Cooler Master MasterBox MB500 TUF Gaming Edition
Benchmarks Results & Conclusion
For the purposes of comparison, the FSP CMT510 and CMT520, Micronics Master M400, and NZXT 500i make up our comparison group. The cases used for comparison are of similar sizes and feature sets, and all have one (or more) tempered-glass side panels.
The temperatures on our budget quad-core Core i5-7500 processor, running at 3.8GHz, peaked at 39° C over the ambient temperature of 25° C under full load. These results are on par with the FSP CMT510 and the Micronics Master M400, and slightly higher than Cougar's Panzer G chassis. GPU temperatures were impressive as well, leveling off at 49° over the ambient temperature. These results are better than the FSP CMT510 and matched to those of the CMT520. To say thermal performance is impressive would be an understatement.
Considering the fact that this is a chassis with metal-mesh covering the two 120mm intake fans, acoustics were surprisingly good at idle, registering just 33.5dBA. Once the system was under load, the sound level jumped to 36.2dBA. These results put the MB500 TUF smack in the middle of the pack.
We determine acoustic efficiency, also referred to as "cooling-to-noise ratio," by averaging all five of our tests to determine a base value.
Let's face it, you are either going to love Asus' TUF Gaming digital military camouflage styling, or hate it. Thankfully, those who fall into the latter category, you can opt for the vanilla MasterBox MB500 and shave ten bucks off this case's already reasonably $80 price. Those who love the styling will no doubt want to pick up other TUF Gaming Alliance components for an aesthetically cohesive system build.
Overall, ASUS’ TUF Gaming Alliance is a boon for cash-strapped consumers who lack the time, tools and / or skills needed to otherwise build a durable and reliable system with a truly custom look. With these parts, if you can assemble your own system, you'll get an aesthetically consistent PC that easily stands out from big-box crowd, and also has more visual flair than most systems built with off-the-shelf parts.
Top-notch thermal performance, ASUS’ TUF Gaming Alliance styling, and reasonable pricing make this chassis a must have for gaming enthusiasts searching for a chassis with a custom look.
Cooler Master MasterBox MB500 TUF Gaming Edition: Style & Value
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