cooler master haf xm review

Cooler Master HAF XM Review – A Mid Tower Chassis with Full Tower Features

Every gaming PC deserves a good chassis with lots of features to accommodate the needs of every PC Enthusiasts and PC gamers, and this is where the Cooler Master HAF XM comes in. The Cooler Master HAF XM is the mid tower version of the popular HAF X (full otwer chassis), but despite its category it is built with full tower features. Cooler Master PH was kind enough to send one for review. I used to be a CM 690 and CM 690 II fan, but that ended the moment the HAF XM came. Please continue reading my Cooler Master HAF XM review below.

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cooler master haf xm review

The Cooler Master HAF XM is a mid tower chassis but comes with full tower features. It can support multiple fans in various sizes, from 120mm up to 200mm fans. By the way HAF stands for “High Air Flow“. I’m sure from the name itself you already have an idea about the cooling capabilities of this chassis. Check out the features and specifications below.

Cooler Master HAF XM Features

  • Enthusiast case with the support for four 200mm fans
  • Latch on 90° rotated side panel for easy system access
  • Rich I/O panel with two USB 3.0 super speed ports
  • 8+1 expansion slots for NVIDIA 3-way SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™
  • Supports up to 9 HDDs, including two X-Dock slots and one behind the motherboard tray
  • Sliding PSU cable cover for improved cable management
  • Top compartment with rubber pad for placing personal belongings
  • Mesh on front panel, top cover; vents on side panel and bottom for excellent cooling

Cooler Master HAF XM Specifications

Model: HAF XM RC-922XM-KKN1
Materials: Appearance – Mesh, Synthetics; Case body – Steel
Dimension: 252mm x 530.5mm x 579mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 10.5kg / 23.1 lbs
M/B Type: Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX
5.25″ Drive Bays: 3
3.5″ Drive Bays: 8 (hidden:6, X-Dock:2)
2.5″ Drive Bays: 9 (6 are converted from 3.5″ bays, X-Dock x 2, 1 is behind the M/B tray)
I/O Panel: USB 3.0 x 2 (int.), USB 2.0 x 2, Audio In & Out x 1 (supports HD Audio), LED switch for the front fan
Expansion Slots: 8+1
Cooling System
Front: 200mm red LED fan x 1 (or 120mm fan x 2 / 140mm fan x 1)
Top: 200mm fan x 2 (1 is optional; can be swapped to 120/140mm fan x 2)
Rear: 140mm fan x 1 (or 120mm fan x 1)
Side: 200mm fan x 1 (optional; or 140mm fan x 2)
HDD cage: 120x25mm fan x 2 (optional)
Power Supply Type: Standard ATX PS2 / EPS
Max VGA card length: 354.0 mm (with HDD cage), 463.0 mm (without HDD cage)
Max CPU cooler height: 196.0 mm
Available Color: Full Midnight Black

A Closer Look at the CM HAF XM

The Cooler Master HAF XM that I received is the non windowed version. You won’t be able to see the inside because there’s no window from the side panel, but with the non windowed version you can add 1x 200mm fan or 2x 140mm / 120mm fans on the side panel.

Let’s talk about what’s in front of the HAF XM first. We have a large hexagon shape power button with Red LED. On the left is an On and Off switch for the 200mm fan, which by default is placed in front of the case. On the right is a reset button, and both buttons have LED indicators on top of them. There is also a space where you can place your smartphone, which is actually perfect for an iPhone 5.

There are 3x 5.25-inch drive bays and two X-Dock slots for hot swappable hard drives. But you can also convert these slots to become a regular HDD cage by just removing the PCB of the X Dock located inside the case.

Also in front of the case is the huge air inflow ventilation with a Cooler Master Logo on the middle. In front you can add 120mm fans, 140mm fans or even 200mm fan (default). The side panel features a latch so that you can easily remove the side panel without sliding it, and making it very accessible.

On top you can add 2x 200mm fans, or 2x 140mm fans or even 3x 120mm fans. You can also put either a 240mm radiator or 360mm radiator for water cooling. There are also holes on the upper back of the case for water cooling tubes. You can either install a 140mm exhaust fan (default) or a 120mm fan with a 120mm radiator for the exhaust.

Inside the Cooler Master HAF XM, there’s plenty of space for your components. It can support from ITX up to EATX motherboards. There are 6 drive cages for your hard drives, of which the upper portion of the HDD cage can be remove if you plan to install longer graphics card.

There are also holes for cable management and also a covering right next to the PSU to hide the cables. On the other side of the HAF XM, there is a hidden mounting slot for 1 SSD (Solid State Drive) just beneath the back CPU hole. Just take a look at the pictures above.

HAF XM Review Conclusion

After using the Cooler Master HAF XM for more than a month, there’s no doubt that this is a great case for both PC Enthusiast and PC Gamers alike. It’s even better than other mid tower cases I have tried before. It has the superior cooling capabilities, as well as water cooling capabilities without clogging up the components inside. If you know how to mod case, I bet you can even install up to 3 separate radiators in this case. One on top, one below and one at the rear.

For the price, it’s really a bang for the buck case. You get a mid tower case with full tower features. I just wish Cooler Master included a graphics card bracket or VGA holder, like the one in HAF X. I also wished they add a dedicated fan controller since you can install lots of 120mm fans inside this case. Oh, if there is one thing I do not like about the HAF XM, it’s the dust filter (in the side panel) for the non-windowed version. The holes are a little bit bigger compared to your typical dust filters, thus dusts tend to find there way in through the side panel. I hope Cooler Master would incorporate better, and if possible, removable dust filters specially in their HAF series cases.

See also: Cooler Master CM Scout 2 Advance

Price and Where to Buy

Locally, the Cooler Master HAF XM is priced at around Php 5,450. That’s the cheapest price I could find. In the US, you can get this for as low as $129 USD only. For the latest price and where you can order one online go here.

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Comments

12 responses to “Cooler Master HAF XM Review – A Mid Tower Chassis with Full Tower Features”

  1. Kristoffer Gacutan Avatar
    Kristoffer Gacutan

    May I know where I can buy this HAF XM case (no side window) here, preferably somewhere in Manila. It’s very difficult since the stores that has one only have the side window versions. Thank you.

    1. whatswithjeff Avatar
      whatswithjeff

      Hi Kristoffer
      Have you tried looking at tipidpc? Perhaps there are sellers there who sells the non windowed version.

      1. Kristoffer Gacutan Avatar
        Kristoffer Gacutan

        unfortunately no one is selling at this time at tpc, perhaps you know some people/shops that I can refer to 🙂

        1. whatswithjeff Avatar
          whatswithjeff

          I can’t find a non windowed version in Ph as well. Somebody also asked me where I got the non windowed version before, but I got it directly from cooler master.
          I’ll try to ask cooler master if they knew some stores who sells the non window type.

          By the way, may I ask, why do you prefer the non windowed version?

      2. Kristoffer Gacutan Avatar
        Kristoffer Gacutan

        I want to mount a 200mm fan on the side for more air intake

        1. whatswithjeff Avatar
          whatswithjeff

          I see. Is it for cooling the graphics card?
          I do have a suggestion in case there is really no non windowed version.

          Have the side panel of the windowed version modified.
          Cut a hole and put a mesh. But that means additional cost.

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