Cooler Master HAF XB Lan Box and Test Bench Case Review

Installation of Hardware into the HAF XB

I tried to install my computer hardware a couple of different times into the HAF XB, and the way I am installing my hardware in this review I found it to be the easiest. In order for us to install the PSU we need to remove the rear PSU mount, there are four small thumb screws that secures the PSU mount to the chassis.

Slide the PSU mount onto the PSU, like how I have it shown here, and secure the PSU to the PSU mount.

It would be a good idea to make sure all of your PSU cables are plugged in (providing you are using a modular PSU) prior to installing the rest of your computer.

Slide in the PSU in to the proper mounting area and re-secure the PSU mounting to the HAF XB chassis.

I left all of the extra modular power cables off to give you a better look at the position of the PSU once installed into the HAF XB. As we can see that there is enough room from the PSU to the backside of the hot-swappable HDD/SDD carriers. But it will still be a tight fit.

Cooler Master includes a small Philips to motherboard standoff adapter, so that we can screw the standoffs into the motherboard tray easier.

What the motherboard looks like once installed onto the motherboard tray.

This was a bit of concern with me, once I put the motherboard tray into the main chassis of the HAF XB my expansion cards did not go completely down to the PCI expansion ports of the chassis. I tore apart the entire chassis a couple of times to see if I can see what was causing this issue, I could not find anything. The only thing I can think of is that the motherboard tray was slightly bent that could possibly cause this problem.

Time to look at the hot-swappable HDD/SSD carriers. These carriers are tool-less if you plan on using the larger 3.5 HDDs. If you plan on using the smaller 2.5 HDD/SSDs you will have to use the included screws to secure them to the carriers.

To install the 3.5 HDD one side of the carriers slides away.

Locate the small clip in the center of the carrier and push it in and slide out that side of the carrier.

The carrier is now ready for an installation of the larger 3.5 HDDs.

Place the 3.5 HDD into the carrier and align up the HDD to the pins of the HDD carrier.

Then close up the HDD carrier.

If you plan on using the smaller 2.5 HDD/SSDs in the HAF XB we can install them into the internal HDD cage. This will require the removable HDD removable side carriers.

Then slide the 2.5 HDD/SSD into the HDD cage. As we can see installation has been pretty easy so far, other than having to install the PSU first I have not ran into in major obstacles.

Looking at the PSU side of the HAF XB once all of the hardware has been installed. I will have to say this is one clean installation of computer hardware.

I wanted to give you an idea on the amount of room that is available towards the front of the HAF XB. From the edge of the motherboard and the inside front of the chassis we have roughly 3.5 of room; which, is more than enough room to use some of the larger/thicker 240mm radiators available to us.

Getting a better look at the amount of room that we have available in the upper compartment where the motherboard and its supporting hardware. I dont think I have seen this much room in a mid-tower classified chassis. There is plenty of room for us to use just about any sized video card we wish to use.

What the HAF XB looks like once all of the hardware is installed and the chassis has been buttoned up.