Date: September 10th, 2007
Article by: Jackie Mueller (Hardware Reviewer)
Edited by: Nathan Glentworth (Owner / Head Editor)
Product was submitted by: Cooler Master
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PRODUCT PICTORIAL AND WALKTHROUGH
The CM Media 282 doesn't have a flashy look to it, although the black color and clean look will compliment other home theater components nicely. The front has a total of three soft latching doors that hide optical drives, front panel connections, and a floppy drive or internal card reader. There is an LCD panel on the front as well, and later on in the review we'll check that out in more detail.
Hidden behind one of the doors on the front panel are two USB 2.0 ports, a firewire port, microphone and headphone ports, HDD activity light, reset button, and power button. A blue ring of light surrounds the power button when the system is turned on.
The inside of the case is pretty standard with room for three 5.25” drives and five 3.25” drives. Motherboard standoffs for ATX and m-ATX are already in place and can't be removed, which I personally found to be appealing as that's one less thing to install. The hard drive cage comes out by removing two screws and the drives themselves are held in with screws as well. A 120mm fan can be installed behind the front panel and would aid in hard drive cooling.
Since this case can stand vertically or sit horizontally in a more traditional HTPC fashion, there are a couple things different about it. Instead of removing the left side panel to access the inside, the right panel is removed (this panel becomes the top when horizontal). Three screws unfasten it and then it slides out, but I'm curious as to why Coolermaster didn't use thumbscrews as they are much easier to work with and are common to see on most all new cases. An 80, 92, or 120mm fan can be installed on this panel as well, but is not included.
Because the right panel is removed instead of the left, this also reverses the way the motherboard will be installed. The I/O panel on the back is located at the bottom, so when the case is standing vertically the motherboard will be in an upside down position. The expansion card slot covers are attached with screws, although unlike the ones that must be broken off they are easily replaced when a slot isn't being used. One 120mm exhaust fan is included here at the back also.
