Cooler Master HAF 922

**WaGoN** · 22-05-2009

Cooler Master is one of the great names in housing market. Lately, the firm is very active and poised to take the lead on its competitors. Antec continues to sell great volumes of boxes but we can not say that the innovations abound on the side of the U.S. firm.Cooler Master HAF 922In contrast, Lian Li multiplies news not always tasteful, often based on an existing chassis, but dressed. The problem with the Lian-Li cases is that the design of the latest models is not very successful, with some exceptions.As the name suggests we are looking at a smaller version of the original HAF 932 with the same look and bold styling. The new HAF 922 features many of the internals found in the popular CM Storm Sniper with some allowances for the water cooling features found in the HAF 932.

The Taiwanese manufacturer's range is quite large with very high quality as excellent ATCS 840, good midrange and low-priced packages offering excellent value for money. The brand also has boxes more "gamers" that target what the Americans call enthusiasts. Among these, there is obviously the Storm range that currently includes the Sniper and Scout.But the Cooler Master HAF 922 is a steel bodied case that is painted with a special flat black paint and later accented with black to give the case a very smooth finish.They was not expecting this because of its look rather gamer and fan LEDs front.

**WaGoN** · 22-05-2009

Specification of Cooler Master HAF 922

Motherboard: Micro-ATX/ATX
Drive Bays: 5 x 5.25" External
Drive Bays: 5 x 3.25" Internal
Cooling: Front: 1 x 200 x 30mm Red LED Fan, Top: 1 x 200 x 30mm Standard Fan, Rear: 1 x 120 x 25mm Standard Fan, Optional Bottom: 120/140mm Fan, Side: 200mm Fan
Front I/O Ports: 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x eSATA, 1 x MIC, 1 x Audio
Net Weight: 24 pounds
Dimensions: (L)22.8 x (W)11.2 x (H)21.7 inches
Expansion Slots: 8
Material : Steel Plastic and Mesh Bezel
Expansion Slots : 7+1
Warranty : 1 Year

**WaGoN** · 22-05-2009

Overview of Cooler Master HAF 922

The style of the HAF 922 incorporates the outline of the HAF 932 and at this level, it is clear that it will not satisfy everyone.However, objectively, there's worse in terms of design "gamer" or "tuning". Especially since unlike the HAF 932, the HAF 922 has a button on top of the box to turn off the red LED fan front. Once extinguished, the HAF 922 looks almost a classic case. The front is reminiscent of cases like the series of Antec Nine Hundred and others with 5 ¼ "bay with hidden behind gratings which are filters dust. The bottom of the body is also composed of a large grid behind which there is a dust filter, unfortunately not removable. It also is where the first fan 200 millimeters, the only one that can be illuminated by red circles. The place to rest next to each 5 ¼ "bay attest to the significant width of the tower even more exacerbated by the side panels which are curved, in particular to ensure easy storage cables behind the panel of the motherboard . At the top of the front, it was entitled to two USB 2.0 ports, the usual audio ports and an eSata port. No Firewire by then against the proposed HAF 932.

On the top, front, is the power button, the reset button and a button to turn off or turn on the LED 200 mm fan on the front. Behind them is a small flat file for a few objects like a USB key. Also on this upper part, we discover the second 200 mm fan behind a grid honeycomb. Note that the fan can be replaced by two models of 120 mm and there is even room to install a radiator Watercooling cooled by two fans of this size.The left side of the case has a similar bulge with a mesh window. You can mount a 200mm fan on the mesh window, giving proper side cooling. The top of the case has the Power, Reset and Fan LED buttons. The FAN LED button turns on/off the light to the front fan. There are also the standard Power and HDD LEDs to show activity on the system. There is also room for a 200mm or two 120mm fans on top.

The back may seem conventional, but it is not. Food is positioned at the bottom with a large vent that will allow the fan power sucking fresh air and prevent the internal probe of the power supply does climbs too high, which will limit the rise in the fan. Behind this screen is a grid seconds, still in the bottom of the case, therefore, can accommodate an optional fan 140 or 120 millimeters. Pity that the two air vents are not equipped with dust filters, especially as it is at ground level that are likely to find more.

In addition to the classic places for the input / output of the motherboard, for daughter boards and the fan, there is a 8th PCI slot which is handy to put brackets not taking place and does not connect ports on the motherboard like the one we use with our food and Gigabyte to handle the parameters of the block. If you use many maps daughters, a SLI or Crossfire, that little attention will not let you indifferent bracket for connecting a USB extension or eSata.

**WaGoN** · 22-05-2009

Cooling and noise for Cooler Master HAF 922

We can say that Cooler Master spoils us with two 200 mm fans and one 120 mm. They are as follows:

200 millimeters at the front: 700 rpm
200 millimeters at the top: 700 rpm
120 millimeters at the rear: 1200 rpm

All these fans have a 3-pin connector, but are delivered with an adapter to plug a power connector 4-pin. Note also that the fan front red LED lights that can be turned off via a button at the top of the housing.If the cooling you are not satisfied, you have the opportunity to replace the front 200 mm by 120 or 140 mm, 200 mm from the top by two 120 mm or add one or two 200 mm 120 mm in the left side panel a one or 140 or 120 mm in the bottom of the case.

Processor and motherboard: the failure to use the fan above has a direct influence on the cooling of the processor and the motherboard. Indeed, temperatures are lower when 200mm at the top of the case is active. Even acting alone, it is sufficient to evacuate more than adequately heat and even as well as when combined with 120 mm rear.

Graphics: configuration ventilation has little influence on the temperature of GPU, which will regulate the fan according to the dissipation. However, we can say that the ventilation is sufficient to prevent the GPU from rising too high in temperature.

Hard Drives: in any case, hard drives are mounted to unacceptable values. We note that the 120 mm fan mount is the only Raptor to values close to 50 degrees. The use of 200 mm above only a little lower the temperatures of the disks, but the ideal remains, of course, make the 200 mm front.

**WaGoN** · 22-05-2009

Conclusion for Cooler Master HAF 922

The HAF 922 case is the height of the HAF 932? The answer is obvious: yes. And this is not unexpected given the middle boxes and high-end Cooler Master exited through the last few years. Apart from the Cosmos S as we described, to the chagrin of many, winning is winning on the Taiwanese firm. The Cosmos is a success story which continues to sell very well, the HAF 932 is the best-selling brand and the ATCS 840 is impressive in its design, its classicism and its quality of manufacture. Like any great product there is going to be short comings. The HAF 922 really didn't have too many of these at all. Still the lack of a Firewire and more USB ports on the Front I/O Panel was disappointing. Also the lack of being able to use a triple 120mm fan radiator like the HAF 932 was a disappointment as well. Still given a case of this size it is very understandable.

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