Corsair Carbide Air 540 ATX Cube Chassis Review

This chassis has really impressed me and while it’s not perfect, it really is nice to see something different on the market that features some genuine innovations and plenty of high quality features.

So let’s get started on the few uncertainties that I have about this chassis, the first minor issue I noticed isn’t actually a problem if you plan your build, but noise could be a big issue for this case. When your factoring in massive amounts of airflow into a case you’re giving rise to air coming into the chassis but noise also escaping the chassis. This is easily avoidable by using high quality components, radiators, low RPM setups etc, but if your after a silent build this chassis likely isn’t where you’ll start shopping anyway.

The next issue is the PSU mounting, given that there is a grill section on the right side panel to allow airflow to the PSU that would conflict should you place your system next to a wall (much like I do). This is of course off set by extra ventilation on the chassis and it’s more an advisory than a warning.

I really am clutching at straws there of course as this case is nothing short of stunning in every other department. The build quality is superb and while there is a heavy use of plastics on the outer panels it is nicely made, has a really nice touch and appearance and the matt finish is ironically pretty stealthy compared to the “in your face” side panel and double width chassis.

Corsair has included three high quality AF140L fans into this chassis, which are specifically designed to deliver high airflow in open environments and this will have a big impact on improving overall cooling performance, it’s nice to see high quality and high performance fans being integrated into the chassis and it certainly adds extra value for money given that the Corsair designed AF140 (retail model) would set you back around £15 each.

The two compartment design is seriously cool and while it does bring many practical benefits such as a cavernous area for cable management and hidden HDD bays, I really don’t care, what I really care about is how clean the front section of the chassis looks and having radiators, graphics cards and a motherboard, with nothing bulky blocking the view, it’s a real treat for the eyes and something I’m sure will prove popular with system builders, case modders and those who love to show off their systems.

Corsair has brought many exciting cases to market with their Carbide series and the Air 540 is easily my favourite of the range. If you’re looking for something a little out of the norm, has extensive cooling capabilities and you’ve got a desk space to accommodate it, then the Corsair Air 540 is a great choice for your system.

Pros

• Unique style
• High quality finish
• Impressive cooling capabilities
• High component compatability

Cons

• Maybe a little expensive for some
• Takes up a lot of desk space
• Left side panel is a little fragile

eTeknix says: “I can see this chassis proving popular with those who like to show off their rigs, there is a lot of space inside the 540 for customisation and certainly a lot of room for water cooling. This is a great case now, but has the potential to be ever better if you have the time and money to invest in it.”