Want a mid-tower case but need the full tower features? Corsair has the answer. 600T case designed for enthusiast and gamer alike.
Product on Review: Corsair 600T
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Corsair
Street Price: £130
Corsair have, of late been getting to grips with entirely new markets. We have seen them just recently branch off into the world of audio. Back in the Summer of 2009, Corsair launched their very first computer case the Obsidian 800D and entered a new market. Today we take a look at their 3rd case to launch, named the 600T. Although fairly simplistic in its visual appearance like the 700D and 800D, the 600T doesn’t have sharp edges but has a curvy exterior, is a mid-tower case and has LED fans.
Corsair’s Take:
The Graphite Series™ 600T makes it easy to build a world-class gaming system. With excellent cooling from the dual 200mm fans, eight PCI-E expansion slots to accommodate multiple graphics cards, and plenty of room for large, power-hungry components, the Graphite Series 600T can handle just about anything you can throw at it.
The Graphite Series provides full-tower features in a mid-tower sized case, with an emphasis on performance and style. Whether you are an expert or on your first build, the Graphite Series is designed from the ground up to provide you with an incredible building experience. The Graphite Series proves that a high-performance case can be highly functional and look good doing it.
The Graphite Series provides full-tower features in a mid-tower sized case, with an emphasis on performance and style. Whether you are an expert or on your first build, the Graphite Series is designed from the ground up to provide you with an incredible building experience. The Graphite Series proves that a high-performance case can be highly functional and look good doing it.
Dimensions
– 20″ (H) x 23.3″ (L) x 10.4″ (W) – (507mm x 592mm x 265mm)
Material
– Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces
Color
– Graphite Grey and Black
Model
– CC600T
Drive Bays
– (x4) 5.25″
– (x6) 3.5″/2.5″ Drive Caddies
Cooling
– (x2) 200mm Fans w/White LEDs
– (x1) 120mm Fan
Expansion Slots
– 8
Motherboard
– ATX, mATX
Front I/O
– (x4) USB 2.0
– (x1) USB 3.0
– (x1) IEEE1394
– (x1) Headphone, (x1) MIC
Power Supply
– ATX (not included)
Exterior
The Corsair 600T comes in a unattractive but eco-friendly cardboard box, there is plenty of information on each side detailing the technical specifications. In particular there is an emphasis on the size of this case against the features it boasts. “Mid-tower size, full tower features” is printed on the front of the box. Inside the 600T is covered in a cloth cover and protected with polystyrene pillars.
Simple box design, eco-friendly!
With the 600T out of its packaging, we can see the case has some very elegant styling. It tends to favour both enthusiast and gamer by its visual attraction. Although there are no Perspex windows or wild colours. This minimalist approach to the styling follows on from the previous Corsair cases to hit the market but brings in softer edges and more curves. Incidentally, each side of the 600T is identical. Steel in structure and featuring two latches that allow you to remove the side panels in just a few moments, without the need of the screwdriver or even screws. This implementation I am very fond of, it works very well and is a significant improvement over the traditional method of securing side panels.
Simple but very bold visual appearance
Latches on the side panels for quick and easy removal. A wonderful idea
Along the top of the 600T there is perforated steel panel which is removable. To remove this all you need to do is simply press the mesh panel down and this panel pops up. Removing this panel reveals a spacious cavity that has the capacity for installing 2 x 120mm fans or a dual 120 radiator. Underneath the inner mesh there is a top mounted 200mm fan. So not only does the 600T have great air cooling but there is the option to fully kit this out for water-cooling. Within this cavity there is also a lock (a key is provided) for securing the prominent side panel.
Perforated mesh panel at the top of the 600T is removable
Spacious cavity underneath with room for a dual 120 radiator
Exterior (Continued)
Taking a look at the front panel we have 4 x 5.25″ drive bays for optical drives and beneath this we have another mesh panel that is removable. In similar to the panel on the top of the 600T the front panel is removed by pressing this section in. When removed, the inside of this panel has filters that can be cleaned when dirt/dust builds up. Underneath this entire region is a 200mm white LED intake fan. Whilst the design on the front here is fairly simple, it still puts across a lot of character. All the edges on the 600T are curved, nothing is sharp. The fan beneath the mesh panelling will illuminate when powered up. We will see this a little later.
