Obsidian 650D External Design

Corsair's Obsidian 800D is a monster, measuring 24" long, 9" wide and 24" tall while tipping the scales at a whopping 34.8lbs. Being a mid-tower, the 650D is inherently smaller, measuring 21.5" long, 9" wide and 20.5" tall and weighing 24.5lbs, but it's still bulkier than many of its competitors, such as the Antec LanBoy Air.

Much of that weight can be attributed to 650D's use of steel rather than aluminum, which is Lian-Li's preferred construction material. The façade has been constructed from aluminum, which does help keep the overall weight down, but this might not be your ideal case if you intend to haul it around to LAN parties.

The Obsidian 650D is available exclusively in black with a case window. Although the design appears very simple, it's far from boring. The matte black paint job gives it a very stealthy look that will appeal to those after a more subtle design, while the case window could be outfitted with aftermarket lighting for a bolder look.

The front bezel looks very slick there are no visible I/O connections featured on the front of the case. Instead, the various front panel ports are hidden behind the door of a 5.25" module. This is the exact same design used by the 800D and 700D cases, and we very much like it. Behind the front panel cover are two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a FireWire port, and two audio jacks along with the reset button.

Considering its sleek aesthetics, there is no real defining characteristic on the front of the Obsidian 650D case. Besides the four 5.25" external drive bays and intake mesh, the only other noticeable detail on the front of the case is a power button in the top left hand corner, which is accompanied by a small white activity light.

The top of the Obsidian 650D dons another large grill that has been fitted with a 200mm exhaust fan. If desired, you could to swap this unit for a pair of 120mm fans.

For all its positives, the 800D was missing what many consider a crucial element of high-end chassis: eSATA connectivity. The 650D has also excluded an eSATA port on the front panel, but there is glimmering light at the end of the tunnel. In front of the honeycomb grill on the top of the case is a small box with a retractable panel. Underneath this panel is a small tray that features a hot-swappable SATA connector.

This isn't quite as convenient as a front panel eSATA connector, but it does mean that you'll be able to quickly attach external 2.5" and 3.5" SATA storage drives into the 650D without having to remove the case door. Thermaltake included a similar feature with its Chaser MK-1 full-tower computer case (check out that roundup we mentioned earlier), and it is very nice to see Corsair offering this feature with the 650D.

The left side case door comes with a nice little window so you can put your hardware on display. This door also features a pair of nifty little latches that release the door providing quick, easy and tool-less entry into the 650D. The opposite door features these latches as well, which will certainly make this case easier to work with.

Turning the Obsidian 650D on its side reveals a dust filter that is designed to stop the power supply from collecting dust from the floor, while also preventing any dust from slipping into the case. Corsair has also included two large feet that raise the 650D an inch from the ground, allowing for plenty of airflow under the case.

Around the back the Obsidian 650D looks much like any other mid-tower case, though we should point out that the matte black paint job is also continued around to the rear. At the top, we have the motherboard I/O panel and opposite that is a preinstalled 120mm fan behind yet another honeycomb grill.

The 650D sports eight expansion slots and two-inch holes for water-cooling hoses. The power supply bracket can be found at the bottom of the case, which has become the norm these days. Overall, we have found the external design and features of the Obsidian 650D to be excellent, so let's move inside for a better look.