Assembly

Installing the mainboard is an easy task. Simply screw it down with the parts provided. As you can see, there is plenty of space for even the largest CPU coolers and graphics cards, while all the cables can be routed through one of the openings in the mainboard tray. Two long graphics cards easily fit here as well, so high-end gaming rigs should not be an issue - but I do suggest giving such a system some room to breath.


Installing a 3.5 inch hard drive is a simple matter of snapping the tray unto it and sliding it into the desired slot. With a 2.5 inch one, you have to remove one metal pin and are then able to screw the drive unto the tray, which can then be pushed into the bay just the same. Alternatively, you may just install such a drive into the center of the tray - a change from previous versions, which only had one set of mounting holes for 2.5 inch drives.


Once ready, just slide the trays back into the case until they snap into place. These hold rather well, so you won't have to worry about the drives during transportation. All connectors face toward the motherboard tray, so that you can nicely route and hide the cables.


Once removing the cover of a drive bay of your choice, simply slide the drive in until the plastic lock snaps into place. We have seen similar locks in the 650D and 600T. While this one is not constructed as elaborate, it does the job just fine as well. You will not need to use any screws under normal circumstances. Last but not least, installing the power supply proved blissfully uneventful. It fits perfectly and is held in place by the four black screws provided.


Once everything is connected, you can see that cable management still works like a charm, even though there are less openings in the Obsidian 550D compared to its more expensive brethren. All the mess is contained behind the mainboard tray.

Finished Looks

Once everything is in place and the side panels have been applied to the chassis, it makes a nice understated impression. You will not know if the system is holding a low power ITX system or a kick-ass gaming rig. Thanks to the multiple levels of sound dampening, the system is also incredibly quiet. With many manufacturers jumping on that bandwagon - NZXT with the H2, Cooler Master with the Silencio series, or Fractal Design with their Define cases, Corsair has managed to throw a behemoth into the fray.