Corsair announced three new Carbide cases at CES this morning, the SPEC-ALPHA, 400Q and 400C. The SPEC-ALPHA includes feet to allow for airflow under the case and drops 5.25" bays completely, instead allowing you to install fans that will blow directly onto the CPU socket. The front panel includes USB 3.0 ports and a three speed fan controller to allow you to easily adjust your systems acoustics. You can also opt for a 240mm radiator if you prefer watercooling to blowing hot air around. The cases comes in red or black and will be on sale for $79.99 in the near future.
Specifications:
- Bold Exterior Design with front intake LED fans: The asymmetrical, hard-edged design of the SPEC-ALPHA gives it a bold, unique look.
- Direct airflow path to keep CPUs and GPUs running cooler: Modern systems don’t need bulky drive cages obstructing the airflow. By removing the 5.25” drive cage, the SPEC-ALPHA has a direct path from the front intake fan to the CPU and GPU.
- Large side panel window to show off your hardware: Why hide it? All that performance hardware looks great, so why not look at it through the huge side panel window?
- Three included 120mm fans and built-in three-speed fan controller: Watching a movie? Flip the switch for nearly silent operation. Throwing on the headset for some online gaming? Flip it to high and keep the GPU cool for better framerates.
- Cable routing cutouts and tie downs: Nobody wants to see a rat’s nest of cables, so hide them behind the motherboard tray to keep cable routing neat, tidy, and out of the airflow path for better cooling.
- Easy to build: Tool-free drive installation and side panel removal means less time spent building and more time gaming.
- Front 240mm radiator compatibility: Upgrade to the power of liquid cooling for CPUs or GPUs with up to a 240mm Hydro Series cooler.
- Native USB 3.0 and SSD support for modern builds: Whether it’s a new external drive for storage or a new SSD for the user’s preferred OS or games, the SPEC-ALPHA is ready for anything.
Next up are the Carbide Series 400Q and 400C cases with a similar internal design but unique exteriors. They are full ATX cases and have the same Direct Airflow as the SPEC-ALPHA, however as the are larger you also have space to install a 360mm radiator in front, a 240mm radiator on top and a 120mm radiator in the rear. The PSU and drives are installed at the bottom, the cover allows separated airflow as well as helping to give your system a clean look, especially if you take advantage of the included cable management features. They will both retail at $99.99.
The 400Q features a solid side panel with sound dampening materials on all sides to help ensure quiet operation.
The 400C has a large window for those who prefer to show off their components and overall build quality.
Carbide 400C and Carbide 400Q
- Clean, modern lines with an all-steel exterior: Get rid of those plastic cases – the 400C and 400Q have full steel front and top panels for extra durability and stunning looks.
- Compact design, full size capabilities: Despite the 400C and 400Q’s compact dimensions, they can house a full ATX motherboard and multiple GPUs.
- Direct Airflow Path: One way to reduce noise is to make sure fans don’t work harder than they have to. By removing the drive cages behind the intake fans, the 400C and 400Q provide a more efficient direct airflow path to the hottest components, the CPU and GPU.
- Liquid cooling capable: With room for up to a 360mm radiator in front, a 240mm radiator on top, and a 120mm radiator in rear, the 400C and 400Q can mount a wide range of Corsair Hydro-series liquid coolers.
- Two AF series fans: Corsair-exclusive AF120L and AF140L fans efficiently draw ample cool air directly to components without the turbulence that can cause fan hum.
- Easy to Build: Tool-free drive installation, side panel access, and tons of cable routing options and tie downs means less time spent building a PC and more time using it.
- PSU and 3.5” Bay Cover: It’s easy to tidy the inside of the case by placing cables and drives behind two modular, clean, and refined PSU and 3.5” bay covers.
- Easy to Clean: Easily access dust filters on front, top, and bottom mean it’ll never take more than a minute getting dust out of the system.
Carbide 400Q Only
Silenced panels for quiet operation: Sound damping material placed on the front panel, side panels, and top panel reduces component noise.
Carbide 400C Only
Hinged and latched full side-panel window: Components are easily accessible and when closed, every part of the build is visible through the full side-panel window.
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Those 400 series cases look
Those 400 series cases look like Nzxt Source clones, where as the Spec looks tacky cheap case that Thermaltake would bring to market. Sadly Corsair has gone downhill with recent case releases.
Everyone is probably sourcing
Everyone is probably sourcing the base design from the same ODMs
I don’t agree with the
I don’t agree with the “Corsair has gone downhill” sentiment.
Remember, these are two low-end cases in a very crowded price bracket ($80-$100), as part of their Carbide family (no-frills, low-end, cheap, etc).
Corsair makes dozens other cases, of higher quality and better design; especially if you look into their Graphite and Obsidian series for the hotness there.
I have done a lot of PC
I have done a lot of PC builds using Corsair cases and compared to their earlier cases(600D, Obsidian 900, etc..) all of their recent cases(780T, 750D) felt really cheap. Chassis had a lot of flex and panels were quite a lot thinner. These cases felt like they were made by Thermaltake rather than corsair.