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Corsair Crystal Series 280X review
Posted by: on: 06/04/2018 02:00 PM [
24 comment(s) ]
We review a new dual-chamber chassis from Corsair, it is the Corsair Crystal Series 280X. Based on the popular Air 240 this is a small mini ITX and Micro ATX form factor chassis that will not just house the smallest, but also the biggest stuff inside your computer. A high-end graphics card and liquid cooling? It is all not an issue, next to that you can now add three tempered glass panels and the options for RGB fans with an included Commanded series RGB fan control that you can control with your iCUE software suite.
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Unilythe
Member
Posts: 78
Member
Posts: 78
Posted on: 06/04/2018 02:30 PM
Looks amazing, with a nice form factor.
I notice a distinct lack of thermal performance testing in most of Guru3d's latest case reviews. Why is that?
I'm going to assume that front panel restricts a lot of airflow, so I hoped to get that info here.
Looks amazing, with a nice form factor.
I notice a distinct lack of thermal performance testing in most of Guru3d's latest case reviews. Why is that?
I'm going to assume that front panel restricts a lot of airflow, so I hoped to get that info here.
chispy
Senior Member
Posts: 8654
Senior Member
Posts: 8654
Posted on: 06/04/2018 03:15 PM
Great review Hilbert. Very nice small case , lots of airflow.
Great review Hilbert. Very nice small case , lots of airflow.
Netherwind
Senior Member
Posts: 6345
Senior Member
Posts: 6345
Posted on: 06/04/2018 03:29 PM
Looks great! One question though, why are mATX mobos more expensive than ATX mobos? Less material and components right?
Looks great! One question though, why are mATX mobos more expensive than ATX mobos? Less material and components right?
Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 34849
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 34849
Posted on: 06/04/2018 03:33 PM
ITX is a form factor that sells in way fewer quantities compared to ATX. Smaller batches are more expensive to fab, and that drive prices up. Well, that and once something is a bit more exclusive, they know exactly where to find that hard earned cash of yours
Looks great! One question though, why are mATX mobos more expensive than ATX mobos? Less material and components right?
ITX is a form factor that sells in way fewer quantities compared to ATX. Smaller batches are more expensive to fab, and that drive prices up. Well, that and once something is a bit more exclusive, they know exactly where to find that hard earned cash of yours
fantaskarsef
Senior Member
Posts: 10065
Senior Member
Posts: 10065
Posted on: 06/04/2018 03:34 PM
Great review as always, thanks still for doing at least a generic sound test!
Looks amazing, with a nice form factor.
I notice a distinct lack of thermal performance testing in most of Guru3d's latest case reviews. Why is that?
I'm going to assume that front panel restricts a lot of airflow, so I hoped to get that info here.
I guess because it comes down to Hilbert having to test with the exact same hardware, the exact same fans in the cases, or it's not really comparable after all. It's also a lot of work, and as not every piece of hardware stays with him, there's not always time enough to do all those tests.
Great review as always, thanks still for doing at least a generic sound test!
Looks amazing, with a nice form factor.
I notice a distinct lack of thermal performance testing in most of Guru3d's latest case reviews. Why is that?
I'm going to assume that front panel restricts a lot of airflow, so I hoped to get that info here.
I guess because it comes down to Hilbert having to test with the exact same hardware, the exact same fans in the cases, or it's not really comparable after all. It's also a lot of work, and as not every piece of hardware stays with him, there's not always time enough to do all those tests.
Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 34849
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 34849
Posted on: 06/04/2018 04:03 PM
Looks amazing, with a nice form factor.
I notice a distinct lack of thermal performance testing in most of Guru3d's latest case reviews. Why is that? I'm going to assume that front panel restricts a lot of airflow, so I hoped to get that info here.
Well .. not in the latest, .. not at all as I've never done them. I've also explained a million times already that I find temperature measurements too subjective as the components inside your PC dictate heat and airflow. One person uses GPU A, another GPU B. The difference can be a blower style cooler or one that dumps heat inside the chassis. You can also argue a GTX 1050 heat versus a GTX 1080 Ti (and similar for AMD Radeon of course). The same goes for CPU cooling, there are a million coolers let alone the effect of say a heat pipe cooler or an exhausting LCS. Some, however, do a bottom rad mount, dumping heat inside the chassis. Then some have high RPM fans, another hate sound, and control them at low RPM.
