A Closer Look - Outside

Out of the box, you will notice that the case is not only extremely heavy, but also bulky. It feels like Cooler Master has taken the spirit of the Cosmos II and put it on a diet and workout routine. Gone are the soft curves of the front and curvy handles. Instead, the Cosmos C700P offers lots of straight lines and edgy handles. Any curves but for those of the tempered glass panel, which is rather unique, are simple.


That piece of glass has been curved twice - which is quite the elaborate thing to achieve. Glass, unlike metal, needs to be heated to be curved properly, and tends to move as it cools down, which makes getting a perfect shape like this no small feat. Cooler Master placed a glass panel on the main side and a solid steel one on the other. You may buy an additional panel made out of glass for €69.99/US$69.99.


Taking a look at the front, it is, just like with the original Cosmos II, made out of a mix of plastic and metal mesh. Unlike the Cosmos II, which had a slide-down panel to reveal the drive bays, the C700P offers a flip-forward cover, which stays in place on the bottom, giving any external drives, like ODDs, enough space to open up fully. While good to have compared to the original Cosmos II, this implementation feels rather basic, and the plastic panel is in stark contrast to the overall build quality of the case. Behind that solid cover is a large metal mesh front. Cooler Master has also lined the backside of the silver plastic panel with sound-dampening material.


Taking a closer look at the front, there are two 140 mm fans pre-installed in the front with space for a third in the very top. Above that are two 5.25" drive bays which are protected by metal mesh covers of the same shape and design as the rest of the mesh panel.


In the rear, the external design continues, so that the C700P has no breaks in terms of looks. It is quite the thoughtful touch as it ensures the design can be viewed from all angles. To achieve this, there is a removable plastic frame on the rear, which is held in place by magnets. While I see no issue with the strength of this mechanism under normal circumstances, odds are you will find yourself pulling the frame off unintentionally when trying to move the whole system, especially as its edges are quite sharp on the inside.


Taking a closer look at the bottom, there is a spacious PSU bay. Above that are the eight motherboard expansion slots, each protected by individual and reusable covers. In the very top is another 140 mm fan, this time set to push hot air out through the back of the Cosmos C700P. This brings the total fan count within the case to three.


In the very top is a large metal mesh cover that may easily be pulled off to reveal a cooling bracket with enough room for up to three 140 mm fans or a 420 mm radiator. At the front of the top is an extensive I/O panel consisting of four USB 3.0 ports, a real USB C 3.1 port, and the usual audio plugs. On top of that is a large power and small reset button. Cooler Master has also built a basic "high/low" fan controller and an RGB LED controller into the I/O panel. With the Cosmos II, Cooler Master tried to push the envelope by providing a Motorola Razr style button interface, and it would have been nice if the C700P had something similar.


Last but not least, the metal bars also act as stands and come with rubber pieces glued to them on which the case stands firmly.