Final Thoughts
Cooler Master wanted to create a mid tower version of the HAF X, so did they succeed? If you take a look at the case the HAF XM looks almost identical to the HAF X except it is a bit smaller and does not have the side panel window. If you look at the HAF XM from the front you would think it was the HAF X! Internally you have the very popular PSU cover that many people enjoyed on the HAF X. Although you cannot fit XL-ATX motherboards inside of the HAF XM it does support mATX, ATX and E-ATX motherboards. They were also able to fit another hard drive tray in there giving you six instead of the five that were inside the HAF X. Just like the HAF X you have support for longer video cards as well.
Now the HAF X was released 2 years ago so the HAF XM has made some improvements. All of the hard drive trays support 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives. So with the trays, the two X-Dock’s and the mount behind the motherboard you can install up to 9 2.5-inch hard drives! Cooler Master has gone with a latch type side panel, which actually works very well and is one of my favorite features of the case. Cooling is definitely covered on this case as well. Included you have 2 large 200mm fans and a single 140mm fan. You also have room up top for a third 200mm fan and on the side panel there is room for a fourth 200mm fan or two 140mm fans. This case also has the newer USB 3.0 internal connector, which we always like to see.
Installation of our system into this case was very easy and since there was so much room around the backside of the case we were easily able to route our cables and keep in inside of our case nice and clean. The too-less systems on the hard drive trays and optical drive bays were perfectly without any issues. The entire installation process should take you less than 20 minutes!
The only real issue I had with this case is that the top CPU power cable routing hole is partly covered by the top of the case. This makes routing your CPU power cable quite annoying. So many case makers overlook this and I am not sure why. I can see so many people getting frustrated over this, I know I was.
The HAF XM is available today with a price of $129.99. Overall ThinkComputers gives the Cooler Master HAF XM a 9 out of 10 score and our Recommended Award!
Pros:
– Lots of cooling (2x 200mm fans, 1x 140mm fan)
– Latch type side panel
– Lots of room inside
– Tool-less systems that actually work well
– Room for 9 2.5-inch hard drives and 8 3.5-inch hard drives
Cons:
– Top CPU power cable routing hole is partially blocked
