Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB & 4000D Airflow PC Case Review

When we think about PC gaming companies, few do it as well as Corsair. Corsair is a brand synonymous with PCs and is a go-to for everything from RAM to cases. Today we are going to be reviewing the highly regarded 4000-series PC cases. The 4000-series brings three new models into the Corsair family – the 4000D, 4000D Airflow, and the iCUE 4000X RGB. The three models are almost identical, with a few light differences mostly towards the front of the case, so we will largely be focusing on the Airflow and RGB editions.

For anyone who is familiar with Corsair PC cases, when you first lay your eyes upon these, they appear to be an Obsidian successor, looking like a combination of the parts we loved from the Obsidian 450D and 500D to form a unique, aesthetically superior, and affordable new line of PC cases.

Corsair has since released the more spacious 5000-series line that is more or less the same with greater performance potential but let’s take a look and see what the 4000-series can do.

Main Features

• Two sides of tool-free tempered glass (4000X)
• Tempered glass side panel
• PSU Shroud
• Vertical GPU mounting support
• Corsairs RapidRoute cable management system
• 3 x Corsair SP RGB Elite 120mm fans (4000X)
• 2 x Corsair AirGuide 120mm fans (4000D /Airflow)

The Outside

As I already alluded to before, the Corsair 4000-series reminds me of the older Obsidian 450D. Of course, the 4000 PC cases, straight away, are visually impressive, with the 4000X winning the most style points thanks to the two panels of tempered glass.

The exterior of the entire lineup of cases looks sublime and is a huge step forward for Corsair that will potentially bring back a lot of older customers who used to favor them. The front is where we see the main differences between the three cases, with the 4000D featuring a solid plastic front panel, the Airflow a perforated panel, and the 4000X a tempered glass panel. The next variation between the models is the included front fans. With the 4000D and 4000D Airflow, there is a single 120mm airflow pre-installed fan, whereas the iCUE 4000X features three 120mm RGB fans.

All three models will allow you to install a radiator up to 360mm, thanks to the cutout of the PSU shroud near the front. I’d personally be installing my radiator on the top but it is always nice to have multiple options. You can install a total of two 140mm fans at the front, which would be optimal but you would be messing up the aesthetics at the front on the Airflow and 4000X if you did this.

The front panel is the main area that will eventually lead to which case you decide to choose, with the 4000D Airflow being the obvious choice for those who value performance the most. Aesthetically, the 4000X cannot be beaten but it does become a trade-off with slightly higher internal temperatures for that luxury. Whichever you decide to go for in the end, at least if you change your mind you can simply purchase a different front panel from Corsair and switch up your configuration.

The Rear

Towards the back, everything is standard here, with the only difference being the preinstalled 120mm fan on the 4000D and Airflow models. For those who opt for the 4000X model, you may want to consider purchasing another Corsair RGB fan to fill this space and improve airflow but you could in theory use the bottom fan at the front as it doesn’t really add anything other than aesthetics in its pre-installed position.

We get 7+2 PCIe slots, giving you the option to vertically mount your GPU if desired, and other than that there isn’t much else to say. The quality of the back is superb though, with no flex or misalignments.

The Side

The main side panel offers you a clean uninterrupted view of the inside of all three models. The large tempered glass panel reveals everything, even the shroud, and is finished off nicely with a white opaque border that subtly tidies up the aesthetics and unsightly edges.

Both side panels on the 4000D, Airflow, and 4000X feature Corsairs take on a tool-free design and they work brilliantly. Building and swapping out components is made incredibly easy and the extra latches towards the front end of the side panel prevent it from just dropping off. Still, it isn’t fully attached so I would make sure you keep your hand on it until it is entirely removed.

The back panel on the 4000-series is a solid panel, something Corsair later re-designed for the 5000-series but for the price who cares?

The Top

The top panel of all three models is identical, with a perforated mesh to allow airflow when installing a radiator. The mesh is covered with one of Corsair’s newly designed dust filters, which are of high quality and grey to match the case’s aesthetics.

The top of all three models supports a radiator up to 280mm in size and is the perfect spot for an AIO cooler. Alternatively, you can mount two 140mm or 120mm fans here instead. When installing an AIO cooler I just had enough room to plug in the CPU power but to save your fingers the hassle, you may want to plug the CPU cable in prior to installing the radiator.

Towards the front of the top of the case, we see the I/O, which consists of:

• Power Button
• Reset Button
• 1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
• 1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C
• 1 x Headset Audio Jack

While I’d prefer to see an extra USB port on the front, overall, the 4000X and 4000D/ Airflow look fantastic from every angle. For the price, these are superb cases.

The Inside

The interior of the 4000-series is as spacious as you would expect, with plenty of room for large graphics cards, radiators, and a vertically mounted GPU. You would want an ATX motherboard in this case but you can fit mATX and Mini-ITX if you prefer. The standoffs were pre-installed for an ATX motherboard, which is always nice to see. The all-white aesthetic of the inside is yet another great design choice, making your components pop with little effort. Of course, if you go for the black model then it is all-black but with the addition of the cable bar, any PC builder will be able to effortlessly create a clean-looking build.

There is less modularity with the 4000-series line compared to the newer 5000-series but that is because the 4000D/ 4000X are not designed for water cooling, regardless, the case features all the cutouts you’ll need to ensure your cable management is on point.

Towards the front, there is space for a 360mm radiator, thanks to a slot cut out of the PSU shroud. The front is where we see the main differences between the three models, with the 4000X shipping with their pre-installed RGB fans.

At the bottom, you can see the perforated PSU shroud that does an excellent job of making your PC build look clean. There is the potential to mount two 2.5” SSD trays on the top of the shroud and you can vertically mount your GPU here too if you purchase a riser.

The Back Panel

The back panels on premium PC cases are becoming better every year and here we see one of the other main features to Corsair’s latest cases – the RapidRoute cable management system. For those that are unaware, this is nothing new to PC cases but it is essentially a bracket that allows builders an option for easy cable management. They work well and the included velcro straps are premium so can hold some cable bulge quite well. Personally, I remove these and utilize the clips when cable managing but I love to see features like this on a case.

The best thing at the back here is the gap included where you would normally see rubber grommets. The gap is part of the cable bar design and allows you to easily feed cables to the front without the hassle of fitting multiple cables through a grommet. This makes your life easier and looks much cleaner in the end.

 

Final Word

If you’re a Corsair fan looking for an affordable mid-tower case, the 4000-series is a great place to start. This new line of cases brings Corsair straight back into contention and directly competes with the likes of Phanteks and NZXT once again. For me, the aesthetics of the 4000D/ Airflow and 4000X are fantastic and get the nod, with there being an option for everyone.

Honestly, the plain 4000D is the only case that doesn’t make much sense to me, with it offering less in terms of aesthetics and performance compared to the others. If you are a performance junkie, the 4000D Airflow is going to be your best bet and it does look great but for pure aesthetics, the 4000X is magnificent.