Corsair Carbide Air 540

Darksaber · Jul 1, 2013

The Corsair Carbide Air 540 is the company's first cube chassis; it aims to offer the perfect base for a compact water-cooling system. Don't be fooled by the name as it can swallow up to two 280 mm radiators without issue. While everything looks great on paper, we check to see how it stacks up against the competition.

Show full review

Easy Rhino · Jul 1, 2013

That is quite the case. I have to say though that vertical loading discs are a huge pain. Sometimes they fall out and then jam up the disc tray. A better choice would to use one of those slot loaders instead.

also, a windowless version for us older guys would be pretty epic.

Frick · Jul 1, 2013

Easy Rhino said:
also, a windowless version for us older guys would be pretty epic.

Hey I have ALWAYS hated windows on cases.

RCoon · Jul 1, 2013

If I could actually be bothered to switch cases and redo all my water tubing, I'd totally get one of these, because of the awesome mounting options and amazing cable management. If a case is going to have a window it needs to fill the whole panel, otherwise they're just plain irritating, this hits the nail on the head.

Solidstate89 · Jul 1, 2013

Frick said:
Hey I have ALWAYS hated windows on cases.

Same, this case would damn near perfect for the price if it weren't for that window. At the very least, I wish Corsair would offer the ability to purchase a solid door. Like back when they released the 700D immediately after the 800D and sold the solid door of the 700D so 800D owners could buy it and replace the window.

Deleted member 24505 · Jul 1, 2013

Wow £116 from scan and £168 from ebuyer, wtf ebuyer :mad:

Nice case, I don't mind vertical drives either really.

jihadjoe · Jul 1, 2013

I think it'd look great turned on its side. Just like the old cases of yore, but with a spiffy window on top looking in on the components.

Ed_1 · Jul 1, 2013

Can you really use a vertical optical drive like that w/o problems . I didn't know you can mount them vertical.
Does manufactures say it is ok, seems would add a lot of problems with damaging disk or even long term use of drive .

Deleted member 24505 · Jul 1, 2013

Ed_1 said:
Can you really use a vertical optical drive like that w/o problems . I didn't know you can mount them vertical.
Does manufactures say it is ok, seems would add a lot of problems with damaging disk or even long term use of drive .

Its fine, look at the xbox, and ps3.

RCoon · Jul 1, 2013

tigger said:
Wow £116 from scan and £168 from ebuyer, wtf ebuyer

Nice case, I don't mind vertical drives either really.

Odd, usually its the other way around... I'll bet OCUK will sell it for £200

I like the idea of running it on its side though.

Ed_1 · Jul 1, 2013

tigger said:
Its fine, look at the xbox, and ps3.

Thanks, I guess you can guess I don't have either .
great it is not a issue .

Major_A · Jul 1, 2013

If I had the room to store the case I'd buy it. As of right now my mid tower sits under the desk and there isn't much room with it. :ohwell:

Rowsol · Jul 1, 2013

Seems like a lot of wasted space on the psu side of the case. Could've fit a lot more drives back there. I like the window a lot. Usually the drive bays are showing through windows.

Vario · Jul 2, 2013

I like the design. Kind of like a sideways Coolermaster XB.

nodata · Jul 10, 2013

Frick said:
Hey I have ALWAYS hated windows on cases.

Same here

MxPhenom 216 · Jul 10, 2013

I like it, but wish it was a little bit more designed for water cooling.

