[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The Obsidian 350D from Corsair is a mini-tower case supporting microATX and Mini-ITX motherboards, but with features usually only found on bigger models. Let’s see what the Obsidian 350D brings to the table.
The reviewed case is available in two versions for its left-hand side panel, solid or with a huge transparent window. We received a sample with the transparent window.
Figure 1: Corsair Obsidian 350D case
Figure 2: Corsair Obsidian 350D case
[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]
The Corsair Obsidian 350D uses aluminum sheets on top of the plastic parts of its front panel, giving the product a very elegant look, but increasing its price. There are two 5.25” bays with solid covers. There is a big cover in front of a 140 mm fan (Corsair A1425L12S, no technical specifications are provided), which has an air filter. You can replace this fan with two 120 mm models, if you wish.
The case comes with two USB 3.0 ports and the traditional audio jacks on the top part of its front panel. The USB 3.0 ports use an internal connector.
Figure 6: Buttons and connectors
[nextpage title=”The Top, Bottom, and Rear Panels”]
The top panel of the Corsair Obsidian 350D supports the installation of two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans, which are not included. Even though this case is a mini-tower model, it supports the installation of a radiator up to 280 mm long on its top panel.
On the bottom panel, the Corsair Obsidian 350D comes with an air filter for the power supply fan.
The rear panel and the interior of the Corsair Obsidian 350D are painted in black.
On the Corsair Obsidian 350D, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.
The product comes with a 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel (Corsair A1225M12S), using a three-pin fan connector. No technical specifications for this fan are provided.
This case has five expansion slots with vented and reusable covers. Cases targeted to microATX motherboards usually have four expansion slots, not five.
There are three pass through holes for hoses of liquid cooling solutions. In order to use these holes, you must break their metallic covers. There are two possible diameter configurations: 0.8” (20 mm) or 1.2” (30 mm).
The rear panel features a hole for installing an anti-theft device from Kensington.
Let’s now take a look inside the Corsair Obsidian 350D.
[nextpage title=”Inside the Corsair Obsidian 350D”]
Both panels are attached to the chassis using black, metallic thumbscrews. The motherboard tray has a huge cutout for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several holes with rubber covers for you to route cables behind it, and several clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties. Another highlight of this case is the clearance of 0.8” (20 mm) between the motherboard tray and the right panel, allowing you to easily route and store thick cables behind the motherboard tray.
Figure 11: A view behind the motherboard tray
In Figure 12, we have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using black, metallic thumbscrews. The Corsair Obsidian 350D supports video cards up to 15” (380 mm) long and CPU coolers up to 6.3” (160 mm) tall.
The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. It can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. As shown before, there is an air filter for the power supply fan. The Corsair Obsidian 350D supports power supplies up to 9.8” (250 mm) deep.
Figure 13: Power supply compartment
The reviewed case doesn’t support fans on its bottom panel.
[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]
The Corsair Obsidian 350D has two external 5.25” bays, two internal 3.5”/2.5” bays, and three internal 2.5” bays. The installation of 5.25” and 3.5” devices can be done without the use of tools or screws. The installation of 2.5” devices inside the 2.5” bays can also be done without the use of tools or screws, but you will need to use screws to install 2.5” devices in the 3.5”/2.5” bays.
Figure 15: The individual 2.5” bays
Figure 16: One of the 3.5”/2.5” bays
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the Corsair Obsidian 350D include:
- Style: Mini-tower
- Application: microATX
- Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body with aluminum front panel
- Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
- Available color: Black
- Side panel: Solid or transparent
- Dimensions: 17.3 x 8.3 x 17.7 inches (440 x 211 x 450 mm) (H x W x D)
- Net weight: 13.5 lbs (6 kg)
- Gross weight: 15.5 lbs (7 kg)
- Bays: Two external 5.25” bays, two internal 3.5”/2.5” bays, and three internal 2.5” bays
- Expansion slots: Five
- Maximum video card length: 15” (380 mm)
- Maximum CPU cooler height: 6.3” (160 mm)
- Fans: One 140 mm fan on the front panel and one 120 mm fan on the rear panel
- Optional fans: Two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the top panel and two 120 mm fans on the front panel (replacing the existing 140 mm fan)
- Extra Features: Hole for an anti-theft device from Kensington
- More Information: https://www.corsair.com
- MSRP in the U.S.: USD 100.00 (solid left panel) or USD 110.00 (transparent left panel)
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The Corsair Obsidian 350D is an outstanding mini-tower case for those users looking for a case for building a high-end PC using a microATX or Mini-ITX motherboard. It provides several features usually only seen on bigger cases.
Strong Points
- Aluminum sheet on the front panel
- Support for video cards up to 15” (380 mm) long
- Support for radiators up to 280 mm long
- Five expansion slots (cases for microATX motherboards usually have four)
- Expansion cards are fastened using thumbscrews
- Support for two 3.5” hard drives and up to five 2.5” SSDs or laptop hard drives
- Tool-less installation mechanisms for storage devices
- A huge cutout in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
- Holes with rubber covers for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
- Clearance of 0.8” (20 mm) behind the motherboard tray for routing cables
- Clips for fastening cables using cable ties
- Anti-vibration rings for 3.5” hard disk drives
- Hole for installing an anti-theft device from Kensington
Weak Points
- None
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