Corsair manufacturers have complemented their Carbide line of chassis with a new model 500R. Corsair Carbide 500R is known to be a convenient solution for gaming PCs due to the capability of installing practically all up-to-date graphics cards. Despite the innovations implemented in this chassis, IT specialists, as well as average customers, cannot but compare 500R with its predecessor 400R. This is because both models have got a number of similar features which differentiate the chassis from products of other manufacturers.



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The possibility to choose the color of chassis is considered to be an outstanding feature of Carbide 500R. The user is offered either totally black casing or milk-white casing with black framing; the combination of colors creates an overall positive impression about the chassis’ design. Chassis 500R in black color doesn’t differ so much from its 400R predecessor except of upper plate plastic framing and shape of ventilation grid.

Corsair …

MSI has enriched its inventory with a pair of mini-PCs. The Cubi 2 Plus and the Cubi 2 Plus vPro feature 155.3x147.9x58.6 mm dimensions. Both models come equipped with a 90-watt power adapter and run on Windows 10 Home OS. The first new-comer is based on Intel H110 chipset, while the second one – on Intel Q170 version. The pair supports the installation of either Intel Core i3-6100T CPU (3.2 GHz frequency), Intel Core i5-6500T (2.5-3.1 GHz frequency) or Intel Core i7-6700T (2.8-3.6 GHz frequency).



MSI Cubi 2 Plus mini-PCs employ Intel HD Graphics 530 GPU, up to 32 GB of DDR4-2133 MHz RAM, allowing to install a single M.2 SATA solid-state drive (up to 256 GB capacity) and a single 2.5-inch SATA HDD/SSD (up to 1 TB capacity). Network facilities are introduced by Bluetooth 4.0 adapter, Gigabit Ethernet port, 802.11b/g/n or 802.11ac Wi-Fi module.


To continue, MSI Cubi 2 Plus boasts rich connectivity; it is furnished with: two USB 3.1 (Type-A & Type-C) ports, one USB 2.0 …

BitFenix has expanded its Phenom series of PC cases with a new small-sized model – the Phenom Mini-ITX. It features 250x330x374 mm dimensions and comes in two color variations: back and white. The chassis is made of steel with plastic inclusions and has got SofTouch coating. Irrespective of the envelope, the greenhorn offers quite appropriate internal spacing for the creation of a modern PC system.



BitFenix Phenom Mini-ITX comes with a single 5.25-inch drive bay and is able to accommodate up to six 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives. It also has a removable FlexCage drive bay. Besides, the framework includes a dedicated adapter for 5.25-inch devices; if it is removed, the chassis is ready to house up to six 3.5-inch items and up to eleven 2.5-inch items.


Internal space is optimal for rather lengthy graphics cards, up to 330 mm, on condition of a removed FlexCage. The maximal height of CPU coolers should not exceed 175 mm. Special attention has been paid to the cooling system. …