Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
The Cooler Master MasterBox TD500 Mesh is an average-sized mid-tower case. This is yet another airflow-focused case added to my collection, as I have looked at cases like the Antec DF700 FLUX, Antec P82 Flow, and Cooler Master MasterBox TD300 Mesh. As you may know from reading my past reviews, I am a big fan of white-colored components, and the MasterBox TD500 Mesh does not disappoint. As this is the bigger brother to the MasterBox TD300 Mesh, I may make several comparisons between the two cases.
Starting from the front, we have a mostly mesh implementation that allows more airflow while doubling as a pseudo-dust filter. Cooler Master calls this a dust filter, but I would think of it as a mere mesh front panel. We see the diamond pattern on the mesh once again, adding more dimension to what is usually just a flat panel. Cooler Master has their logo closer to the bottom half of the mesh, aligning well with the center of the bottom fan. This small attention to detail means so much, especially as you realize the logo does not hide any of the cases fan’s RGB LED lighting. The left side uses tempered glass to display the components within your system. The glass has a very clean appearance with gray borders. As I have noted in my MasterBox TD300 Mesh review, the tempered glass panel has a crystalline design to help transition between the front and side panel. This simply helps make the design feel complete. The panel is easy to remove with two thumbscrews at the top to let it loose before gently pulling it up off the bottom where it rests. The right side panel is quite generic, being made entirely out of metal and used to cover up cables. There are no holes used for ventilation on this side. This panel is a little more generic in removal, having two screws on the back to allow it to slide off.
The Cooler Master MasterBox TD500 Mesh measures in at a depth of 493mm, height of 469mm, and width of 217mm. The weight of this case comes in at 6.95kg, which is average for a mid-tower with tempered glass. I appreciate all the small considerations in the design to make this case feel more complete. The case is visually pleasing with its crystalline design. The branding is a decent size, but it blends in well to the overall design.
The I/O can be found on the front panel near the top of the case. From left to right, we have the two USB 3.2 Type-A ports and a white LED for storage drive activity. Following up these ports, we have the power button. As usual, the power button is shaped just like the Cooler Master logo and the perimeter illuminates white when turned on. Next, we have the headphone and microphone jack, in that respective order. Finally, we have the reset button, but it is hooked up to the ARGB and PWM hub to cycle through different lighting options. The keen-eyed among you will notice how this is the opposite order of the MasterBox TD300 Mesh. This small difference may make headphone and mic cables tauter, given the slight additional distance required to travel, assuming your PC is placed on the right side. The top of the case has a nice magnetic dust filter, likewise to many of the cases we have been seeing in the past while.
The back of the Cooler Master MasterBox TD500 Mesh is standard to any mid-tower case. At the top, we have the motherboard backplate cutout alongside a 120mm fan mount. Underneath, we have seven removable expansion slots. The expansion slots can be simply screwed off. Something nice I found with this area is the slight indent into the case for the motherboard and expansion slots. Although it might not seem like much, it makes the installation process slightly easier. This case does not have support for vertical GPU mounting. The right side panel is white in color and helps hide the cables perfectly. This panel is quite plain, but you will likely not look at it. It is held on with captive thumbscrews.
The bottom of the Cooler Master MasterBox TD500 Mesh has four small rectangular feet. When moving the case around, I found the case to be stable enough with all the components installed to add weight. The rubber pads on the feet are decently sized, measuring in at 35mm in length and 10mm in width. These feet provide about 20mm of clearance, which is enough space for the PSU airflow. There is a dust filter designed for the PSU. The dust filter is a bit tricky to remove as you need to flip the case to expose the base before you can pull it off while also being a bit flimsy as a single mesh sheet. I do wish we had a plastic frame to hold the filter for easier removal from the back or front and for more structure.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
