Corsair 280X Micro-ATX Case with AIO in Mind

FrgMstr

FrgMstr

Just Plain Mean
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Many hardware enthusiasts have been pushing their system footprint into smaller dimensions for a while now as is shown off by this HardForum thread with 14K replies and 2.1M views. Corsair is looking to get in on the game, but has AIO cooling in mind with its new 280X RGB Crystal Series case. And while not "tiny," I think this will appeal to many.

Check out the video.

The CORSAIR Crystal Series 280X RGB is a high-performance Micro-ATX case with three beautiful tempered glass panels, two stunning LL120 RGB fans and an innovative dual-chamber internal layout for clean looks and cleaner builds.

Outstanding cooling potential offers room for up to six cooling fans and multiple 240mm liquid cooling radiators, while the dual-chamber design lets you put your core hardware on display while tidying drives, cables and the PSU away in a dedicated compartment. With 32 RGB LEDs controlled by an included Lighting Node PRO digital RGB lighting controller and CORSAIR iCUE software, it’s easy to match your setup, create amazing lighting effects or synchronize all your CORSAIR RGB lighting together. CORSAIR Crystal 280X RGB - Clearly Compact.
 
I really, really like the layout of this case. It's an improvement on the already pretty neat cube style they have (I think the 240/540?) and seems much more space-efficient.

That said I wish the white version were available sans fans and RGB controller. But honestly the whole damn RGB ecosystem is such a hot mess it probably wouldn't even matter.
 
lazz said:
I really, really like the layout of this case. It's an improvement on the already pretty neat cube style they have (I think the 240/540?) and seems much more space-efficient.

That said I wish the white version were available sans fans and RGB controller. But honestly the whole damn RGB ecosystem is such a hot mess it probably wouldn't even matter.
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Yup, I like subtle.
I don't need put a freaking spotlight of Disco on my computer/hardware/etc, I get that lots of people do.
I like the idea of showing it off, without having it be an eyesore

But, then again, I think I'm probably in the minority here
 
I would like to see a front USB-C connector. Agree on the whole sans fans and RGB controller too. Would be nice to have a cheaper option without that stuff. Otherwise, looks great. Count me interested.
 
lazz said:
That said I wish the white version were available sans fans and RGB controller. But honestly the whole damn RGB ecosystem is such a hot mess it probably wouldn't even matter.
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Considering the 460x has a non-RGB option, I would speculate the 260x may have a non-RGB variant. I recently build a new pc with the non-RGB 460x for this very reason. RGB ecosystem is a hot mess!! Corsair has the nicest RGB fans on the market, their LL Series, but they're not compatible with Aura Sync without some mickey mouse hack. I just stuck in some old Corsair Air Series fans for now and hope that they fix the disastrous RBG ecosystem.
 
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Quite a nice looking case but I wish the buttons/USB ports were on the front.
 
SparksNelec said:
I would like to see a front USB-C connector. Agree on the whole sans fans and RGB controller too. Would be nice to have a cheaper option without that stuff. Otherwise, looks great. Count me interested.
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How are new cases still not coming with front type c connectors. It is the one thing I hate about the R6.
 
Yeah, I'm liking this design a lot more than their previous Cube cases (with their ridges, 540 series iirc).
 
I dunno. I'm still using my 24" tower from the 90s. I painted it red a couple of builds ago. ;)
 
Very beautiful case. I've always liked cases with tempered glass showing the build.
 
Reminds me of their AIR 240 case. I could live with the design, and turn off all those lights, but it's just too damn big. My Node 304 is a lot cuter than this thing.
 
vegeta535 said:
How are new cases still not coming with front type c connectors. It is the one thing I hate about the R6.
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It's even sadder when you consider even Dell is putting USB type C connectors on the front of their XPS cases now. Shame on you Corsair, don't let Dell beat you.
 
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I like the idea of mini ITX form factors but most cases allow standard ATX PSUs which are way too f ing huge. If everything else can be shrunk, I don't see why PSUs are an exception. I only buy mini ATX towers and as far as I've seen, they are about the same size. (just a different shape).
 
Staples said:
I like the idea of mini ITX form factors but most cases allow standard ATX PSUs which are way too f ing huge. If everything else can be shrunk, I don't see why PSUs are an exception. I only buy mini ATX towers and as far as I've seen, they are about the same size. (just a different shape).
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Might check out all the Silverstone SFX PSUs we have reviewed.
 
It looks nice
It's kinda large for mATX at 38.5L displacement (Some of the more compact mATX cases are 32L, compact ATX cases are sub 40L)
Still miffed at the lack of good mATX AM4 mobos :(
 
That new RGB 500D they announced looks pretty snazzy too. Hard to decide between the two.

 
Nice, though besides the 540 that I rather like... any other new cases like that that still have optical drive space? More interested in keeping my bluray drive over grabbing an external - Kinda wish they'd do a design like this (or close to) that still kept a slot or two :(
 
fuzzylogik said:
Nice, though besides the 540 that I rather like... any other new cases like that that still have optical drive space? More interested in keeping my bluray drive over grabbing an external - Kinda wish they'd do a design like this (or close to) that still kept a slot or two :(
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Physical media has gone the way of the dodo. I doubt any of the new cases coming to market will ever again support an optical drive option. You're only viable option is external drives.
 
I would like to see companies design cases that efficiently use space while ditching all 3.5, 5.5 and maybe even 2.5 bays. We are there now and case makers just dont seem to get it. The whole back of this case is alot of wasted space for a PSU
 
rudy said:
I would like to see companies design cases that efficiently use space while ditching all 3.5, 5.5 and maybe even 2.5 bays. We are there now and case makers just dont seem to get it. The whole back of this case is alot of wasted space for a PSU
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I agree that the ATX PSU requirement is the biggest inefficiency in small cases nowadays. Dell has some nice small options now, in fact I even bought one.
 
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