A Closer Look - Outside

Once unboxed, those in the know will notice that Cooler Master has tweaked the design found in the previous H500 variant considerably with cleaner surfaces and larger air vents while keeping the same glass side panels. All the smooth surfaces are covered in a protective layer to ensure your own Mastercase H500M arrives in perfect condition.


Looking at the front, it becomes apparent that the material mix has been improved with less plastic and more metal mesh out of the box. On top of that, the H500M features a two-tone color scheme. In the rear, things look a lot more traditional with the exception of the two vertical expansion slots. This is possible as the Mastercase H500M is actually quite the wide chassis.


The main side essentially consists of a large glass piece with metal pieces on its edges. This is where you will find a simple but effective locking mechanism to hold it in place. While this is great, it provides no security at all, allowing anyone to gain access to the interior in seconds. This may be something to keep in mind for those who love to go to LAN parties or other public events with their system. Turning the case around, you will see that this panel is made out of glass as well to show off the backside of the motherboard freely.


The PSU bay now comes with a mounting frame, which is a huge step in the right direction as the H500P forces you to remove the inner shroud—something that is no longer necessary with the Mastercase H500M. Above that are the standard seven horizontal expansion slots, each protected by a removable cover. There are, in addition to those, two more vertical slots you may use to prop up your graphics card with the additional accessory, for example. In the very top is a 140 mm exhaust fan that is held in place by screws inside elongated openings so that you may adjust the height of the cooling unit to align it with your motherboard for maximum performance.


The I/O panel has been updated to offer four USB 3.0, the usual audio I/O, and a power and reset combo. There is a real USB 3.1 Type-C connector as well. It is great to see that Cooler Master listens to feedback as the H500P only included two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, which we took issue with in our review. The top cover is lined with a glass panel and may easily be removed by detaching a single thumb screw in the back. The ceiling of the chassis has been redesigned and now offers a broader range of fan size possibilities, all the way up to 2x 200 mm. Any fans—regardless of whether a radiator is used or not—now sit on top of the metal panel, which means you will have a clean and unobstructed view through the glass panel.


Looking at the underside, you can clearly see a removable dust filter that protects the PSU's air vent from dust and grime. It may simply be pulled out through the back of the case for easy cleaning.