Cooler Master HAF X Nvidia Edition

Folks with an undying loyalty to AMD or Nvidia will love the special editions of Cooler Master's HAF X. Unfortunately for those patriotic to team red, we'll be looking at the Nvidia version, though it's worth noting that we wanted the plain black model but our supplier only had the Nvidia version on hand.

On the bright side, apart from its green components, the Nvidia edition is essentially identical to the original HAF X we reviewed last year. At the time, we deemed the HAF X be one of the best value full tower cases available, with few competitors offering the same build quality and features for around $200.

The HAF X's dimensions are typical for a full tower case, measuring 233mm wide, 599mm long and 550mm tall. It's constructed from SECC (Steel, Electrogalvanized, Cold-rolled, Coil), a metal known for its low cost and high thermal conduction properties, making it ideal for computer enclosures. There's also a lot of plastic used, but don't let that put you off, as the HAF X definitely looks the part.

Although the façade's liberal use of lime green and chiseled edges might be a bit too busy for some, we think Cooler Master has pulled it off very well. Then again, we've always had a thing for HAF cases.

An I/O panel sits above the 5.25" bays and although it's functionally identical to the original design, the green text is harder to read. Connectivity includes two USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, a single FireWire and eSATA port, and two audio jacks. There are also two bright blue LEDs for hard drive activity and power. The front panel connectors are easy to access and we like that they aren't behind a door.

Above the front I/O panel, the power, reset aand fan LED button are behind a sliding door so you won't accidentally press them – again, a touch we really appreciate.

The left hand side of the HAF X features a large window garnished with a green tint and the Nvidia logo.

Behind the HAF X, you'll find a simple setup that mounts the power supply at the bottom of the case, while three inlet and outlet holes for water-cooling tubes are on top.