System Name	Meshlicious Monster
Processor	Intel Core i5-10600T
Motherboard	MSI Z490I Unify
Cooling	NZXT Kraken Z53 with 2x Noctua Redux 1300 RPM PWM fans
Memory	ADATA 16 GB 3200 Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s)	MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
Storage	TeamGroup 1TB NVMe SSD
Display(s)	Asus ProArt 27" 1440P, 75Hz
Case	ssupd Meshlicious with mesh side panels
Power Supply	Fractal Design Ion 660 W Platinum ATX
Mouse	Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless
Keyboard	Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard
Software	Windows 10 Home

System Name	Desktop
Processor	i5 13600KF
Motherboard	AsRock B760M Steel Legend Wifi
Cooling	Noctua NH-U9S
Memory	4x 16 Gb Gskill S5 DDR5 @6000
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte Gaming OC 6750 XT 12GB
Storage	WD_BLACK 4TB SN850x
Display(s)	Gigabye M32U
Case	Corsair Carbide 400C
Audio Device(s)	On Board
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova 650 P2
Mouse	MX Master 3s
Keyboard	Logitech G915 Wireless Clicky
Software	The Matrix

System Name	Black MC in Tokyo
Processor	Ryzen 5 5600
Motherboard	Asrock B450M-HDV
Cooling	Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2
Memory	2 x 16GB Kingston Fury 3400mhz
Video Card(s)	XFX 6950XT Speedster MERC 319
Storage	Kingston A400 240GB \| WD Black SN750 2TB \|WD Blue 1TB x 2 \| Toshiba P300 2TB \| Seagate Expansion 8TB
Display(s)	Samsung U32J590U 4K + BenQ GL2450HT 1080p
Case	Fractal Design Define R4
Audio Device(s)	Line6 UX1 + some headphones, Nektar SE61 keyboard
Power Supply	Corsair RM850x v3
Mouse	Logitech G602
Keyboard	Cherry MX Board 1.0 TKL Brown
VR HMD	Acer Mixed Reality Headset
Software	Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores	Rimworld 4K ready!

System Name	HP Omen 17
Processor	i7 7700HQ
Memory	16GB 2400Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s)	GTX 1060
Storage	Samsung SM961 256GB + HGST 1TB
Display(s)	1080p IPS G-SYNC 75Hz
Audio Device(s)	Bang & Olufsen
Power Supply	230W
Mouse	Roccat Kone XTD+
Software	Win 10 Pro

System Name	CUBE_NXT
Processor	i9 12900K @ 5.0Ghz all P-cores with E-cores enabled
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master
Cooling	EK AIO Elite Cooler w/ 3 Phanteks T30 fans
Memory	64GB DDR5 @ 5600Mhz
Video Card(s)	EVGA 3090Ti Ultra Hybrid Gaming w/ 3 Phanteks T30 fans
Storage	1 x SK Hynix P41 Platinum 1TB, 1 x 2TB, 1 x WD_BLACK SN850 2TB, 1 x WD_RED SN700 4TB
Display(s)	Alienware AW3418DW
Case	Lian-Li O11 Dynamic Evo w/ 3 Phanteks T30 fans
Power Supply	Seasonic PRIME 1000W Titanium
Software	Windows 11 Pro 64-bit

Corsair Carbide Air 540

Darksaber

Senior Editor & Case Reviewer

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop

RCoon

Solidstate89

Deleted member 24505

Guest

jihadjoe

Ed_1

Deleted member 24505

Guest

RCoon

Ed_1

Major_A

Rowsol

Vario

nodata

MxPhenom 216

ASIC Engineer

Processor	Intel i9-9900k @ 5GHz
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro Wifi
Cooling	ThermalTake Riing 240
Memory	2x8GB G-Skill 3600 CL19 @ 16-19-19-20
Video Card(s)	Zotac RTX 2060 Amp!
Storage	2x Samsung 860 Evo 512GB, 4x Seagate 8TB
Display(s)	2x Dell U2713H
Case	CoolerMaster M500P
Power Supply	ThermalTake Toughpower 730W
Software	Windows 10 Pro

System Name	Ed-PC
Processor	Intel i5-12600k
Motherboard	Asus TUF Z690 PLUS Wifi D4
Cooling	Noctua NH-14S
Memory	Crucial Ballistix DDR4 C16@3600 16GB
Video Card(s)	Nvidia MSI 970
Storage	Samsung 980, 860evo
Case	Lian Li Lancool II mesh Perf
Audio Device(s)	onboard
Power Supply	Corsair RM750x
Software	Win10 Pro 64bit