Around the back we have placement at the bottom for mounting the PSU. Above this 8 expansion slots, usually a mid-tower has 7 or less so Corsair aren’t kidding when they say the 600T has full tower features. Each of the expansion covers has ventilation to encourage better airflow inside the case. To the side of the expansion slots we have 2 rubber grommets for threading tubing through. Above this we have an impressive mesh outlet that has been crafted to allow the 120mm fan on the other side to push air through. To the left of this is an opening for the I/O section of the motherboard.
The front and back styling on the Corsair 600T
Front panel removed with dust filters underneath
Observing the front panel controls on the 600T we can see there is plenty of functionality for additional devices. First we have 4 x USB2.0 ports, above this a headphone socket, right in the middle we have a large knob for fan control, a microphone socket, 1 X USB3.0 port, firewire and an activity LED. Above these controls there is a power button to the left side and then a reset button on the right side. These buttons are rather discreetly moulded into the panel here.
Front panel controls with USB3.0
Interior
Removing the side panels on the 600T reveals a case with cable management high on the agenda. The interior features 8 rubber grommets for organising the cables directly next to the motherboard, a huge CPU cooler backplate cut-out and plenty of tool-less mechanisms. Lets take a look at each of these aspects of the 600T.
Lots of space, cable management grommets and tool-less installation
The front and back styling on the Corsair 600T
The area marked out for the PSU strangely has no rubber insulation. There is a bracket there that can be adjusted for longer PSUs. With the lack of rubber here for the PSU mounting there is going to be metal on metal. But the rubber usually seen in cases here also prevents vibration. Corsair should really have implemented this. Beneath the mesh panel there is a filter that can be removed from the bottom for cleaning.
PSU mounting
Moving up the interior of the 600T we have 8 expansion slots each featuring easy to remove thumbscrews. Ventilation holes are present to encourage the airflow driven by the fans inside the 600T.
Expansion slot covers feature thumbscrews and ventilation holes
Interior (Continued)
Continuing on, at the back of the 600T there is a 120mm rear exhaust fan. This has a 3-pin connector for plugging into a fan header on the motherboard. Mounted on the roof of the 600T there is a 200mm white LED fan, this also has a 3-pin connector.
120mm exhaust fan and top mounted 200mm LED fan
The 600T features 4 x 5.25″ drive bays, each of these has a locking mechanism to secure drives within the 5.25″ cage. This does away with screws entirely, the mechanism here is very sturdy and doesn’t have any play. All you nee to do to secure a drive in place is flick the catch. Simple.
Optical drive mounting is tool-less
Beneath the optical drive arrangement are 2 HDD cages. Inside each cage are 3 removable frames that can host 2.5″ or 3.5″ drives. These frames click into their channels to fix the drive in place. A simple mechanism seen on many cases today. The top cage can actually be removed, Corsair have made this possible to cater for larger graphics cards and to further future proof the case because graphics cards are getting bigger and bigger and you need the room to accommodate them.
Tool-less design for HDD mounting too, with full removable cage for long graphics cards
The cables that plug into the motherboard front panel pins have been given a nice black sleeve to keep things looking tidy within the 600T. Rarely do we see this in case design, and even though its a small aspect to consider it ought to be on the list of things to do – I am pleased Corsair have focused on the finer things inside the 600T.
Power, reset, HDD led plugs have a black sleeve to keep things looking sleek
Installation
Well what can I say, the 600T was an absolute dream to work with. Side panels that pop out within a few moments, oodles of space within and the opportunity to conceal all of the cabling with ease. I can’t really stress enough how easy this case is to work with. Behind the motherboard tray there is masses of clearance on the CPU cooler backplate. Below I will take you through a few of the elements within the installation.
Installation finished
Lots of space around the back – lots of clearance for CPU cooler backplate
Included within the 600T is a small accessories pack that includes a quick guide, product leaflet, RMA detail sheet, cable ties, rubber washers, self tapping screws, motherboard screws and a set of locking keys for the top/side panel of the 600T.
Accessories kit included within the 600T
Installing HDDs is very easy, all you have to do is pop the drive into 1 of the 6 provided frames as pictured. The drive then just slide into one of the channels inside the cage, once in place it will click. Everything is fits flush to the cage.
Installing HDDs is very easy
Regarding graphics card compatibility. Installed within the 600T is the HD5870, there is almost 5″ between the end of the card and the HDD cage so a HD5970 will easily fit. But even so, should you require it, that top HDD cage can be removed to allow for extra room.
