A Closer Look - Outside

Unlike the slightly smaller Stacker 832, the Cosmos utilizes a combination of plastic and aluminum to form the front panel. While this does look great, the door becomes a finger print magnet and is certainly not as scratch resistant. It can be hinged either way, but Cooler Master ships it opening from left to right. Behind the door are five drive bays, of which one can be used for a 3.5 inch drive. The back of the Cosmos does look a bit different, as the power supply bay is located on the bottom of the case.


Both sides of the case are made of aluminum. There are no air vents or openings on either side. The only thing on these panels is a small Cooler Master text. The company is marketing the Cosmos as an ultra quiet chassis, so you will not find any more vents than absolutely necessary.


Taking a closer look at the rear of the Cosmos, we start with the power supply bay on the bottom. You may mount the power supply any way you would like. The middle holds the seven PCI brackets, while the top part has a few surprises in store. A 12 cm fan can be seen through the comb shaped grill. Above that you will find two openings to route water cooling tubes to the outside of the case. The two silver latches hold the side panels, which can be removed by simply pressing these up.


All the front I/O is located on the top of the case, much like the Stacker. You will also find the power and reset button in this area, which is perfect as the case will most likely be placed under the table. Cooler Master has included all the important connections: four USB 2.0. FireWire, eSATA as well as audio in form of a microphone and headphone jack. The top also forms a fan grill with the help of a plastic part. It is sturdy enough, but not nearly as thick as the one used to cover the Stacker 832. As you can see, I was able to bent the plastic slightly under pressure.