Corsair 550D Review

👤by David Mitchelson Comments 📅16-05-12
Conclusion

Fans of the Obsidian Series will be pleased to know the 550D is a resounding success. In similar fashion to that of the Corsair 650D, the 550D brings elegance and charisma to the mid-tower platform. Unlike the 650D, Corsair have decided to go without the Perspex window on the 550D as most will be cooling via the H100 or using conventional air cooling



The 550D elevates itself by delivering extremely good build quality with a well thought out design and layout. I really liked the detachable panels on the side and bottom – both have been given noise damping foam, as has the side panels. These intricacies help make the 550D deliver on quietness. Combine the noise damping with 800RPM fans and we have a real recipe for silence. 550D has been designed with quietness in mind and as a result of this trade-off thermal performance does take a hit. Closing up a chassis and using low RPM fans does aid silence but at the cost of cooling. If there is more ventilation and faster spinning fans then obviously this is going to result in better thermal performance. So in some way this will be considered a slight niggle for some, but then there is the option to add in more fans should you want to improve airflow from the top of sides.

The Corsair 550D can be found for just under the £100 mark inclusive of VAT making it quite an affordable option for those wanting minimalist styling with all the features. Some will argue this pricing pushes 550D into the full tower territory and this is correct – not everyone has the room or desire to go for a full tower though and the 550D is at the top end of the mid-tower category in terms of its quality and what it has to offer.

Overall then, 550D is a fantastic case. The Obsidian Series continues to impress with another mid-tower, pushing the boundaries for quality and appearance. Those who seek elegance, quality and silence should look no further. Vortez awards the 550D with Gold.

VIDEO REVIEW ON VORTEZ TV


Pros
+ Elegant and professional looks
+ Build quality is very good
+ Layout and design well thought out
+ Extremely quiet
+ Great cable management options
+ Quite affordable

Cons
- Thermal performance (low RPM fans + lack of ventilation at front)



Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net. Thanks to Corsair for providing today’s review sample.



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