A Closer Look - Outside

Taking a first look at the H500P, the case reminds us of the HAF series with the two large fans in the front. That said, the chassis looks a lot more intricate due to the detailed plastic and acrylic panels alongside the glass window.


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. The opposing side panel is completely solid and made out of metal.


In the front, you can clearly see the two big fans behind the clear acrylic panel. You may flip the front down slightly, which could come in handy if you pick up the optional 5.25" drive bay kit as you will need the space for an optical drive tray to open up, for example. This implementation is very reminiscent of what we have seen in the Cosmos C700P. Air is drawn through the fairly large vents on the side of the front that can clearly be seen when the cover has been pulled off the case.


In the rear, things look a lot more traditional, with the exception of the two vertical expansion slots. This is possible as the Mastercase H500P is actually quite the wide chassis.


The PSU bay comes with two sets of mounting screws, which means you can install your PSU with its fan facing either up- or downward. 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, which 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 in the top is pretty standard as it features two USB 2.0, a pair of USB 3.0, the usual audio I/O, and a power and reset combo. It seems that USB 2.0 refuses to die. That said, Cooler Master could have offered four USB 3.0 ports with combo cables instead considering the chassis is meant to target those willing to spend US$150 or more on a chassis. The entire top cover mimics the front's look, and you may easily remove it to gain access to the top mounting bracket, which allows for up to three 120/140 mm or two 200 mm units to be installed.


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.