Corsair Frame 4000D RS PC Case Review: Excellent Flow | WIRED

Overview

The original Corsair 4000D was my favorite computer case ever. It boasted excellent cooling, a simple but refined look, and an appealing price. For just an extra $20, the new Frame 4000D RS promises several major upgrades to both usability and flexibility, but we all know how sequels sometimes turn out.

Having built up a new test system inside, I can tell you that the case is technically just as good, particularly in the hands of any experienced builder. The cooling and component support is second to none, and some of the usability features are so novel I can’t believe other case makers haven’t thought of them before.

Details

That said, I don’t feel like the Frame version of this case has the elegant simplicity that I found so delightful in the old 4000D. It’s now made to please the high-end computing nerd, with wider component support, better cooling, and a refreshed new look with fancier machining. The upside is clear: folks get improved component support, more build options, and the same suave style. The tradeoff is a slightly noisier case with a few usability complications.

Regardless of minor complaints, the new Frame 4000D RS is still one of the best cases you can build in, and I’ll happily recommend it going forward, even if I wish it were an addition to Corsair's cases, rather than a replacement.

The biggest compliment I can give the Frame 4000D RS is, with a few exceptions, I never had to cram my hands into any weird spaces or bend cables into weird angles to make them fit. The major contributing factor to that is a variety of movable plates in places that didn’t used to move on the old case, or most cases, for that matter. It's an area where Corsair cases have always excelled, but some thoughtful additions here make it truer than ever.

The panel between the power supply and the rest of the case unscrews and lifts up like a trapdoor, giving you plenty of room to install the unit and run cables. While you can install everything directly into the case, you can also remove the entire motherboard support panel and set everything up then drop it right in. Some of the exterior panels come off entirely, giving you easy access to cable runs and sections of the case that would normally require tiny fingers, or leave you with bruised knuckles.

Unfortunately, it feels like some of the parts of the case got more attention than others did. I get have to change GPUs more often than most for testing, and I keep fighting with the adjustment bracket, which is only needed for setting up vertically mounted cards, and blocks easy access to the bolts with a screwdriver. The extra screws and plates under the right side panel also decrease the room you have for cables and other parts behind the motherboard, although it's more generously spaced than the double doors on the old 4000D.

Most metal panels on the Frame 4000D have machined twists, so the front panel in particular looks like a big cheese grater. I liked the diamond punch-outs on the old 4000D Air front panel, but that’s totally an aesthetic preference, and I imagine, based on my temperature readings, that these are even more effective.

Cooling is incredible, both in the ability to move air through the case, and in the number of configurations and components it supports. With only the one glass panel on the side, you can still show off your coolest parts, but there’s very little actually interrupting airflow.

When it comes time to install fans, all my favorites are here: top-mounted AIO radiator, side-mounted intake fans, and a true front mounting option. The case Corsair sent over included three RS120 fans with ARGB lighting, an inclusion that's well worth the extra $20 over the version with non-ARGB fans. You can slap huge radiators and large fan arrays basically anywhere you like, opening up a variety of cooling and component options.

The biggest downside to this new approach, and a tradeoff you’ll always have to make with great airflow, is that there aren’t many acoustic considerations here. When the fans kick up on your GPU or case, you’ll definitely hear it.

All of these configurations support an impressive number of differently sized fans thanks to a movable second rail for your fans, dubbed “Infinirail” by Corsair. It helps account for minor size and positioning differences between components and brands, and works simply by unscrewing one bolt on each end of a tab, letting you slide the rail across a slot. In practice that may mean compromising on how many screws your particular radiator gets that line up with the slots in the case. My top-mounted 360mm AIO, for example, is a Corsair Nautilus, but some of the radiator’s mounting points conflicted with the support points on the “Infinirail” system. It has more than enough to feel secure and not rattle, but it felt odd that a cooler from the same manufacturer wouldn’t go 12 for 12 on screw spots.

I’d happily recommend the Frame 4000D to anyone building a new gaming computer, or looking to move their old machine into something cooler and more accommodating to upgrades long-term. My complaints about the case are largely surface-level, subjective, or only really applicable to folks like me who swap computer components a lot.

While I would’ve liked to see the original stay on shelves as an alternative for simple builds or new PC gamers, I don’t think the concerns outweigh the benefits, not by a long shot. If you've been eyeing this case for your next build, know that it's a good one.

Key Takeaways

• The original Corsair 4000D was my favorite computer case ever
• Having built up a new test system inside, I can tell you that the case is technically just as good, particularly in the hands of any experienced builder
• That said, I don’t feel like the Frame version of this case has the elegant simplicity that I found so delightful in the old 4000D
• Regardless of minor complaints, the new Frame 4000D RS is still one of the best cases you can build in, and I’ll happily recommend it going forward, even if I wish it were an addition to Corsair's cases, rather than a replacement
• The biggest compliment I can give the Frame 4000D RS is, with a few exceptions, I never had to cram my hands into any weird spaces or bend cables into weird angles to make them fit