Inside and Conclusion
This content was originally featured on Amdmb.com and has been converted to PC Perspective’s website. Some color changes and flaws may appear.
You may have noticed there is no removable motherboard tray – no big deal for most builders. The steel case pieces have rolled edges and are pop riveted together. I found very few sharp edges and corners – very nice for an entry-level steel case.
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Wiring harnesses come pre-assembled onto all switches, lights, speaker and front panel ports. The wires are plenty long to reach where they need to go. Each is terminated with a clearly labeled connector. Instead of providing mini-phone plugs on the Mic in and Headphone out leads (that could be plugged into most sound cards), Cooler Master terminated each wire with a connector designed for motherboard header pins (?). I would prefer shielded cables with plugs that could be passed thru a spare PCI slot and plugged into the rear sound jacks.
Conclusions
In my opinion, Cooler Master has done a great job and accomplished their goal of bringing a good looking but affordable new enclosure to market. Even though the majority of the case is steel, it is not overly heavy. The stylish aluminum front bezel is the only thing most users will see once the computer is set in place and put to use. When fully assembled the Centurion case is satisfactorily rigid and I didn’t notice any loose fitting panels or vibrations. My only real complaint is with the stamped case fan openings. These will need to be removed (or opened up) to allow for better airflow and case cooling.
The new Cooler Master Centurion offers an excellent balance between style, function and cost. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a stylish but affordable case for one time builds (friends, parents, relatives, etc). The Centurion CAC-T01 may be just what you are looking for. If you are a true enthusiast who is constantly in and out of your case or needs a little extra room for a water-cooling system, then maybe one of the Centurion’s big brothers might better suit your needs.
A big thanks to our friends at Cooler Master for allowing us to be one of the first sites to review this new case! Check out the new Centurion CAC-T01 at your favorite Cooler Master reseller.
