With its aggressive, angular fascia – and a name to match – the Corsair Carbide SPEC-ALPHA is certainly a case that grabs your attention. While the SPEC-ALPHA does have an emphasis on its ‘modern' styling, Corsair are also keen to point out the range of features included with the case – including a 3-speed fan controller, 2x 120mm LED fans and support for up to four SSDs.
We have recently covered a few of Corsair's latest cases – our review of the Carbide 270R, for example, can be found over HERE. Today, however, our attention turns to the Carbide SPEC-ALPHA. Priced at £79.99 from Overclockers UK, the sample in for review today is the white-and-red model. However, you can also buy the SPEC-ALPHA in black-and-silver if that is more your style. This review assesses the features, practicality and cooling performance of the case before giving a final verdict.
Specification
- Weight: 5.7kg
- Colour: White/Red
- Case Form Factor: Mid-Tower
- Dimensions: 518mm x 220mm x 474mm (L x W x H)
- Case Motherboard Support: MicroATX, ATX, Mini-ITX
- Maximum GPU Length: 380mm
- Maximum CPU Cooler Height: 156mm
- Maximum PSU Length: 190mm
- Case Expansion Slots: 7
- Case Drive Bays: (x3) 3.5in, (x4) 2.5in
- Case Material: Steel
- Case Power Supply: ATX (not included)
- External Connections: (x2) USB 3.0, (x1) Headphone Port, (x1) Microphone Port
- Fan Mount Locations Front: (x2) 120mm, Top: (x2) 120mm, Rear: (x1) 120mm
- Fans Included Front: (x2) 120mm, Rear: (x1) 120mm
- Radiator Mount Locations: Front: 120/240mm, Rear: 120mm
Fugly
nice housing
£80 for this?
Poor cable management, weak cooling options, angular with red accents (ie the standard “gamer” aesthetic, a marmite design to say the least) .
For ~£15 less you can have the NZXT Source 340, which offers a simpler, cleaner look with far better cable routing. If you want a Corsair equivalent, the carbide 270R comes in at the same price as the nzxt option, with similar cable management, a similar look, and even better cooling options, for multiple rad water loops.
Or for £75 is the king of this price range – the Fractal Define S. Excellent cable management, solid build quality, and room for up to a 420mm rad on top (or a 360 if going x120), up to 360mm on the front, a 120mm on the bottom and a 120 or 140mm on the rear.
Not sure what corsair are thinking with this tower, they lose to one of their cheaper cases for functionality (the carbide 270r) and gets demolished at the price point by the define S.
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what would you recommend around those prices for someone who ‘d like to have the possibility to mount at least three 3.5″ mechanical drives without sacrificing quality-usability-neatness
http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-s
The define S, fits 3x 3.5″ and 2x 2.5, can fit multiple radiators too (should you aio cool your cpu and have a hybrid cooler for your card, along with solid cable management. For me it’s the best case in its price point.
where i stay its price at the moment is more than £85 ( >100 euros ) and that’s a bit over the price range i have in mind.
besides this i am skeptical about the way the drives are mounted. is that convenient ? isn’t a problem that ssd’s are behind the mobo ?
what about CD/DVD drives? Where is the slot for them outside?
there isn’t one