As someone who reviews hardware constantly, it is rare I find a single item that truly impresses me, but the Corsair 6500X PC case managed to be something special. The pursuit of the perfect PC case is a never-ending journey for most enthusiasts. We want ample room for beefy graphics cards—especially considering they seem to get bigger every year—exceptional cooling performance, clean cable management, low noise levels, and striking aesthetics. Often, we must sacrifice one or more of these desires when choosing a case.
Corsair’s new 6500 series aims to deliver on that elusive golden ratio, promising features and quality that could make it the ideal enclosure for a broad spectrum of users. I’ve spent the last few weeks putting a 6500X model through its paces to see if it lives up to expectations, and I am impressed. From building the rig to all the small touches the Corsair 6500X brings to the table, this case is a PC builder’s dream come true.
Design and Build Quality
Since I saw the Corsair 6500 Series cases at CES 2024, I have been in love with the design and concept they bring to the table. The Corsair 6500X sticks to the brand’s recent design language, featuring smooth steel panels, clean edges, and an all-black colour scheme. It is offered in three flavours: the 6500D Airflow optimized for cooling, the Corsair 6500X for balanced airflow and noise levels, and the 6500X RGB, which adds lighting to the mix to ensure things look good when everything is turned on.
“From building the rig to all the small touches the Corsair 6500X brings to the table, this is case is aPC builder’s dream come true.”
My 6500X review unit made an understated but handsome impression, especially in the all-black style I was sent. Immediately, I noticed how solid the steel construction felt as I unboxed everything, and the side panels swung open on convenient hinges for easy access—something that will prove invaluable for benchmarking. The front I/O panel includes two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port, and the usual assortment of audio jacks. It’s a clean and functional layout that keeps with the style of the case.
Small touches like the slide-out dust filter on the roof and the velcro straps for cable management demonstrate thoughtful design, and when building a PC, in this case, these features add to making the experience fun and not frustrating. The 6500X doesn’t have some of the flashier features like integrated RGB lighting that we see on cases like the more recent NZXT H9 series, but it nails the fundamentals, and it is a small task to buy RGB fans you like to add to your build. This is a case meant to perform its core functions exceptionally well, and I can honestly say it was one of the best cases to build in to date.
Cooling and Airflow
The 6500X brings plenty of space to spec out your new build any way you want. There is ample room for a range of fans, AIO coolers or full water cooling if you so desire. We kept things simple for the build, using an MSI MPG 360mm AIO cooler and the typical assortment of case fans to keep things running smoothly, even during benchmarking. The space the Corsair 6500X affords made dropping in everything incredibly simple, with even the normally tedious task of getting everything looking nice while also keeping things running smoothly without a hitch.
The 6500X has room for up to ten 120mm fans or up to three 360mm radiators for those who want to install their own liquid cooling. It’s incredibly versatile when it comes to high-performance cooling capabilities right out of the box or down the road. While I opened to mount the AIO radiator in the area next to the board, the 6500X allows for a range of configurations to suit your specific needs, and with the fact it is a dual chamber case, even the more complex assortment can still look clean when all is setup.
Cable Management
Corsair put real effort into making cable management as easy as possible on the 6500 series. There are plenty of places to use ties to keep wires, and despite its size, the dual chamber design gives you more room to ensure things look good. There is 30mm of space back there to tuck cables away, and even with everything hooked up and running, I had plenty of room to clean the build-up without the usual frustrations that come at the end of a PC build. The edges of the cable management cutouts are protected by rubber grommets to prevent damage to wires, and the placement gives ample options for running wires.
I love how well everything is placed, with plenty of options for fan types, different AIO designs and even new support for new reverse connection motherboards. These were the big new things at CES 2024 and offer a new way to build PCs without having to worry about finding ways to hide cables once everything is set up and running. At the same time, you still have to worry about cable management at the back. With new boards like ASUS BTF and MSI Project Zero coming out this year, the fact that they are already compatible is great, especially for people looking to future-proof their new build.
It is rare that I walk away from a PC build without some level of frustration, but somehow, the Corsair 6500X managed it. Between the ample routing space, handy velcro straps, protected cutouts, and futureproofing concepts, I’ve never had an easier time managing cables. Corsair hit it out of the park here.
Noise Levels
With 6500X, one of the larger cases we have used in the CGMagazine offices, I was not surprised to see that it managed to keep the noise levels of the PC relatively under control. Using the typical range of rams, including three for the AIO, I did not notice any major noise issues with the final build.
When idle, my test system was very quiet, and I could only hear a faint whisper while doing standard tasks. Under gaming loads, the fans spool up to around to keep temperatures in check, but all within a reasonable level. You may be able to hear them, but they should not be noticeable when wearing headphones. Should you want more airflow, the 6500D Airflow model does allow for a slightly cooler build but will also result in more noise.
Since the Corsair 6500X is such a modular case, those who want a silent system could swap the stick with something like Noctua’s Chromax line or just go full water cooling to keep things whisper quiet. The 6500X gives you the thermal headroom to use slower, quieter fans if desired. I would be excited to see what a full water-cooled build could look like in this case, but that project will have to wait, at least for now.
Pricing and Verdict
The Corsair 6500X and 6500D Airflow carry a $199.99 MSRP, which positions them in the premium segment of the market. If you want a bit RGB in your case, the 6500X RGB 3x iCUE LINK RX120 Performance RGB Fans will set you back $50 more at $259.99. None of the options are inexpensive, but you are getting a lot of case for the money. I can’t state enough how well-designed this case is, and that is not even touching on some of the extra features like included one-twist Quikturn screws or iCUE Link cutouts that give a plethora of options for your next build.
It’s not often that a PC case genuinely impresses me, but the Corsair 6500X delivers on every need I have as someone who builds PCs almost monthly. It provides exceptional cooling potential out of the box that can be expanded for high-end systems. The cable management is intelligently designed and makes tidying up builds very easy. It’s also well-constructed from quality materials and has a simple, subtle aesthetic.
Corsair struck an excellent balance that caters well to the core enthusiast and performance audience. For those wanting a feature-packed case with great thermals that looks nice and simplifies the building process, the 6500X is an outstanding choice. Corsair has delivered one of the most well-rounded cases I’ve ever tested.
