No love for the Corsair Carbide 540? (Cube case)

Superlevure · 28 Feb 2016 at 11:26

Hi all,

I've been looking for a case shorter than 50 cm and able to fit one (or two) 980ti, and still retain enough space for an optical drive (rarely used, true).

I had almost given up when I found out about the Carbide 540. It's not that wide, and would fit everything I need. I don't see much love for that format though, is there anything I'm missing that I should know?

(Plan: 6700k, Corsair WC AIO, 980ti, Evga 650W)

Thanks for reading

Rroff · 28 Feb 2016 at 11:32

Its been out awhile so most of anything about it has been said and done (there is atleast 2 big threads on these forums about it somewhere) - pretty decent case with 1-2 very minor issues.

Relentless81 · 28 Feb 2016 at 11:38

I have one, its over 2 years old now but I've kept it because of how good it is at cooling and will probably put my next build into it

No problems with it either apart from the HDD caddies are made of cheese

As above there is a huge 540 thread somewhere with loads of builds in

Rroff · 28 Feb 2016 at 11:54

Surprised Corsair haven't done an update yet - while there is nothing game breaking about stuff like the HDD and front panel mountings, etc. definitely some room for improvement there. I'll be definitely using one for my next build so a new revision would have been nice heh.

(I'm using one for my current 4820K build).

Relentless81 · 28 Feb 2016 at 15:46

Yeah I would be very interested in a revised model if one ever shows

Superlevure · 28 Feb 2016 at 19:12

Thanks for your help, I've looked at some of the threads about this case and it really looks good.

I think I'll go for one - too bad the revised model isn't here yet.

C64 · 29 Feb 2016 at 18:40

I think other cases can achieve the same air cooling temperature results but with less noise leakage, depends how much fan noise tolerance is okay with a person though.
i know having a case with that whole open top and front plastic grille might be too open and noisy for some.
The Thermaltake Core X9 is what I'd get if I wanted a cube case for around the same price it uses a horizontal motherboard design.
Even though it also has many openings too which will leak noise.

flowrider99 · 29 Feb 2016 at 20:38

Superlevure said:
Hi all,

I've been looking for a case shorter than 50 cm and able to fit one (or two) 980ti, and still retain enough space for an optical drive (rarely used, true).

I had almost given up when I found out about the Carbide 540. It's not that wide, and would fit everything I need. I don't see much love for that format though, is there anything I'm missing that I should know?

(Plan: 6700k, Corsair WC AIO, 980ti, Evga 650W)

Thanks for reading

There are quite a few cases that fit your requirements. 50cm isnt that short and most cases still have space for internal dvd drives.

Greybeard · 1 Mar 2016 at 21:59

Relentless81 said:
I have one, its over 2 years old now but I've kept it because of how good it is at cooling and will probably put my next build into it

No problems with it either apart from the HDD caddies are made of cheese

As above there is a huge 540 thread somewhere with loads of builds in

Not sure if there's a 540 thread here, but there's a big one over at OCN. And yes, we are well aware of its flaws, thanks to you guys and the PC enthusiast communities for pointing those out. We'll get those sorted out in the future

Superlevure said:
Thanks for your help, I've looked at some of the threads about this case and it really looks good.

I think I'll go for one - too bad the revised model isn't here yet.

My favorite Corsair case to date, you wont regret it. Easy to build in, tons of space for your hardware.

We have some plans already on the next version, I just don't know when it'll materialize... hopefully soon

Superlevure · 2 Mar 2016 at 06:06

flowrider99 said:
There are quite a few cases that fit your requirements. 50cm isnt that short and most cases still have space for internal dvd drives.

Would they fit a long GPU though? I was so frustrated about that with my current case... especially since the way is obstructed by an empty HD cage!

I went for the 540 anyway. Coming from a 12 year old Antec Sonata, I don't think I'll be disappointed!

Maybe the noise will annoy me? I went for a Noctua 12s and I have a MSI 970 gtx with its double fan stock cooler. I might need to put on the headphones more.

Relentless81 · 2 Mar 2016 at 07:08

The standard fans are very loud but good at shifting air, you'll need a fan controller at the very least if you are sensitive to noise

Mine eventually all got replaced with Be Quiet fans as the standard fans started rattling after 6 months or so

Swifty55 · 2 Mar 2016 at 14:53

Relentless81 said:
The standard fans are very loud but good at shifting air, you'll need a fan controller at the very least if you are sensitive to noise

Mine eventually all got replaced with Be Quiet fans as the standard fans started rattling after 6 months or so

Just got my 540 today, the stock fans are indeed loud - even at 50% speeds.

Which fans would you recommend?

[HB]Rugrat · 2 Mar 2016 at 20:45

Been using one for about six months after disappointing temperatures with an NZXT h440 and loving it - not only for the improved temps but I think it looks awesome too, esp since I fitted an nzxt hue+. Best case I've had so far.

Superlevure · 3 Mar 2016 at 06:16

I received mine and it's 1 cm too high to fit into my mobile shelf unit

I'm now looking to either replace the case or the shelf... dilemma.

Anyone knows where I could find something like that: (don't want to put it straight on the floor)

[/url][/IMG]

Anyone know that trolley thing is even called?

Swifty55 · 3 Mar 2016 at 16:28

Superlevure said:
I received mine and it's 1 cm too high to fit into my mobile shelf unit

I'm now looking to either replace the case or the shelf... dilemma.

Anyone knows where I could find something like that: (don't want to put it straight on the floor)

[/url][/IMG]

Anyone know that trolley thing is even called?

Fleabay, search 'PC desktop CPU Stand Holder computer tower case cart adjustable of width Black'.

Maybe something like that?

Superlevure · 4 Mar 2016 at 06:11

Swifty55 said:
Fleabay, search 'PC desktop CPU Stand Holder computer tower case cart adjustable of width Black'.

Maybe something like that?

Something like that

I'll probably build / modify something when I'm fed up of having the case at eye level (and ear level).

Superlevure · 4 Mar 2016 at 06:12

Relentless81 said:
The standard fans are very loud but good at shifting air, you'll need a fan controller at the very least if you are sensitive to noise

Mine eventually all got replaced with Be Quiet fans as the standard fans started rattling after 6 months or so

Aren't Noctua fans super quiet? Not cheap, though.

C64 · 4 Mar 2016 at 15:31

Set the fans to 7v in bios if you run them off the mobo or get / make downvolted cables

Superlevure · 6 Mar 2016 at 08:45

I decided to keep the case, even though it's a little big. I've got a noctua 12s inside, the whole thing is not loud, but it's true that the case fans are definitely not silent.

Am I right to be surprised? I couldn't find a case speaker in there! No beep for boot or anything?! (is that the thing with modern cases?)

[HB]Rugrat · 6 Mar 2016 at 08:59

Superlevure said:
I decided to keep the case, even though it's a little big. I've got a noctua 12s inside, the whole thing is not loud, but it's true that the case fans are definitely not silent.

Am I right to be surprised? I couldn't find a case speaker in there! No beep for boot or anything?! (is that the thing with modern cases?)

It's been a long time since I saw a case with beepy speaker built in - you mostly get tiny little speakers with a 2-3cm cable that goes onto the motherboard header.

Get yourself a fan controller to stop the fans running at max rpm (unless they need to obviously). I just got myself an nzxt grid+ for my carbide and it's much quieter.