A Closer Look - Inside

Simply remove two thumbscrews holding each panel in place to access the interior. The interior does look similar to that of the 300R at first glance, but is actually quite different. While both cases come out of the same factory, the 450D does come with a different internal configuration, which also results in a much more potent feature set. Turning the chassis around, the motherboard tray comes with a large opening behind the CPU area and numerous grommet-covered holes that aid in cable management.


There are 25 mm between the motherboard and the side panel, which should be considered the bare minimum for a good cable-routing and managing experience while assembling a system. Luckily, numerous hooks in the tray aid in pinning cables down properly, so you should do quite alright by putting in some effort and using additional zip ties. The back of the motherboard tray also holds two tool-less SSD slots. These are similar to the ones we have seen in the Carbide Air 540 chassis, so we know they work well.


Turning our focus to the front of the chassis, the Obsidian 450D only comes with three 3.5" hard-drive trays. While this may turn some potential buyers off, Corsair does offer an additional cage as an optional accessory. While it will set you back by around 10 USD, getting a hold of one at your local retailer may not be as easy as buying the chassis. You can also move the included HDD cage from the bottom to the top, or remove it completely. Doing so clears the way for a water-cooling setup in the front of the chassis. You will find the two 5.25" drive bays in the very top of the chassis – each comes equipped with a tension-based locking mechanism out of plastic.


The PSU bay is in the bottom of the rear. As it comes with two sets of mounting holes, you may install the power supply with the fan facing up- or downward. Above that are the standard number of expansion slots for an ATX board. Corsair has done well by placing individual covers and thumbscrews on each of these. You will also find another 120 mm fan of the AL series at the very top, which brings the total number of cooling units to three – a good number for a chassis of this size. The fact that these are actual units also sold in retail lessens the financial blow considerably as the case does clock in at an MSRP of 120 US dollars.


You should also be able to install a dual radiator on the floor by removing the socket holding the hard-drive bay in place; that is, as long as you do not require more room for a long PSU. As mentioned in the beginning, the ceiling can also hold a dual or triple radiator, although which depends on whether you go with 140 mm or 120 mm fans. Even installing a radiator and fan combo should allow you to use both 5.25" slots.


Sleeved to fit the 450D's overall look, all cables within the chassis are of the standard variety. A USB 3.0 to 2.0 adapter for the utmost flexibility when it comes to connecting the front I/O would have been nice, though.