Standardise front panel upgrade kits

[skrybe]

Hey Corsair, you've been making amazing cases for years. Case that we want to keep using for years (maybe decades). So how about making them more upgradable?

I've seen Corsair upgrade kits that allow you to replace a front panel with newer USB. But it's not available on all models, just a few select ones. So how about making standardised kits that will suit all models? Or better yet modular ones where the front panel size or shape can be different but we can still plug the USB and audio connectors into it.

I want to keep using the 900D that I already have. Sure I could upgrade to a 1000D, but if I'm going to have to upgrade every two or three years when new USB standards come out whats the point? I'm going to stop buying the high end cases and just go with cheap ones from a no-name brand and save the money.

The same goes for dropping optical style drive bays from your high end units. Some of us still need to have a cd/dvd/blu player in our PC. Please stop removing the bays. Or at least provide them as a modular option so we can choose to install them or not.

[Mark_T]

1 hour ago, skrybe said:

... Or better yet modular ones where the front panel size or shape can be different but we can still plug the USB and audio connectors into it.

...The same goes for dropping optical style drive bays from your high end units. Some of us still need to have a cd/dvd/blu player in our PC. Please stop removing the bays. Or at least provide them as a modular option so we can choose to install them or not.

I do like the first suggestion, going modular would be useful, but I can understand why Corsair do not do this (added complexity and cost vs low sales volume for the upgrade vs selling new cases).

The second idea is terrible though, way too much impact on the case design from having to provide even the possibility of an optical drive bay inside the case.

Far easier to add one as an external USB drive where needed, it is not like they require a faster connection that this and it has zero impact on case design.

[LeDoyen]

drive bays are a retro computing feature by now. nobody needs them on newer systems really. even internal drive bays are starting to become obsolete for people without huge storage needs. There's zero incentive for a manufacturer to cater for an extremely low minority. it wouldn't sell enough to pay for the development time and tooling costs.

As a modular option, would be nice.. but very unlikely to see the light of day.

And external drives are much more handy. you can have them on your desk

[skrybe]

They're not obsolete, there are still people who use them. I can understand not having five bays like a lot of the old systems. But surely it's possible to provide one. Especially when it's on a super tower system like a 1000D (or whatever it's replacement will be). Some of us bought super towers not because we wanted to water cool and put in multiple radiators and reservoirs, but because we wanted to create a massive server like setup with many drives.

The case itself consumes a massive amount of space so personally I'd much rather NOT have to find more space to put an external drive. The other reason to have external bays relates to the first part of the problem - because I can't easily replace my front IO panel the only option is to buy an IO panel that slots into a drive bay. Something like this: https://www.mwave.com.au/product/icy-box-ib863a-525-multiport-card-reader-ab80463 Similarly, people use those bays for other devices (fan controllers or small LCD panels for example). Admittedly not as much today, but there are still people who use these bays.

As for the modular part, they're already doing it on certain systems so obviously cost isn't that prohibitive. In fact I'd have thought consistent design would lead to cost savings (you see that in the auto industry) because they could literally re-use the same part across a wide range of products. Similarly, while new case sales might drop they'd wind up selling more of the components.

I see the front io panel basically the same way as most people see power supplies. You should be able to replace it without throwing out the whole case. It's incredibly wasteful and expensive.

Heck, if they wanted to be clever they could actually make the entire front panel modular. So if you like model X but it doesn't have a front intake fan then you can buy a front that has one.

Edited December 8, 2021 by skrybe

[Mark_T]

5 hours ago, skrybe said:

They're not obsolete, there are still people who use them. I can understand not having five bays like a lot of the old systems. But surely it's possible to provide one. Especially when it's on a super tower system like a 1000D (or whatever it's replacement will be). Some of us bought super towers not because we wanted to water cool and put in multiple radiators and reservoirs, but because we wanted to create a massive server like setup with many drives.

There are still Corsair cases around that fit your needs, but I do agree they are getting harder to find, but that generally reflects the lack of demand for anything to go into a 5 1/4" bay...

Optical drives are pretty much the only thing that needs one and the volume of demand for case mounting them is fading fast as for most people they are far more convenient on the desktop than in the case.

Unfortunately they just don't fit in the current generation designs without imposing significant restraints so they are better left out of cases designed for fan/radiator support.

Your needs don't align with those cases, just means you need to look at other cases rather than change the design...

[LeDoyen]

For storage galore and one bay (sorry corsair) i'd rather get a Fractal Define R6 than a massive and expensive 1000D.

the thing can fit 11 3"1/2 drives plus two SSDs not counting M.2 you may have on the motherboard, plus it has a bay (i believe that takes one HDD spot, down to 10).

Super towers are great showpieces, but very impractical otherwise.

[skrybe]

On 12/8/2021 at 7:14 PM, Mark_T said:

Your needs don't align with those cases, just means you need to look at other cases rather than change the design...

Guess I won't be buying Corsair for my next case then.

The 900D was just what I wanted (and still want) if only they'd update connectivity on the front panel. And had better access to the screws on the PCIe slots. As a super tower it was very practical, and still is.

I'd hate to fit a Radeon 6900XT (mine is 332x137x61mm) or RTX3090 into a regular tower, especially when combined with a beefy PSU and a cooler like the Noctua NH-D15 (or a setup with a radiator and reservoir). And that's before you get to additional drives and other devices. The fractal define R6 is nice, but it's amazing what a difference a couple extra cm of clearance makes.

[LeDoyen]

honestly i feel your pain because finding the right case is probably the longest step of any build, for me at least.

components are easy. mobos all have the same sizes, videocards, dimensions are always given, drives, standard sizes but when it comes to cases, if you are lucky you have the external dimensions and the longest GPU youcan fit with just fans to the front.. and that's it.

go plan a custom loop, add a bunch of drives or fit anything even remotely unusual there... and it's trial and error (mostly error, and ship back to amazon).

 

you really have to decide what your absolute priority is, and be ready to compromise (or be nicely surprised) for the rest.