Corsair demonstrates that not all great cases need to cost
Normally when I get a case to review, it‘s for someone else. By that I mean they're often for someone who likes lime-green neon, neo-classical architecture or the aesthetics of bulldozers.
Personally, I like simplicity and understated elegance, along with a good dose of practicality.
And shocking as it might seem, that makes the new Corsair Carbide 100R case almost perfect for me - and hopefully a number of people reading this magazine.
The case comes in two variants: a clear side-panel model with a dorsal vent and the 'Silent Edition' review model that has no window but does have sound absorbing on the sides and roof.
Unexpectedly the windowed version actually costs about £8 less, because soundproofing costs more than plastic, I guess.
As a mid-tower design, this case isn't built to take massive amounts of equipment, but conversely you could build a very powerful rig in it due to a number of interesting design choices.
The one that I immediately identified was that by offering only two 5.25" external drive bays and four 3.572.5" combo hard drive mounts, Corsair managed to leave a decent path clear in the centre of the case.
At the front end of this channel, Corsair mounted a 120mm fan, directing air onto the motherboard where the x16 slots are most likely to be positioned. That gap also allows you to mount a very big video card (414mm) without fouling any of the internal structures.
Additional cooling comes from another pre-installed 120mm fan at the rear, and you can mount a second one ahead of the drive bays at the bottom, and both the front mounted fans can be uprated to 140mm.
The only problem I can see in this layout is that it isn't appropriate for using a closed water cooling solution, like the new Corsair H110i GT, though the windowed model's dorsal vents are.
The fans are connected to a simple three-speed controller that can be adjusted from the outside, but the placement of this on the rear of the case doesn't make it that accessible for those who place their case under a desk or out of sight.
The placement of the front USB 3.0 ports is good, as is the floor filter, which is exactly where the PSU will suck air in.
Overall, for the money, this is an excellent case that feels like it should cost at least another £25 more. The sound proof material not only reduces the resonant vibrations in the system but also makes the case feel more substantial.
This is so nice that I'm seriously considering switching it for my Lian Li PC-A05FNB, the adhesive feet of which fell off in a recent move.
If you want to build a powerful system and don't want planning permission or your own Blackpool illuminations, then this could well be the case for you. Mark Pickavance
Great understated case for all but the very largest systems.