A Closer Look - Outside

Out of the box, the Corsair 7000D Airflow looks essentially like a larger version of the 5000D Airflow. That said, there are a few subtle differences with the I/O placement outside of the steel frame in the ceiling resulting in the loss of vertical symmetry with the front-panel air-vent design. You will still find a few yellow accents inside and out, just like we have seen in other enclosures of this line.


Looking at the front, you can see the air-vented panel and two side-intake gaps—a familiar sight. Look closely, however, and you will notice that the top edge of the front panel has a larger solid patch than the bottom. This is because the top I/O of the case is now part of the front panel area, so Corsair had to give it room and is blocking that plastic from view. In the rear, the chassis looks similar to the 5000D Airflow but with more of everything: more space above the fan, larger fans, and more expansion slots.


The glass side panel of the Corsair 7000D Airflow is one of the cleanest around, but it is still tinted just a tad too heavily for my taste. That said, it may be just fine for you. On the opposite side is a solid metal panel with an air vent right where the side fan/radiator mounting position is placed.


The air intake of the front is essentially a metal plate that may be taken off, revealing a uniquely shaped, plastic frame that forms a flat air funnel. In the center, a very fine, easily removable dust filter protects the intake area from dirt and grime, all while allowing for easy access and cleaning. The Corsair 7000D Airflow ships with two 140 mm intake fans in front, but can house a total of three such units or four 120 mm fans here. Naturally, you may also go with up to a 420 or massive 480 mm radiator instead.


Taking a closer look at the rear, the bottom PSU bay is underneath a shroud and comes with two sets of mounting holes. Above that are the 8+3 expansion slots, so even thick GPUs can be mounted vertically with an optional ribbon cable. Each of these is protected by a removable, reusable cover that is held in place by a thumb screw. In the very top is another 140 mm fan, this time set to push hot air out the back. This brings the total number of fans within the Corsair 7000D Airflow to three, which is not really pushing the envelope of what other brands offer these days with up to seven fans at sub-$100 price points, especially considering its name. Above it, you can clearly see plenty of room for an elaborate, thick liquid-cooling setup in the ceiling that will not interfere with your motherboard.


The top of the Corsair 7000D Airflow is designed similarly to the front: It comes with a metal cover that may be popped off to reveal a magnetic dust filter on top of an array of mounting holes for three 120 or 140 mm fans. Naturally, once again, a 360 or 420 mm radiator will fit here instead. The I/O consists of a square power button with a white LED, four yellow USB 3.0 ports, a USB 3.2 Type-C connector, audio combo plug, and square reset button. This panel resides on top of the body on the 5000D series, but to give you more room for air or liquid cooling with the 7000D in the ceiling, Corsair moved the I/O panel to the front panel area of the chassis.


Underneath the case, a dust filter protects the PSU from dirt and grime—it may be pulled out to the side for easy cleaning. Tipping the case on its side, you can see the four lines to which the two HDD cages are attached. As they are all equidistant, you may place one at the center and still have room for thick liquid cooling and a long PSU, thus retaining three out of the six possible storage bays.