto for this design approach however, giving users the freedom to Decide the Inside. Provided is a functional base frame-work with upgradeable or swappable parts should the users require it later on. The base varies of course, hence Cooler Master provides at least three options for the large US market to choose from. This Free-form modular design approach is also the concept Cooler Master employs for their MasterCase series.
The default options for the US market is a curious one, with a bit more focus on vanity with the windowed panels and seamless front than function with the top exhaust and external drive bays of the Canadian model. The MasterBox 5 black with meshflow front panel version (MCX-B5S1-KWNN-11) and the white version with darkmirror front (MCX-B5S2-WWNN-01) also adds a 120mm fan for the intake to aid with airflow and for value parity with the Canadian version.
Unfortunately, the MasterBox 5’s flexibility might also be considered to be a weakness by some. While it does provide a solid base with worthy potential, the fact that certain features such as 5.25″ and additional 3.5″/2.5″ drive bays must be purchased separately is enough to give some users pause. In a purely practical sense, the Canadian model with its cooler environment and greater default component acceptance is also much more effective as well. Users looking for greater build freedom would have to cross the Northern border or be saddled with a limited binary voting option that in almost all levels except cosmetic are identical (all political parallels herein are purely coincidental).
I have already expressed most of what I thought about the MasterBox 5 case in my previous review of the Canadian model so feel free to read that and compare especially if you live outside the US and Canada since variations of these features are offered in the rest of the world market, having only different numbers of modular components bundled with the same fundamental base.
The best part is of course, the affordability. For $69.99, the MasterBox 5 is in a good competitive position aided by its conservative design in comparison to its peers. I don’t think many manufacturers realize how important that is in this price range. The key to actually standing out from the rest, is not to have a “loud” and aggressive design but one that appeals to a wider mainstream audience. Personalization happens after, not before. The user decides the inside, and in this regard, Cooler Master is correct.
[sc name=”must_have_award” ]
Cooler Master MasterBox 5 Case Review: Black with MeshFlow Front Panel Version (MCX-B5S1-KWNN-11) The Canadian model for the MasterBox 5 was released initially several weeks ago (and was previously reviewed here at Modders-Inc…
