Cooler Master’s new MasterBox CM695 lands in Japan with a full-size 5.25‑inch front bay at a moment when optical drives are suddenly back in the conversation — a deliberate nod to a market that still values discs, and a reminder that case design can still answer regional needs rather than global trends.
Cooler Master’s MasterBox CM695 is a mid‑tower chassis that purposely restores a feature most mainstream cases abandoned years ago: an accessible 5.25‑inch optical drive bay. Launched in the Japanese market in late October 2025, the CM695 arrives amid a localized resurgence in demand for internal Blu‑ray and DVD drives tied to the Windows 10 end‑of‑support and a wave of system upgrades. The case is offered in two visual variants — a solid‑panel “classic” tower and a tempered‑glass side‑panel model — while retaining modern conveniences such as a top‑mounted USB‑C port capable of 20 Gbps transfer rates and roomy internals that accommodate large GPUs and multiple mechanical drives.
This piece examines what Cooler Master has delivered with the CM695, why Japan is singled out as a launch market, how the case’s legacy design choices intersect with modern requirements, and what this means for builders, retailers, and the broader PC‑components ecosystem. It also evaluates potential risks — from supply fragility in optical components to the practical tradeoffs of reclaiming a 5.25‑inch bay in 2025 PC builds.
The MasterBox CM695 is Cooler Master’s response to that localized demand: a case that markets a tangible benefit (an internal optical drive) rather than a purely aesthetic flourish. The move is strategic — not everyone needs a 5.25‑inch bay, but in markets where disc usage persists, an integrated option reduces compromise and second‑device clutter.
For manufacturers of optical drives and blank media, the spike in demand is an opportunity to reappraise regional demand signals but not necessarily a trigger for mass re‑investment. The economics of large‑scale BD‑R production remain constrained by global shrinkage in disc consumption outside specialty markets.
That said, this is a market nuance rather than a universal trend. The optical‑drive momentum is concentrated, supply remains fragile, and buyers should plan for additional purchases (the drive itself and quality blank media) to realize the bay’s value. For system builders, retailers, and case designers, the CM695 offers a straightforward lesson: thoughtful feature reintroductions, when aligned to specific customer needs, can create lasting product value even in a market that largely moved on from those features years ago.
Source: Tom's Hardware Cooler Master's new PC case with 5.25-inch drive bay launches in Japan as optical drive boom hits due to Windows 10 upgrade cycle — MasterBox CM695 is unabashedly towering and addresses the country's reluctance to ditch physical media
Cooler Master’s MasterBox CM695 is a mid‑tower chassis that purposely restores a feature most mainstream cases abandoned years ago: an accessible 5.25‑inch optical drive bay. Launched in the Japanese market in late October 2025, the CM695 arrives amid a localized resurgence in demand for internal Blu‑ray and DVD drives tied to the Windows 10 end‑of‑support and a wave of system upgrades. The case is offered in two visual variants — a solid‑panel “classic” tower and a tempered‑glass side‑panel model — while retaining modern conveniences such as a top‑mounted USB‑C port capable of 20 Gbps transfer rates and roomy internals that accommodate large GPUs and multiple mechanical drives.This piece examines what Cooler Master has delivered with the CM695, why Japan is singled out as a launch market, how the case’s legacy design choices intersect with modern requirements, and what this means for builders, retailers, and the broader PC‑components ecosystem. It also evaluates potential risks — from supply fragility in optical components to the practical tradeoffs of reclaiming a 5.25‑inch bay in 2025 PC builds.
Background: Why a 5.25‑inch bay matters (again)
Japan’s consumer and collector culture has kept optical media relevant long after many Western markets moved on. Boxed anime Blu‑ray collections, collector’s‑edition music and concert discs, and a still‑vigorous market for physical software and archival disks mean that many users in Japan retain sizeable disc libraries. When Microsoft’s official support lifecycle for Windows 10 reached its endpoint, a wave of upgrades to Windows 11 and new machines highlighted a gap: many modern laptops and desktop cases no longer include internal optical bays. That friction created renewed interest in internal optical drives, particularly higher‑performance internal Blu‑ray burners preferred for ripping, archiving, and reliable long‑term disc writing.The MasterBox CM695 is Cooler Master’s response to that localized demand: a case that markets a tangible benefit (an internal optical drive) rather than a purely aesthetic flourish. The move is strategic — not everyone needs a 5.25‑inch bay, but in markets where disc usage persists, an integrated option reduces compromise and second‑device clutter.
