You know if you think about it, gaming is quite an expensive pass time. For a console gamer it has to be the high price of a game and for a PC gamer it is perhaps building a rig. Although many are of the opinion that in the long run PC’s are easier on your wallet than a console. But if you attend events like BYOC you’ll know that there some that go to extremes to prove that theirs is the ultimate gaming rig.
One of the most important components to a PC gamer is the cabinet in which their rig resides. A cabinet is to the rig what the body of a car is to the engine. It compliments each, well not necessarily but then you wouldn’t want a Ferrari engine in a Maruti 800 right?
Anyway, Corsair has a bunch of cabinets that are easy on the eyes and also your wallet. A line-up of three pretty sturdy and good looking cabinets has given gamers a great alternative to showcase their rigs in affordable cases. We had with us the Spec 1, 2 and 3 for a while and we found them three to be pretty decent pieces of hardware.
Spec 01
With this line up it is pretty evident that Corsair only had one thing in mind- affordability. While still maintaining the classy look and a mean looking exterior, the Spec 01 has a windowed side panel to show of the installed hardware. The front grill adds to the massive look of the cabinet. The Corsair Carbide Spec 01 features removable ventilated brackets. The front I/O panel is thin, with just two USB ports, not something we expected for a case in this category.
Being the entry level cabinet in the series it value for money to say the least. With certain cut backs, the cabinet still manages to hold its own and can make up for the other aspects in the looks department. You can get your hands on this for about Rs. 3500.
Specification
Type — Gaming Cabinet
Color — Black
Expansion Slots — 7
Weight — 4.8 kg
External 5.25″ Drive Bays — 2
Internal 3.5″ Drive Bays — 4
Motherboard Compatibility — Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX
Front Ports — 1 x USB 2.0; 1 x USB 3.0-Audio In/Out
120mm Fans — Front 1 x 120mm,Rear 1 x 120mm
Price — Rs. 4,250
Spec 02
This cabinet is a bit more aggressive when it comes to the cooling for high-performance GPUs. The interior is designed in such a way that it allows for the included LED-lit front intake fan to draw cold air directly to the graphic card. And that’s not it but there is space for up to 6 fans which results in massive cooling potential.
It has the same side panel window that allows you to see your components operate. The cable routing system and dust filters help keeping it clean. The front panel is home to two 3.0 USB ports which is something that Spec 01 misses out on. In addition to the two standard 5.25” optical drive bays, there are three 3.5” hard drive bays and two 2.5” solid-state drive bays and all for a price tag of about Rs. 3800.
Specification
Type – Gaming Cabinet
Color – Black
Motherboard Compatibility – Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX
With Side Panel Window Yes
Expansion
External 5.25″ Drive Bays – 2
Internal 3.5″ Drive Bays – 3
Expansion Slots – 7
Front Ports
Front Ports – 2 x USB 3.0 front ports with internal connector
Cooling System
120mm Fans – Front 1 x 120mm,Rear 1 x 120mm
Physical Spec
Weight – 5.7kg
Price — Rs 4,850
Spec 03
Just falling short of the 4 grand price tag, the Spec 3 is the best of the series and is a cabinet that more than holds its own. With a 2 year warranty this one is a good competitor in the market and is rightly so.
The Spec 03 has an industrial, high-airflow front panel, and like the other two in the series it has a huge windowed side panel and a front 120mm LED fan. And to add to that there are 3.0 USB ports, tool-free SSD and HDD installation which can have your rig up and running in a couple of minutes.
The biggest selling point for this cabinet is that other cabinets in this rage won’t give you the same combination of great looks and features that the Spec 03 does. Up to dual 140mm front intake fan, an rear 120mm exhaust, and room for massive graphics cards makes the SPEC-03 stand out among the crowd.
Specification
Type – Gaming Cabinet
Color – Black
Case Material – Steel / Plastic
Motherboard Compatibility – Micro – ATX / ATX / Mini-ITX
With Side Panel Window – Yes
Expansion
External 5.25″ Drive Bays – 2
Internal 3.5″ Drive Bays – 3
Expansion Slots – 7
Front Ports
Front Ports – 2 x USB 3.0
Cooling System
120mm Fans – Front 1 x 120mm Red LED / Rear – 120mm(non LED)
Physical Spec
Dimensions -17.5″ x 7.3″ x 17.3″
Weight – 5.7kg
Price — Rs.5,100
For someone who is looking to build a gaming rig, these Corsair cabinets would make a good fit. They are decently priced, they have a brand name to it, do pretty alright on looks too. We would definitely recommend these range of products and are fairly sure they’ll do you good.
