Page 4 - Physical Look - Outside and Conclusion
With everything finally assembled and my computer installed into the Cooler Master QUBE 500 Flatpack, I can do a bit of an external physical look. The all-white Cooler Master QUBE 500 Flatpack is consistent in finish and color. The white really pops out and I appreciate the commitment to this, as seen in the cables and the rim around the tempered glass. As you have already seen, the QUBE 500 is made up of many panels that are perforated. This includes a large grid of circular holes. The holes are functional too, as Cooler Master has 3D printing patterns available for users to create their own accessories, such as hooks for hanging peripherals, cup holders, action camera mounts, and more. As well, all of the grid panels have lots of mesh filters underneath to prevent dust from entering on these sides. All in all, this combination of potential functionality and mesh panels is great to see.
As I have mentioned in the introduction, the sizing of the Cooler Master QUBE 500 Flatpack reminds me a lot of the MasterBox Q500L. For one, the dimensions of this case are 406mm in length, 231mm in width, and 415mm in height. These measurements include the handle and feet attached to the back and bottom, respectively. Without them, the dimensions reduce to 380mm in length and 381mm in height, which make the QUBE 500 Flatpack nearly the exact same dimensions as the MasterBox Q500L. With similar dimensions, we have around 33L of volume in the QUBE 500, which is quite a bit smaller than your typical mid-tower ATX case. In terms of weight, this QUBE 500 Flatpack is 7.71kg when fully assembled, which is just over double the mass of the aforementioned MasterBox Q500L. This is understandable, considering the materials used here, with its thicker, double-panel steel sides and tempered glass side panel. This also translates into a notable improvement in build quality. Our QUBE 500's panels do not easily flex about and are quite sturdy.
Moving to the front facing I/O, all of them are found on the top slanted edge. A single row of inputs and buttons can be found here. From left to right, we have a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port, a USB 3.1 Type-A port, a power button, a second USB 3.1 Type-A port, and a combination 3.5mm audio and microphone jack. The power button in the middle has a nice click and illuminates in white when the computer is turned on. Unfortunately, we do not have any sort of storage activity light. Otherwise, I would have liked to see a splitter for the audio jack in case users have an older style of separated 3.5mm audio inputs.
Turning to the back, we have a pretty standard layout here with some slight changes. First of all, you will notice we do not have a power supply opening. As we already saw with how the power supply is mounted internally, the only thing exposed at the back is a connector at the top left corner. Next, we have an opening for the motherboard I/O. Beside this are rails for a 120mm exhaust fan, which is where the Cooler Master SickleFlow 120mm fan is mounted. Finally, at the bottom are the bridgeless expansion slots. As we have already talked about, these expansion slots can be removed and turned vertically to support mounting your GPU in this orientation.
With everything plugged in and the power button pushed, my computer inside the Cooler Master QUBE 500 Flatpack booted up. One area that the QUBE 500 does not do much for is noise suppression. According to our standard APH Networks sound scale, where 0 is silence and 10 is loud, I would rate this case around a 3.5/10 in regular day-to-day operation. You can clearly hear every other fan inside, including the CPU cooler, the power supply, the graphics card, and if you add any additional cooling options even though we only have a single SickleFlow fan included out of the box. It is not too surprising given the smaller size and the lack of added materials, but it is something you should be aware of if you do choose the QUBE 500.
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The Cooler Master QUBE 500 Flatpack is an excellent example of how to handle different constraints while minimizing compromises. Cooler Master faced the first constraint of shipping and packaging costs with a disassembled case. To reduce the pain for users, the manufacturer provided detailed instructions for building the enclosure. As such, the installation process is easy and guides users in building their system while putting the outer shell together. Potential users will see the second constraint, which is a smaller than typical mid-tower ATX case. This will affect component choices, both in size and count. However, there is flexibility for options internally. This includes several areas with sufficient clearance to mount cooling fans and radiators, as well as spacing for a larger power supply, video card, and storage options. You can even mount your graphics card vertically, if you so desire. At the back, there is quite a bit of space for cable management with cable valleys and tie down points. Looking at our finished build, we have a good amount of intake with ventilated panels to provide for airflow. Its sturdy panels shows almost zero compromises for build quality or material choices. Taking a step back, there are two things you will have to keep in mind when considering the Cooler Master QUBE 500 Flatpack. Firstly, to aid in airflow, the QUBE 500 does not reduce any noise output, so those looking for a quiet finished build may want to look elsewhere. Secondly, I would like to see a few additional features, such as rubber grommets on holes, Velcro straps for cable management, and an audio jack splitter for the front panel input. At the time of the review, the Cooler Master QUBE 500 Flatpack is available as low as $82, while the multi-color Macaron edition is down to $90. Regardless of what you choose, I think this is an excellent balance for a small yet compatible mid-tower ATX case.
Cooler Master provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
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 7.4/10
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 QUBE 500 Flatpack is a computer case that offers innovation in its building experience without too many sacrifices for its size.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Assembly and Installation, Part I
3. Assembly and Installation, Part II
4. Physical Look - Outside and Conclusion
