Corsair Carbide MbK

[kier]

Hi my fellow casemodders...it's Kier again

It's time for a new build with the beautiful Corsair Carbide Air 540.

Saw this case for the first time at some pictures from Computex 2013. And think it has a lot of potential

A good looking case with numerous possibilities for air cooling and watercooling ofcourse.

Time to think of some nice ideas and cut it in pieces.

Still have some hardware laying around for this build, which of course may change in the future of the build.

Hardware:

Mobo: Z68X-UD4-B3
CPU: i7 2600K
GPU: GTX680 x2
PSU: CM silent pro Platinum 1000w
Fans: xigmatek xof-f1251 6x
SSD: OCZ Vertex2 120GB
HDD: WD Green power 1TB
RAM: Corsair Dominators 8GB1600C7

Watercooling:

Radiators: EK-CoolStream RAD XT (240) + EK-CoolStream RAD XT (360)
GPU blocks: EK-FC680 GTX+ - Acetal+Nickel 2x
CPU blosk: EK-Supremacy (old style)
Pump: Laing DDC-1Plus MCP355 + EKWB top
Tubes: Acrylic tubes 12/10mm
And a lot of BP and EKWB fittings

First of al some pics and a small review of the case.... The Corsair Carbide Air 540.





And here it is.







Dimension: 415mm x 332mm x 458mm
Material: Steel and plastic

Beautiful full side panel window







Front I/O:
(x2) USB 3.0
(x1) Headphone
(x1) Mic





Removable front dust filter.









Top





There is space for 2 x 140mm or 2 x 120mm fans or ofcourse a radiator



Filter



With magnets





Front space for 2 x 140mm, 3 x 120mm fan or also a radiator
3x AF140L 140mm fans included



Inside

The two AF140L 140mm fans





CPU cutout





And the 3e included AF140L 140mm fan







8 expansion Slots





Dual 3.5” hot swap bays









4x 2.5” tool-free SSD drive cages









5.25" drive bay





Cable routing cutouts with rubber grommets





All necessary cables present



Maximum PSU length 200mm



Accessory kit



Time to place some hardware and see how it looks



Maximum GPU Length 320mm





If your going for air...Maximum CPU Cooler Height 170mm



More to come!!!

 

[d1nky]

im intrigued by this case, be good to see what a pro modder does with it

 

[kier]

Thanks mate, was a little bit love at first sight with this case

 

[kier]

First post wasn't much about modding, so time for a little modding UPDATE!!!
This time i'm gonna cut the case in half

First job...place some nice Xigmatek xof-f1251 fans. Btw. The color combination will be black/ grey and white.



First, see how it looks



A bit "normal". So other idea then, but first disassembling the case .



Once stripped, this is whats left.



Marked the size of 3 Xigmatek fans on top



Time to do the first cut.



Cut 2 strips to the right size and cut/ file some fan shapes



Mounted and tried to get the same height as the original plastic covers



Placed a 240 rad beneath it. 1 fan is for the show, much better looking then 2 on top and three in the front



Both rads placed like this



Again same heights as the plastic covers



And front



Cut a acrylic plate and made 3 fanholes in it



And again for the front



Cut 5mm on both sides to get a nice opening between the acrylic and plastic

Glued a angled piece between (with ACRIFIX 192)



And here it is...the new cover



First pasted white vinyl on it to get a better light distribution from some LED strips





Placed some white LED strips and a line of frosted acrylic on both sides.





After this pasted another layer of vinyl, but this time black and put some power on the strips













Hmm, stupid me...have a lot of RGB strips and controllers laying around.
So removed the white strips and placed RGB.

Dont think i'm gonna use the different colors a lot, but it's funny so why not?







Dim the white lights



And full power



finally... a nice movie

 

[McSteel]

Damn.

 

[kier]

Thanks

 

[adulaamin]

subbed!

Another awesome job!

 

[erocker]

You took the one part that I don't like about the case and made it awesome!

 

[ne6togadno]

at what direction front fans blow
and sub

 

[kier]

Push and thanks

 

[HammerON]

Sub'd for another awesome build
I am really looking forward to seeing what you do with this case!

 

[micropage7]

First post wasn't much about modding, so time for a little modding UPDATE!!!
This time i'm gonna cut the case in half

First job...place some nice Xigmatek xof-f1251 fans. Btw. The color combination will be black/ grey and white.

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03613.jpg[/URL]

First, see how it looks

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03624.jpg[/URL]

A bit "normal". So other idea then, but first disassembling the case .

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03627.jpg[/URL]

Once stripped, this is whats left.

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03629.jpg[/URL]

Marked the size of 3 Xigmatek fans on top

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03638.jpg[/URL]

Time to do the first cut.

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03642.jpg[/URL]

Cut 2 strips to the right size and cut/ file some fan shapes

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03657.jpg[/URL]

Mounted and tried to get the same height as the original plastic covers

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03653.jpg[/URL]

Placed a 240 rad beneath it. 1 fan is for the show, much better looking then 2 on top and three in the front

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03659.jpg[/URL]

Both rads placed like this

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03666.jpg[/URL]

Again same heights as the plastic covers

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03693.jpg[/URL]

And front

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03696.jpg[/URL]

Cut a acrylic plate and made 3 fanholes in it

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03722.jpg[/URL]

And again for the front

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03726.jpg[/URL]

Cut 5mm on both sides to get a nice opening between the acrylic and plastic

Glued a angled piece between (with ACRIFIX 192)

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03730.jpg[/URL]

And here it is...the new cover

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03746.jpg[/URL]

First pasted white vinyl on it to get a better light distribution from some LED strips

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03764.jpg[/URL]

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03748.jpg[/URL]

Placed some white LED strips and a line of frosted acrylic on both sides.