Product snapshot: MasterBox CM695 — what it is and what it offers
Key design highlights
- Classic 5.25‑inch open bay: A single full‑height front bay, retained for optical drives or front‑panel devices.
- Flexible storage: Support for multiple drives — up to four 3.5‑inch hard drives and several 2.5‑inch SSD mounts — enabling media‑heavy configurations or entry‑level NAS ambitions.
- Two style variants: A solid‑panel “vintage tower” look and a tempered‑glass side panel variant for showcase builds.
- Modern I/O: Top‑mounted USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type‑C port (20 Gbps), standard USB‑A, audio jacks, and power/reset controls.
- Cooling focus: Mesh front with two pre‑installed 120 mm fans, support for multiple fan/radiator layouts to balance modern thermals with the heritage front bay design.
- Spacious internals: GPU clearance reported near 398 mm and CPU cooler height allowance around 166 mm, allowing contemporary high‑end components.
Physical dimensions and compatibility
The CM695 is a tall, relatively slender mid‑tower. Published dimensions vary slightly between outlets and regional packaging descriptions (a common situation where measurements differ between external chassis dimensions including protrusions and internal usable space). The case supports standard ATX, micro‑ATX, and mini‑ITX motherboards and accepts full‑length graphics cards and standard ATX PSUs within recommended depth limits.Pricing and package notes
Street prices reported at launch in Japan cluster in the mid‑range for feature‑rich mid‑towers. Price points reported by local retailers are in the low‑to‑mid ¥20,000 range (approximate U.S. equivalent in the $150–$180 band depending on exchange fluctuations). Importantly, the case is shipped with the bay present but without an optical drive, so builders who need a BD‑R or DVD mechanism must supply their own internal drive or use an external USB model.Why Cooler Master chose this moment and market
Cultural and commercial signals
Japan’s durable appetite for physical media is not a recent invention; it’s part of a long‑standing market reality. What changed in 2025 was a timing alignment: the culmination of Windows 10’s support lifecycle pushed a significant number of users into upgrade cycles. Many consumers taking the upgrade path opted for new hardware that often omits optical drives. Retailers in electronics districts reported rapid sell‑through of internal BD‑R drives and brisk demand for optical hardware. Cooler Master’s Japan launch of CM695 is a pragmatic nod to that environment — a product tailored to a real, observable need rather than a nostalgic reissue aimed purely at sentiment.Strategic product positioning
By offering the CM695 in two visual variants, Cooler Master covers both camps: the retro faithful who want a solid, classic tower and the modernist who insists on showing off components through glass. The inclusion of plentiful HDD bays and strong GPU clearance signals that this case isn’t just a museum piece — it’s intended for day‑to‑day builds that may combine old media with bleeding‑edge components.Technical analysis: tradeoffs, strengths, and limitations
Strengths
- Practicality for disc users: The front 5.25‑inch bay removes the need for an external dongle or second device, which is meaningful for users who frequently rip, author, or archive discs.
- Flexible storage cage: Multiple 3.5‑inch bays make the CM695 an attractive chassis for media hoarders who want local redundancy or high‑capacity storage without resorting to external enclosures.
- Cooling balance: The mesh front panel, preinstalled fans, and support for radiators up to mid‑range sizes preserve thermal efficiency despite reintroducing a front bay. The CM695 avoids the worst of the past’s restrictive airflow designs by combining mesh and open spacing.
- Component compatibility: Nearly 400 mm of GPU clearance and generous CPU cooler height let builders install contemporary high‑end graphics and air coolers without compromise.
