Cooler Master's Sneaker X kit combines high-end gaming with street style

Cooler Master's Sneaker X kit combines high-end gaming with street style

Cooler Master's new Sneaker X is an audacious foray into what can only be described as avant-garde PC housing. Based on the famed Sneaker Mod by JMDF, this isn't your run-of-the-mill tower case or sleek chassis. No, Sneaker X takes the form of, you guessed it, a sneaker. But before you dismiss it as mere whimsy, it’s worth diving into the specifics of what makes this new offering far more than just eye candy.

At $1,999, Sneaker X is unmistakably in the high-end market segment. But when you're shelling out two grand, you're not just paying for the novelty factor; Cooler Master has invested in the nuts and bolts to ensure that this doesn’t just become a white elephant in your living room. And speaking of living rooms, Cooler Master envisions this as the pièce de résistance of your creative or gaming station.

But let's dig into what really matters – the specs. Despite its shoe-like visage, the Sneaker X accommodates standard components, ensuring that the inner workings are as flexible as they are in any typical gaming rig. It supports ITX form factor motherboards, SFX PSUs, and even accommodates a 3-slot GPU within its dimensions of 304 x137 x 61mm. Furthermore, the case has been designed to fit a 360mm radiator, and this isn't just any cooling system; it's a uniquely engineered water-cooling rig designed to keep the performance at optimum levels. Here's a brief look at it up-close in the recent Comex 2023 show:-

Here’s where Cooler Master’s experience comes into play. A point of concern in the initial design was the placement of the AIO liquid cooler. Due to the unique architecture of Sneaker X, the AIO unit had to be positioned below the CPU – a problematic scenario since such a placement can lead to bubble formation and potential overheating. Cooler Master resolved this by introducing a drainage system with a built-in reservoir to avoid any bubble-induced throttling issues.

But here’s the thing: the Sneaker X is not for everyone, especially not for the budget-conscious or those who want their PC to blend into the background. But it's an intriguing mix of aesthetic bravado and technical finesse, a statement piece that brings a bold vision to the otherwise staid landscape of PC case designs. While there are valid questions to be raised – how will this design age, or how easy is it to set up and upgrade – the initial impression is one of cautious optimism. If nothing else, Sneaker X serves as a testament to Cooler Master’s willingness to innovate and break the mould, literally and metaphorically.

For those in Singapore, the Sneaker X kit is available now at selected retailers.

For full system builds, Invader PC has you covered here.For the barebones set at S$1,999, get it here from Cooler Master's official Lazadastore.

(Note: The barebones set comes withthe case, an 850W Gold ATX 3.0PSU,andPL360 Flux AIO water cooling kitcustomised for SneakerX.)

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