Cooler Master HAF 500 Case

Darksaber · Mar 2, 2022

The Cooler Master HAF 500 is the latest edition of the long-running "High Air Flow" family of enclosures. With plenty of modernization on paper, it will be interesting to see if Cooler Master has managed to bring the case into the modern area while retaining all the DNA that differentiates these cases from the competition.

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Chaitanya · Mar 2, 2022

Those 200mm fans on front panel are a joke and best to move then to top panel.

CGi-Quality · Mar 2, 2022

Chaitanya said:
Those 200mm fans on front panel are a joke and best to move then to top panel.

Why? I have 200mm(s) on the front and top of my H500M and they work like a charm. Not sure what makes them "a joke".

DeathtoGnomes · Mar 2, 2022

The PWM fan hub makes RPM fans act like PWM fans as long as there is a PWM fan on FAN1 or which ever plug they use for sensing.

Thats how my fan hub works, I guess I am assuming it works the same.

Chaitanya · Mar 2, 2022

CGi-Quality said:
Why? I have 200mm(s) on the front and top of my H500M and they work like a charm. Not sure what makes them "a joke".

Problem lies with the fact that front panel of this case isnt designed for 200mm fans and it blocks off good portion of 200mm fan. H500 series of cases had their front panels specifically designed for 200mm fans.

Ruru · Mar 2, 2022

Normally I'm not that much a fan of CM's cases, but this looks actually pretty nice.

Icon Charlie · Mar 2, 2022

Nope not for me.

bonehead123 · Mar 3, 2022

#598,736.21 in a never ending list of....

wait for it.....

wait for it.....

yep, you guessed it....

anutha same ole same same, lame lame rehash of the truly awful, boring-assed, least-design-effort-possible shiitzu boxen of yesteryear

80-watt Hamster · Mar 3, 2022

bonehead123 said:
#598,736.21 in a never ending list of....

wait for it.....

wait for it.....

yep, you guessed it....

anutha same ole same same, lame lame rehash of the truly awful, boring-assed, least-design-effort-possible shiitzu boxen of yesteryear

We've been making ATX-compatible cases for almost three decades; it's a mature product segment. What that means is that buyer preferences have been pretty well codified by now, so 90% of new products are going to follow the template pretty closely, 9% will take some small risks, and 1% or less will do something really off-the-wall. Seriously, I don't know what you're expecting at this point.

Nordic · Mar 3, 2022

I haven't looked at HAF cases in 10 years. It was nostalgic to see how they look now. Thanks for the review.

Jhart1228 · Mar 3, 2022

Nordic said:
I haven't looked at HAF cases in 10 years. It was nostalgic to see how they look now. Thanks for the review.

Now I feel kinda sad that I sold off my Antec 1200 case to a co-worker.

CGi-Quality · Mar 3, 2022

Chaitanya said:
Problem lies with the fact that front panel of this case isnt designed for 200mm fans and it blocks off good portion of 200mm fan. H500 series of cases had their front panels specifically designed for 200mm fans.

So far, no review mentions this as a major issue. I'm not too worried about it.

Cutechri · Mar 5, 2022

bonehead123 said:
#598,736.21 in a never ending list of....

wait for it.....

wait for it.....

yep, you guessed it....

anutha same ole same same, lame lame rehash of the truly awful, boring-assed, least-design-effort-possible shiitzu boxen of yesteryear

I could say the same about your comments on case reviews and announcements.

bonehead123 · Mar 6, 2022

Cutechri said:
I could say the same about your comments on case reviews and announcements.

Yep, and you are free to do just that if ya wanna (it won't bother me one bit), just like I am free to express my opinions also

I just call 'em like I see 'em, sorry if this offends you......

But unfortunately, the vast majority of cases released in the past 3 years fit the exact same description I posted above, and are boring A.F. to me....

Chaitanya · Mar 27, 2022

CGi-Quality said:
Why? I have 200mm(s) on the front and top of my H500M and they work like a charm. Not sure what makes them "a joke".

micropage7 · Mar 27, 2022

actually looks pretty good, just Cooler Master should release full mesh version too

CGi-Quality · Mar 27, 2022

Chaitanya said:
Nexus Vid

Sooooo, you finally have the one review that truly pans it! :roll:

Even then, I've had time to use it (as have others) and the setup still moves a good deal of air. Yes, I prefer the H500M, but this isn't a terrible case.

