The original Corsair 4000D was my favorite computer case ever. It boasted excellent cooling, a simple but refined look, and an appealing price. For just an extra $20, the new Frame 4000D RS promises several major upgrades to both usability and flexibility, but we all know how sequels sometimes turn out.

Having built up a new test system inside, I can tell you that the case is technically just as good, particularly in the hands of any experienced builder. The cooling and component support is second to none, and some of the usability features are so novel I can’t believe other case makers haven’t thought of them before.

That said, I don’t feel like the Frame version of this case has the elegant simplicity that I found so delightful in the old 4000D. It’s now made to please the high-end computing nerd, with wider component support, better cooling, and a refreshed new look with fancier machining. The upside is clear: Folks get improved component support, more build options, and the same suave style. The trade-off is a slightly noisier case with a few usability complications.

Regardless of minor complaints, the new Frame 4000D RS is still one of the best cases you can build in, and I’ll happily recommend it going forward, even if I wish it were an addition to Corsair’s cases, rather than a replacement.

The Space Between

Photograph: Brad Bourque

The biggest compliment I can give the Frame 4000D RS is, with a few exceptions, I never had to cram my hands into any weird spaces or bend cables into weird angles to make them fit. The major contributing factor to that is a variety of movable plates in places that didn’t used to move on the old case, or most cases, for that matter. It’s an area where Corsair cases have always excelled, but some thoughtful additions here make it truer than ever.