C
ooler Master’s newest HAF (High
Air Flow) chassis is the company’s
magnum opus. It successfully unifies
the best bits and pieces from a wide variety
of Cooler Master’s previous cases under one
roof. But more than that, the HAF features a
number of unique and helpful additions that
truly raise the bar for case design.
The most noticeable of these improve-
ments is the HAF’s centerpiece: case cool-
ing. A total of three 23cm fans are screwed
into the top, front, and side of the HAF,
which allows the fans to circulate air even
when they’re running at just 700rpm. This
solution balances increased air flow with
acceptable noise levels. But you can always
remove the case’s top and side-panel fans
to add smaller, higher-powered varieties if
you so choose.
The 22.7”x9”x21.5” HAF allows for a
number of customization options: There’s
plenty of room for an ATX or EATX moth-
erboard, six 5.25-inch devices, five hard
drives, and two power supplies (or one
power supply and a two- or three-bay inter-
nal water-cooling radiator). It’s rare to see a
case offer this many options.
Much of the HAF’s success can be
traced to the inclusion of features that are
in other Cooler Master cases. The 5.25-inch
bays feature the same push-button locking
mechanisms used in the company’s Cosmos
line of cases, and the tool-free PCI retention
tabs are identical to those found in Cooler
Master’s 690 chassis. However, the plastic
hard-drive holders are an upgrade over the
690’s flimsy mounting racks.
The case weaves these great elements
together alongside new improvements. Our
favorite is the large hole in the mother-
board tray that lets you add or remove CPU
backplanes without having to disassemble
the entire machine. The HAF also comes
with a hole on top of the case for filling
water-cooling reservoirs. Cooler Master
covers this area with a piece of rubber,
allowing it to double as a handy slip-proof
storage area. It’s just one more example of
great detail work.
We do have a few criticisms: We’d love to
be able to control the fans’ speeds with a built-
in hardware controller instead of our BIOS, and
reactions on the aesthetics of the case were
mixed—some editors hated the combination
grill and window side panel, some loved it.
Overall, the case uses only its front fan for LED
lighting. One more lighting source would help
improve the HAF’s inner aesthetics.
Regardless, Cooler Master’s new chassis
is definitely not full of hot air. –D A V E M U R P H YVERDICT$160, http://www.coolermaster.com9
Top-notch (and quiet)
cooling, motherboard
backplane hole,
totally tool-free.Lacks a fan control-
ler; could use a bit
more LED lighting on
the inside.TMZCOOLER MASTER HAFTNTThe industrial look of Cooler Master’s HAF is accentuated by a single red LED fan. Lighting enthu-
siasts take note: It doesn’t add a lot of glow to the middle of the case.Cooler Master
HAF
The new case to beat for
air-cooling afi cionados
http://www.maximumpc.com|NOV 08 |MAMAMAXIMXIMXIMXIMUUUUMMPPPCC| 85
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