Corsair Air 240

[TheCroaker]

Does anyone have experience with this case, I want to get a mid range case, as I have an curved desk, and 2 monitors, my 1080p 144 hz and my 1440p monitor that i switch between for specific games, and I want to put my comp on the desk in between the 2, I don't think I will be using an AIO cpu cooler, but most likely a noctua cooler

any concerns about this case, or alternatives?

(should note, I may put a small auxillary monitor on top of it for shits and giggles, as long as it doesn't hurt airflow)

Edited August 26, 2015 by TheCroaker

[Swndlr]

If its anywhere near as good as the Air 540 (which it probably is) then I would definitely buy it.

[TheCroaker]

If its anywhere near as good as the Air 540 (which it probably is) then I would definitely buy it.

.. your name appears to be swindler and you are a proud beats solo user... I am not sure if I should trust this...

[Swndlr]

.. your name appears to be swindler and you are a proud beats solo user... I am not sure if I should trust this...

B-but Im a trusted Air 540 user

[TheCroaker]

B-but Im a trusted Air 540 user

I am only joking, I do appreciate it, to know someone is actually using one and happy with it, well one in the same series, quells my worries

[ANewFace]

[mapegl]

Does anyone have experience with this case, I want to get a mid range case, as I have an curved desk, and 2 monitors, my 1080p 144 hz and my 1440p monitor that i switch between for specific games, and I want to put my comp on the desk in between the 2, I don't think I will be using an AIO cpu cooler, but most likely a noctua cooler

any concerns about this case, or alternatives?

(should note, I may put a small auxillary monitor on top of it for shits and giggles, as long as it doesn't hurt airflow)

-snip-

I really like the matx form factor. Had the Birfenix Prodigy M first, then i went down to ITX and the 250D and then back up to the Air 240.

I liked the Prodigy M, but it was too big for mATX.

The 250D was ITX, I know, but I wanted to try that, but wanted better OC support.

Moved back up to mATX with my setup (still ITX board, but that doesn't really matter for that) and for that I bought the Air 240. The panels are mostly plastic and wobbely. I really didn't like the flimsy metal rails the fans were mounted on. The idea of those rails is great, don't get me wrong here, but the metal was so thin. Worst fan mounting I have seen so far. Also despite being an AIR 240 you will not be able to mount big air coolers on your CPU. I did know that before, but it is still something to consider.

GPUs are a bigger issue I think. Closing the top/side panel might be difficult depending on your GPU. I have a Sapphire 290 Tri-X and the PCIe connectors already touched the window, despite the Tri-X being about as tall as a reference card. You will not be able to fit a MSI Twin Frozr in there. Kinda sad.

I also found the case to not have the best airflow in the world. Since the space between the motherboard and the side panel is not very tall you tend to create a chamber underneath your GPU where hot air might get trapped a bit. You might get around that with exhausting fans underneath the GPU.

Also in general the fans seemed to be louder, vibrations more prominent the in other cases.

Cable management on the other hand is awesome.The two actual chambers make it a blast to work in. You really cannot mess that up.

All together, it is definitely my least favorite mATX case I have layed hands on so far. Sorry.

I can only talk about the Prodigy, TJ08e, 350D and Fractal Core 1000 though. But even the Core 1000 is a case I would choose over the Air 240.

Very much about personal preference though I guess and if it was built in a more solid way and would just have a little bit more space for a tower cooler, I would be all over that.

 

Hope I could help a bit. This might have sounded like a bit of a rant, but I want to give you my personal and honest opinion.

[Corsair Joseph]

If its anywhere near as good as the Air 540 (which it probably is) then I would definitely buy it.

 

It is the smaller version of Air 540 after all, so yeah, it is as good  

 

I have one myself. Very easy to work in, cable management is a breeze. For a mATX case, very versatile, you can mount a 240 AIO cooler in the front and there's a lot of space to mount a good # of fans. The dual chamber design is great to keep your hardware nice and cool. 

