Monday, June 3rd 2013

Corsair Carbide Air 540D Makes Both Side Panels Equally Important

Corsair isn't without a contingent of new cases at Computex. A star attraction in its suite is the Carbide Air 540D. Pictured below, this somewhat cubical cases partitions the motherboard tray vertically from compartments that hold the PSU and drives. This partitioning makes sure peripheral/drive power cable doesn't clutter the motherboard tray area. The part with the motherboard tray is more airy than the other, with stripes of perforated metal running the front and top. This portion features provision for two front-facing fans, two on the top (with enough clearance for a 240x120 radiator), two bottom intakes, and a 140 mm rear exhaust.

The case can hold ATX and EATX motherboards, with eight expansion slot bays. The space below the motherboard tray and the bottom of the case, can either be used to expand storage with two 3.5/2.5-inch trays, or a second 280x140 radiator. All cables from the motherboard compartment can be routed through the valved holes to the other part of the case, which holds a long PSU bay, two 5.25-inch drive bays, and a couple of detachable drive cages holding multiple 3.5/2.5-inch bays. Corsair plans to launch the case some time in July.
Source: Hermitage Akihabara
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34 Comments on Corsair Carbide Air 540D Makes Both Side Panels Equally Important

#1
JDG1980
This actually looks like it would work better in a "desktop" orientation. Why else would the external drive bays be rotated 90 degrees?
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#2
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
Sort of looks like that giant case with two motherboard trays. They should have made it full height. :D
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#3
Kaynar
Looks like they stole Parvum Systems case design but just made it a tad uglier with cheap plastic :D
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#4
nickbaldwin86
Very interesting... 350D, midATX.... 900D.... HUGE!!!!! 540D FAT! not sure but doesn't work for me. cant wait to see some builds in this, I am sure someone will buy it
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#5
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
nickbaldwin86Very interesting... 350D, midATX.... 900D.... HUGE!!!!! 540D FAT! not sure but doesn't work for me. cant wait to see some builds in this, I am sure someone will buy it
I would be interested if it was taller (and I had the money).
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#7
TheLaughingMan
ummmmm, no. That is the best I can come up with. Just no.
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#9
Solidstate89
It would be more interesting if you could mount a 280x140 radiator.
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#10
theonedub
habe fidem
@ bta- Corsair's video from Computex says this is a Carbide series case, not an Obsidian (makes more sense given the design of the case)
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#11
lobsterrock
It looks like two cases tried to fuse but failed horribly and created this monstrosity. This might be nice for home servers/ small business for a private cloud or something, but I don't know who in their right mind would use this for a desktop. Of course since this is corsair fanbois will eat this all up(I have nothing against corsair, just against some of their fanbois)
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#12
de.das.dude
Pro Indian Modder
this is daft. could have easily held two full systems. also as noted, plastic looks cheap.
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#13
PopcornMachine
If I ever made a scratch build, this was the idea I had.

One half for motherboard and cooling, 'smaller half' for psu and storage.

Somebody built my case! :D

Wait, somebody stole my idea! :mad:
Posted on Reply
#14
Hood
This could be an awesome case in the $100-120 range, but it probably will list for $170-180. As such it wouldn't be that popular among gamer and power users, who require much larger cases for that kind of money. Corsair certainly needs more variety in their line of cases, but this is a niche product at best.
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#15
theonedub
habe fidem
HoodThis could be an awesome case in the $100-120 range, but it probably will list for $170-180. As such it wouldn't be that popular among gamer and power users, who require much larger cases for that kind of money. Corsair certainly needs more variety in their line of cases, but this is a niche product at best.
I believe the MSRP is $140
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#16
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
I wonder about how many HDD's you can fit there from the start (without Icydocks etc)..
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#17
BiggieShady
I'm thinking about same exact principle only with micro ITX ... and better materials of course.
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#18
The Von Matrices
Thank you Corsair for not making just another tall full ATX case. This is one case I would consider buying. There are a lot of people like me who just can't fit a full height ATX case in their workspace. I'm short and have a low desk so I can't fit anything larger than 22", about the height of a mid ATX case, under the keyboard tray. I currently have to cram my triple crossfire configuration into a (relatively) small case and it's a pain. This would be perfect for me.
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#19
ironwolf
nickbaldwin86Very interesting... 350D, midATX.... 900D.... HUGE!!!!! 540D FAT! not sure but doesn't work for me. cant wait to see some builds in this, I am sure someone will buy it
Fat cases need love too ya know. :pimp:
Posted on Reply
#20
EpicShweetness
PopcornMachineIf I ever made a scratch build, this was the idea I had.

One half for motherboard and cooling, 'smaller half' for psu and storage.

Somebody built my case! :D

Wait, somebody stole my idea! :mad:
Damn straight! I've been imagining a case like this for years. Moving all the "essential" components to a chamber with unobstructed airflow (with out a HDD cage in the way) will make this an air cooling dream.
Now if only they turned the motherboard 90 degrees :rockout:
theonedubI believe the MSRP is $140
:pimp:
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#21
Rowsol
I like the internal layout but the plastic cover looks terrible.
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#22
erocker
*
Replace the slits with mesh and it might look good. I like the idea.
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#23
The Terrible Puddle
Now turn the motherboardtray 90 degrees :) No HDD trays in the main chamber and put fans in the buttom. Make a better external look and put some smart hidden dustfilters in and we have a deal :toast:
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#24
Delta6326
Yuck should have made it so you can fit 2 m-atx builds inside.
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#25
iKhan
I'd like to speak to whoever @ Corsair thought....this was a good idea.
Posted on Reply
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