Several brands design and sell cases that are their answer to cost is no object. Most of these tend to rely heavily on unique manufacturing processes and materials that result in a unique-looking enclosure with a focus on design instead of function. However, a select few tend to put function first and design, which still gets plenty of love, second. This is also clearly the approach Cooler Master is taking with the HAF 700 EVO. It is massive and costs more on its own than some entry-level systems as a whole, but uncompromising with the usual restraints of price and size gone.

Even so, looking at the outside, there are no curved glass panels like with the Cosmos. However, Cooler Master still incorporated thick glass elements into the design and lights them in a way that makes the chassis stand out, something no other brand has managed. And while a display is not unique on its own, a circular one with the level of engineering for a detaching connector so that you may pull off the front like any traditional chassis is. Such attention to details clearly walks the path of the best-possible user experience even if it costs more.

On the interior, Cooler Master makes very good use of the space with a massive number of potential storage elements and up to four big radiators, all without compromising at all when it comes to component choices. The only downside is that the multi-purpose mounting plates restrict airflow, but the HAF 700 EVO manages to provide excellent thermal and noise results even so. Looking closer, there are a few elements we will surely see trickle down into enclosures at a lower price point, like the functional plastic locking elements.

With all of that in mind, the Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO absolutely deserves our Innovation award, and if you really plan to use the space to fill it with the biggest, fastest top-of-the-line components, thus somewhat normalizing the cost of the HAF 700 EVO against the thousands of dollars spent on parts anyway, feel free to grab yourself the HAF 700 EVO—for those people, it certainly is an Editor's Choice as well.