Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
It has been a while since I reviewed a case specifically made for ITX motherboards, not to mention one that does not really take the typical desktop look. While we have seen flatter ITX cases like the SilverStone Raven RVZ03, the Cooler Master MasterCase H100 reminds me quite a bit more of the older SilverStone Sugo SG13WB, at least when it comes to layout. Compared to other Cooler Master products, you could say the H100 looks like a shrunken version of their larger cases, with a similar design language of the protruding plastic front, mesh panel, and front I/O design. Many non 90-degree angles can be found at the front, which is not too surprising for this manufacturer. Overall, it looks quite squat, especially when compared to mid-tower ATX cases. Material choices here are good with a mostly plastic and steel mesh front attached to a steel enclosure. If it were not clear already, the Cooler Master MasterCase H100 is quite a bit smaller with dimensions of 312mm in length, 216mm in width, and 301mm in height. Combined this with its lighter materials, and the MasterCase H100 weighs in at less than 1.5kg or 3.3lbs. Comparatively speaking, the aforementioned Sugo SG13WB weighed in at almost a kilogram heavier. However, build quality does not seem to suffer despite its lightweight, as the whole case feels quite sturdy.
From the top view, you can see a few more interesting things. First and foremost, we have the front inputs and outputs displayed. From left to right, we have a square hard drive indicator light and square reset button with two 3.5mm audio jacks for headphone and microphone connections. The reset button can be plugged into the included RGB controller to manage the front RGB fan, as we will see later on. In the middle, we have a Cooler Master hexagon power button with an LED ring around it for power light indication. Finally, on the right side we have two USB 3.0 ports. In the middle of the top panel, we have a mesh opening to allow for some airflow to exhaust out while also preventing dust from falling in from the top. At the back, a plastic handle is integrated into the case so users can easily tote their system around. It is refreshing to see a case handle as this should be standard, especially on a small form factor case due to its already portable nature.
Flipping to the backside, we can see a few more interesting openings. On the left most side, we have the standard motherboard opening for you to mount the motherboard backplate. Underneath, we have two expansion slot covers, which is standard for a mini ITX motherboard. Finally, the front we have a large vertical opening where you will mount your ATX sized power supply. It is really great to see such a small case support the more standard power supply size. In order to do this, Cooler Master had to make an extended protrusion out the back just to help with compatibility of a larger unit. While they could have stuck with the SFX size, I do appreciate this larger accommodation, even if it means we have a strange looking growth at the back.
As for the side panels, the left side of the case is the only removable side panel, as the other side is bolted in place. I would have liked to see both sides removable for some possible cable routing, but we will see what the inside looks like soon enough. Otherwise, the left side panel is held on by two captive thumbscrews, which is great to see.
From the bottom, we can get a few more interesting looks and openings. At the front, we have another opening to allow some air to pass in from the bottom. In the middle, we have four protruding feet with rubber pads to prevent vibration or surface scratches. These are held on with a screw for each foot so they can be removed if you do not want them. Finally, you can see there are several mounting holes here. This is because you can mount drives inside at the bottom of the case. Cooler Master has the mounting points for 3.5" and 2.5" drives, which is pretty cool to see.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
