Cooler Master HAF 912 Computer Case Review

One of the great things about a free market are the options. In today's computer market there are options between brands and even within brands. Cooler Master's High Air Flow (HAF) series is one example of products designed to fit a range of different needs. The launch of the HAF 912 helps fill out the offerings from the HAF series of feature rich computer cases. The HAF 912 is a mid-tower offering to satisfy both the fanatic and the frugal. In this article Benchmark Reviews compares model RC-912-KKN1 with the rest of the HAF lineup to see how the 912 compares to it's older brothers. As a budget case it will certainly try to offer as many features as possible, but ultimately it costs less because some sacrifices must be made compared to the top of the line products. Read on to see how the HAF 912 approaches the often precarious balance between performance and cost.

One of the risks of a free market is the choice facing companies on how to design, build and present a line of products. For the HAF series Cooler Master has already released the HAF 932 , HAF 922 and HAF X . The HAF 932 has proven to be a highly successful product with all the necessary features for most enthusiasts. The 922 offered a smaller version of the 932 still fully decked with the necessary features but at a lower price point. Then came the HAF X designed to run anything and everything you could possibly want in your tower. Big motherboard, 4-SLI, USB 3.0, 100 hard drives? No problem for the HAF X. Finally comes the HAF 912 to reach the untapped area of budget computing.

Hitting the sweet spot in budget computing can always be a challenge. This has been especially true with the last few generations of video cards, but is generally true for all products. What features will builders be willing to forgo and what features will make the difference between a success and a flop?

It seems that Cooler Master's approach with the HAF 912 is to offer as much flexibility and affordability as possible. They wanted to provide as many features of the HAF series while keeping the price point as low as possible. Since the HAF series is based on performance cooling I expect to see this core component left untouched. It makes sense to keep the features which are used frequently or non-stop while trimming off the stuff that doesn't provide real benefit or only gets used infrequently. Below is a macro view of what's contained in the HAF 912.

Manufacturer: Cooler Master Ltd., Inc.
Product Name: HAF 912
Model Number: RC-912-KKN1
Price As Tested: $59.99 MSRP

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Cooler Master.

Cooler Master HAF 912 Features

• Rear retaining holes for water cooling
• 7 + 1 expansion slots for increased expandability
• Cable management for better cable routing
• Tool-free for 5.25" device
• Easy access front I/O panel
• Adjustable/Removable 3.5" HDD cage
• Adjustable/Removable 2.5" HDD cage
• Dust filters on bottom and front intakes
• Supports high-end graphics cards (including ATI HD 5970 and NVIDIA GTX 480)
• Supports 2 x 120 mm external radiator

RC-912-KKN1 Specifications

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