Unboxing and First Impressions
Our review unit came double-boxed, a feature we like to see, especially in premium chassis. The external box is removed to reveal the retail packaging. Inside, we have the Corsair star in a pattern that resembles their design language across all of their products. Right on top, we find the box of bundled accessories. The chassis is secured in place with thick foam and protected with a plastic bag.
The accessories Corsair provides in the box are the following:
- 18x #6-32 screws
- 12x long fan screws
- 2x vertical GPU mount standoffs
- 8x SSD screws (M3)
- 1x motherboard standoff
- 1x reverse connector magnetic strip
- 1x anti-sag stabilization arm rubber spacer
- 12x zip ties
- 1x iCue extension cable (90-degree connector)
- 1x front I/O adapter cable
We’d like to see more reusable straps in place of zip ties, similar to those pre-installed on the chassis.
At first glance, the chassis looks very good. On the glass side, you immediately see instructions for removing it, and painter’s tape is used to keep everything in place during shipping. So far, so good.
Design and Build Quality
Starting from the side, we get a good look at the instructions to remove it. The mechanism is pretty simple: the entire panel, along with the front, slides forward using an indent at the rear. Then, you tilt the glass to the side, low enough to disengage, and lift it. The panel is secured to the chassis using a rail at the bottom, which requires you to tilt the panel to get it loose, and a ball-clip mechanism at the front. Nonetheless, when you move it, you have to be very careful. The tempered glass wraps around to the front as well, and at the bottom of the front panel, you’ll find the I/O, which includes two USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, a combo audio jack, and the power button.
On the back side, we have two separate parts. Toward the front of the chassis, covering the side intake fans, we have a large plastic cover. It spans the entire height of the chassis and can be unclipped from the bottom. A plastic clip keeps it securely in place at the top. Behind this panel, you’ll find a mesh to keep the dust at bay. Unfortunately, this mesh isn’t removable, so you’ll have to clean the entire panel. The other half is just a steel panel covering the backside of the motherboard. The exact ball-clip mechanism we saw at the front is also used here, which means you can’t just “push-manage” the cables.
At the rear, starting from the top, we have the two thumbscrews for the top panel, the motherboard I/O opening, a rear fan mount, the rotatable expansion slots, and two captive screws for your PSU. The latter is a very nice touch from Corsair. You might also notice that between the expansion slots and the PSU mounting area, there are two recessed screws. These are used to keep the PSU enclosure in place. In addition, on the left side, from top to bottom, three Velcro straps can be used either inside the chassis or even outside for cable management. Moreover, at the bottom, right next to the PSU, we have a metal clip to keep the AC cable in place and prevent accidental removal.
The top part of the chassis continues with the design of the plastic air cover we saw on the side. As the vertical lines reach the top of the chassis, they do a smooth 90-degree turn to end up at the rear. The plastic used here could be of higher quality, as it feels a bit flimsy and easy to bend. Visually, however, it feels like a high-end part. This panel is intended for exhaust, so Corsair hasn’t included an air filter here, though we think there should be one.
At the bottom of the chassis, we have a removable dust filter that slides out the side. It’s appropriate for a fishtank-style case that aims to be a desk centerpiece, with enough space on the side. The front of the chassis has all the I/O, preventing potential access to the filter. Speaking of the front I/O, you can clearly see all the separate cables from the bottom of the chassis.
Compatibility and Space Utilization
Getting inside, the numerous openings in the chassis catch your attention, as much of the tooling is shared with the 4000D. This is in stark contrast to chassis like the NZXT H7, which had a very clean design. There are no better or worse options; we’re just emphasizing the contrast between two different design philosophies. Here, you won’t be able to hide anything!
Starting from the front, we have the three reverse-blade fans set up as a side intake. Three pieces of painter’s tape are used to keep the fans in place. Removing the tape left no residue behind. The fans are installed on a removable bracket secured with a screw on top and a metal tab at the bottom. Right in front of them, on the bottom of the chassis, there are mounting holes for more cooling hardware. You may also notice that the front I/O cables are exposed in the main compartment, a not-so-premium feature.
Moving further back, we have the GPU support mechanism. Two screws hold it in place. Adjusting it is very easy, as it is done from the front side with a clever design that makes the mechanism look inconspicuous. The only downside is the lack of forward or backward adjustment, which means it may interfere with a GPU fan, rendering the support unusable. To combat that, Corsair includes a small rubber spacer.
The motherboard tray is removable. Corsair has paid great attention to detail here, with holes in the chassis for a screwdriver to access hard-to-reach screws. The tray itself supports back-connector motherboards. The PSU enclosure provides mounting for up to two 120mm fans or a vertical GPU. It is also removable. Three screws (two at the rear of the chassis and one behind the motherboard) keep it in place.
Behind the motherboard tray, we have the system’s only storage bracket. On the bracket, you can see the magnetic iCue hub with its cables. A thumbscrew on top and three metal tabs on the bottom are used to mount it. On the back of the motherboard tray, you will also find metal hooks for cable management, as well as three pre-installed Velcro straps.
At last, the PSU enclosure has barely enough space for the PSU and some cables. Maybe you could stuff an extra 2.5-inch SSD in there if you wanted, but not much more. Remember, it will most likely be visible. The PSU we used for testing is just 130mm long. With the side cooling bracket removed, you can see how the front I/O cables run from front to back. They could be concealed a bit better.
Cooling and Airflow
Three fans handle cooling. The LX-R model comes with three iCue Reverse Blade LX fans and an iCue hub, while the RS-R model comes with three RS Reverse Blade fans.
Inside the chassis, you will find the InfiniRail system on top, which allows you to install cooling fans or radiators up to 140mm wide without any metal parts obstructing them, and the side fan/radiator bracket, which can support cooling equipment up to 140mm wide.
At the bottom of the chassis, toward the front, there is a single fan mount that could be used for water-cooling equipment. On top of the PSU enclosure, you can install up to two 120mm fans to boost the GPU’s cooling. Lastly, at the rear, you can install either a 120mm or 140mm fan or radiator.
Storage Options
Storage is not the 4500X’s strong suit. It comes with the single storage tray we talked about earlier, where the iCue hub attaches magnetically. It can accommodate either a single 3.5-inch drive or two 2.5-inch drives, provided you move the hub.