So any temperature measurement is so incredibly subjective that I just do not see the point of performing them. As subjective as it is, I always check airflow though and make comments about it, much like I stated in this review, airflow simply is not an issue as there are many vents and meshes.
Looks amazing, with a nice form factor.
I notice a distinct lack of thermal performance testing in most of Guru3d's latest case reviews. Why is that? I'm going to assume that front panel restricts a lot of airflow, so I hoped to get that info here.
Well .. not in the latest, .. not at all as I've never done them. I've also explained a million times already that I find temperature measurements too subjective as the components inside your PC dictate heat and airflow. One person uses GPU A, another GPU B. The difference can be a blower style cooler or one that dumps heat inside the chassis. You can also argue a GTX 1050 heat versus a GTX 1080 Ti (and similar for AMD Radeon of course). The same goes for CPU cooling, there are a million coolers let alone the effect of say a heat pipe cooler or an exhausting LCS. Some, however, do a bottom rad mount, dumping heat inside the chassis. Then some have high RPM fans, another hate sound, and control them at low RPM.
So any temperature measurement is so incredibly subjective that I just do not see the point of performing them. As subjective as it is, I always check airflow though and make comments about it, much like I stated in this review, airflow simply is not an issue as there are many vents and meshes.
Unilythe
Member
Posts: 78
Member
Posts: 78
Posted on: 06/04/2018 04:29 PM
Well .. not in the latest, .. not at all as I've never done them. I've also explained a million times already that I find temperature measurements too subjective as the components inside your PC dictate heat and airflow. One person uses GPU A, another GPU B. The difference can be a blower style cooler or one that dumps heat inside the chassis. You can also argue a GTX 1050 heat versus a GTX 1080 Ti (and similar for AMD Radeon of course). The same goes for CPU cooling, there are a million coolers let alone the effect of say a heat pipe cooler or an exhausting LCS. Some, however, do a bottom rad mount, dumping heat inside the chassis. Then some have high RPM fans, another hate sound, and control them at low RPM.
So any temperature measurement is so incredibly subjective that I just do not see the point of performing them. As subjective as it is, I always check airflow though and make comments about it, much like I stated in this review, airflow simply is not an issue as there are many vents and meshes.
I must be misremembering then. My bad. I guess I assumed that because I never noticed the lack of thermal testing before, then you must have been doing them before. Guess I was wrong.
Can't disagree with your reasoning, but of course in general some cases have a lot worse airflow than others. Like you said, you did comment on it. I just like something more tangible, no matter how subjective it is. But I definitely see your point.
Well .. not in the latest, .. not at all as I've never done them. I've also explained a million times already that I find temperature measurements too subjective as the components inside your PC dictate heat and airflow. One person uses GPU A, another GPU B. The difference can be a blower style cooler or one that dumps heat inside the chassis. You can also argue a GTX 1050 heat versus a GTX 1080 Ti (and similar for AMD Radeon of course). The same goes for CPU cooling, there are a million coolers let alone the effect of say a heat pipe cooler or an exhausting LCS. Some, however, do a bottom rad mount, dumping heat inside the chassis. Then some have high RPM fans, another hate sound, and control them at low RPM.
So any temperature measurement is so incredibly subjective that I just do not see the point of performing them. As subjective as it is, I always check airflow though and make comments about it, much like I stated in this review, airflow simply is not an issue as there are many vents and meshes.
I must be misremembering then. My bad. I guess I assumed that because I never noticed the lack of thermal testing before, then you must have been doing them before. Guess I was wrong.
Can't disagree with your reasoning, but of course in general some cases have a lot worse airflow than others. Like you said, you did comment on it. I just like something more tangible, no matter how subjective it is. But I definitely see your point.
Koniakki
Senior Member
Posts: 2766
Senior Member
Posts: 2766
Posted on: 06/04/2018 10:07 PM
^
Agree. It's too subjective.
