Cooler Master HAF II 500 review

I first spotted the HAF II 500 at Cooler Master's HQ in Taiwan. It wasn't the case that first caught my eye then, it was the massive fan on a stand in front of it. A spinning goliath measuring a mighty 220 mm, of which there are not one, but two stuffed in the front of the HAF II 500.

If you want more airflow over your core components—you got it. The HAF II is more wind tunnel than computer chassis. Those large fans drive an immense amount of airflow over the motherboard, GPU, VRM and anything else caught in their backdraft. It reminds me of the Havn BF 360 in many ways—another PC case that focuses on airflow, albeit with 180 mm fans—right down to the scoop in the front to keep cool air flowing towards the graphics card. They're similarly wide, too.

The HAF II 500 is not just a big beast. …