Practical limitations and trade‑offs
- Space and aesthetics: Reintroducing a front bay consumes physical front‑panel volume and can constrain front radiator placement or filter implementations in some layouts. Builders who prioritize maximum front‑intake radiator size might find tradeoffs compared with bayless modern cases.
- No drive included: The presence of the bay must be paired with a separate purchase of an optical drive. Given current stock fragility for internal BD‑R drives, that can complicate the buying process and raise total cost.
- Supply and long‑term viability of optical media: While Japan’s market supports optical media now, the global trend toward streaming and digital distribution remains strong. Manufacturers of blank media and optical mechanisms have been consolidating production, so long‑term availability of BD‑R blanks and internal burners may remain volatile.
- Weight and footprint: The CM695 is more traditional and therefore larger/heavier than slim modern cases; users on a strict desk‑space diet or who prioritize extreme compactness won’t find it ideal.
The optical‑drive resurgence: context and hard facts
Multiple on‑the‑ground retailers in Japan’s electronics districts reported visible spikes in internal Blu‑ray and DVD drive demand during the Windows 10‑to‑11 migration period. Staff comments consistently highlight three practical motivations:- Performance and reliability: internal SATA BD‑R drives maintain faster and more consistent burn speeds than typical external USB enclosures, an important factor for users who archive or author discs.
- Preservation of collections: collector’s editions, music Blu‑rays, and anime box sets remain central to media culture; owners want native playback and ripping capability on new systems.
- Upgrade friction: Windows 11 hardware requirements created an upgrade moment where purchasing new machines without optical drives forced a decision about preserving access to physical libraries.
Who this case is for — and who should avoid it
Ideal buyers
- Collectors and archivists: Users with large physical media collections who want built‑in disc access and local archival workflows.
- Hybrid media creators: Video editors, audio engineers, and content creators who occasionally author Blu‑ray/DVD masters and prefer internal drives for sustained throughput.
- DIY builders in Japan and similar markets: Enthusiasts who value the option to install an optical drive without resorting to external devices.
- Budget‑to‑midrange storage builders: People assembling local backup rigs or media servers that can take advantage of multiple 3.5‑inch bays.
Who should skip it
- Minimalists and SFF (small form factor) builders: Those who prioritize compact builds and minimal front‑panel real estate will find better choices among modern bayless cases.
- Stream‑first consumers: Casual users who exclusively stream and use cloud storage will likely never use the bay and should pick a chassis optimized for airflow or aesthetics instead.
- Buyers expecting an included drive: If the goal is a one‑box solution for disc playback, the CM695 requires purchasing an optical drive separately, which may inflate total cost or complicate immediate use where internal drives are scarce.
Installation notes and practical tips
- Choose the right drive interface: Internal optical drives typically use standard SATA connections. Confirm your motherboard has a free SATA port and that your PSU can accommodate the added power draw.
- Plan for airflow: If you intend to install a front radiator, assess how the 5.25‑inch bay affects radiator depth and push/pull fan configurations. The CM695 supports front radiators but may require a tradeoff between radiator thickness and drive placement.
- Consider internal vs external options: If BD‑R stock is scarce or if you need portability, a quality external USB‑C Blu‑ray drive is a valid alternative, though you’ll sacrifice write speed and permanence.
- Use optical archiving best practices: When writing archival discs, use high‑quality media (M‑Disc or reputable BD‑R brands) and verify burns with software to ensure long‑term readability.
- Cable routing: Use the case’s cable channels and rubber grommets to keep SATA and power cables tidy, particularly when stacking multiple mechanical drives which can clutter the middle of the case.
Retail and supply implications
The short‑term effect of the Windows 10 upgrade cycle has been to expose fragility in the supply chain for optical hardware components. Many manufacturers shifted away from optical gear years ago; a sudden surge in demand in a localized market can outpace the slimmed‑down production and stocking levels. For retailers, the CM695 represents a product that can harvest pent‑up demand — but it also exposes the challenge of aligning stock across a sparse accessory ecosystem.For manufacturers of optical drives and blank media, the spike in demand is an opportunity to reappraise regional demand signals but not necessarily a trigger for mass re‑investment. The economics of large‑scale BD‑R production remain constrained by global shrinkage in disc consumption outside specialty markets.
