3500X vs 4000X: Which is better?

The CORSAIR 3500X is our upcoming case that brings you the panoramic case view similar to our 6500 and 2500 Series but in a more traditional footprint. This means that those looking to buy a mid-tower case from CORSAIR might be torn between the 4000X and the 3500X. So, we thought we'd put these two up against eachother. Of course, we aren't going to crown a winner, as we love all our children equally, but this page should give you enough information, so that you can choose which one is right for your next build.

The fish tank design of the 3500X is the first and most striking difference. For some this will be the characteristic that makes the decision between these two cases. This gives you a perfect view of your components. With this design, we've removed a vertical part of the chassis and added simplified front panel removal. These two changes offer an aesthetic previously only found in much more expensive cases and make it easier to build in as compared to a traditional case design.

The 4000X, by comparison is is a far more traditionally-designed PC case. Those who prefer the PC to blend into their home office and/or PC gaming setup might prefer the understanded design.

These two cases also differ when it comes to pricing. At the time of writing, the 4000X retails for $144.99, whereas the 3500X is priced at $89.99. This makes for a price delta of $55, which is pretty large. However, this can be explained as the 3500X does not include any fans. The 4000X, though, includes 3x CORSAIR SP120 RGB ELITE fans.

So if you've already planned specific fans for your build, the 3500X will save you some money, as fans being factored in hasn't increased the price. That being said, if you're keen on the 3500X, and would prefer it to come with some fans, the 3500X ARGB ships with 3x RS120 ARGB fans, and the iCUE LINK 3500X RGB comes with 3x iCUE LINK RX120 fans and the necessary iCUE LINK System Hub. Of course this increases the price to $109.99 and $149.99, repsectively.

The second is a result of the aquarium-esque design, which moves the ventilation to the side, allowing two 360mm radiators to be mounted in a mid-tower case. Modifying the cooling section also increases the space available for the graphics card, which can be up to 410mm long, whereas the 4000 Series was limited to a maximum of 360mm. So, if the GPU you're planning on using is particularly lengthy, the 3500X might be the better choice.

Another big difference is that the 3500X is fully compatible with ASUS BTF and MSI Project Zero ATX motherboards, whereas these boards will not work with the 4000X or indeed any of the 4000 Series cases, as they were designed before the reverse motherboard standards existed.

The 3500X will allow you to install your motherboard with all cables hidden, except for those annoying GPU cables. in fact, with the iCUE LINK 3500X RGB version, you'll have almost no visible cables in your case, thanks to our tidy iCUE LINK ecosystem.

So, if you're keen on your next build taking advantage of a reverse connector motherboard, then the 3500X is the only choice here. In addition to the 6500 Series, of course.

Of course, there are a few other minute differences, but those are the largest differences that you really need to be aware of before choosing between the 3500X and 4000X. Check out our main 3500X article for a more in depth look at this upcoming case and it's variants.