Cooler Grasp Qube 500: Two-minute overview

Assembling a PC from scratch is a well-recognized process for a lot of tech fanatics, however the idea of constructing your personal PC case could be novel to some. The Cooler Grasp Qube 500 Flatpack, a brand new entrant within the compact PC case market, brings a novel DIY facet to PC constructing. 

Following within the footsteps of the In Win Airforce, the Qube 500 goals to raise the build-your-own-case idea with an interesting design, versatility, and worth, whereas providing simple to comply with directions through Cooler Grasp’s YouTube channel. Regardless of the place you’re in your PC constructing journey, if you happen to’ve acquired a motherboard and top-of-the-line graphics playing cards that can match on this one, it is best to positively give it a glance because it earns an unqualified place on our greatest PC case checklist.

The Qube 500 arrives flatpacked, which goes to be simply recognizable for anybody who’s put collectively an Ikea desk. The overview unit I assembled, the Macaron version, is a glossy and trendy white base with completely different coloured panels to additional personalize your construct. However, the case can be accessible in a pure white or pure black variations. 

The design integrates detachable faces with mud covers and a helpful top-mounted deal with on both facet, making carrying the case a breeze. The entrance I/O features a USB Sort-C port, two USB Sort-A ports, an influence button with an LED indicator, and a headphone/microphone combo jack, so you may get all of the fundamentals lined with this case.

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The again panel hosts an influence plug, seven-slot expansion-card bracket appropriate for vertical graphics card mounting, with a most size of 365mm for a GPU. 

There’s additionally a pre-installed 120mm exhaust fan, and whereas Cooler Grasp says that becoming a 140mm fan is feasible, I truthfully do not see (and sadly, I did not have a 140mm fan helpful to check that declare with). The remainder of the case helps as much as two 140mm followers on every of the highest, backside, entrance, and facet panels, providing appreciable cooling choices, particularly for the reason that sides themselves are fairly open, permitting for appreciable airflow all through.

The Qube 500’s inside may be very effectively designed, accommodating a 3.5-inch drive on vibration-damping grommets and an extra mounts for each 3.5-inch and a couple of.5-inch drives. The format ensures very environment friendly house utilization, splendid for a compact case, and assembling the PC section-by-section through the YouTube tutorial helps make sure that you are capable of squeeze the whole lot you possibly can into the case.

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The Qube 500’s meeting is easy, due to the included set up information, cable ties, case ft, screws, standoffs, and drive mounting pins, although I am unable to stress sufficient that you simply comply with together with the YouTube meeting information (in addition to the superior meeting information). The inside format is designed for ease of element set up, supporting each full-size ATX12V energy provides. The case’s compactness is noteworthy, although it poses some limitations for entrance fan placement and lengthy graphics playing cards when utilizing a full-ATX energy provide upfront.

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The Cooler Grasp Qube 500 stands out for its build-it-yourself enchantment and the satisfaction of making not simply the PC however its housing. That is truthfully the best mission to work with a youthful sibling or cousin to assist construct their first PC, and it additionally appeals to skilled builders with its budget-friendly value and the novelty of the meeting course of. Whereas the constructing facet might sound superfluous to some, the case’s design, configurability, and value level make this one of many extra compelling PC instances available on the market regardless of its obvious simplicity.

The Qube 500 is a testomony to Cooler Grasp’s modern method to PC case design, providing a novel and pleasurable constructing expertise with out compromising on performance and efficiency. Whether or not you are a DIY fanatic or searching for a budget-friendly, compact case with good efficiency, the Qube 500 is a superb selection that brings a brand new dimension to customized PC constructing.

Cooler Grasp Qube 500: Value & availability

• How a lot does it price? $99.99 (about £80 / AU$140)
• When is it accessible? Out there now
• The place are you able to get it? Out there within the US, UK, and Australia

The Cooler Grasp Qube 500 Flatpack is available in three colour choices, white or black (with an MSRP of $79.99, or £89.99 within the UK and AU$145 in Australia), or the multi-color Macaron package (with an MSRP of $99.99, or £104.99 within the UK and AU$167.50 in Australia).

This does not make it the most cost effective PC case round, nevertheless it’s positively not the costliest both, and contemplating that there actually aren’t an entire lot of instances prefer it, this one is effectively value the additional funding regardless of it missing fancy options like touchscreens or wraparound glass enclosures.

Cooler Grasp Qube 500: Specs

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Do you have to purchase the Cooler Grasp Qube 500 Flatpack?

Purchase the Cooler Grasp Qube 500 Flatpack if…

You need an ideal DIY PC construct mission
Whether or not for your self or serving to somebody get into PC constructing, this case is enjoyable to assemble and appears implausible, particularly with the Macaron colours.

You need nice air flow
The quantity of airflow on this case is implausible due to the pretty open sides.

Do not buy it if…

You want a large case
If you happen to’ve acquired a load of 140mm PC followers with big radiators or huge CPU tower coolers, this case will probably be too small for you.

You need that ol’ time PC gamer aesthetic
If you happen to’re searching for the RGB and stealth bomber aesthetic of a typical gaming PC, you would possibly be capable of get away with that with the all-black case, however in any other case, that is means too pastel for any form of “battlestation” aesthetic.

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First reviewed January 2024