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Cooler Master HAF 500 vs Fractal Design Terra: Comparison
What is the difference between Cooler Master HAF 500 and Fractal Design Terra?
Start with cpu cooler clearance, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Cooler Master HAF 500 175 mm against Fractal Design Terra 65 mm, 63% in favour of Cooler Master HAF 500. Included fans runs the same way, 3 on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus 2 on the Fractal Design Terra, another win for Cooler Master HAF 500. Gpu clearance runs the same way, 400 mm on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus 326 mm on the Fractal Design Terra, another win for Cooler Master HAF 500.
Who each one is for
The Cooler Master HAF 500 is the one to take for high-wattage airflow builds and E-ATX boards in a mid-tower footprint, though it is not built for noise-sensitive environments and showcase RGB builds without extra fans. Buy the Fractal Design Terra for desk-visible SFF builds and living room or studio PCs, though it is the wrong buy for tall air-cooler builds and E-ATX or ATX motherboards. Our rating of the Cooler Master HAF 500 (8/10): A strong airflow mid-tower for people who like the HAF 700's looks but not its size. Our rating of the Fractal Design Terra (8/10): the best-looking SFF case on a desk, with real thermal tradeoffs to match its layout.
Cooler Master HAF 500 vs Fractal Design Terra price
Cost splits them too. Cooler Master HAF 500 sits at $140, Fractal Design Terra at $210, 50% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Cooler Master HAF 500 and Fractal Design Terra differ on radiator support?
Yes. Radiator Support reads Front up to 360mm, top up to 360mm on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus Top up to 240mm on the Fractal Design Terra.
Is the Front USB-C the same on the Cooler Master HAF 500 and Fractal Design Terra?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Cooler Master
- Fractal Design Terra
- Fractal Design
Motherboard Support
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX
- Fractal Design Terra
- Mini-ITX
Case Type
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Mid-Tower
- Fractal Design Terra
- SFF / Mini-ITX
Model
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- HAF 500
- Fractal Design Terra
- Terra
Panel Type
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Polygonal mesh front, tempered glass side
- Fractal Design Terra
- Anodized aluminum side panels, tempered glass top window
GPU Clearance
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 400 mmBest
- Fractal Design Terra
- 326 mm-18%
Typical Price
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 140 USD
- Fractal Design Terra
- 210 USD
CPU Cooler Clearance
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 175 mmBest
- Fractal Design Terra
- 65 mm-63%
Included Fans
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 3Best
- Fractal Design Terra
- 2-33%
Radiator Support
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Front up to 360mm, top up to 360mm
- Fractal Design Terra
- Top up to 240mm
Front USB-C
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Yes
- Fractal Design Terra
- Yes
Dimensions
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 494 x 231 x 468mm
- Fractal Design Terra
- 382 x 210 x 226mm
Which one should you pick?
Choose Cooler Master HAF 500 if you want the higher GPU clearance (400 mm vs 326 mm), the higher CPU cooler clearance (175 mm vs 65 mm) and the higher included fans (3 vs 2).
Choose Fractal Design Terra if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Cooler Master HAF 500 | Fractal Design Terra |
|---|---|---|
| Cooler Master Store | $140.00 View on Cooler Master Store | |
| Fractal Design Store | $210.00 View on Fractal Design Store |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Cooler Master HAF 500
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A strong airflow mid-tower for people who like the HAF 700's looks but not its size.
Fractal Design Terra
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The best-looking SFF case on a desk, with real thermal tradeoffs to match its layout.