iCUE LINK is the new CORSAIR ecosystem of products designed to link together and easily provide power and data for every component. While it does massively simplify the building experience, it does help to reference other builds and have a base to build off of when designing your own personal build. Our mid-tower cases are more than enough to hold any basic PC set up so let’s see what it is like to build in these systems and get your build up and running.
Starting off with the 4000D, a slightly smaller case means a more minimal LINK set up. To really benefit from the linking set up you’re going to need at least a few separate components. A 240mm AIO with a set of fans in the front is the most basic set up. This still leaves room for an extra 120mm fan in the back that can easily be expanded with the LINK system. If without the LCD upgrade for the AIO, this whole setup can be built with a single LINK chain for an ultra-clean setup.
The 5000D is the larger version of the 4000D. The main difference for our sake is that it’ll have support for a 360mm AIO on top and space for an extra 3 fans on the side. For a basic build you could use a 240mm radiator up top but it makes more sense to fill out the top with the larger 360mm option. And while the basic build will still be similar, there is much more room for expansion. Now, simply adding a additional fan to the rear will push the number of devices over the 7 device limit per port of the iCUE LINK System Hub. This is okay since putting the rear fan and the AIO on one port will leave plenty of room to expand with the other port, allowing you to add the 3 side fans in.
In the 7000D case, you have room for anything you could need. For a basic build, you can fill the top radiator with a 420mm radiator and the front with a set of 140mm fans. This would keep the build as a single cable but if you’re considering this case you probably want more. Maxed out with the front and the side holding four 120mm fans each, you can easily max out a single LINK port. One way you can still do this is by actually separating the fans of the AIO from the pump itself. If you use 140mm fans in the front, link them to the fans of the AIO, then add one more fan in the rear, you’ll fully saturate one LINK port. The 4 side fans and the pump can easily fit on the other connection.
While there are many possibilities with how you can build a PC, that freedom can be overwhelming. Hopefully this guide has given you a starting point to help you figure out some of the different components and considerations you will need to start building your dream build. all the products you'll need (Aside from CPU, GPU, and, Motherboard of course), can be found on our main website.
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