Corsair Graphite Series 780T Review

Corsair Graphite Series 780T Review

Manufacturer: Corsair
UK price (as reviewed): MSRP £144.99 (£139.99 for black version)
US price (as reviewed): MSRP $189 ($179 for black version)

It was only a few weeks ago that Corsair officially launched its mini-ITX Graphite 380T chassis, and now the company is back with another member of the Graphite family. However, at over 600mm deep and tall and with support for both XL-ATX and E-ATX form factors, the full tower Graphite 780T is a very different beast, and is also the direct successor to the original Graphite 600T.


Like the 380T, the Graphite 780T is available in black (with red LEDs), white and yellow (both with white LEDs) and again the white and yellow variants cost a smidgen more. Despite the size difference between the two cases, it's easy to spot the similarities in their designs. The angular panels are joined by indented front and back sections, and both side panels have latches to release them. There's also a large, clear window on the left, and this too is slightly receded into the chassis. The opposite side panel is plain, but it too has a slightly indented area, hopefully not to the detriment of cable management space.

Considering its mammoth size, the Graphite 780T is fairly light at 11.3kg. This is a result of its exterior being made almost entirely of plastic, including the side panels. However, the build quality is still very good, and the panels are robust and do not easily flex. We also find a pair of oversized feet that span almost 300mm wide and are fitted with huge rubber pads, meaning that stability and grip are without fault – an important factor in so big a chassis.


Corsair supplies three 140mm fans with the Graphite 780T; two front LED intake fans and a single rear exhaust. If that doesn't satisfy you, the two front fans can be replaced with two 200mm models or three 120mm models. There's also room for up to three fans in the roof and two in the bottom of the chassis, though no internal or side fan mounts are provided. Corsair has now also adopted a height-adjustable rear fan mount so you can align your fan with your CPU cooler for optimal airflow.

All three fans can be controlled by the onboard triple speed fan controller, to which you can attach two extra fans as well. It's a shame Corsair didn't decide to ship the Graphite 780T with one or two more fans, therefore, though it does also mean you can use it out of the box to control the speed of your CPU cooler's fan(s). For the front two LED fans, the fan speed also controls the brightness of the LEDs, though there's no way to alter this behaviour or turn the LEDs off altogether without physically disconnecting them.


Elsewhere on the front I/O panel we find the standard selection of USB 3 and audio jacks along with an extra pair of USB 2 ports. As well as the power LED, the I/O symbols and an LED bar just beneath the overhanging section of the I/O panel all light up, though these require supplementary power from an internal molex connector.

The 780T sports two 5.25-inch bays; a low number for a case this size but a logical choice given their declining relevancy.


The front fans are shielded by a large mesh/filter combination panel that is easily removed by pushing firmly at the top to release the two clips, and the roof has its own panel of similar design. Removing them reveals fan mounts that are labelled for easy positioning of any supported fan size, and the 120mm roof fan mounts are also rubberised to dampen vibrations. Finally, the bottom of the chassis houses two slide out dust filters, one front and one back, and both are easy to replace once cleaned. As such, the Graphite 780T is afforded full dust protection.

Specifications

• Dimensions (mm) 288 x 637 x 602 (W x D x H)
  
• Material Plastic, steel
  
• Available colours Black, white, yellow
  
• Weight 11.3kg
  
• Front panel Power, reset, 2 x USB 3, 2 x USB 2, stereo, microphone, fan control
  
• Drive bays 2 x external 5.25in, 6 x internal 3.5in/2.5in, 3 x internal 2.5in
  
• Form factor(s) XL-ATX, E-ATX, ATX, micro-ATX, SSI EEB
  
• Cooling 2 x 200mm/140mm or 3 x 120mm front fan mounts (2 x 140mm LED fans included), 1 x 140mm/120mm rear fan mount (140mm fan included), 2 x 140mm or 3 x 120mm roof fan mounts, 2 x 120mm bottom fan mounts (fans not included)
  
• CPU cooler clearance 200mm
  
• Maximum graphics card length 355mm (~270mm with HDD cage repositioned)
  
• Extras Removable dust filters, five fan three-speed fan controller, latched side panels