This Corsair case stands out among its competitors thanks to the way in which it blends several different aspects: it offers a unique aesthetic, incredibly versatility, and all at an attractive case. This approach extends through all of their releases like a thread, from Obsidian to Graphite and Vengeance up to the Carbide - and now - the Crystal 280X Micro-ATX case. The dual-chamber design principal is striking in the way it divides up the case, one half with tempered glass and a passively cooled, enclosed area for drives, power supplies and cable management.
The Features of the Corsair Crystal 280X Micro-ATX Case
- Tempered glass case in black
- Space for Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards
- Clever dual-chamber design
- Bays for two 3.5" and three 2.5" drives
- Front panel with 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A
- Two pre-installed 120mm RGB fans (total of seven possible)
Micro-ATX Case with Dual-Chamber Design
This case from Corsair represents a remarkable break with established conventions and brings the cube-style format with a dual-chamber design into the world of Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards. Where most Mini-factor cases are somewhat taller and deeper, the Crystal 280X takes a different approach by expanding sideways to 27.6cm wide. This is due to the dual-chamber construction of the case. The two-part front has a panel of tempered glass, on one side and the closed chamber on the other.
The dual-chamber design of the Crystal 280X means the left hand side can be reserved for the motherboard, expansion cards, fans or radiators, while the right can be used for two 3.5" HDD and three 2.5" SSDs and a PSU. Needless to say the case offers plenty of space for cable management.
Massive Airflow & Two Pre-Installed RGB Fans
The advantage of this case lies in the unusually good airflow on the left side, where the air can flow from the tastefully designed front, behind the offset tempered glass to the rear as well as through the bottom and roof. The motherboard, CPU and graphics card all receive excellent airflow as a result. The components receive protection from dirt and dust thanks to the magnetic dust filters that are attached to the front, lid and bottom.
Corsair has factory-fitted two 120 mm RGB fans with digitally controllable RGB LEDs mounted on the front which can be controlled via the integrated digital Lightning Node PRO RGB lighting controller and the Corsair iCUE software. Additional 120- or 140mm fans are compatible with the roof, bottom and right side of the case. Water cooling enthusiasts will also be interested in this Micro-ATX cube case due to the space for a dual radiator up to 280mm that can be fitted in the front with a further 280- or 240mm rad in the roof or bottom of the case.
A Compact Miracle of Case Design
No matter what you decide to put into the main chamber of the case, it's sure to look fantastic in the presentation department. The left side of the case offers a breath-taking view of the installed hardware thanks to the tempered glass windows. The glass panels can also be removed without the need for tools. The same goes for 3.5" drives, the four PCI brackets and for most of the other components too.
The two 3.5" drives can be located in the left chamber and can be accessed from the outside with ease. The three 2.5" drives are also accessible after removing the left side panel. Ideally users will route all their cables or possibly hoses through the rubberised pass-throughs on the motherboard tray - which also separates the chambers. Most of the components that require a lot of cabling are accommodated in the right, closed-off half in any case. Optimal cooling can also be achieved by the addition of a fan up to 140mm in size.
The remainder of the right side has a very clean and tidy look and the black powder coated steel surfaces blend in elegantly with the tempered glass. The upper right side comes with two USB 3.0 connectors in addition to audio connectors along with the power- and reset buttons of Corsair's Micro-ATX cube.
Technical Details:
- Dimensions: 398 x 276 x 351 mm (W x H x D)
- Weight: 7.1 kg
- Material: Steel, tempered glass
- Colour: Black
- Form Factor: Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- Total Possible Fans:
2 x 140/120 mm (front)
2 x 140/120 mm (roof)
2 x 140/120 mm (bottom)
1 x 140/120 mm (right side) - Pre-Installed:
2 x 120 mm (front; CORSAIR LL120 RGB) - Radiator Mountings:
1 x max. 280/240 mm (front)
1 x max. 280/240 mm (roof)
1 x max. 280/240 mm (bottom) - Filter: Front, roof, bottom, right side (tool free/magnetic)
- Drive Bays:
2 x 3.5/2.5" (internal)
3 x 2.5" (internal, tool-less) - PSU: Standard ATX (optional)
- Expansion slots: 4
- I/O Panel:
2 x USB 3.0 (internal connection)
1 x Audio In/Out - Maximum GPU length: 300 mm
- Maximum CPU cooler height: 150 mm
- Maximum PSU length: 1800 mm
