Cooler Master Shows Off New Enclosures
Cooler Master Shows off its new N-Series of cases and a new Silencio Case.
Cooler Master is showing off a new lineup of enclosures at CeBIT, the N-Series. The new N200 chassis will have space for just mini-ITX or micro-ATX motherboards, while the N300 through N600 will have space for ATX motherboards. The even numbered chassis look distinctly different from the odd numbered models, which may lead to some confusion in the naming scheme.
Regarding cooling the N200 will feature space for a single 240 mm radiator, and the N400 and N600 will feature space for two 240 mm radiators. They won't ship with any fans, as they are intended to be water cooled. The uneven numbered chassis, the N300 and N500, will feature space for up to two 240 mm radiators. The N300 will only ship with an intake fan, and the N500 will ship with an intake fan and an exhaust fan.
Going up the scale, the N200 will feature one optical drive bay and three 3.5" drive bays, the N400 will feature two optical drive bays and seven 3.5" drive bays, and the N600 will feature three optical drive bays and seven 3.5" drive bays. The N300 will have room for two optical drives and two hard drives and the N500 will accommodate three optical drives along with three hard drives.
N-Series chassis aside, Cooler Master was also showing off its new Silencio 352 enclosure. It has space for mini-ITX and micro-ATX motherboards, has just one optical bay and space for three hard drives. The side panels have dampening material on them, and the unit ships with two 120 mm fans, an exhaust and intake fan.
USB 2.0 ports and audio jacks are standard kit, while USB 3.0 ports come with either one on the N200 and N300, and two on all the remaining models.
Pricing for the N200 and N300 will be €40, the N400 will cost €50, the N500 will cost €60, the N600 €70, and the Silencio 352 €55. No word on availability.

Any more so many of these mainstream cases just look alike... OR, just look ridiculous. I guess maybe there's just so much you CAN do. I do miss the vertical cases (very few left, cases that rotated the motherboard 90deg clockwise to have the cards vertical for better heat removal). That was a clever idea. Never really saw it done quite perfectly though.
Guess I'm just waiting for something different (while not being ridiculous).
So far nobody has made such a case
The 5.25" is a near necessity, either for the majority who still use a disc drive for something, or those who have devices to stick in there (fan controller, SD memory card readers, water cooling reservoir/pump). I don't know about the reset button. Personally I don't know many who use it for much. Most people seem to just shut the system off and turn back on if they have to. And, you didn't mention the front panel audio or eSata...
I do think you're on to something, though. It would be nice to have a case with some sort of well done modular front panel, so you can take out the stuff you do't want and keep the stuff you do.
It's even MORE hideous!!!
jk