Put that boring, black PC case to one side, because itβs time to grab the Cooler Master Shark X PC case instead. After the recent launch of its top-end $7,000 gaming PC, built to resemble a shark, Cooler Master is now releasing the Shark X case as a standalone for gamers to use in their own builds, as long as the enormous price tag isnβt a problem.
Jimmy Sha, Cooler Master CEO, describes the Shark X case as βa masterpiece of technology and artβ and, given the distinctive design, he isnβt wrong. Even the best PC cases like the NZXT H7 Flow RGB conform to a typical rectangular box shape, and there are very few of the best gaming PCs you can buy right now that break from that mould, either.
If you missed the Cooler Master Shark X PC the first time around, then itβs worth a look, as itβs a feast for the eyes. It measures 31.1 x 35.75 x 35.2 inches (79 x 90.8 x 89.4 cm), supports a mini-ITX motherboard, and has a black and white color scheme, supported by RGB lighting in the base, fins, head, and tail sections. Thereβs room for an AIO liquid cooler, as well as a full-size graphics card like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 that the original Shark X PC includes.
This isnβt the first time Cooler Master has experimented with a wacky design for a gaming PC, with both its Sneaker X and Sneaker X PC cases standing out. Now, just like with the Shark X, Cooler Master has recently offered up the Sneaker X case as a standalone option.
Selling these cases individually could help the company to offset what was likely a very expensive design and manufacturing process, but itβs also great for gamers, who can now grab very unique cases for their own custom builds. The problem with unique art, however, is that itβs expensive, and Cooler Master isnβt holding back on the price. The Cooler Master Shark X PC case is available in Japan in the Yodobashi Akiba store for around 658,000 yen, or around $4,300.
Thatβs less than the $6,999 that Cooler Master charges for the Shark X PC, but itβs still hugely expensive for just a case. Alternatively, you could pick up an entire gaming PC like the MSI MEG Trident X2 14th with an Intel Core i9 14900KF and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and still have $300 left to spare.
The Shark X PC case isnβt yet available internationally, and Cooler Master hasnβt announced anything just yet about a potential global release. That said, the recently-released standalone Sneaker X case is seeing a wider release in several countries, so it seems possible that the Shark X could get the same treatment, assuming it has the stock available.
For me, I like the Cooler Master Shark X as a standalone PC case. Itβs niche, and at $4,300, itβs completely unrealistic for most gamers, including myself, but if the budget really wasnβt a problem and youβre spending thousands on a gaming PC anyway, I can understand why youβd want to go all-out. After all, if you want your gaming PC to really jump out at your friends, you canβt get much better than a PC built to look like a futuristic sea monster.
That said, there are plenty of other PC cases out there for you to consider if youβre thinking through how to build a gaming PC, such as the Fractal Design Torrent. The Torrent isnβt shaped like a shark, but itβs still one of the best looking cases you can buy, and at $190 on Amazon right now via this link, itβs also 96% cheaper.