CORSAIR 3500 Series cases: Everything you need to know

With the release of the 2500 and 6500 Series of PC cases, CORSAIR re-entered the dual-chamber market. Those cases provide an uninterrupted panoramic view of the components within and offer support for reverse connecter motherboards.

However, with the 2500 series starting at $159.99, and the 6500 at $199.99, they can fall outside of some people’s budgets. Not to mention that a dual chamber case does turn out a good amount wider than the typical PC case. If only there was a less extreme options available? And perhaps more affordable? Well there is now.

The CORSAIR 3500 Series of cases strike a balance between all those characteristics. You get the fishbowl aesthetic, with a width no more than a traditional PC case, and the price starts at $89.99. Let’s take a closer look. But first, the specs.

Note that there are three variants within the 3500 Series. However, the only differences are the included fans or lack thereof. This list only contains the specs shared between all three variants.

• Dimensions: 506mm x 460mm x 240mm
• Materials: Steel, Tempered glass
• Fan mounts:
  • Front: None
  • Top: 3x 120mm, 2x 140mm
  • Side: 3 x 120mm, 2x 140mm
  • Bottom: 3x 120mm, 2x 140mm
  • Rear: 1x 120mm
• Radiator compatibility:
  • Front: None
  • Top: 360mm, 280mm, 240mm
  • Side: 360mm, 280mm, 240mm
  • Bottom: 120mm
  • Rear: 120mm
• Expansion slots: 7 horizontal (or 4 vertical)
• Motherboard compatibility: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX (305mm x 277mm)
• Storage: 2x 2.5” SSDs, 2x 3.5” HDDs
• Clearances:
  • PSU: 180mm
  • CPU Cooler: 170mm
  • GPU: 410mm
• Dust filters: Top, Bottom, Side
• Front I/O: 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, Headphone/Microphone, Power, Reset.

Ok, PC case people will have enough information to go on from the specs, but for the rest of us, let’s talk about some of the best features of the 3500 Series.

Having an uninterrupted view of all your fancy components is an appealing concept, but until now, an expensive one, typically only found in cases upwards of the $150 mark.

The 3500 Series brings the fully open view down to below $100. There’s no pillar on the front corner either, by the way. The tempered glass panels on the front and the side meet at the corner seamlessly. This makes the 3500 Series the correct choice for showing off the components that you’ve been able to splash out on with the cash saved from buying this case.

Another benefit of this case is that it’s got the fishbowl look, but it is not a dual-chamber case, which is a first for us here at CORSAIR. This means that you can get the panoramic view, without the case taking up a correspondingly panoramic footprint. In fact, this case is a full 118mm/4.6 inches thinner than the 6500 Series. This makes it the best option for those who are after this particular style of case, but are limited in terms of desk space.

Reverse connection motherboards are rare in the PC hardware world as they are a genuine innovation, and we like to support innovation round these parts. So, the 3500 Series of cases are fully validated to work with ASUS BTF and MSI Project Zero motherboards.

Basically, the only thing to worry about now are the pesky GPU cables. Though the 3500 does support 4-slot GPUs mounted vertically which makes that job a lot easier. That whole fishbowl thing we keep going on about shows off a vertical GPU way better than a traditional case, anyway. Worth keeping in mind, folks.

Not only do the expansive glass panels make it easier to gaze upon your finished build, they also make the process of getting there easier, as they are fully removeable.

Basically, every case these days has a removeable side panel, but the front panels are either completely fixed, or at least pretty fiddly to remove. The 3500 Series has no such issues, both panels pop out with ease, creating possibly the easiest building experience in a CORSAIR case to date.

The 3500 Series is a result of utilizing all of our past design experience to create a case that splits the difference between the new fishbowl hotness and a traditionally sized build at the most accessible price point we could reach.

If you’re keen on the 3500 Series from this article, or the 5000 and 6500 cases that were mixed together to create the 3500, check out our main website.