System Name	2600k
Processor	i7 2600K
Motherboard	ASUS P8Z77-V PRO
Cooling	Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK
Memory	16GB
Video Card(s)	ASUS GTX 760 OC
Storage	120GB Agility 3/2TB WD Caviar Black x 2/Intel 311 (Cache Drive)
Display(s)	Dell S2340M
Case	Lian Li PC-8FIR (Silver)
Audio Device(s)	X-Fi Titanium Fata1ity
Power Supply	Cooler Master Silent Pro M 1000W
Software	Win 7 Pro x64 SP1
Benchmark Scores	Logitech G500 \| Razer Lycosa Mirror \| Logitech Z-5300

System Name	Better than before
Processor	10400
Motherboard	B460 Pro4
Cooling	Id-Cooling 224
Memory	16 GB
Video Card(s)	1650 Super
Storage	Swordfish 500 GB
Display(s)	AOC G2
Case	Coolermaster Ammo 533
Audio Device(s)	Micca MB42X
Power Supply	Pure Power 11
Mouse	G403
Keyboard	Sidewinder x4
Software	Windows 10 (ugh)

System Name	Computer of Theseus
Processor	Intel i9-12900KS: 50x Pcore multi @ 1.18Vcore (target 1.275V -100mv offset)
Motherboard	EVGA Z690 Classified
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15S, 2xThermalRight TY-143, 4xNoctua NF-A12x25,3xNF-A12x15, 2xAquacomputer Splitty9Active
Memory	G-Skill Trident Z5 (32GB) DDR5-6000 C36 F5-6000J3636F16GX2-TZ5RK
Video Card(s)	EVGA Geforce 3060 XC Black Gaming 12GB
Storage	1x Samsung 970 Pro 512GB NVMe (OS), 2x Samsung 970 Evo Plus 2TB (data 1 and 2), ASUS BW-16D1HT
Display(s)	Dell S3220DGF 32" 2560x1440 165Hz Primary, Dell P2017H 19.5" 1600x900 Secondary, Ergotron LX arms.
Case	Lian Li O11 Air Mini
Audio Device(s)	Audiotechnica ATR2100X-USB, El Gato Wave XLR Mic Preamp, ATH M50X Headphones, Behringer 302USB Mixer
Power Supply	Super Flower Leadex Platinum SE 1000W 80+ Platinum White
Mouse	Zowie EC3-C
Keyboard	Vortex Multix 87 Winter TKL (Gateron G Pro Yellow)
Software	Win 10 LTSC 21H2

System Name	Ryzen Reflection
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 5900x
Motherboard	Gigabyte X570S Aorus Master
Cooling	2x EK PE360 \| TechN AM4 AMD Block Black \| EK Quantum Vector Trinity GPU Nickel + Plexi
Memory	Teamgroup T-Force Xtreem 2x16GB B-Die 3600 @ 14-14-14-28-42-288-2T 1.45v
Video Card(s)	Zotac AMP HoloBlack RTX 3080Ti 12G \| 950mV 1950Mhz
Storage	WD SN850 500GB (OS) \| Samsung 980 Pro 1TB (Games_1) \| Samsung 970 Evo 1TB (Games_2)
Display(s)	Asus XG27AQM 240Hz G-Sync Fast-IPS \| Gigabyte M27Q-P 165Hz 1440P IPS \| Asus 24" IPS (portrait mode)
Case	Lian Li PC-011D XL \| Custom cables by Cablemodz
Audio Device(s)	FiiO K7 \| Sennheiser HD650 + Beyerdynamic FOX Mic
Power Supply	Seasonic Prime Ultra Platinum 850
Mouse	Razer Viper v2 Pro
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
Software	Windows 11 Pro 64-Bit