Corsair Obsidian 550D Mid-Tower Quiet Chassis Review

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by Ryan Perry on June 15, 2012 in Cases & PSUs

Corsair’s Obsidian line of cases have long been regarded as being some of the best for their aesthetic design, effective cooling, and overall potential. The 550D changes the formula up a little bit, though, putting a huge focus on quiet computing. Let’s check it out and see how it compares to its direct competitors.

Page 4 – Final Thoughts

It’s no surprise that Corsair is in the business of making high quality gear. Enthusiasts have an almost rabid loyalty to the company, whether it’s memory, coolers, cases or what have you, and I’d say it’s well-founded.

There’s no denying that Corsair has come up with a winning formula with the 550D although I think someone forgot to carry the 1 when doing the math regarding ventilation around the front door.

Enthusiasts should be happy throwing down ~$140, but for the average user looking for a quiet case without all of the cooling flexibility, it could be a bit much. The NZXT H2 sells for around $100, performed a little bit better in our tests, but can’t support aggressive cooling solutions – so it’s a trade off. Personally, there’s no contest based on my own needs, which includes support for a 240mm radiator. This offsets the cost for me.

Corsair Obsidian 550D Mid-Tower Chassis

From features to performance to noise to price, the 550D has it all and is certainly worthy of the Obsidian name along with an Editor’s Choice award.

Pros

  • Tons of room for high-end components.
  • Lots of cooling potential and flexibility.
  • Minimalist exterior that could double as a workstation by day.
  • Dead silent.

Cons

  • Restrictive ventilation around the door drives up temperatures.


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