Corsair Carbide Series 500r - Now Available

L

lathode

[H]ard|Gawd
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Sep 23, 2007
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Newegg Link

500r-2.png


I think I may need to go with this one for my new build and use the 400r I already bought for another. I like the aggressive look of this case and the included side fan and fan controller. It also has a removable hard drive cage for extra long video cards. I'll probably go with the H100 mounting at the top exhausting air out. Not sure how well it would work if it was pulling air into the case from the top.

Just noticed the image above from Corsair has slightly different fan controller and LED buttons than Newegg. Not that it really matters, but figured I'd point that out.
 
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I received the case today. I must say it's pretty sweet. The top grill comes off by pushing down the front of it and there appears to be room to mount fans there. So if you wanted you should be able to do push/pull with an H100 etc. I'll post some pics once the system is built, looks like I might have to wait until Monday to get my H100 in from TD.

Any place online to order the Corsair fans that come with the H100? I don't want to mix fans if I go push/pull.
 
Well I was wrong about the push/pull... sorta. So close to fitting, but the RAM slots get in the way on my P67A-UD4. So I mounted the fans on the top, under the filter as intake. Slim 120mm fans would fit for p/p though.
 
Does anybody know when these cases will be reviewed? I am seriously considering this case, but would like to know how the GPU cooling compares to that of the FT02 / RV02. Also interested in the noise levels as well.
 
I've got one of the black 500R's on order at Amazon to compare to my Silverstone FT02. Will have to wait a couple of weeks for them to get stock but it's $34 cheaper than Newegg.
 
Ah gotcha Lathode. Wondering though, how are the noise levels with the H100? I am unsure if it would be the best for me, I prefer a quiet computer. Thinking the H60 is the best noise to cooling ratio out there.

Thoughts?
 
Mysticode said:
Ah gotcha Lathode. Wondering though, how are the noise levels with the H100? I am unsure if it would be the best for me, I prefer a quiet computer. Thinking the H60 is the best noise to cooling ratio out there.

Thoughts?
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It gets loud with the fans set to high, but on low it's not bad. Depending on what you consider quite the 500R may not be the best case for you as there's mesh all over it letting out fan noise. You may also want to look at the HR-02 Macho cooler which is very quiet.
 
Well the mash+fans help with great airflow and overall awesome system cooling, right? Isn't this the age old trade off of cooling vs noise? (not including CPU coolers which is obvious).

If a case if lined with mesh everywhere, it's less sealed up so more sound can leak out.
 
Yes, but you wrote that you prefer a quite computer. So depending on what you consider quite you may not be able to have both. Looking at the H100 review on [H], the H100 is only 1 db louder than the HR-02 Macho, don't know about the H60 though. My 2500k at 4.5GHz stays plenty cool with all the fans in the case plus the H100 set to low so i'm happy with it. Not too loud, at full speed though it gets pretty noisy.
 
White and black exterior, black interior model.
All black exterior, black interior model.

Those are the two current colours.
 
It's going to be smaller, and have better air cooling. What else in specific would you like to know?
 
I love my 400r. I was going to get the 500r, but did not want to wait, and also did not notice that much a difference between the two.

I do wish I waited and got a 650D though.
 
Didn't the 650D come out way before the 400R/500R? Pretty sure it did.

Also the only big difference between the 400R and the 500R is the large side panel fan, instead of the 120/140MM fan spots on the door of the 400R.

As well, in the 500R the hard drive cages come in two separate sections, making them reconfigurable..
Everything else is mainly esthetics, different plastic shapes. There is also a fan controller on the 500R.
 
Can we remove the bottom cage of the 500R ala the CM 690 II? I'd like to try to fit radiator down there.
 
Looks great, I think I'm sold on this for a new build.

The 650D has no character and the 600T from what I hear has cooling issues, not to mention is all plastic.

Can you see any way to mount the H100 in a push setup rather than pull? Possibly mount the rad in the area under the removable mesh and the fans in a push config inside the case? If using 120 fans instead of 140's is there a gap to feed the lines through?

Marc's review only covered push and p/p configs, no idea if running pull only decreases performance.
 
thinking of using slim line 120 mm fans on the h100 with the supplied fans for p/p in this case.... i cant fit regular 120's with my asrock motherboard
 
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I heard something about mixing different fans on the H100 causing turbulence or something.. possibly decreasing performance.

Could be BS though.

I'm 99% sold on this case. I'm just bummed there is no window. I hear the is removable so I could probably fabricate a window out of acrylic.

Does it look like you could adapt a clear window in place of the mesh? Any way to attach it?
 
I heard there are talks by Corsair to sell window panels for this case. Heard it over on another reputable website in a thread for this case :]
 
Mysticode said:
I heard there are talks by Corsair to sell window panels for this case. Heard it over on another reputable website in a thread for this case :]
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I also read that, in the same place.

Let's hope Corsair delivers.

I'm ordering the new box and components as soon as the GEN3 asus boards release.

500R really is a great looking case. A corsair rep also said out of the box it cools better than the 600t.
 
Mysticode said:
What are the Gen3 asus boards you're talking about?
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http://promos.asus.com/US/Z68Gen3/index.htm

Essentially they are identical to the current P8Z28 boards with the exception of PCIE 3.0 slots and the ability to pop in an IB processor without a bios flash. They also have more internal USB 3.0 connections.

All z28 boards will be compatible with IB when it releases but most will need a flash.

While PCIE 3.0 cards are still a ways off it's worth waiting for these Gen3 boards due to the fact that they are releasing with nearly identical prices to the current line of Asus P8Z68 boards.

The [H] review of the P8Z68 pro sold me on the board, I'm just waiting for the Gen3 version.
 
I thought IB was Socket 2011?

Edit: Oh, that's Sandy Bridge-E.... Why the heck is the refresh to Sandy Bridge a whole new socket, while it's successor Ivy Bridge is the same as Sandy Bridge non-E? This makes no sense to me...
 
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I'm curious, is it worth the 30 bucks more on Newegg over the 400R? I'm seriously looking around at the 400R, 500R, Lancool K63, Fractal Arc Midi and others within the price range of 100 to 130/140 bucks. Any suggestions on which is the better one? I do want USB 3.0 for future endeavors, so just saying.

EDIT: Also, if I really want to push my budget, I was also thinking of the 650D.
 
I wouldn't pay the current price from Newegg, they're asking $150 after MIR, I paid $115 after MIR a couple of weeks ago. I personally think it's worth the extra $30.
 
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