| Corsair Carbide 400R Computer Case |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Cases | |
| Written by David Ramsey | |
| Wednesday, 14 September 2011 | |
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Corsair Carbide Final ThoughtsI was very impressed with the Corsair Carbide 400R case. Aside from a couple of minor quibbles, it's features-competitive with cases that cost significantly more, and there's little indication of the cost-cutting measures I've seen in other cases to reach a certain price point. The 400R is able to keep all my high-end components adequately cooled running stress tests (the side panel fans help with the GTX580s), and aside from the SATA port clearance problem with the motherboard (which I again note is not Corsair's fault, since the case isn't designed for the size of motherboard I used), everything fit easily. Corsair's grommeted cable holes and "bulged" side panels make cable management a breeze. I've never understood why so many other case manufacturers design cases with such minimal clearance behind the motherboard tray, as though they were unaware of the thickness of a standard ATX power cable. Add in things like a completely tool-free design, removable drive caddies, and eight card slots, and you've got an exceptional case for the money. Actually, you don't really even have to make the "for the money" argument: it's an exceptional case, period.
The only thing that bugs me about this case is the weird fan screw issue. I keep hoping I've overlooked something obvious, but I'm unable to figure out any way to use the provided fan screws to actually mount fans. Other than that, the only thing I'd wish for is the ability to mount a 3.5" device in one of the 5.25" bays, but even I admit that there are very few 3.5" bay devices out there these days. Corsair CC9011011-WW ConclusionAlthough we strive for objectivity here at Benchmark Reviews, please remember that each author perceives these points differently, and our conclusions and recommendations will necessarily differ from others. Also, prices can fluctuate and designs change after publication, so that the product we review might not have the same price and specifications of a product that's available later. Please do not base any purchase solely on our conclusion, as it represents our product rating specifically for the product tested, which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary of each of the areas that we rate. The performance of the case was excellent. The extra fan mounts make it possible to house a very hot, high-end system in this case...provided you can come up with a way to mount them. Appearance is probably the weakest point of this case. It's certainly not ugly, but it's not very striking, either. This case's beauty is internal, and it's not something you'll notice when it's sitting on a desk. The lit front fans provide some measure of visual interest, but this is definitely a function-over-form thing. The construction of the case is top-notch. All the parts and panels fit perfectly, and all metal edges inside the case are rolled over. Having features like a front panel that snaps completely off without any trailing wires shows that someone at Corsair put a little thought into it. The only issue here was apparently a slightly-too-tall rubber power supply support, which caused a problem in fitting the power supply. Functionality is this case's strong point. Eight card slots, fully tool-less interior, six drive caddies, excellent cable management, lots of fan mounts...really, you'd have to think pretty hard to justify spending more money than this on a case. I guess the best way to describe the Corsair Carbide 400R is a phrase I've used a few times before: inexpensive, but not cheap. It's fascinating to watch companies start to seriously compete in the low end case market. As I said at the start of this review, it's easy to build a great case that sells for $250 or more, but considerably harder to build a great case that sells in the $100 range. But Corsair's done it. For $99.99 at Newegg, the Carbide 400R rates an exceptional value. Pros:
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Comments
Concerning the fan screw issue, let me know the thread pitch and I'll round you up some nuts and washers; in lieu of having the proper guages, contact me, send me a sample if available, and I'll fix you up.
just wondering..
thanks
This sentence may be missing a word.
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This case is a good deal as I see it. It looks to have a whole lot of functionality and that's where I think that it's beauty lies. I'm going to buy one of these and build my next system with it. Thanks for your review.
At least that's what I see now, and I haven't edited anything...
I go back and forth on the utility of filters on computer cases: they catch some dust, as I see on the cases I use that have them, but most cases are hardly hermetically sealed, and a lot of dust gets in anyway. Also, I made allowances for the $100 price point. In the end the design and utility of the case won me over.
The simple fact is that this is a $100 case and you get what you pay for. Want more filters? Buy a more expensive case, or purchase some after market filters (there are tons of them out there).
As for fan mounting, did anyone try the fan screws that come with fans? Are the heads too small or something? Couldn't use a washer?
For the reviewer, you could still clean up the cabling a bit more.
This case will hold any hardware you throw at it and keep it all cool at a very quite level. You simply can't beat this case at $100. Even if it cost $150, it would still be the best case out there!