Computex 2016 - Day 3

Computex 2016 - Cooler Master

Last year's Computex was when Cooler Master debuted its 'Make It Yours' campaign; a new ethos that would filter through to every product category and bring with it flexibility and user choice through component modularity. This year's year Computex continued the theme – Make It Yours is definitely coming more into fruition now.


The company is now readying a number of new lines in its MasterCase series to join the MasterCase 5. From what we could gather, the smaller MasterCase 3 family is likely to hit shelves first, followed by the larger MasterCase 7 series. As with the 5, Cooler Master will release different editions of these cases to target different end user requirements and price points. The core chassis stays the same each time, allowing users to upgrade from one model to the next by purchasing the requisite modular components, or mixing and matching as required so as to make it theirs. The modularity of these newer families is being increased too, to the point that with the MasterCase 7 it will be possible to strip it down to what is effectively the case's outline.


Also due, this time closer to the end of the year, are evenly numbered MasterCase families e.g. MasterCase 4 or MasterCase 6. In the naming scheme, an even number denotes a case designed more for low noise and clean looks than performance, though Cooler Master did show us a neat system that allows you to open up the front and roof panels a little for extra airflow without spoiling the looks. The company is also planning special T-editions of certain lines, e.g. the MasterCase 5T. The T stands for Turbo and refers to the case having a more aggressive design than usual – the 5T we saw was red and black rather than all black, for example, though we're told it will be more than just a colour change.


The entire concept of Make It Yours, especially with the cases, relies on there being a decent selection of modular parts readily available for a decent price. Cooler Master is well aware of this, and has a number of newer parts (e.g. different styles of side panel) ready for shipping. It also mentioned that it's looking into providing certain upgrade bundles and moving to a more localised distribution method to save users constantly having to pay shipping costs for every single part – currently every bit is purchased from the Cooler Master store and shipped from The Netherlands.


Cooler Master had a whole range of cooling hardware on show too, including a trio of fans (one for airflow, one for static pressure, one for a balance of the two) as well as new air and AIO coolers. The recently released MasterAir Maker 8, for example, allows users to design and 3D print their own top covers based on publicly available plans. The new AIO coolers, meanwhile, utilise a new pump system that separates the mechanical parts from the area that actually gets hot.


Also shown were the new MasterWatt PSUs. The top-end one, the MasterWatt Maker, was the most exciting as it's fully digital and can be controlled and monitored via an app. There was also a special version of it known as the Made In Japan edition since every single component inside is sourced from Japan, not just the capacitors – it's even assembled there.


The Maker Spirit, as Cooler Master calls it, was also present in some mice with changeable top and side sections and customisable keyboards, with Cooler Master saying that the release of the MasterKeys SDK will allow even further tuning of the onboard RGB lights.