Review: Corsair Obsidian Series 500D

Conclusion

Corsair has updated its range of Obsidian Series enclosures for the first time since 2014 with the launch of the mid-tower 500D.

Priced at £140 and designed to appeal to a wider audience than some of the niche Obsidian Series enclosures of the past, this latest entrant offers an array of enticing features in a sleek, well-proportioned frame.

The highlights include hinged tempered glass and aluminium doors that swing open with ease, an I/O panel that includes USB 3.1 Type-C, and removable fan trays that simplify liquid-cooler installation. 500D shares a similar underlying frame to the Crystal Series 570X, but for those who find RGB lighting a tad too ostentatious for their liking, Corsair makes the surprise decision to forego any out-the-box illumination.

A simpler, less cluttered aesthetic is a welcome change, and the latest Obsidian Series chassis is only a few small tweaks away from being an excellent all-rounder. We'd prefer the side panels to sit flush and two of the three dust filters are a bit fiddly to remove, but other than that our gripes are few and far between.

Bottom line: competition in the mid-tower space is really hotting up; Obsidian Series 500D represents a return to form for Corsair and deserves to be on your shortlist for a high-end build.

Corsair Obsidian Series 500D

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The Corsair Obsidian Series 500D chassis is available to purchase from Scan Computers.

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