14 DAY TRIAL // Cooler Master gets its name from all the CPU, video card and case coolers it sells, but it also deals in actual PC enclosures, like the newly released Elite 344 Silver and the K380.
The two cases are different in size, shape and role, but they do have something in common: they are both low-cost products among their peers.
The former is a low-end micro-ATX enclosure, entry-level as it were. Made of SECC and glossy plastic, it has four 3.5-inch drives bays (for HDDs and SSDs), one exposed 3.5-inch bay, two 5.25-inch bays and a front panel with a USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports and HD audio jacks.
A single 120 mm fan is used for air intake, while a rear 80.90mm fan performs the exhaust role. Other spinners can be added on the side panel.
The other case from Cooler Master, K380, is a so-called value gaming chassis, which means it is a higher-end enclosure that still manages not to cost too much.
Clearly larger than the Elite 344 Silver (it is, after all, an ATX mid-tower), it is made of SECC steel and ABS plastic, with an acrylic side-panel window.
Two exposed 3.5-inch bays and five discrete 3.5-inch bays are located within, while the number of exposed 5.25-inch bays is three, not two.
Cooler Master even tossed in a 2.5 to 2.5-inch adapter, for installing small solid-state drives if the situation arises.
Cooling is accomplished by a LED-lit 120 mm front fan and a 120 mm rear exhaust fan.
As for the I/O panel, it is located on the front, near the top, and has one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port and HD audio jacks.
Cooler Master Elite 344 Silver measures 183 x 436 x 356.8 mm (7.20 x 17.1 x 14.04 inches) and can hold graphics cards of up to 360 mm in length (14.17 inches). Its price is $60 / 45.77 Euro.
The K380 is larger, at 209 x 479 x 445 mm (8.22 x 18.85 x 17.51 inches) and should fit even larger adapters. Its price is of $80 / 61.02 Euro.