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03850.jpg[/URL]

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03848.jpg[/URL]

After this pasted another layer of vinyl, but this time black and put some power on the strips

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03768.jpg[/URL]

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03777.jpg[/URL]

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03773.jpg[/URL]

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC038351.jpg[/URL]

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03833.jpg[/URL]

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03839.jpg[/URL]

Hmm, stupid me...have a lot of RGB strips and controllers laying around.
So removed the white strips and placed RGB.

Dont think i'm gonna use the different colors a lot, but it's funny so why not?

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03852.jpg[/URL]

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03853.jpg[/URL]

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03854.jpg[/URL]

Dim the white lights

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03855.jpg[/URL]

And full power

[url]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Carbide/c2/DSC03856.jpg[/URL]

finally... a nice movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Ecn9kwbeA

i have to say you match it nicely
rock man

 

[kier]

Update!!!

External is almost finished.... So let's go inside
What I did:

Cut a acrylic midplate, and a acrylic mobo tray cut out with the dimensions of what remains after placing the mobo.
Cut/ placed 2x angled aluminum strips which are bent. Placed at the side from the vertical radiator and front midplate.



I also placed an acrylic pipe at each radiator which later become linked.



Height midplate is sufficient to do some installation work beneath it.



Attempt number 1 in terms of the tube routing (off course straight forward)











Nice ... but not quite the thing i'm looking for. So change of plans:

GPUs in-and outlets all down and later.... in-and outlet CPU up



With C47 adapters



Made all covers and midplate black again



Only need to think/ make a nice cover for the horizontal rad



Connect the GPUs













Underneath the case I have some space to connect everything (needs to be nicely finished) Rads (right) connected and has a drain port.
Furthermore GPU1 GPU2 coupled and the other in-and outlet with high flow fittings / flex tubes going to the right side of the case.



And screwed an acrylic plate against it.

CPU / outlet goes up and used some 90 degrees Rotery's to let it go to the right compartment



Looks quite clean allready









The CPU connection comes out here and using fillports



As for the reservoir.... I have found a old EK Bayres. Made a new frontplate, this time without EK logo



And placed a MCP355 pump at the back





Fillports from both rads





And two pics of the beautiful fans and nostalgic bayreservoir





To be continued!!!

 

[d1nky]

External is almost finished.... So let's go inside

im using this quote in real life! sorry I couldnt resist!

love the work, you've made that case 10 times better looking!

 

[kier]

lol, telling this to my wife on a daily basis

 

[d1nky]

glad you noticed that the pipes going horizontal were ugly.

the vertical keeps it symmetrical and unique!

you have a true flare for this!

 

[bogmali]

I really liked the case un-modded but I like it 10 times now!

Damn you Sneeky

 

[Modcat]

Question

Hi Kier!

First of all i wanna admit your casemod so far is a 10+/10 - great work, its amazing.

Got a question about the vinyl you use for your acryl.

Where did you buy such a true and similar color as Corsairs own case color?

Im doing some modding atm aswell. And just got 4-5 test-colors from a company. But nothing looks similar to mine.

Thanks!

Gonna follow this thread! Keep it up.

 

[kier]

Thank you so much my modding friends and sorry for the late reply Modcat The vinyl is coming from a Dutch shop Ultimate tuning




Update!!!

Also this build continues it's been a while since I've updated because of other little projects
But ...... here it is.

Been busy with the other side. For this I placed the in/ outlet from the GPUs like this... going up!!
Fits nicely along the PSU.



And after some pushing and measuring with the adapters: Right goes to the CPU and comes back to the Res, and placed a nice little fill port. Left goes from pump outlet to the GPUs



My new little fillport.



The whole thing.



Then it was time for the sleeving part. I have used black and 4 different types gray.















Connected.













And adapted the internal fan a bit.



Time to fill















Tomorrow there will be pictures of the "good" side and a nice filling movie

Before going to sleep 2 nice teasers:





Good night my friends !!!

 

[SaiZo]

Awesome mod!
I like the black/white theme 10/10 from me.

 

[McSteel]

This just has to be illegal, somehow...

Fantastic work man, you were born to do this

 

[kier]

The white is liquid mate not powder. So not illegal... I think

Thanks

 

[Modcat]

Vinyl

Hi again

Thanks for the link, is it the Mat Zwarts folie ? im not so strong in deutch.

Awesome update. And nice sleeving! can't wait to see more of your project(s).

Modcat

 

[kier]

Yes...mat zwart




Update!!!

As promised the sequel:

First a filling vid:

And the pictures of the filled Corsair Carbide























After letting it run for a while, it seems to appears to have no leakage

My good CNC mate Pascal (thanks man) had a nice RGB controller which can dim the RGB LEDs very nicely. This gives a very cool effect when spinning the fans. Also placed another RGB strip internally.



Lights out!!!









All colors of the rainbow available again:









And cold white again



Or a bit warmer



Like I said, the dim function is quite fun to see

full power:





Dimmed:





Also a movie of this nice effect

Until the next update again my modding friends

 

[Jetster]

Awesome build