Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini-ITX Case Review

Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Review

Mini-ITX gaming systems are becoming the hot thing these days. More and more people are building high-end gaming rigs in this form factor. Reasons? Well lets see. For starters theyre smaller and generally lighter than your typical mid- or full-tower counterpart and thus easier to transport to LAN parties and the like. Mini-ITX systems have exploded in the modding world as of late as well. Lets take a look at Cooler Masters latest offering to the Mini-ITX scene the Elite 120 Advanced.

One of the best parts about the CM Elite 120 Advanced is the price. You can find the CM Elite 120 Advanced online for $49.99 plus $9.99 shipping at Newegg or for $49.99 with free shipping at Amazon. Not a bad case for a Mini-ITX offering, let alone one that looks good! Let’s move along and see what its got for goodies.

The Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced is an ultra-compact case with support for full size high-end desktop components. Other than conventional Mini ITX cases, The Elite 120 Advanced supports more affordable, quiet, efficient and easily available Full Size ATX PSUs. It can accommodate even the largest ultra-high-end VGAs, a 5.25 optical drive and up to 5 HDDs or SSDs. Thanks to a smart airflow system featuring 3 fans it manages to still keep the system cool and quiet. Topped off with a stylish brushed aluminum front, this is a compact case you dont want to hide. – CM

Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Features:

• Unprecedented airflow for a Mini-ITX case
• 1/3 the size of a standard case
• Supports standard length ATX PSUs with innovative rear mount
• Supports ultra-high end VGAs (HD7990/GTX690)
• Stylish aluminum front panel
• USB 3.0 super speed support
• Features a full-size 5.25 drive day
• Supports Up to 3 x 3.5 / 4 x 2.5 HDD/SSD (converted from 2 x 3.5″ HDD bay)

Specifications of the Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced:

Available Colors	Black
Material	Appearance: Aluminum & Polymer front Case body: Steel Alloy
Dimension (W / H / D)	240 x 207.4 x 401.4mm / 9.4 x 8.2 x 15.8 inch
M/B Type	Mini-ITX
5.25″ Drive Bays	1
3.5″ Drive Bays	3 (internal)
2.5″ Drive Bays	4 (internal, converted from two 3.5 bays)
I/O Panel	USB 3.0 x 1 (internal), USB 2.0 x 2, Mic x 1, Audio x 1 (supports AC97 / HD Audio)
Expansion Slots	2
Cooling System	Front: 120mm fan x 1, 1200 RPM, 19dBA Side: 80x15mm fan x 1, 2000 RPM, 20dBA HDD: 120x25mm fan x 1 (optional)
Power Supply Type	Standard ATX PS2
Maximum Compatibility	VGA card length:343.0mm / 13.5 inch CPU cooler height: 65.0mm / 2.5 inch
Weight	7.3 pounds

Let’s move along to unboxing and then we’ll build a system inside the CM Elite 120 Advanced chassis!