Corsair One i500 (i9-14900K / RTX 4090 / 64GB RAM / 2TB SSD)

Corsair One i500 review: can a gaming PC evolve gamer culture by embracing old, forgotten ways?

Corsair One i500 Review Summary

Design:

• Unique wood panel, fabric sides, aluminum case.
• Small form factor, reminiscent of Atari 2600.
• Limited RGB, no Corsair iCue software.
• Fabric panels may grime over time.

Specs:

• Starts at $3,599.99 / £3,499.99.
• Intel Core i9-14900K, 2TB NVMe storage.
• RTX 4080 Super (base), RTX 4090 (max).
• 32GB DDR5 RAM (base), 64GB DDR5 RAM (max).

Performance:

• Excellent 4K gaming, up to 60FPS.
• RTX 4090 handles Cyberpunk 2077 at max settings.
• Great for gaming, competent for creative tasks.

Limitations:

• Not easily upgradable.
• Small form factor restricts GPU upgrades.

Conclusion:

• Stylish, high-performance, expensive.
• Suitable for non-tinkerers wanting premium aesthetics and performance.

Corsair One i500 review: A bigger small PC

Corsair One i500 Review: Key Points

• Price: $3,599.99
• Design: Larger chassis, wood front panel, RGB lighting, fabric side filters.
• Specs: Intel Core i9-14900K, Zotac RTX 4080 Super, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3.
• Cooling: 3x 120mm intake fans, 2x 120mm top fans, liquid-cooled CPU & GPU.
• Ports: Front: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack. Rear: 8 USB ports, Ethernet, audio ports, DisplayPort, HDMI.
• Performance: Excellent gaming and productivity, slightly behind RTX 4090 systems in 4K.
• Upgradeability: Easier than previous models, CPU, memory, storage upgradable without voiding warranty. GPU upgrade requires customer support.
• Software: Corsair One Dashboard for RGB and monitoring, minimal bloatware.
• Dimensions: 15.3 x 11.8 x 7.6 inches.

Corsair One i500 review: more than a pretty face

Corsair One i500 Review

MSRP: $4,700
Pros: Beautiful design, strong performance, minimal bloatware, back I/O light, upgradeable
Cons: Expensive, CPU runs hot

Specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 4090
• Cooling: Liquid for GPU/CPU
• RAM: 64GB DDR5-6000
• Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD
• Power Supply: 1000W SFX 80 Plus Gold
• Networking: 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• USB Ports: Multiple USB 2.0, 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A

Performance: Slightly lower CPU performance due to thermal limits, excellent GPU performance, minimal noise.

Build Quality: High-quality components, attractive wooden finish, tight design, standard-sized components for upgrades.

Thermals: Efficient GPU cooling, high CPU temperatures under load, acceptable during gaming.

Software: Proper configuration, minimal bloatware, MSI motherboard BIOS.

Conclusion: Premium, powerful, and compact, but expensive and with limited configuration options.