Obsidian Architecture: Corsair 700D/800D Reviewed

Introduction and Specifications

When we sat down to review Corsair's acclaimed 700D and 800D chassis, we couldn't help reflecting on how much the PC case market has evolved over the last decade. Ten years ago, when we were cutting our teeth on CPUs with code names like Coppermine and Thunderbird, enthusiast enclosures were few and far between. With the exception of Lian-Li, which was building $200+ all-aluminum nerd artwork even back then, the majority of the companies providing cases to the DIY market were busy churning out beige boxes with features that included:
  • Complimentary Band-Aids
  • 1x 80mm 6000 RPM rear fan with an acoustic profile carefully modeled after a Boeing 727
  • The option to install a front-mounted case fan (fan not included)
  • Pre-installed CPU fan shrouds, painstakingly placed to guarantee incompatibility with the motherboard of your choice
  • Face plates that could be removed by hand rather than by specialized screwdriver, and finally,
  • Drive rails
You can still buy these sorts of cases—there are plenty of mainland Chinese bottom-suckers who prefer to glue their chassis together with the shattered dreams of inland migrant workers rather than those expensive pop rivets—but the price range between cheap junk and luxury hotness has exploded with a variety of chassis in the past ten years. In a market that's literally teeming with options from a variety of established manufacturers, how do Corsair's brushed-metal beauties measure up?

 

Corsair Obsidian 700D & 800D Enclosures
Specifications and Features

Model

700D/800D

Type

ATX Full Tower

Color

Black

Material

Aluminum (Faceplate)
Steel (Tower)

Expansion






5 x External 5.25" Drive Bays (Both)

800D:
4 x Hot-swappable Drive Bays
2 x Internal 3.5" Drive Bays

700D:
6 x Internal 3.5" Drive Bays

Front I/O Ports

4 x USB
1 x Audio
1 x eSATA

Cooling

3 x 140mm Fans
4 x 120mm Fans (not included)

Physical Dimensions

24" x 9" x 24" (Length x Width x Height)

Weight

44 lbs

Warranty

3 Years Limited (parts / labor)

Price

700D: $219
800D: $269



Above, we have the 700D and 800D side-by-side. The differences between the two models are minimal; the 800D is ~$50 more and offers four hot-swap hard drive bays and a case window. We've included photos of both cases in our review but unless it involves one of the stated features above, any photo of the 700D is also representative of the 800D. 


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