Page 3 - Physical Look - Inside
Removing the side panels is quite easy via the thumbscrews; revealing a clean and straightforward interior layout. Everything is painted matte black, with most cabling holes fitted with rubber grommets, adding a nice touch to it. It seems like many companies have started to incorporate the dual section design. The main chamber is where the motherboard sits, and a separate one for the power supply at the bottom. ATX, micro ATX, and mini ITX motherboard form factors will be able to fit into the tray without any problems.
From this angle, we can see a 140mm pre-installed fan controlled via a 3-pin header. The motherboard back opening is found here, and should be large enough to accommodate most aftermarket cooler backplates. The top is able to accommodate either two 120mm or 140mm fans. For our particular unit, the top cannot support radiators, but a 240mm radiator is supported in the Pro version.
Standard features can be seen from this angle, including the expansion slots. The divider between the power supply and the rest of the case can also be found here for hiding all the extra cables, and is able to house two SSDs with the SSD trays. There are extra routing holes if cables are needed to be routed here. Additionally, there are two strips in the power supply area for the PSU to rest upon, and helps with vibration dampening. As aforementioned, the feet give a 1 cm clearance, giving the PSU plenty of space for intake air. As for the strips, it will give an extra centimeter or so between the PSU and the bottom of the case. A plate used to support your 2-bay hard drive cage is also found near the front on the same level as the power supply, which can be removed for additional modularity and customization.
At the front, we can find more cabling holes fitted with rubber grommets. Only one 140mm fan is fitted here. There is a 5.25" drive cage and another hard drive cage found near the top of the case, both of which are tool-free. If you need more space for all those hard drives, consider getting the MasterCase Pro 5 instead. All these cages are modular, and can be adjusted to whichever height that suits the consumer more. Flexibility for drive accommodation options is not a problem here.
Turning out attention to the back, Cooler Master has taken the liberty to manage all the cables behind the motherboard tray in a very organized and tidy fashion, which reminds me of the Fractal Design Define R5 reviewed by my colleague Jonathan Kwan in addition to the handful of Phanteks cases we have taken a look at. This is also the side that many people do not pay much attention to, since cables are hidden from sight most of the time. In my opinion, this is also one of the most important parts, and is extremely fundamental to good cabling. This is especially true for the MasterCase 5, as there is a decent amount of clearance between the back of the motherboard tray and the side panel, even with additional cables routed through. I have seen many chassis -- some of which we have reviewed here at APH Networks -- where space is very limited in this area, and force is required in order to hold down and keep the panel in place. This gives many users grief and frustration, especially when connecting everything up. This is definitely not an issue for the MasterCase 5, especially when cabling is done properly. In fact, sliding the panel back in place only took the force of gravity and the push of a finger, since there is a groove to fit all your cables into.
Overall, the I/O connector cables are top notch as they are fully sleeved, and there are Velcro straps all around for cable management. Cooler Master has definitely put in a great amount of attention into the MasterCase 5. Finally, we have some great competition!
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
