Cooler Master HAF XB Lan Box and Test Bench Case Review

The HAF XB Exterior Thoughts

Going to start the overview of the chassis at the front then make way around it. As we can see that this chassis uses a low profile but wide stance to it. As I go more into depth with this chassis we will see that this chassis is far from the usual typical mid-towers we have seen previously.

On the lower right hand side of the HAF XB is where Cooler Master places two hot swappable HDD/SSD drive carriers. To remove one just pull on the little lever and slide out the drive carrier.

This is what the HDD/SSD carrier looks like once it has been removed from the HAF XB. I will go more into detail of the carrier during the installation portion of the review so stay tuned.

On the lower left hand side of the HAF XB are where the 5.25 bays located at. Then directly above the 5.25 bays are where the front IO ports of the HAF XB. On the front IO ports, Cooler Master puts an on/off power button, followed by a small reset button, with a HDD LED indicator below the reset button. To the right of the reset button are the front mic/head 3.5mm jacks, and finally we have two USB 3 ports.

Cooler Master did not include a USB 3 to USB 2 front motherboard IO adapter for those of us who do not have the front USB 3 header on the motherboard(s). Nor does Cooler Master includes any USB 2 IO ports on the HAF XB, I felt they could have either included USB 2 IO ports or a USB 3 to USB 2 motherboard header adapter.

Rotating the HAF XB to the right 90 brings us to the left hand side of the HAF XB. Up towards the top of the side panel are some vents, to help allow more airflow for the interior of the chassis, and some included carrying handles.

Turning the chassis to the right 90 again brings us to the back side of the chassis. The HAF XB can handle a full ATX motherboard, and that this chassis compartmentalizes the interior of the chassis, once again I will go more into detail on the next page. Cooler Master places an optional 120mm rear exhaust fan mount right above the motherboards rear IO ports, and directly above the PCI expansion ports Cooler Master puts vents to help improve ventilation. Now directly below the motherboard area and to the left on the lower part of the HAF XB is where the PSU mounting area is. Moving right Cooler Master also includes two more 80mm rear exhaust fan mounts.

To the far left hand side of the HAF XB located to the left of the optional 120mm exhaust fan mount, is where three water cooling access ports are located at. Now Cooler Master does not include covers for these access ports. But I did not feel any sharp or ragged edges once I removed the pop out covers except where the pop out covers are held into place. Just be mindful and if you plan on using an external water cooling with this chassis you want to file the small area that holds the pop outs onto the HAF XB.

On the right side of the HAF XB is pretty much identical as the left side panel.

Since I did all of four sides of the HAF XB time to give the top of the chassis a quick looking at. The entire top panel is removable and it utilizes a fine metal mesh screen to improve airflow and to keep debris at a minimal from entering the chassis. We also have the option of installing a 200/230mm fan up here to help further our cooling capabilities even farther.

Looking at the bottom of the HAF XB chassis. Off to the far left and right side of the bottom of the HAF XB chassis are some more vents to help increase sir flow inside of the chassis.

Cooler Master includes a removable PSU fan filter.

On each of the feet of the HAF XB Cooler Master places small rubber inserts to keep us from scratching our delicate surfaces we may be using the HAF XB on.

I removed all of the side panels and grabbed opposite corners of the HAF XB chassis and twisted it to see how well built this chassis was. I quickly found out that this chassis had very little twisting motion which is telling that this chassis is very solidly built.