Conclusion:

The Cooler Master Cosmos II is definitely a case for those who won't settle for the run-of-the-mill. It is an extremely well thought out case that combines great convenience features with appealing aesthetics, and low noise/high performance cooling. Assembling a system in this case is a breeze, and in the end I have to agree with Cooler Master's assessment that it was "inspired by luxurious supercars".



Just about every aspect of the case will leave a positive impression on the user. From the slick styling to the convenient tool-less installation features, the design has clearly been well developed. Even typically trivial things are impressive on the Cosmos II. For example, the double walled side panels that open and close with ease - or come completely off without tools. Or there is the motherboard tray with its massive cut out for aftermarket cooler installations, and all of the cable management 'grommets' intended to keep the case looking neat and organized. And of course there is the extremely low noise operation that still allows the five pre-installed fans to keep the system cool, even when set to the highest speed setting.

On the downside, I was surprised that there weren't at least one or two mounting locations for 2.5" drives. These have become standard on enthusiast level cases in order for users to install SSDs, and with space for thirteen 3.5" drives in the Cosmos II, it seems that they surely could have made room for a couple 2.5" units. My other issue with the case may be related to a complete fluke, but it deserves mentioning. The top door that is supposed to slide over the power button and fan controls was damaged in transit. While it may never happen to anyone else, seeing how the door is supposed to be attached has me thinking that a more robust design is in order.

Pricing is still a bit uncertain for the Cosmos II, but estimates indicate it may be somewhere approaching $350 (US). While it is definitely a high end case, worthy of a premium price tag, that number is sure to induce a fair share of sticker shock among shoppers!

In the end, all of the features and special touches in the Cooler Master Cosmos II case make it worthy of Bigbruin.com's top honor, the "Highly Recommended" award. In addition, I was surprised by just how quiet it was during operation, so it also earns the "Whisper Quiet" award.



Pros:

» High quality design and craftsmanship
» Extremely quiet while still providing ample air flow
» Plenty of front I/O connections plus an integrated fan controller
» Space for up to ten case fans
» Well done motherboard area with large cut out for heatsink access and cable management
» Storage king - includes tool-less bays for thirteen 3.5" hard drives

Cons:

» A whopping thirteen 3.5" drive bays, but zero 2.5" drive bays
» Top door was damaged in transit, which may be a fluke, but it doesn't look like a robust design

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