Cooler Master is revamping their MasterCase 500 line with updated models. It still retains the FreeForm modularity function internally, but improves some aspects of the design. In fact, it inherits some of the features from the more recent H500 series. Furthermore, Cooler Master has also lowered the price to be much more competitive. The revised MasterMaker 5 and MasterMaker 5t models are now called the MasterCase MC500M and MC500Mt. The MasterCase 5 and the MasterCase Pro 5 are also now called the MC500M and MC500P.
The main difference betwen the MC500M and the MC500Mt is that the “Mt” version has the handle at the top. It also has a red trim colour around the front IO and on the handle. Plus, it has dual tempered-glass side panels, whereas the MC500M uses a steel side panel for the right side.
Both cases however, now have an RGB LED partition separating the main chamber from the PSU chamber. On the MasterCase Maker 5t, the LED was only a single red LED color and came as a magnetic strip bonus. This RGB LED partition plate also comes with an RGB control Board for color-cycling, static or motherboard control mode options. Furthermore, Cooler Master has finally updated the front IO to have a USB Type-C port.
The cable management area is also much more organized now in the latest revision. This is inherited from Cooler Master’s higher-end H500 and C700P case. A metal cover completely obscures any unsigtly extra cables behind the drive tray area. This is great considering there is dual-tempered side-panels on the MC500Mt.
Both cases come with a pair of 140mm and one 140mm fan pre-installed. In terms of clearance, the maximum video card length support is 296mm with 3.5″ HDD cage and 412mm without. Maximum CPU cooler height clearance is 190mm. Both cases also have two 5.25″ external drive bays, 4x 3.5″/2.5″ combo drive tray and one 2.5″ SSD mounting plate.
The non-“maker” cases MC500 and MC500P are also compatible with the FreeForm modular system. However, they do not have the front magnetic covers that the MC500M and MC500Mt do. Instead, the MC500P has an optional non-mesh front that is included out of the box.Both lack the USB 3.1 in the front IO. However, they have two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports available.
Both cases come with a 140mm fan at the front and another 140mm fan at the rear exhaust. The two cases also come with a tempered-glass left side panel, and a steel right side panel. The M500P has an additional magnetic cover for the top section as well.
The MC500 is the most affordable of the group, so it has the least amount of drive mounting options in the group. It has room for two 5.25″ drives, two SSD drives and two 3.5″/2.5″ combo drive trays. The MC500P on the other hand has two more 3.5″/2.5″ combo drive trays.
Despite having more features, Cooler Master has lowered the price for the revised MasterMaker 5 cases by as much as $50 USD. The MasterCase M500Mt has an MSRP of $199, while the MasterCase Maker M500M has an MSRP of $169.
The MasterCase M500 starts at just $89, while the MasterCase M500P costs $129 USD. All will be available worldwide by March 6, 2018.
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