Some cases come with 2 fans usually, some with 3 and some with all the fans included(usually low/medium quality), so to get a comparable results which will require extra time/effort from the editor/reviewer and a whole section on its own in the review, would be to always use a specific set of fans(corsair, noctua etc) and populate all case fan mounts, running at a specific rpm speed(~1500rpm?) since some cases are obviously bigger than others.
And use the same exact setup in each one, using the exact same testing procedure in a controlled temperature environment.
It might look/seem easy, but the effort required is substantial and it only covers air cooling. Some use aio in front or top sections which will of course provide different results to any testing if it was done in the review.
It can be done but again as HH said, too subjective.
p.s: Not referring of course to some case that use too much tempered glass(covering air vents) and are very restrictive or those silent version cases optimized for quiet operation, which will be restrictive but usually those are easily picked upon from any editor/reviewer and their restrictiveness is usually mentioned/commented upon, among others if they are/seem restrictive.
^
Agree. It's too subjective.
Some cases come with 2 fans usually, some with 3 and some with all the fans included(usually low/medium quality), so to get a comparable results which will require extra time/effort from the editor/reviewer and a whole section on its own in the review, would be to always use a specific set of fans(corsair, noctua etc) and populate all case fan mounts, running at a specific rpm speed(~1500rpm?) since some cases are obviously bigger than others.
And use the same exact setup in each one, using the exact same testing procedure in a controlled temperature environment.
It might look/seem easy, but the effort required is substantial and it only covers air cooling. Some use aio in front or top sections which will of course provide different results to any testing if it was done in the review.
It can be done but again as HH said, too subjective.
p.s: Not referring of course to some case that use too much tempered glass(covering air vents) and are very restrictive or those silent version cases optimized for quiet operation, which will be restrictive but usually those are easily picked upon from any editor/reviewer and their restrictiveness is usually mentioned/commented upon, among others if they are/seem restrictive.
Koniakki
Senior Member
Posts: 2766
Senior Member
Posts: 2766
Posted on: 06/04/2018 10:56 PM
Btw, sweet ass looking case! 2x 240/280mm rads and some tight bends.. Pure awesomeness!:p
Btw, sweet ass looking case! 2x 240/280mm rads and some tight bends.. Pure awesomeness!:p
MorganX
Senior Member
Posts: 122
Senior Member
Posts: 122
Posted on: 06/04/2018 11:33 PM
Threadripper will never be ITX, this might be the case that gets me to give up my Ncase M1 and go mATX with TR.
Threadripper will never be ITX, this might be the case that gets me to give up my Ncase M1 and go mATX with TR.
Netherwind
Senior Member
Posts: 6345
Senior Member
Posts: 6345
Posted on: 06/05/2018 11:06 AM
Thanks boss
Always appreciate a personal answer from you. I'm not sure they'll get my cash this time but it would be cool to try this form factor coupled with AIOs for CPU/GPU in the future.
ITX is a form factor that sells in way fewer quantities compared to ATX. Smaller batches are more expensive to fab, and that drive prices up. Well, that and once something is a bit more exclusive, they know exactly where to find that hard earned cash of yours
Thanks boss
Always appreciate a personal answer from you. I'm not sure they'll get my cash this time but it would be cool to try this form factor coupled with AIOs for CPU/GPU in the future.
tunejunky
Senior Member
Posts: 824
Senior Member
Posts: 824
Posted on: 06/05/2018 04:02 PM
finally something nice, small, and professional looking from Corsair. i love it.
i don't have to pay for Lian li or waste time reinforcing/modding a Silverstone for a Ryzen 7/ I-7 rig.
even better i can buy it with or without the circus lights.
finally something nice, small, and professional looking from Corsair. i love it.
i don't have to pay for Lian li or waste time reinforcing/modding a Silverstone for a Ryzen 7/ I-7 rig.
even better i can buy it with or without the circus lights.
schmidtbag
Senior Member
Posts: 3776
Senior Member
Posts: 3776
Posted on: 06/05/2018 05:46 PM
I thought ITX was more expensive because they're more difficult to make? Many of them have stuff soldered on the back (which I think complicates the manufacturing process) and I'm sure it's tricky to position everything without causing EMI issues or dropping features. I could be wrong, though - I don't really know the in-depth specifics about how they're made.