5″ clearance gap to the HDD cage from the end of the HD5870
Installation (Continued)
Installed within the 600T is the NH-U12P CPU cooler which is 158mm tall. Between the top of the heatpipes and the side panel there is approx. 2cm clearance. So the 600T will accommodate tower cooler that are rather large in height. This is good to see.
Plenty of clearance between the top of the CPU cooler and the side panel
Additional to the excellent cable management routing, grommets and spacing there is a unit beneath the HDD cages that will allow you to store any unwanted cables – further improving the cable management within the 600T. This is a neat idea, I like it. It can be accessed from the front of the motherboard side and behind the motherboard side. Very useful.
Cable management concealing box from the front
Cable management concealing box from the back
Behind the motherboard tray there is approx 1.5cm in clearance. This is adequate to allow even the thicker 24-pin ATX cable to be routed along the back of the 600T. The 4-pin EATX cable was also able to be routed around the back and up to the top.
Measuring the gap between the back of the motherboard tray and side panel
Powered Up
The Corsair 600T features 2 x 200mm fans that have white LEDs embedded so I thought it would be a good idea to show the effect they give off. The lighting isn’t overpowering, but allows for a soft white glow from the front and top mesh areas.
The 600T standing proud
The front of the 600T lit up
Lighting being emitted from the top
Seeing the Enermax Cluster spinning next to the top mounted 200mm fan – I just had to show these two fans next to each other. They compliment one another very well.
Enermax Cluster with top mounted 200mm fan both compliment each other
Thermal Performance
The Corsair 600T has 3 pre-installed fans located in key airflow spots. A front mounted 200mm fan, a top mounted 200mm fan and a 120mm rear exhaust fan. So with regards to air flow, the 600T should by all accounts output some pleasing temperature readings.
To discover the thermal performance of the Corsair 600T I will record idle temperatures after 20 minutes from a cold boot. I will then stress the system and temperatures will again be monitored after a 30 minute have elapsed. Fans will be kept the middle setting on the fan controller.
System Components
CPU AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8GHz
Motherboard ASUS M4A89TD PRO
Graphics XFX HD5870
Memory 4GB Mushkin EM3-10666 DDR3
HDD Samsung Spinpoint 500GB SATA-II
PSU Enermax Revolution 85+ 850W
The Corsair 600T’s fans shift plenty of heat. It’s up there with the other cases I have reviewed recently as being a premium air cooled enclosure.
Noise: With the fans turned onto full speed they can be disruptive. Noise levels are tolerable but I couldn’t imagine sitting there for too long with the fans turned on to maximum if I didn’t have a headset on etc. With the fans on medium noise is noticeable but not disruptive by any means and on low, the noise is whisper quiet.
Conclusion
Corsair are keen to get across that the 600T is a mid-tower sized case but with full tower features, and in that statement they definitely aren’t wrong. The 600T has a rich array of features that make it one of the best mid-tower cases on the market to date. It was a pleasure to work with.
Paramount to the 600T is its strong ability to allow the system builder to fit high-end components without the hassles of tight spaces, lack of cable routing and the requirement of having to use a screwdriver. The 600T addresses what many cases fall short of, it has oodles of space, multiple cable management grommets and even a neat little cable management box to conceal unwanted cables. There is an awful lot to talk about when you examine the features within the 600T. I haven’t spoken about the USB3.0 port, the space to accommodate water-cooling in the top compartment, the easily removable side panels at the pressing of a latch. What a fantastic feature-set.
The only slight niggles I found with the 600T was the lack of rubber in the PSU area. This is something that I have a gripe with, I’ve experienced it on other case reviews. Lack of rubber mounted for the PSU means we have metal on metal, which in turn means scratches to paintwork. It also means there is no anti-vibration for the PSU.
Price could be a deciding factor, although £130 is quite a lot of cash for a mid-tower case I have to stress the point, this has the full tower feature-set. I would highly recommend the 600T to any enthusiast, system builder or gamer, its a brilliant enclosure.
Pros
+ Excellent build quality
+ Masses of space
+ Outstanding cable management
+ Good air cooling
+ Water-cooling support
+ Tool-less throughout – even the side panels
+ Expandable
Cons
– An expensive mid-tower
– Lack of anti-vibration rubber mounting for PSU
+ Excellent build quality
+ Masses of space
+ Outstanding cable management
+ Good air cooling
+ Water-cooling support
+ Tool-less throughout – even the side panels
+ Expandable
Cons
– An expensive mid-tower
– Lack of anti-vibration rubber mounting for PSU
