Page 4 - Installation and Conclusion
The installation process was quite decent for a mini-tower case. As someone who has put together and taken apart many computers, the build process was quite interesting compared to other cases I have used. Cooler Master included all the necessary supplies inside a small plastic bag held inside of the case. This method of packaging is quite standard. A cardboard box would be a slight improvement over a plastic bag as they are more secure, reducing risk of loose parts floating around in transit, possibly damaging the interior of the case. I took out any necessary screws and got to work. The fan hub simplified my cable routing process as I had a central location for any future fan installations.
When installing my motherboard, I did not have any issues regarding the standoffs. The standoffs were installed properly and securely. The front I/O was simple enough to route to the motherboard and is long enough to route through the bottom of the shroud with ease. The drive bay used had a unique installation, having proprietary tool-free clips to attach onto your 3.5” drives, allowing you to slide in the drive into place. All you have to do is attach a clip to each side of the drive, then push it into the bay.
Despite my cable management being slightly rushed and messy, it does not really matter from a visual perspective as the right panel is not glass. In this case, it is still important to try your best, as you do not have much room and should remain organized throughout given your lack of space. The Cooler Master MasterBox TD300 Mesh provides a good number of tie-down points. Routing cables was simple enough using the intended runways, but it was even further streamlined through the ability to remove each panel. By removing all the panels, including the front and top panels, I found the cable routing process to be a lot easier to manage. The cable grommets alongside the motherboard tray makes passing through cables from the back of the case to the front of the case incredibly easy, minimizing the number of visible cables. Despite using a minimum number of components, I did find a bit of difficulty when installing my PSU as it was a very tight fit.
In my opinion, the Cooler Master MasterBox TD300 Mesh looks astonishing. The MasterBox TD500 Mesh was one of my favorite designed cases back in 2020, and here it is again in a smaller mATX form. I absolutely love it. There is a bit of missing detail when it comes to the tempered glass side panel, but this is not a big issue at all. The diamond patterned mesh front panel is especially nice when the RGB lights shine through it. This mesh panel adds physical appeal, better airflow, and reduces dust intake. Is there anything else you could want in a front panel?
The Cooler Master MasterBox TD300 Mesh provides many fan configurations. I am glad to see Cooler Master using their own shelf products, utilizing their SickleFlow series fans. If you are interested in more information about these fans, my colleague Aaron has previously reviewed the SickleFlow 120 ARGB.
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Do not get me wrong, sleep is incredibly important for any human being. I know this, I just do not sleep for other reasons. Just like how sleep is important, your PC case is important as well. Cooler Master has done a great job with the MasterBox TD300 Mesh. I really appreciate how innovative this product really is. The ability to remove each panel, including the top panel, makes the build process so much better, especially for a mini-tower. Mini-towers are notoriously harder to build in due to their lack of space, but by removing a couple panels, it allows easy access, enabling you to move around the case with ease. That being said, the build process was surprisingly good, only having a couple tight but possible fits. The ARGB and PWM hub make connecting fans so much easier as well. The appearance is nothing but exceptional, having a great color scheme partnered with nice edges. The diamond pattern on the mesh is simply beautiful. The way that each panel seamlessly fits flush against each other looks very clean. The included fans have a high quality to them, being Cooler Master’s very own SickleFlow 120 ARGB fans. There are some areas that could be improved. The build quality could have been better as I found the area around the rear fan to be quite bendy, making some I/O shields not fit. Additionally, the space behind the motherboard tray is barely sufficient for cable management, especially when you consider the lack of space underneath the PSU shroud. At an MSRP of $100 USD, this is definitely a decent option if you are in the market for a smaller case. If this is your first time building in a mini-tower, I would definitely recommend the Cooler Master MasterBox TD300 Mesh.
Cooler Master provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH:Renewal Award | APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
8/10 means Definitely a very good product with drawbacks that are not likely going to matter to the end user.
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks, but should be considered before purchasing.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 7.8/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The Cooler Master MasterBox TD300 Mesh is a great looking mini-tower chassis with innovative design elements to streamline the build process.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
