Chassis tour - part three - and first impressions
Up top, we see the second of the two 200mm fans, the system's three buttons - front fan LED on/off, power and reset - and power and HDD LEDs. As with the HAF 932, there's room to stow peripherals connected to the front I/O.
Inside, there's no removable motherboard tray but Cooler Master does its best to simplify installation. There's a decent amount of room to work with, and the HAF 922's motherboard standoff holes are labelled for mATX or ATX motherboards.
Both 5.25in and 3.5in drive bays utilise a tool-less design, but the same can't be said for the HAF 922's expansion slots. The latter, however, is a matter of personal preference. From the tool-free expansion slots we've used elsewhere, we've come away thinking that we prefer good ol' screws in that particular area.
The chassis' two large diameter fans can't be missed and should, in theory, provide high airflow without excessive noise.
The motherboard tray itself features a trio of cutouts - the largest is to aid installation/removal of CPU coolers, and the smaller two are in place to assist with cable management. Seems a decent enough layout, and there's a good amount of room to work with - as well as room for full-length graphics cards.
In the bundle, Cooler Master provides a user manual, a bunch of cable ties, the usual assortment of screws and rails to allow for a 3.5in drive to be installed in the bottom-most 5.25in bay.
First impressions
Cooler Master's HAF 922 doesn't reinvent the chassis, and it brings little new to the market. But then, perhaps it doesn't intend too. Given its features and implementation, the chassis should provide decent cooling, and it should be easy to work with, too.
Top that off with good lucks - albeit an acquired taste - and solid build quality, and the HAF 922 looks a worthy contender. At £90, however, buyers should be aware that the larger HAF 932 can be had for just another £10. Should the HAF 922 drop to £80 or less, we reckon it'd demand consideration.
