Cooler Master HAF XM Review - PAGE 3

Since most of the hardware is installed via tool brackets, there are actually very few accessories included with the case. What you do get is a set of hard drive installation brackets, various screws, motherboard standoffs, zip-ties, a buzzer and an installation guide. While this might not seem like much, there is still more than enough to help set up virtually any high-end system for starters.

While the exterior of the HAF XM is similar to cases previously released in the series, there are some differences such as a larger back-plate retention hole. First off, the HAF XM has ample internal volume which allows it to support motherboards up to E-ATX motherboards, graphics cards up to 13 inches in length, nine internal hard drives, and up to three dual slot graphics cards. Additionally, the HAF XM features four large grommet covered cable management holes that allow cables to be routed behind the motherboard tray. There is a maximum of 36mm of free space between the tray and side panel, so even larger cables should be easily accommodated.

Since the HAF XM is a mid-tower, it is dramatically smaller than the HAF X and measures just 20.7” (H) x 9.3” (W) x 21.5” (D). The case is still larger than some mid-sized towers on the market, but this just means it will accommodate almost any high-end piece of hardware while remaining smaller than full-sized behemoth cases.

The external 5.25" drive bays are located in the usual spot and in total, the HAF XM supports up to three external drives. Each drive has its own independent cover with an integrated dust filter that is removed via two clips on the side. Once the cover is removed, a 5.25" drive can be secured into the bay by sliding the drive in through the front of the case. When the drive is in the proper location, you can secure it into place by flipping the switch on the mechanism to the locked position.

When it comes to internal hard drives, the HAF XM uses a bracket system for installation. The brackets use a combination design that fits both 3.5" hard drives and 2.5" SSDs. This means the case can either support a total of up to eight HDDs or SSDs without modification. Traditional hard drives are secured to the bracket using four locking clips on the sides of the bracket, but SSDs still need to be secured manually with screws.

Once the hard drives are secured to the bracket, they can either be placed internally in the case or in one of the hot-swap bays. Of course the internal and hot-swap bays each use a different bracket, but installing the drive to the bracket is essentially the same.

The HAF XM has ample internal volume for a mid-sized chassis, so installing our hardware was a breeze. As you can see from the first image below, the HAF XM easily fit all of our hardware with ease, even the AMD Radeon HD 6970. Since the HAF XM borrows its cable management system from the HAF X, routing the cables proved very easy, leaving a very clean case.

With everything installed, the last thing to do is turn the system on to get a look at the LEDs. As you can see, the lighting from the LED fan is red and not all the bright. We prefer this over an LED that will light the room, but if LEDs aren't your thing there is a button at the top of the case to turn it off.