The Cooler Master High Air Flow (HAF) line of cases has been one of their most popular lines since its introduction. This line of cases has always garnered top awards and been a favorite among enthusiasts. However, this line of quality cases has always come at a cost, until now. Cooler Master is bringing the HAF series to the budget sector. The HAF 912 debuts at only $60.
Provided By: Cooler Master
Price: $55.00
Closer Look:
The Cooler Master HAF 912 is packaged in a plain brown cardboard box with black printing of the Cooler Master logo, a picture of the case, specifications and features.
The HAF 912 is secured in the box between two blocks of fitted styroam and wrapped in a plastic bag. The user’s manual can be found underneath the case.
The accessories included are: motherboard standoffs, motherboard screws, expansion slot screws, 6 pairs of tool less hard drive rails, a numerous amount of zip ties, a 5.25″ to 3.5″ adapter bracket, and a short PC speaker.
The left side of the case features the familiar glossy “HAF” lettering on top of the durable flat black paint job, with room for a 120mm fan beside the video card(s) and a light design stamped into the panel which frames this section nicely.
The front of the case has a very similar design and layout to the others, with the notched front bezel and the aggressive metal mesh and dust filters, only on a slightly smaller scale.
The front bezel comes off so you can add/remove fans, clean your filters or install drives. However, it requires that both side panels be removed to release the tabs on either side. Here you can see the cooling options for the front. There’s room for another 120mm fan or remove the one installed and install one large 200mm fan.
The I/O ports and power/reset buttons are located at the top, which can be easily accessed.
An included 120mm exhaust fan is found at the top rear, above the grommets for an external water cooling loop. Underneath the water cooling grommets are the seven “plus one” expansion slots. The right side of the case is plain and does not have any markings or designs on it. I did find that this panel is not held on by thumbscrews, so a screwdriver is necessary to remove the panel.
Here is a quick look at the inside you can see where the cables are coming down from the I/O panel to where they will most likely plug into the motherboard. There’s a nice big square opening at the top of the motherboard tray. This will allow you to install those heavy CPU coolers that require back-plates without having to remove the motherboard. There are five 5.25″ drive bays. The bottom one can house a floppy drive, if needed, using the included adapters. The top bay is screw less with a locking tab built in. The upper cage can be rotated 90 degrees to allow you the option of how you want your hard drives oriented. It can also be removed, if you need the extra room for those long video cards.
I really like the fact that the HAF 912 comes with an SSD cage. If you need the SSD bay but have a long power supply, it can be relocated in place of the middle 3.5″ HDD cage.
The bottom panel features an air filter that is accessible from outside the case and also rubber disks to provide an anti-vibration barrier between the case and the power supply, These will really help with the noise. The case also has round hard plastic feet.
Features & Specifications:
1. Supports two 120mm radiator fans.
2. Front I/O for easy access.
3. Top platform for personal belongings.
4. CPU Retaining hole.
5. Water Cooling outlets.
6. Backup screw holder.
7. 7+1 slots for increased expandability.
8. Two 3.5″ or 2.5″ / 1.8″ HDD/SSDs.
9. Supports high-end graphics cards like ATI HD 5970 and nVidia GeForce GTX.
10. Removable dust filters on the bottom and front cover.
| Available Color | Black |
| Dimension | 230 X 480 X 496 mm / 9.1 x 18.9 x 19.5 inches |
| Net Weight | 17.8 lbs |
| Material | SECC / ABS Plastic |
| Motherboard Type | ATX / MATX |
| 5.25″ Drive Bays | 4 Exposed |
| 3.5″ Drive Bays | 1 exposed (converted from 5.25″ bay) 6 Hidden |
| 2.5″ Drive Bays | 2 + 2 (converted from 5.25 bay) 4 Hidden |
| I/O Panel | USB 2.0 x 2, Audio x 1, Speakers x 1 |
| Cooling System | |
| Top | 120mm fan x 2 or 200mm fan x 1 (optional) |
| Front | 120mm fan x 2, 1200 RPM, 17 dBA (can be swapped for one 200mm fan) |
| Side | 120/140mm fan x1 (optional) |
| Rear | 120mm fan x1 (optional) |
| Expansion Slot | 7 + 1 |
| Power Supply | ATX PS2 / EPS 12V (optional) |
| Warranty | 2 year |
Conclusion:
This is an extremely nice mid-tower. At $60 this case is very affordable. Plus, the case has features that you wouldn’t expect at $60. The added width of the case allows for larger CPU coolers, as well as space behind the motherboard for wire management. The included 2.5″ SSD bay was unexpected and perfect for switching over to using an SSD. It would be extremely difficult if not impossible to find a better case at this price range. It really lives up to its name.