That said, I'm moving to the Fractal Torrent this year! :rockout:

R-T-B · Apr 15, 2022

Cutechri said:
I could say the same about your comments on case reviews and announcements.

Don't mind him, he's a bonehead.

System Name	Meshlicious Monster
Processor	Intel Core i5-10600T
Motherboard	MSI Z490I Unify
Cooling	NZXT Kraken Z53 with 2x Noctua Redux 1300 RPM PWM fans
Memory	ADATA 16 GB 3200 Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s)	MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
Storage	TeamGroup 1TB NVMe SSD
Display(s)	Asus ProArt 27" 1440P, 75Hz
Case	ssupd Meshlicious with mesh side panels
Power Supply	Fractal Design Ion 660 W Platinum ATX
Mouse	Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless
Keyboard	Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard
Software	Windows 10 Home

System Name	RTi
Processor	Intel Core i9-13900K
Motherboard	ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WiFi
Cooling	Corsair iCUE H170i ELITE LCD XT Display
Memory	G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB Series 96GB (2 x 48GB) DDR5 CL34 6800
Video Card(s)	EVGA RTX 3090 Ti FTW3 ULTRA
Storage	Samsung 990 Pro NVMe 2TB x2, Samsung 980 Pro NVMe 2TB x1
Display(s)	LG 27GN850 (IPS/1440p/144Hz/1ms/G Sync) and LG 27GP850 (IPS/1440/180Hz/1ms/G Sync)
Case	Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO
Power Supply	CORSAIR - HXi Series HX1500i
Mouse	Jelly Comb LED Bluetooth Mouse
Keyboard	TECURS 2.4G Wireless Keyboard
Software	Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores	https://www.passmark.com/baselines/V11/display.php?id=186004438447 https://www.3dmark.com/spy/400622

System Name	Dumbass
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7800X3D
Motherboard	ASUS TUF gaming B650
Cooling	Artic Liquid Freezer 2 - 420mm
Memory	G.Skill Sniper 32gb DDR5 6000
Video Card(s)	GreenTeam 4070 ti super 16gb
Storage	Samsung EVO 500gb & 1Tb, 2tb HDD, 500gb WD Black
Display(s)	1x Nixeus NX_EDG27, 2x Dell S2440L (16:9)
Case	Phanteks Enthoo Primo w/8 140mm SP Fans
Audio Device(s)	onboard (realtek?) - SPKRS:Logitech Z623 200w 2.1
Power Supply	Corsair HX1000i
Mouse	Steeseries Esports Wireless
Keyboard	Corsair K100
Software	windows 10 H
Benchmark Scores	https://i.imgur.com/aoz3vWY.jpg?2

System Name	4K-gaming / media-PC
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X / Intel Core i7-6700K
Motherboard	Asus ROG Crosshair VII Hero / Asus Z170-A
Cooling	Arctic Freezer 50 / Thermaltake Contac 21
Memory	32GB DDR4-3466 / 16GB DDR4-3000
Video Card(s)	RTX 3080 10GB / RX 6700 XT
Storage	3.3TB of SSDs / several small SSDs
Display(s)	27" 4K120 IPS + 32" 4K60 IPS + 24" 1080p60
Case	Corsair 4000D AF White / DeepCool CC560 WH
Audio Device(s)	Asus TUF H3 Wireless / Corsair HS35
Power Supply	EVGA G2 750W / Fractal ION Gold 550W
Mouse	Logitech MX518 / Logitech G400s
Keyboard	Roccat Vulcan 121 AIMO / NOS C450 Mini Pro
VR HMD	Oculus Rift CV1
Software	Windows 11 Pro / Windows 11 Pro
Benchmark Scores	They run Crysis

System Name	The Little One
Processor	i5-11320H @4.4GHZ
Motherboard	AZW SEI
Cooling	Fan w/heat pipes + side & rear vents
Memory	64GB Crucial DDR4-3200 (2x 32GB)
Video Card(s)	Iris XE
Storage	WD Black SN850X 4TB m.2, Seagate 2TB SSD + SN850 4TB x2 in an external enclosure
Display(s)	2x Samsung 43" & 2x 32"
Case	Practically identical to a mac mini, just purrtier in slate blue, & with 3x usb ports on the front !
Audio Device(s)	Yamaha ATS-1060 Bluetooth Soundbar & Subwoofer
Power Supply	65w brick
Mouse	Logitech MX Master 2
Keyboard	Logitech G613 mechanical wireless
Software	Windows 10 pro 64 bit, with all the unnecessary background shitzu turned OFF !
Benchmark Scores	PDQ

Cooler Master HAF 500 Case

Darksaber

Senior Editor & Case Reviewer

Chaitanya

CGi-Quality

DeathtoGnomes

Chaitanya

Ruru

S.T.A.R.S.

