Reviews - Corsair Obsidian Series 250D

[HEXUS]

Corsair finally arrives on the Mini ITX scene.

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[SkarKrow]

Actually doesn't look that oversized in the photos, and the fact it can have so much stuff in it is great, suits my needs for SFF quite well, may have to grab one when I get my own place and have need of an overpowered HTPC.

[Lucio]

Darn! I've just build a full size machine because I couldn't find any ITX cases I liked and this comes out!

[CountBartok]

What I do not understand is why ITX carries the same price as full size for some manufacturers.
Would go for coolermaster Elite 130 myself.http://www.coolermaster.co.uk/produc...roduct_id=6923 Retails for around £40.00.

[Brian224]

What I do not understand is why ITX carries the same price as full size for some manufacturers.

Apart from some steel, paint, and the saving from geting twice as many in a 40' box, there is little scope for cost saving with a smaller case.

Similar number of fans and windows and fittings, almost identical manufacturing and assembly operations, and possibly greater development costs as parts and tooling from the larger cases couldn't be reused.

I used to get the same comment about cost breakdowns (for greenhouses) and I would bet that the same is true in almost any "metal-bashing" industry, from tin cans to cars.

[SkarKrow]

Apart from some steel, paint, and the saving from geting twice as many in a 40' box, there is little scope for cost saving with a smaller case.

Similar number of fans and windows and fittings, almost identical manufacturing and assembly operations, and possibly greater development costs as parts and tooling from the larger cases couldn't be reused.

I used to get the same comment about cost breakdowns (for greenhouses) and I would bet that the same is true in almost any "metal-bashing" industry, from tin cans to cars.

Not to mention with a case this size there's a significant amount of engineering to be done to fit things in, they don't just follow a basic blueprint for this stuff they have to figure out how to maximise it's potential as a complete system whilst minimizing size.

Something I think Corsair have done well here.

Also the Cooler Master thing has the PSU jut out the back and thats worth the £40 right there for me.

[scaryjim]

Actually doesn't look that oversized in the photos

Seriously? Yet another mITX case that is *LARGER*, in all dimenstions, than the mATX Antec NSK 1380. I know this is kind of an unfashionable point of view, but I thought the point of small form factor PCs was to be .. well ... small. I can build a more flexible rig, with a much wider choice of components, into a smaller case, by going mATX. I'll swing for mITX when some of the larger case manufacturers actually start taking size seriously in an mITX case....

[jim]

Seriously? Yet another mITX case that is *LARGER*, in all dimenstions, than the mATX Antec NSK 1380. I know this is kind of an unfashionable point of view, but I thought the point of small form factor PCs was to be .. well ... small. I can build a more flexible rig, with a much wider choice of components, into a smaller case, by going mATX. I'll swing for mITX when some of the larger case manufacturers actually start taking size seriously in an mITX case....

Silverstone SG-05/SG-06? I had an SG-06 a while ago and absolutely loved it. Was a cracking PC for the size. Not dramatically smaller than the NSK 1380, but it is smaller in all dimensions. And the graphics card will always be the sticking point in these machines. With an APU, something like an 8K01 would be great, although the limits on the size of the cooler could be problematic.

I agree with you about this one, for sure. They'll need to come up with something a lot smaller, and it's clearly possible without sacrificing cooling capacity.

[WonkeyDonkey]

Silverstone SG-05/SG-06? I had an SG-06 a while ago and absolutely loved it. Was a cracking PC for the size. Not dramatically smaller than the NSK 1380, but it is smaller in all dimensions. And the graphics card will always be the sticking point in these machines. With an APU, something like an 8K01 would be great, although the limits on the size of the cooler could be problematic.

I agree with you about this one, for sure. They'll need to come up with something a lot smaller, and it's clearly possible without sacrificing cooling capacity.

You only need to take a look at what EVGA has done with the Hadron Air, and also Valve with the prototype SteamMachine, to realise what is possible.

This Corsair chassis, like so many others out there, talk about small form factor, compactness and all manner of other things, yet the reality of it is that they are anything but small or compact.

The BitFenix Prodigy was another one too. Everyone raved about how good it was, yet it had distinctly 'wobbly' legs and was only a few millimetres short of being able to accommodate an m-atx board.

If these companies who are supposedly the best in the business, think things like this are small or compact, then they damn well need to think again, because they will never pry a single penny from my hands.

Its time they started to show some real innovation.

SFX power supplies are readily available and a real choice. SSD's are readily available and a real choice. Shorter and smaller GPU's are readily available and a real choice. Just about every component needed can be bought in the smaller size/form factor.

Any more hints required ?

[this_is_gav]

I know PCs generally are like this, but so much wasted space!

Actually doesn't look that oversized in the photos

Not until you look and see what's presumably a 27" monitor and full size gaming keyboard. It's huge!

[Lil-Diabo]

Seriously? Yet another mITX case that is *LARGER*, in all dimenstions, than the mATX Antec NSK 1380. I know this is kind of an unfashionable point of view, but I thought the point of small form factor PCs was to be .. well ... small. I can build a more flexible rig, with a much wider choice of components, into a smaller case, by going mATX. I'll swing for mITX when some of the larger case manufacturers actually start taking size seriously in an mITX case....

You're right the Antec NKS 1380 is tiny, cleverly designed but having a quick little google search, also tells me that it had a special kind of PSU? (Has a little bit of a cut away) where as the 250D takes almost any PSU
There's also very little to no possibility of watercooling that case at all (which I personally think is what the 250D is about)

I really quite like this case, it's just a pity that i don't think my H220 radiator will fit without slim fans
However will wait for more reviews and see

[CountBartok]

Not to mention with a case this size there's a significant amount of engineering to be done to fit things in, they don't just follow a basic blueprint for this stuff they have to figure out how to maximise it's potential as a complete system whilst minimizing size.

Something I think Corsair have done well here.

Also the Cooler Master thing has the PSU jut out the back and thats worth the £40 right there for me.

Well as I spend very little time looking at the back of my case I'll save the extra £40.00 thanks.
And yes I did take into account tooling cost ect, but coolermaster and silverstone both have M-ITX cases for almost half the price.

[krazy_olie]

To be honest, whilst it looks like a fine case it's basically just a bit shorter. Look at what Apple has done with the Mac pro and some of the steam boxes and it's obvious that either the form factor standardisation is restrictive, or we are lacking imagination.