ITX is a form factor that sells in way fewer quantities compared to ATX. Smaller batches are more expensive to fab, and that drive prices up. Well, that and once something is a bit more exclusive, they know exactly where to find that hard earned cash of yours
I thought ITX was more expensive because they're more difficult to make? Many of them have stuff soldered on the back (which I think complicates the manufacturing process) and I'm sure it's tricky to position everything without causing EMI issues or dropping features. I could be wrong, though - I don't really know the in-depth specifics about how they're made.
Killian38
Senior Member
Posts: 307
Senior Member
Posts: 307
Posted on: 06/05/2018 06:42 PM
This will be my next case. Love it!
This will be my next case. Love it!
Fox2232
Senior Member
Posts: 8590
Senior Member
Posts: 8590
Posted on: 06/05/2018 07:29 PM
mITX save a lot of cash on not having as many ports. That more often than not includes cutting away SATA, USB, one less m.2. VRMs are often much weaker.
You pay for it being "Premium" form factor. Which is tragic, as it is around for so long.
Moment there is standard for external PCIe x4, x8 or x16 port, mITX will be pretty popular. You build your tiny Basic PC with great CPU and basic iGPU. And if needed external GPU box handles heavy graphics. But till then uATX will be cheapest on both cheapest and premium priced part of spectrum.
But with case like this, with so many rad spots, I would like to see how thick radiators can go in there with thick fans before they hit memories, GPU or prevent use of uATX and force mITX.
I thought ITX was more expensive because they're more difficult to make? Many of them have stuff soldered on the back (which I think complicates the manufacturing process) and I'm sure it's tricky to position everything without causing EMI issues or dropping features. I could be wrong, though - I don't really know the in-depth specifics about how they're made.
mITX save a lot of cash on not having as many ports. That more often than not includes cutting away SATA, USB, one less m.2. VRMs are often much weaker.
You pay for it being "Premium" form factor. Which is tragic, as it is around for so long.
Moment there is standard for external PCIe x4, x8 or x16 port, mITX will be pretty popular. You build your tiny Basic PC with great CPU and basic iGPU. And if needed external GPU box handles heavy graphics. But till then uATX will be cheapest on both cheapest and premium priced part of spectrum.
But with case like this, with so many rad spots, I would like to see how thick radiators can go in there with thick fans before they hit memories, GPU or prevent use of uATX and force mITX.
m4ttjirm
Junior Member
Posts: 1
Junior Member
Posts: 1
Posted on: 06/06/2018 04:27 AM
Hello thanks for the review. Can you please let me know if this 300mm max gpu size is indicating with the front fans installed, or without? I have a 299mm GPU and I want to make sure I can fit a front bottom fan for intake and put the GPU in also. Can you let me know which GPU you used to do this review? Did you have the front fan included also? I can't find any of these answers through the corsair manual or the case website itself. Thanks!
Hello thanks for the review. Can you please let me know if this 300mm max gpu size is indicating with the front fans installed, or without? I have a 299mm GPU and I want to make sure I can fit a front bottom fan for intake and put the GPU in also. Can you let me know which GPU you used to do this review? Did you have the front fan included also? I can't find any of these answers through the corsair manual or the case website itself. Thanks!
Koniakki
Senior Member
Posts: 2766
Senior Member
Posts: 2766
Posted on: 06/06/2018 11:16 AM
From a quick 1:1 scale measurement in Photoshop, the 300mm gpu clearance it's with the front fan/s installed, but of course some more hand-on confirmation would be better.
Hello thanks for the review. Can you please let me know if this 300mm max gpu size is indicating with the front fans installed, or without? I have a 299mm GPU and I want to make sure I can fit a front bottom fan for intake and put the GPU in also. Can you let me know which GPU you used to do this review? Did you have the front fan included also? I can't find any of these answers through the corsair manual or the case website itself. Thanks!
From a quick 1:1 scale measurement in Photoshop, the 300mm gpu clearance it's with the front fan/s installed, but of course some more hand-on confirmation would be better.
Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 34849
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 34849
Posted on: 06/06/2018 12:25 PM
Can't check it anymore as the setup has been disassembled, however, at 30cm there is very reasonable clearance for LCS incl fans of course. One front fan was included and I used a Titan which has at 27cm size. Hope it helps!
Can't check it anymore as the setup has been disassembled, however, at 30cm there is very reasonable clearance for LCS incl fans of course. One front fan was included and I used a Titan which has at 27cm size. Hope it helps!
OmegaStageThr33
Junior Member
Posts: 3
Junior Member
Posts: 3
Posted on: 06/14/2018 04:18 PM
Would this case accommodate a 240mm radiator AIO CPU Cooler + mATX + Hybrid EVGA GPU?
Would this case accommodate a 240mm radiator AIO CPU Cooler + mATX + Hybrid EVGA GPU?
fantaskarsef
Senior Member
Posts: 10065
Senior Member
Posts: 10065
Posted on: 06/14/2018 04:35 PM
The Corsair product website is just one google search away and says yes, top, bottom, and front
Of course it depends on the depth of the rad too, but the average rad should work I guess.
Would this case accommodate a 240mm radiator AIO CPU Cooler + mATX + Hybrid EVGA GPU?
The Corsair product website is just one google search away and says yes, top, bottom, and front
Of course it depends on the depth of the rad too, but the average rad should work I guess.
OmegaStageThr33
Junior Member
Posts: 3
Junior Member
Posts: 3
Posted on: 06/14/2018 04:38 PM
The Corsair product website is just one google search away and says yes, top, bottom, and front
Of course it depends on the depth of the rad too, but the average rad should work I guess.
Thanks for the reply. I searched on their website and found that of course the case would fit 240mm. I just didn't know about the combination + mATX.
I didn't know if I could mount the Hybrid radiator under the GPU as the 240mm CPU AIO would be on top and 2x fans on the front.
https://imgur.com/a/jn4ZM3U
The Corsair product website is just one google search away and says yes, top, bottom, and front
Of course it depends on the depth of the rad too, but the average rad should work I guess.
Thanks for the reply. I searched on their website and found that of course the case would fit 240mm. I just didn't know about the combination + mATX.
I didn't know if I could mount the Hybrid radiator under the GPU as the 240mm CPU AIO would be on top and 2x fans on the front.
https://imgur.com/a/jn4ZM3U
fantaskarsef
Senior Member
Posts: 10065
Senior Member
Posts: 10065
Posted on: 06/14/2018 04:41 PM
The best option would be to keep an eye out for build pics on the net, maybe even by Corsair themselves when they try to promote their chassis. But generally I think it should work. Oddly enough there's not yet a case manual, and I can see why you aren't sure since their current information is all but comprehensive.
Thanks for the reply. I searched on their website and found that of course the case would fit 240mm. I just didn't know about the combination + mATX.
The best option would be to keep an eye out for build pics on the net, maybe even by Corsair themselves when they try to promote their chassis. But generally I think it should work. Oddly enough there's not yet a case manual, and I can see why you aren't sure since their current information is all but comprehensive.
OmegaStageThr33
Junior Member
Posts: 3
Junior Member
Posts: 3
Posted on: 06/14/2018 04:47 PM
Exactly my thoughts. I searched but the case is too new. I've only seen ITX builds but I want 32GB so I plan to rock a mATX.
Based on pics I've seen looks like I could fit a small radiator under the GPU. This obviously wouldn't work if I decided to do SLI. At that point I would need a bigger case, air cooling only, or custom LCS on the GPU.
The best option would be to keep an eye out for build pics on the net, maybe even by Corsair themselves when they try to promote their chassis. But generally I think it should work. Oddly enough there's not yet a case manual, and I can see why you aren't sure since their current information is all but comprehensive.
Exactly my thoughts. I searched but the case is too new. I've only seen ITX builds but I want 32GB so I plan to rock a mATX.
Based on pics I've seen looks like I could fit a small radiator under the GPU. This obviously wouldn't work if I decided to do SLI. At that point I would need a bigger case, air cooling only, or custom LCS on the GPU.
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Senior Member
Posts: 488
Finally, something nice and small. looks like my case for next build has arrived.