A PC case from Coolermaster that’s close to a bullseye, but still slightly off target.
Ah, Cooler Master. So many of the innovations in the company's case design are top-notch, can't-live-without-'em ideas. It's worth nothing that some of our favourite cases have been from Cooler Master. But it's equally worth nothing that some of the most annoying and fiddly mechanisms known to humanity exist inside these chassis. So, while the Sniper case on review here takes many leaps in new directions, it still makes a lot of the same mistakes.
Externally it's a wholly new look, seeming to combine the curves of Cooler Master's Cosmos series with some of the angular bluntness of the HAF hair-airflow design. As always, the end result is a matter of personal taste. That said, if you also think the upper surface of the Sniper is kinda-sorta reminiscent of the out-rigger landing bays of the new Battlestar Galactica, your decision to love this case may have already been made for you.
The design also features some supposedly handy practical features, but this is also where the first of our issues with this case start to crop up. The upper curved surface houses two carry handles, which certainly make the Sniper easy enough to lug around. However, they also feel a little flimsy. Even worse, below the raised shroud they are found in is a wide grill mesh for the outflow of the one of the case fans. In our patented screw-drop tests, we found that standard internal case screws simply love to fall through this space into the case below. Not a problem when you're PC isn't on, but it'll be a whirling maelstrom of metallic death once the fan is spinning. Not death for you, but death for your shiny expensive parts. Strike one.
Two thumb screws secure both side panels, and with these off the interior is nice and roomy, and pretty much par for the Cooler Master course. There's the same push-button 5.25in drive brackets and sliding 3.5in bays that we love, and the same expansion card mechanism that we have hated in the past, hate now, and will continue to hate long into the future. About the only thing that stands out as impressive and new is the extra internal room the inch-deep emboss on the side panels gives you. This is great for both overly large CPU heatsinks, improves airflow, and in delivers a lot of cable space behind the mobo backplate. Speaking of airflow, the case's two blue-LED-lit 200mm fans take of that elegantly, though the built-in speed control knob, while a great touch, could have been built a lot better. Frequent upgraders will certainly not have any issues with cramped space in this roomy case.
The overall build quality of the Sniper is top notch, and touches like the anti-theft USB cable bracket and handles make this an awesome case for LANing. The large mesh inset in one side panel and the big fans will make the case airy, too, but we still think the HAF has the edge. The Sniper comes close, but is ultimately just shy of the mark.
Issue: 133 | February, 2012