Cooler Master MasterBox Lite 3
A mini-mid-tower.
The second case from Cooler Master is much larger than the first, adopting the traditional rectangular style of a standard tower, yet only half the size, measuring 40.6 x 18 x 37.9cm. There’s room inside for either a mini-ITX or micro-ATX motherboard, expanding the possibilities when customising your build.
To our surprise, this case comes with an optical drive cage on the front, whereas most of today’s cases have done away with these. You don’t have to use it, though, as it can be configured to handle one mechanical or two solid-state drives. If you do use this for Blu-ray drive, though, the range of storage options are quite limited, to just a single 3.5-inch and single 2.5-inch drive; that’s less than the Elite 110, which is much smaller.
Four expansion slots adorn the rear, perfect for a micro-ATX board, while a single 120mm fan comes pre-installed at the front of the case. You can yank this out and replace it with a 240mm radiator if you prefer. A full-sized ATX PSU squeezes into the top rear of the case, and there’s plenty of space for a full sized graphics card up to 34.5cm in length. The left side of the case is a Perspex window, allowing you to show off your hard-earned hardware.
At a mere $55, this is one of the cheaper micro-ATX cases on the market, which is probably why there aren’t that many features to speak of. Still, it’s decent value for the price.
Verdict
Aimed at the budget end of the market, the surprising lack of storage options is its only downfall.