Tall, Dark, and Handsome – Corsair Graphite 730T Full-Tower Chassis Review

I’m left with a very strong reaction to Corsair’s Graphite 730T.

I’ve owned one of the company’s chassis, the Obsidian 700D. I bought it with my own money, and while not perfect (the side panels were a bit flimsy, and the gap between the rear of the motherboard tray and the side panel was a bit too narrow) I still consider it to be one of my all-time favorite chassis. I also have had the chance to review the Obsidian 450D; if not for the fact that it cannot accommodate an EATX motherboard, I probably would have transferred my main PC to it already.

Well, the Graphite 730T is exerting a similar pull on me.

Much like what had happened to Techgage comrade Ryan, I’m tempted to move my main rig’s components into a chassis from the Graphite series.

I mean, the Corsair Graphite 730T is like the very best of co-workers: It’s so easy to work with, and you definitely feel a sense of fun doing so. It’s very roomy, so it’s very easy to work in. Component installation is very easy. It has those super-snazzy SSD sleds that sit on the back side of the motherboard, something I just absolutely adore (although, in the Graphite 730T, these are mounted not on the motherboard tray itself but behind the hard drive cages. Exact same concept, though). And it has those wonderful rear-hinged, swing-out side panels, which not only are stylish, but are also ultra-functional: they allow easy access into the chassis interior. Even the simplest things like the permanently installed standoffs, not to mention the central key standoff, all contribute to why I like the Graphite 730T so much.

Then there are those details that Corsair has carried over from its earliest days as a chassis manufacturer. There are the cable routing openings with the rubber grommets on the motherboard tray, all of which are positioned intelligently and logically. There’s the large cut-out to access the CPU back plate, as well as the black-sleeved cables for the I/O ports and switches. This is the best chassis I’ve ever had the pleasure of working in as far as cable management is concerned, and I didn’t even have to try very hard.

The fact that there are all these options as far as radiator installation are concerned is also a huge plus. The only “negatives” worth mentioning, in fact, are that it won’t fit my monster 480mm rad without doing any mods to the chassis and that Corsair doesn’t include any fans up in the roof section. At least this last point is consistent with Corsair’s modus operandus when it comes to its chassis.

The styling, of course, is a matter of taste. It’s not as elegant as the monolithic Obsidians, but the aggressive aesthetic does grow on you if you give it a chance. As overtly aggressive designs go, the Graphite 730T’s is definitely more handsome than the norm.

And not only does it look good, but it also is so well-designed that it endows certain performance advantages. It keeps your PC nice and cool, and it keeps all the noise contained. Plus it’s got those dust filters in the air intakes to help keep the dust out.

Corsair has priced the Graphite 730T at $139.99, but I’ve occasionally seen it on sale for as low as $99.99 (at the time of writing, Newegg has it at this price, in fact). I think that, even at its non-sale price point, the Graphite 730T represents one of the very best values for money in the chassis market that I know about. You just get so much for your hard-earned buck.

So only one question remains:

Am I going to move my primary PC into this chassis?

Pros

• Very roomy.
• Versatile: Fits mini-ITX, mATX, ATX, EATX, and XL-ATX systems.
• Strong performance in thermal tests.
• Very good sound dampening.
• Handsome aesthetic.
• Easy access to chassis interior due to hinged, swing-out side panels.
• Multiple fan and radiator mounting options.
• Very easy to work in.
• Great value (especially when it goes on sale).
• Excellent for cable management.

Cons

• Doesn’t include fans for roof section.

Corsair Graphite 730T Chassis