By: Hai Wang
March 13, 2026
When Ford Motor Company unveiled the F-150 Lightning, they made a deliberate choice to keep it looking almost identical to the gasoline F-150 that loyal truck owners have trusted for decades. Familiar stance, familiar silhouette, just electrified underneath. Meanwhile, Tesla went in the opposite direction with the Cybertruck, a stainless-steel wedge that looks like it drove straight out of a sci-fi concept sketch. Why the difference? Ford has generations of truck buyers who expect continuity. Tesla, on the other hand, had no truck legacy to protect, so it built something radically new to attract a different kind of customer altogether. That contrast teaches an important lesson in product design: Before you design the product, you must decide who it is for. Do you respect tradition and refine it? Or do you challenge convention and redefine expectations? Which brings us to today’s review unit, the Cooler Master COSMOS ALPHA. It is unmistakably a high-end gaming chassis, but the real question is, who exactly is it designed for? Competitive gamers who just want performance, or meticulous PC builders who treat their system like a mechanical sculpture? Let us read on and find out!
Today’s review unit was shipped from the City of Industry, California, USA to our APH Networks offices here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Although you may see some small dents at the corners of the parcel, everything was relatively acceptable on the shipping box itself. There was no need to be nervous about the safety of the tempered glass window panel after over a thousand miles of transportation thanks to FedEx Ground. The box was really big and heavy, which I felt pretty excited about, as it is sure to be full of goodies.
Usually, a well-designed retail package can help a product stand out among hundreds of others on a store shelf. However, computer cases are somewhat different. In many retail environments, stores either display the case itself on the shelf or showcase fully built systems using the chassis. Personally, I would never buy a computer case simply because the box looks appealing. The retail package of the Cooler Master COSMOS ALPHA, which also serves as the shipping box, comes in a large corrugated cardboard carton. Rather than printing elaborate graphics directly on the box, Cooler Master attaches a large colored label to the front. This label features a picture of the case on a blue background, showing the chassis with its ARGB LED lighting strips illuminated. The company name Cooler Master and its well-known slogan, "Make It Yours", appear prominently near the top. The COSMOS ALPHA model name is also printed clearly on the blue label, and just beneath the image, the phrase "Truly Make It Yours" highlights the chassis’ emphasis on customization. Overall, the retail box of the COSMOS ALPHA looks quite respectable. While I do not think a computer case necessarily needs an elaborate retail package, the blue label certainly helps it stand out among the sea of plain brown shipping cartons typically seen in warehouses or retail backrooms. For those interested in additional details, the sides of the package also include printed specifications and product information.
Before we do anything else, let use quick look at the specifications of the full tower from their official website:
Product Name: COSMOS ALPHA
Series: COSMOS Series
Color(s): Black / Silver
Model Number: C700-KGNN-S00
Materials - Exterior: SGCC / Plastic
Materials - Side Panel (Left / Right): Tempered Glass / Metal
Dimensions (L x W x H): 669 x 330 x 639 mm (Incl. Protrusions), 579 x 260 x 582 mm (Excl. Protrusions)
Volume: 88 L (no panel / protrusions / feet)
Volume: 140 L (with panel / protrusions / feet)
Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX / Micro-ATX / ATX / E-ATX / EEB
Power Supply Support: ATX
PCI Expansion Slots: 8
Drive bay support - 5.25" Drive Bays: 0
Drive bay support - 2.5" / 3.5" Drive Bays (or SSD): 2 or 2 (CPU Cooler under 165 mm)
Preinstalled Drive Bays - 5.25" Drive Bay: 0
Preinstalled Drive Bays - 2.5" / 3.5" Drive Bays (or SSD): 2 or 2 (CPU Cooler under 165 mm)
I/O Panel - USB Ports: 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 5G, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C 20G
I/O Panel - Audio In / Out: 1x 3.5mm Headset Jack (Audio+Mic)
Preinstalled Fan (Fan dim./ Fan speed/ LED color/ Fan Connector ) - Front: 2x 200x38 mm (Non-ARGB)
Preinstalled Fan (Fan dim./ Fan speed/ LED color/ Fan Connector ) - Rear: 1x Mobius 120x25 mm (Non-ARGB)
Fan Support - Front: 3x 120mm / 3x 140mm / 2x 200mm
Fan Support - Top: 3x 120mm / 2x 140mm / 2x 180mm / 2x 200mm
Fan Support - Rear: 3x 120mm
Fan Support - Bottom: 3x 120mm / 2x 140mm / 2x 180mm / 2x 200mm
Fan Support - Side Mount: 3x 120mm / 3x 140mm / 2x 180mm / 2x 200mm
Radiator Support - Top: 120 / 140 / 240 / 280 / 360 mm (maximum thickness clearance 93mm)
Radiator Support - Bottom: 120 / 140 / 240 / 280 / 360 mm (maximum thickness clearance 93mm)
Radiator Support - Side Mount: 120 / 140 / 240 / 280 / 360 / 420 / 3x360 mm (maximum thickness clearance 80mm)
Dust Filters: Yes, Removable Filters
Clearances - CPU Cooler: 186 mm
Clearances - Power Supply: 240 mm
Clearances - Graphics Card: 400 mm
Cable Routing - Behind Motherboard Tray: 53 mm
Included Accessories: VGA card holder
Included Accessories: Decorative cover
Included Accessories: Right side cable cover
Warranty: 2 years
Size: Full Tower
Because the Cooler Master COSMOS ALPHA is such a large and heavy chassis, Cooler Master has implemented a slightly different unpacking method compared to typical mid-tower cases. Instructions on how to properly open the package are printed on the top of the box. Once the outer carton is lifted away, the case itself can be seen wrapped in a large protective plastic bag. This bag helps prevent scratches and other surface damage during transportation. In addition to the plastic wrapping, two thick foam brackets are used to secure the chassis inside the box. The case is supported at the corners by these foam pieces so that the main body of the chassis never directly touches the cardboard packaging. This approach helps absorb shocks during shipping and reduces the chance of damage to the case.
Also included in the package is a small user manual to assist with installation. While building a computer is certainly not rocket science, and most experienced builders may never need to open the manual, it can still be helpful for newcomers to the hobby. All accessories, such as screws, mounting hardware, and zip ties, are neatly organized in a compact plastic container featuring the Cooler Master logo, making it easy to keep everything together during the build process.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
