Corsair Obsidian 500D Review

Conclusion

In many ways, the Obsidian 500D can be considered as an extension to the popular 570X, offering a similar feature set and an internal layout that is almost identical. While this is true, it glances over some significant factors, like this case’s unique aesthetic, lower pricing and the fact that this chassis is easier to use on a day-to-day basis. 

The biggest problems with the Crystal 570X was the fact that its overuse of tempered glass was a major turn off for some PC builders, inflating the unit’s price while also making the chassis more challenging to build in. The thumb screws that were used to fasten the 570X’s tempered glass windows are a paint to use when changing any components in your case, a problem that has been addressed with the 500D thanks to its use of hinged tempered glass windows. Corsair’s more restrained use of Tempered glass will make the 500D a lot less divisive chassis, especially with its lack of integrated RGB illumination. 

Inside the chassis, there is not much to dislike, with the case including removable fan/radiator trays at the front and top of the enclosure, making AIO/custom water cooling radiators a breeze to install, significantly improving the case’s overall user experience, especially when combined with the case’s roomy interior. Other improvements like the inclusion of a PSU should front cover are also great to see, as that was a major complaint with early versions of the Crystal 570X. 

Our only major criticism of this chassis is that the case’s side panels do not sit flush with the enclosure, leaving a small gap where air can exit and enter the chassis, which may allow some unnecessary dust to enter the system. It would have been preferable for Corsair to have a thin foam strip around the 500D, as this would prevent any air from entering the system unfiltered. This problem is not a dealbreaker by any stretch, as it can be easily removed as a factor if the case has more intakes fans than exhausts (positive air pressure), so this will not be an issue for most high-end users. 

What the 500D offers is a striking aesthetic, well layout internals and fixes for almost every issue that we had with the Crystal 570X, creating a case that is more affordable, easier to use and more arguably more beautiful (depends on your preference). The Obsidian 500D is a welcome addition to Corsair’s lineup of PC enclosures, one that is definitely worth an OC3D Enthusiast Grade Award.  

  

  

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