[TheCroaker]

I really like the matx form factor. Had the Birfenix Prodigy M first, then i went down to ITX and the 250D and then back up to the Air 240.

I liked the Prodigy M, but it was too big for mATX.

The 250D was ITX, I know, but I wanted to try that, but wanted better OC support.

Moved back up to mATX with my setup (still ITX board, but that doesn't really matter for that) and for that I bought the Air 240. The panels are mostly plastic and wobbely. I really didn't like the flimsy metal rails the fans were mounted on. The idea of those rails is great, don't get me wrong here, but the metal was so thin. Worst fan mounting I have seen so far. Also despite being an AIR 240 you will not be able to mount big air coolers on your CPU. I did know that before, but it is still something to consider.

GPUs are a bigger issue I think. Closing the top/side panel might be difficult depending on your GPU. I have a Sapphire 290 Tri-X and the PCIe connectors already touched the window, despite the Tri-X being about as tall as a reference card. You will not be able to fit a MSI Twin Frozr in there. Kinda sad.

I also found the case to not have the best airflow in the world. Since the space between the motherboard and the side panel is not very tall you tend to create a chamber underneath your GPU where hot air might get trapped a bit. You might get around that with exhausting fans underneath the GPU.

Also in general the fans seemed to be louder, vibrations more prominent the in other cases.

Cable management on the other hand is awesome.The two actual chambers make it a blast to work in. You really cannot mess that up.

All together, it is definitely my least favorite mATX case I have layed hands on so far. Sorry.

I can only talk about the Prodigy, TJ08e, 350D and Fractal Core 1000 though. But even the Core 1000 is a case I would choose over the Air 240.

Very much about personal preference though I guess and if it was built in a more solid way and would just have a little bit more space for a tower cooler, I would be all over that.

 

Hope I could help a bit. This might have sounded like a bit of a rant, but I want to give you my personal and honest opinion.

Thank you, I really do appreciate the info, the GPU may be an issue for me, as I have a Gigabyte 970 Windforce, and I am unsure if that is wider then a twinfrozr or not, but I would guess probably

[MourningSouls]

I'd recommend the Fractal Design Node 804 over the Air 240. Just seems like a better overall case.

 

Though it is bigger.

[TheCroaker]

I'd recommend the Fractal Design Node 804 over the Air 240. Just seems like a better overall case.

 

Though it is bigger.

the question for me would be how much better is it, just because I do want to keep it as small as possible if it will be on my desk

[mapegl]

I'd recommend the Fractal Design Node 804 over the Air 240. Just seems like a better overall case.

Not saying that is a bad case, not at all actually, but that is quite big. Though if OP is interested in expanding towards CF/SLI that would definitely be a good choice.

 

I really like my TJ08e, but I am sure not everybody likes that either. It is awesome!!! for overclocking the CPU. For the GPU it is good, but I have had better. Though GPU support is good. Basically any length and width fits and you have support since the HDD cage is built to support the GPU from sagging down.

It is also very much one of the more compact cases on the market.

[STRMfrmXMN]

the question for me would be how much better is it, just because I do want to keep it as small as possible if it will be on my desk

Problem with the Air 240 is that there ain't no way you're gonna fit a Noctua cooler in there unless you get the little flat one (think its called the LN9i or something weird like that). That case is more suited to AIO coolers.

[mapegl]

Problem with the Air 240 is that there ain't no way you're gonna fit a Noctua cooler in there unless you get the little flat one (think its called the LN9i or something weird like that). That case is more suited to AIO coolers.

I had the NH-L 12 in it. It was fine for a 4.0Ghz OC on my 2500k. But it is definitely not the most powerful thing in the world.

[TheCroaker]

Problem with the Air 240 is that there ain't no way you're gonna fit a Noctua cooler in there unless you get the little flat one (think its called the LN9i or something weird like that). That case is more suited to AIO coolers.

the NH-L 12 that Mape mentioned was the one I was looking at actually, but thank you

(also I wish I had read the do not buy anything razer thing a year ago)