Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P V2 review

The NR200P V2 is an 18.25-litre Mini-ITX case. It measures 360 × 185 × 274 mm excluding protrusions and 372 × 185 × 292 mm including them. It takes Mini-ITX boards only, up to 170 × 180 mm.

The headline number is graphics card room. Cooler Master lists a maximum length of 356 mm and a maximum height of 160 mm. Its US page and store list 357 mm, a 1 mm discrepancy. Either way, this is a small case for a build with a large GPU.

The case ships with one 120 mm PWM SickleFlow fan at the bottom, running from 650 to 1,800 rpm. The top takes two 120 mm or 140 mm fans, or a 240 mm or 280 mm liquid cooler. The floor takes two 120 mm fans. With a single fan included, fuller cooling means adding fans or a radiator.

The side panel matters a lot. The exterior materials include mesh, tempered glass and steel. KitGuru's V2 review found the glass or mesh side panel is the single biggest factor for graphics card temperature, and says glass chokes airflow to the card. A buyer who wants cooler GPU temperatures should favour the mesh option.

Owner feedback on temperatures is positive overall. One owner worried about heat in such a small volume but says the case does the job. Another is happy with airflow after adding two fans.

Noise is a complaint in both reviewer and owner feedback. KitGuru reports that the fans ramp to 100% under load and that the glass panel can lead to excessive fan noise. An LDLC owner of the original NR200P found the fan spins at 100% when launching applications. An LDLC owner also says the case is noisy without tempered glass.

Buyers who care about quiet should take note of the reported fan behaviour at full load, and of the link between the panel choice and noise.

All external panels are secured with pins, so they come off without tools. The GPU panel is also removable. One reviewer found the V2 simple to dismantle, with plenty of access. KitGuru calls the build quality excellent. A Hardware BBQ review of the original NR200P says the chassis is built like a tank.

There are two caveats. An owner of the original model reports a mild rattle from the mounting system, mainly the top mesh cover. Another owner says mounting components takes research and sometimes ingenuity.

The box includes a riser cable and a GPU holder. Both are useful additions in a case built around a long graphics card.

Drive support is modest but workable. There is one 3.5-inch bay, one 2.5/3.5-inch combo bay and one 2.5-inch bay. Removing the bottom fan adds a second 3.5-inch bay and a second 2.5-inch bay. Since that fan is the only one included, extra storage on the floor costs you airflow unless you fit fans elsewhere. There are no 5.25-inch bays.

The case rewards a builder who wants a small footprint and is willing to plan around it. The 280 mm radiator support and 356 mm GPU limit give room for a powerful build. The single included fan, the reported fan noise and the panel-dependent GPU temperatures all point to some extra work. Choose the panel carefully and expect to add fans.