Design lessons for case makers: balancing nostalgia and modernity
The CM695 demonstrates a pragmatic approach for case designers: integrate heritage functionality where regional demand exists while preserving modern compatibilities. Key takeaways for OEM designers include:- Offer modular front‑panel options: Detachable or convertible front bays could let consumers switch between optical drive access and radiator‑optimized panels without buying a whole new chassis.
- Maintain airflow standards: Retro features must not undermine thermal design; mesh fronts, well‑placed intake fans, and filter access remain essential.
- Provide variant models: Offering both classic solid‑paneled and tempered‑glass variants widens appeal across conservative and showcase audiences.
- Communicate clearly about included components: Avoid buyer confusion by stating whether drives or special brackets are included.
Risks and caveats — what to watch for
- Stock and pricing volatility for optical drives: Retailers may report temporary sell‑outs; prospective buyers should expect variability in availability and possible price premiums for BD‑R drives during spikes.
- Misreading the market as a global revival: The data points are regionally concentrated; conflating a Japanese surge with a worldwide optical renaissance would be misleading.
- Obsolescence of the bay itself: If production of optical media and drives continues to decline globally, future case iterations might drop the bay again, limiting long‑term aftermarket serviceability.
- Buyer confusion at POS: Consumers unfamiliar with internal drive installation may underestimate the additional accessories (SATA cable, power harness) and costs needed to make the bay functional.
Alternatives and complementary options
- External USB‑C Blu‑ray drives: Portable, plug‑and‑play, and compatible with laptops and desktops that lack internal bays. These are practical stopgaps where internal drive stock is limited.
- Optical docking bays and adapter brackets: For some builds, 3.5‑inch‑to‑5.25‑inch adapters or bay converters can help integrate drives into non‑standard enclosures.
- NAS or network ripper: For collectors with many discs, dedicating a small server to ripping and serving disc content over the network is a modern alternative that centralizes the workflow and reduces the need for multiple desktop drives.
- USB‑attached optical towers: Higher‑end USB enclosures exist for professional disc archival workflows; they can provide faster sustained throughput than cheap external drives, though at higher price points.
What builders should do next
- If you rely on physical media: prioritize a case with native optical support, or secure a reputable external BD‑R drive and test archival workflows before decommissioning old hardware.
- If you’re buying a MasterBox CM695: budget for the optical drive and high‑quality media; verify local stock and match the drive interface and dimensions to the case bay and internal clearance.
- If you’re a retailer or system integrator: monitor local demand patterns and inventory lead times for internal burners and blanks; consider bundled offerings that pair the case with compatible optical drives when stock permits.
- If you’re a manufacturer: treat regional signals carefully — tailor product SKUs and marketing to markets where physical media still matter rather than assuming a one‑size‑fits‑all global demand model.
Conclusion
Cooler Master’s MasterBox CM695 is more than a nostalgic exercise; it’s a targeted design that answers a real, regional need. By restoring a 5.25‑inch bay in a modern mid‑tower while preserving contemporary cooling and component compatibility, the CM695 bridges past and present for builders who still rely on discs. Its arrival coincides with a visible spike in optical drive demand in Japan driven by Windows 10’s support endpoint and cultural preferences for physical media, making the case timely and relevant in that market.That said, this is a market nuance rather than a universal trend. The optical‑drive momentum is concentrated, supply remains fragile, and buyers should plan for additional purchases (the drive itself and quality blank media) to realize the bay’s value. For system builders, retailers, and case designers, the CM695 offers a straightforward lesson: thoughtful feature reintroductions, when aligned to specific customer needs, can create lasting product value even in a market that largely moved on from those features years ago.
Source: Tom's Hardware Cooler Master's new PC case with 5.25-inch drive bay launches in Japan as optical drive boom hits due to Windows 10 upgrade cycle — MasterBox CM695 is unabashedly towering and addresses the country's reluctance to ditch physical media