Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
With a glance at the exterior, the Cooler Master MasterBox 600 appears rather basic. In fact, I probably could not tell you what year this case was made based on its exterior look alone, as it resembles any other case. It features a mesh front with some slight contrast on the sides due to differing colors. The rest of the case is black, except for the tempered glass panel on the left side. Overall, the MasterBox 600 resembles a standard ATX midtower, giving it a neutral appearance.
In terms of dimensions, the Cooler Master MasterBox 600 measures 474mm in length, 230mm in width, and 481mm in height. It tips the scales at 7.95kg, or around 17.5lbs. These numbers suggest that the MasterBox is relatively compact and lightweight, which is reasonable considering the materials used. This includes the tempered glass panels, steel structure, and plastic front panel.
Taking a closer look at the front, we have a fully mesh front panel with numerous holes to allow air to flow through. These small circular holes act as a filter, as there is no finer filter behind the front. This design is similar to that of the Antec DF700 FLUX and Fractal Design Focus 2. While these filters may allow more dust into the case over time, at least the fans inside do not need to work as hard to pull air through. A small Cooler Master outline logo can be found at the front.
At the top, we see the user-facing I/O on the Cooler Master MasterBox 600. Starting from the front, we have a hexagonal power button with a translucent edge to illuminate when the system is powered on. Next to it, we have a square button. While this is typically a reset button, out of the box, it is plugged into the internal ARGB lighting controller to change the color effects. Following that, there is a small square cutout for a drive activity light. Nearby, a 3.5mm combination headphone and microphone jack can be found. Finally, there is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port followed by two USB 3.1 Type-A ports. This is a pretty standard selection of ports. It is worth mentioning there is no splitter for the audio jack here, so you will need one if you have a traditional headset with two separate plugs. Additionally, you can catch a glimpse of the mesh panel up top. This is a magnetic mesh filter that covers the ventilation area at the top.
On the other side of the Cooler Master MasterBox 600, you will see a solid steel panel. Moving to the back, we encounter a pretty typical layout. This includes an opening for the motherboard back I/O to connect your peripherals. Beside this is a honeycomb opening for a 120mm fan to slot here. Down the back, we have seven expansion slots to mount your PCIe cards, such as GPUs or capture cards. Unfortunately, the MasterBox 600 shows a bit of their budget flair here with punch-out slots. This means when you first use the case, you will need to push out the slot to break it away from the rest of the case. This is a compromise that I never want to see in a case, and it is generally relegated to more budget-friendly options. Below, we have a fixed opening for an ATX-sized power supply. Once again, everything here is pretty typical with nothing too out of the ordinary.
Finally, at the bottom of the Cooler Master MasterBox 600, there is a set of four feet with foam pads in each of the corners. The entire case is raised up by these four plastic feet, while the foam pads reduce vibrations between the case and the surface it sits upon. Unfortunately, this foam can compress over time, unlike rubber pads that are the better option. Without any weight inside, the feet raise the rest of the case and create a gap of 1.7cm. Additionally, there is a plastic mesh filter that covers the bottom under the power supply. Once again, this is yet another solution achieved cheaply, as we have a thin and flimsy filter that is not easy to remove unless you flip the case over. While it achieves the goal of providing a filtered intake, it makes cleaning difficult due to its lack of accessibility.
Moving to the Cooler Master Atlas ARGB, we can get a look at the GPU support bracket. Included with the bracket is a small cleaning cloth and a metal clamp that attaches to the side of the tempered glass. This clamp serves as the extending portion of the bracket to make contact with the graphics card when it is installed vertically. It is quite flexible in placement, since it can be attached anywhere on the tempered glass portion. The clamp has rubber padding where it makes contact with the GPU and with the bracket.
Looking at the Atlas ARGB, there are several interesting things to note. Firstly, the entire structure is composed of tempered glass with an aluminum base. The tempered glass is notably thick at 6mm, whereas most tempered glass side panels on cases are typically 4mm thick. When installed vertically, the aluminum clamp can be positioned at a minimum height of 36mm and a maximum height of 182mm. Secondly, the aluminum base is sandblasted to achieve a sleek finish. Magnets are embedded within the bracket, and rubber pads at the bottom ensure that the structure stays in place without causing any damage to the surfaces it sits upon.
In addition to its vertical use, the Cooler Master Atlas ARGB can also be utilized horizontally, which is useful if you have limited vertical clearance. With a lever at the back, you can pull up the rear part until it makes contact with the graphics card. In this configuration, the Atlas ARGB can be used at a minimum height of 51mm and a maximum height of 76.5mm. There are magnets and rubber pads on the bottom edge here as well to keep the Atlas ARGB securely in place. Regardless of orientation, this GPU brace can support a maximum weight of 3kg, which is sufficient for even the largest graphics cards.
Finally, at the back, we have a cable with a standard 3-pin addressable header measuring 60.0cm in length. This cable provides lighting for the bracket, illuminating the brace through the glass. We will see what it looks like later on. Overall, I like the whole tool-less design of the Cooler Master Atlas ARGB. The only improvement I would suggest is to have smoother action for the moving parts on the support bracket and the clamp. Even when unlocked, the horizontal portion can be tricky to pull out and adjust.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
