The CM Elite 110A is a mini tower case from the Cooler Master brand. It is made of thick steel and equipped with four air vents to ensure proper ventilation and keep the case cool. At first glance, the case resembles a small black square UPS (uninterruptible power supply). The CM Elite 110A is easy to transport and can be placed on or under a desk, making it suitable for various setups.
1. Box, Weight, The completeness
The box is a standard cardboard box with dimensions of approximately 320 x 315 x 270mm. It has a gross weight of around 3kg and a net weight of 2.5kg. It is considered small and easy to lift.
The completeness obtained in the sale of this case includes 3 cable ties and 1 packet of bolts.
2. Case view
The dimensions of the case are 260 x 208 x 280 mm, made of sturdy iron material. It is neither too thick nor too thin.
The front panel of this casing consists of:
- 2 x USB 3.0
- 1 x Mic Jack
- 1 x Headphone Jack
- Power Indikator
- Reset Button
The power button is located on the Cooler Master logo on the front panel.
3. Inside Look
Opening the case is very easy, we just need to unscrew 4 bolts at the back of the case and slide the cover backwards. The interior looks simple with one spacious open compartment. There is a 120mm fan installed in the front section, and there are 2 empty slots for 80mm fans on the left side. On the top, there is an aluminum plate where 2 SSDs can be installed, and there are 2 more on the left side.
This case supports:
- PSU Length 180mm
- VGA length 210mm
- The left side can be installed HDD 3.5 “1 piece
- Water cooling 120mm
The interior of the case is quite full, as can be seen in these photos:
4. Assemble Process
It’s time to try assembling the PC with this case. The initial installation, from mounting the motherboard, fans, CPU fan, to the VGA card, went smoothly without any issues. However, difficulties arose when it came to installing the PSU. The problem lies in managing the cables since the case is small and has limited space, causing the cables to become congested.
There are two locations for SSD installation. The first one is on top, where the SSD/HDD can be screwed onto the plate located above the case. The second location is on the left side, where the SSD/HDD can be attached to the case wall using the provided rubber mounts included in the packet of bolts, making it easier to replace the SSD/HDD.
An SFX type PSU is used. It’s important to note that due to the small size of this case, consideration needs to be given to the size of the PSU and CPU fan. The distance from the motherboard to the ATX PSU is approximately 7.6 cm, while the distance from the motherboard to the SFX PSU is 9 cm. Due to the minimal space between the motherboard and PSU, the options for CPU fan installation are limited.
Once I finished assembling, I realized that this case is very compact. The inconvenience arises when trying to replace components such as RAM or adding a radiator, as the PSU needs to be removed from the back to create space for changing the CPU fan or installing a new radiator.
The specs in this image are:
- Proc : Ryzen 2600
- Board : Biostar B350GTN
- PSU : FSP Dagger Pro 650w SFX
- VGA : Gainward 1650 Super
- Cooler : Wraith Stealth
5. Conclusion
The CM Elite 110A case is a compact case with good airflow and even supports water cooling, although only up to 120mm. The price of the case ranges from around Rp. 612,000 to Rp. 702,000. Despite being compact, this case cannot fit inside a suitcase.
Assembling the case can be challenging due to managing the cables within the small space of the PSU. Placing the case requires consideration of the length of your desk since the case takes up a significant amount of space. In terms of size, it may be somewhat inconvenient, but it can also be seen as an advantage. It works well on top of a desk or underneath it.
One drawback of this case is that when you want to replace parts inside, you need to go through the slight inconvenience of opening the PSU before changing the components.
Hopefully, this article can provide insights for everyone regarding the CM Elite 110A case.
