Review: We’re a sucker for a good special edition case, and this mighty-whitey 600T from Corsair is no exception.
There is an awful lot to like about Corsair’s new Graphite range, but the thing we arguably like the most is its Special Edition 600T. While the main range is, oddly enough, coloured a very cool graphite, the Special Edition eschews the classic dark look for something altogether more striking, not to mention harder to make look good on a white page...
When we saw this case at Computex, it was nicknamed by Corsair and admirers alike the Stormtrooper case, and it’s easy to see why – the stark white with black trim is remarkably similar to the white carapace and black undersuit of the Empire’s elite bully boys. So, for Star Wars fans, this case is already looking like a solid build option. But there are solid practical reasons to get it too.
The 600T design is a roomy medium-sized build. The front fascia is all mesh inserts, except where you’ll be installing ODDs or front-panel controls. On the leading edge are all the usual IO and control suspects, as well as a large fan control knob (with a very smooth action), and a single USB3 drive. Given that most USB3 enabled boards sport two headers, this seems odd, but we’re guessing it’s a price-point compromise.
The side panel is very interesting. Not only does the case come with an optional mesh insert if you want to swap out the window in favour of greater airflow (the mesh is black, by the way, and looks tops), but the panel is also secured using a tool-less dual-catch mechanism. Just pop the catches and the panel drops down and away. It makes getting to your PC’s innards very simple, while still being quite secure. That said, it might not make this the best option for a LAN-gaming build.
The rear is pretty as you’d expect, with expansion-brackets cut for increased airflow, and two water-cooling inputs. The top panel features a pop-out mesh insert, making access to the top-mounted 200mm fan a literal breeze.
Internally, the case is just as neat and striking. In here it’s all black metallic, and surprisingly roomy. There’s a good selection of cable runs, and a mess of room between the motherboard plate and the other side-panel to tuck extra lengths of PSU cable. Speaking of the PSU, there’s a neat little removable bracket for shorter PSUs, as we as a mesh intake underneath this mount.
The drive bays are of the tool-less variety, and this is about our only gripe with the 600T. The pinch-to-remove brackets that hold your HDDs are fine, but the ODD bays feature a toggling switch system that seems designed to eventually break. Sure, one does not remove these drives that often, but with that in mind... why aren’t old fashioned screws good enough? If we were building into this case we’d probably ditch this arrangement in favour of screws right away. Cooling options, on the other hand, are pretty generous, with two 200mm fans and a single 120mm fan in the rear.
We’d not normally consider a white case, but the 600T has us re-considering.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012