Computex 2008: Pre-show products

Cooler Master HAF 932 and Centurion Silent Edition

We dropped by Cooler Master and found out it has been cooking a brand new case since the Cosmos launched last year. Instead of designing a single case to suit everyone, Cooler Master explained that it has listened to a lot of feedback and designed the new HAF 932 specifically with the American market in mind.

We were told that a lot of Europeans like the Cosmos, which was selling well. However, there were those who wanted a more rugged, industrial and super-functional case, and the HAF 932 will certainly be more down that street.

The design and case look will certainly generate a Marmite appeal among our audience, that's for sure. Inside, there are some huge fans at the front, side and in the top with big vents to keep everything cool. There are even holes for a single or double radiator, as well as various fan sizes to suit all needs in multiple positions - this should really offer the most flexibility possible.


There is space for five side-mounted hard drives, as well as large ATX boards to still have plenty of airspace - the case is certainly wider than most. For an extra option you don't see elsewhere, the PSU can also be mounted in the top or bottom, although it's designed to go in the bottom with the fan facing downwards. The case should be high enough off the floor so the PSU fan won't become a a vacuum cleaner.

In the front at the top there's a rubber mat for somewhere to stick your keys and mobile phone, while underneath there's a hole for a watercooling fill port, should you need it. The HAF 932 should be available in the USA predominantly, but if there's enough demand in the EU, Cooler Master will bring it to Europe for around a reasonable 129 Euros.


Next is the Centurion Silent Edition - this case is particularly aimed at the inexpensive end of the market, but designed with silence in mind. Because we were shown a particularly early sample we aren't yet allowed to post pictures of the insides, as Cooler Master explained that it could change quite significantly between now and final manufacturing.

It looks minimalist from the outside, that's for sure - a brushed aluminium looking fascia and only a few fan holes along the front side and the usual exhaust at the back.

There will be sound deadening material across the major panels inside and the hard drives will have vibration dampening combined into the usual easy install rails that clip in either side. The PSU also has a rubber surround to isolate vibrations and we expect the fans to include the same. The only thing not currently isolated is the case from the floor itself with specific vibration dampening should you have it on a desk.

The buttons are integrated discretely into the front vertical bar (which is kind of nice), but we wish the front panel ports were hidden too and perhaps there was some element of design on the side or over the top, just to give it an edge of independence. While we will obviously wait for the final design for our ultimate opinion, at the moment we feel it's a little bit run-of-the-mill, but then we felt the same about the CM690 when we first saw it.

It isn't designed for the uber-all-powerful industrious workstation or elite-gamer, but more like an average gamer that needs something quiet but is also very budget conscious; and for that, it seems to fit well.