Icon Charlie

bonehead123

80-watt Hamster

Nordic

Jhart1228

CGi-Quality

Cutechri

bonehead123

Chaitanya

micropage7

CGi-Quality

R-T-B

System Name	Office
Processor	Ryzen 5600G
Motherboard	ASUS B450M-A II
Cooling	be quiet! Shadow Rock LP
Memory	16GB Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3200
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte RX 5600 XT
Storage	PNY CS1030 250GB, Crucial MX500 2TB
Display(s)	Dell S2719DGF
Case	Fractal Define 7 Compact
Power Supply	EVGA 550 G3
Mouse	Logitech M705 Marthon
Keyboard	Logitech G410
Software	Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Processor	7800x3d
Motherboard	Gigabyte B650 Auros Elite AX
Cooling	Custom Water
Memory	GSKILL 2x16gb 6000mhz Cas 30 with custom timings
Video Card(s)	MSI RX 6750 XT MECH 2X 12G OC
Storage	Adata SX8200 1tb with Windows, Samsung 990 Pro 2tb with games
Display(s)	HP Omen 27q QHD 165hz
Case	ThermalTake P3
Power Supply	SuperFlower Leadex Titanium
Software	Windows 11 64 Bit
Benchmark Scores	CB23: 1811 / 19424 CB24: 1136 / 7687

System Name	Rando Trasho
Processor	AMD 5800X PBO
Motherboard	ASUS B550 F-Gaming
Cooling	EVGA 280MM CLC
Memory	32gb 3600mhz Viper Steel 4400 @3600 16-16-16-32-50-blah-blah-blah I can't get it to run faster.
Video Card(s)	ASUS RTX 3070 TUF GAMING OC
Storage	6TB of Rando SSD, 10TB of Spinny Junk
Display(s)	Some Dell Crapper 1440p 144hz Non validated G-sync compatible
Case	The CoolerMaster case with the 200mm rainbowy fans in front.
Audio Device(s)	Creative Labs, dawg. AE-5, possibly an 'X' in there somewhere. Ancient Logitech Z-5500 speakers too.
Power Supply	1000 watt EVGA Platinum Superflower deal.
Mouse	Logitech Mouse that has a Glowy chopped up 'G' lookin thang.
Keyboard	Corsair Clicky keyboard that has a a red light.
VR HMD	Sounds like a disease.
Software	All legally acquired.
Benchmark Scores	9,000.000001 Bungholio Marks.

System Name	Pioneer
Processor	Ryzen R9 9950X
Motherboard	GIGABYTE Aorus Elite X670 AX
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15 + A whole lotta Sunon and Corsair Maglev blower fans...
Memory	64GB (4x 16GB) G.Skill Flare X5 @ DDR5-6000 CL30
Video Card(s)	XFX RX 7900 XTX Speedster Merc 310
Storage	Intel 905p Optane 960GB boot, +2x Crucial P5 Plus 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs
Display(s)	55" LG 55" B9 OLED 4K Display
Case	Thermaltake Core X31
Audio Device(s)	TOSLINK->Schiit Modi MB->Asgard 2 DAC Amp->AKG Pro K712 Headphones or HDMI->B9 OLED
Power Supply	FSP Hydro Ti Pro 850W
Mouse	Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless
Keyboard	WASD Code v3 with Cherry Green keyswitches + PBT DS keycaps
Software	Gentoo Linux x64 / Windows 11 Enterprise IoT 2024

System Name	micropage7
Processor	Intel Xeon X3470
Motherboard	Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd. P55A-UD3R (Socket 1156)
Cooling	Enermax ETS-T40F
Memory	Samsung 8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3
Video Card(s)	NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800
Storage	V-GEN03AS18EU120GB, Seagate 2 x 1TB and Seagate 4TB
Display(s)	Samsung 21 inch LCD Wide Screen
Case	Icute Super 18
Audio Device(s)	Auzentech X-Fi Forte
Power Supply	Silverstone 600 Watt
Mouse	Logitech G502
Keyboard	Sades Excalibur + Taihao keycaps
Software	Win 7 64-bit
Benchmark Scores	Classified