Cooler Master HAF-X Impressions

[RaistlinZ]

I just received my HAF-X yesterday, although it did come with damage to the bottom rear of the case (thanks UPS :\ ). Overall it's one sweet case. Very solid construction inside and out. It would have been nice if they included a second top exhaust fan for the $200 the case runs, but oh well.

I may end up using the air duct for additional cooling on the video card, although the video card holder thingy seems to be a waste, and will just get in the way of the side fan.

Sorry, I don't have any pics to upload at the moment (no internet at home). I'm still waiting on my mobo, CPU, RAM, SDD, and OS so I can finally start building.

 

[Hauk]

I grabbed one yesterday and am very pleased! I'm migrating from an Antex 1200. You'd think I'd not be overly relieved but I am. I made the mistake of selecting the 1200 for use with an eATX mobo. I worked around it but lost several key cable routes. I also had cpu heatsink/door fan interference. I'm waiting on GTX 480s to arrive from step-up and will post temp results in video. Till then OP, I hope you don't mind me posting pics and first impressions. Thanks..



First order of business was moving the door fan to the empty top slot. I bought a Coolermaster 200mm LED fan for the door at fry's for $19.99. At 19db each, two fans on top shouldn't add to noise too much:

Look at this thing swallow up my eATX mobo!

Wheels... I've always wanted a case with wheels. Sturdy metal casters.. I'm in love:

I don't run multiple drives or hot swap, just a couple Intel G2s in RAID 0, so the hot swap bays are perfect for it:

My main reason for grabbing this case was to try the ducting, co-designed by nVidia. I'll be testing with three duct fans ranging from 75-150 cfm to hopefully yield impressive yet tolerable air cooling to 480 SLI:

Lookin good so far!

 

[Hauk]

OP, you're right about the vid card holder, it'll interfere unless you remove the door fan shroud. One reviewer inverted the fan shroud to allow for room, still pointless IMO. If it could do the job of helping support the cards without the metal grill in the way, it'd be worth it. Lastly, it gives the option to mount an 80mm fan; but who'd want that over the ability to channel air from a 200mm fan? Not me.

One more pic, built and ready for the 480s:

 

[nyker96]

nice pictures!! love it ... drooling...

 

[LeCramp1]

I've been thinking about getting this case for a future watercooling setup.

But I'm wondering, is the 3.5" HD bay removable? Seems like a nice place for a second radiator.

 

[T2k]

Is there a way to move the side opening to the right?

 

[Sind]

Hauk what fan are you using for the video card duct? I have 3-4 Scyth S-Flex 21Fs that I have put in there and every one of them made an audible whirring noise, no noise when I test them outside the duct, only when they are installed.

I removed the duct for now to keep things nice and quiet again. Love the case and I plan on hijacking your idea for the door fan to LED, thanks for the post!

 

[Hauk]

Thank nyker!

@ LeCramp, The 3.5 cage is riveted in place, but the trays and two horizontal support bars are removable. From an airflow standpoint, front fan air still has to flow through it; but from a space standpoint, removing the trays and two bars would provide a good bit of useable vertical space:

@ Sind, I have a 120mm x 25mm S-Flex 75 cfm, a Scyth 120mm x 38mm 110 cfm, and a Delta 120mm x 38mm 150 cfm. I have a couple of the 1,200 rpm S-Flex fans that you have; your news isn't encouraging. If those very quiet fans seem louder when installed in the duct, I'm in for a surprise. I already know the Delta will be loud, just want to see if 150 cfm makes a difference in card temps.

I am curious about your experience with the duct changing the fan's noise characteristics though. Perhaps the duct is amplifying fan motor noise, or airflow across the slots is doing something. I'll have to see. Thanks for the info though.

@ T2K, not sure on your question, meant for LeCramp?

 

[james1701]

Is there a place to buy the 230mm fab for the top that matches the other one.

 

[Hauk]

Is there a place to buy the 230mm fab for the top that matches the other one.

Tough because it's an OEM non-retail fan, but here's a place that has them:

http://www.excesssolutions.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=ES5429

 

[LeCramp1]

Thanks for the info, Hauk.

It does seem like good place for a 2x120mm radiator if it will fit in there Else I suppose one could remove the rivets.

 

[james1701]

Thanks Hauk.

 

[Hauk]

No problem gents

 

[james1701]

Tough because it's an OEM non-retail fan, but here's a place that has them:

http://www.excesssolutions.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=ES5429

oh snap, 10.38 just for shipping charges.

 

[Juddog]

Is there a place to buy the 230mm fab for the top that matches the other one.

Top fan is 200mm, not 230mm, just FYI. I replaced my top fan with a red LED 200mm from newegg and used another red 200mm in the empty slot. Unfortunately newegg doesn't seem to sell the plain-jane black fan though.

 

[james1701]

Yeah, I noticed. One thing that can be used is an Antec Big Boy 200mm fan. I might pull the one out of my old 900 case.