Corsair FRAME 4500X Review

Corsair first unveiled the Corsair FRAME 4500X, their flagship chassis, at Computex in May of 2025. The FRAME 4500X is a step up from the Corsair 3500X ARGB case, where they’ve taken the 90-degree angle between the front and side tempered-glass panels and smoothed it out into a seamless wraparound panel. This new case is now a more premium, sophisticated and elegant upgrade to the 3500X. It has been designed to push boundaries to create enclosures that blend aesthetics, functionality, and innovation. This case is more than just an aesthetic upgrade; it’s a statement.

In this article, we’ll give you the full lowdown on the Corsair FRAME 4500X – diving deep into its specifications, design language, and feature set. We’ll also share our hands-on experience building in it, highlighting the quirks, conveniences, and clever touches that define this chassis. Whether you’re planning a showcase build or simply curious about Corsair’s latest design leap, this review will help you decide if the FRAME 4500X deserves a spot in your setup.

Specification

This mid-tower is a super versatile case that has numerous motherboard support options. It supports all mainstream form factors, including Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, and E-ATX, with no restrictions, regardless of the build. If you want this case in your setup, you’re no longer limited by whether it supports your motherboard or not.

This case is on the slightly larger side of being a mid-tower, having a length of 542 mm, a width of 250mm and a height of 556mm for dimensions. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, as it delivers benefits to internal case clearances and cable routing options. However, there are some deeper considerations to make concerning case placement and accessibility, especially considering that the IO ports are located at the bottom of the chassis. The IO is simplistic, with two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port and a combination microphone/headphone jack. While minimal compared to some competitors, this design ties its refined, uncluttered look together, keeping it consistent with the FRAME 4500X’s clean, modern aesthetic.

Clearance in this case is excellent. CPU coolers up to 185mm in height are supported, which covers virtually every mainstream air cooler and any AIO pump block. GPU clearance extends to 460mm, leaving plenty of room even for oversized triple-fan graphics cards. PSU clearance is equally generous at 250mm, comfortably exceeding the size of most high-wattage units, which typically range between 150–220mm.

This case has considerable cooling potential. The only place that doesn’t support fans is the front panel, and that’s because it is made of glass and would ruin the stylistic choice that Corsair have chosen. For mounting a radiator, there are three options: the top, side, and rear panels. There is a maximum size support of up to 360mm for a radiator.

Two case models will be available at launch, each offered in either black or white: the FRAME 4500X RS-R ARGB and the FRAME 4500X LX-R RGB LINK.

RS-R ARGB Variant
Ships with three RS120-R ARGB reverse-rotor fans pre-installed next to the motherboard tray. These PWM fans feature daisy-chain connections for reduced cable clutter and easier installation. While no RGB controller is included, both fan speed and lighting can be managed directly through the motherboard software. The MSRP for this variant is $189.99.

LX-R RGB LINK Variant
Includes three LX120-R RGB LINK reverse-rotor fans, pre-installed next to the motherboard tray, and a pre-installed iCUE LINK System Hub. The single-cable design streamlines routing, while the hub supports up to 24 devices, making expansion simple for even the most demanding setups. The MSRP for this variant is a bit more expensive at $259.99, but it takes the iCUE LINK System Hub into account, which currently retails for $59.99 in September 2025.

Last but not least, this case comes in two colour ways, black and white, ensuring it fits in with any setup. That brings the total number of variants to four, as they combine the two colour options with the different lighting and fan configurations on offer.

Corsair FRAME 4500X Design

The Corsair FRAME 4500X combines the popular ‘fishbowl’ aesthetic with the flexibility of the FRAME Modular Case System. This mid-tower case features a wraparound tempered-glass panel that covers the front and side, which slides on, giving you a clear, panoramic view of your internals. On the outside, Corsair have designed a graceful cascade of clean lines like a waterfall over the chassis’s exterior, and the IO panel is cleanly mounted horizontally in-line at the bottom of the front of the case, offering generous openings for airflow and a unique unobstructed look that sets it apart.

The FRAME system has a modular design that allows for upgrades and layout changes over time: The motherboard tray can be swapped, the side-mounted fan bracket can be replaced with a cable cover, and the PSU shroud can be exchanged for a version with a vertical GPU mounting point, should you prefer. The SSD tray can also be removed entirely to be replaced with fan controllers or additional cable storage instead. Included with the case is a modern and handy approach to storing and presenting accessories, featuring a dedicated toolbox for keeping extra screws neatly organised. When it’s time to upgrade, Corsair’s FRAME 4500X has your back, and it’s equipped with everything you need to make it happen.

For top-side radiator or fan installation, Corsair have implemented its InfiniRailTM Mounting System, which is a steel multi-point rail system that allows for flexible fan or radiator placement along the top of the case. You can slide the rails to mount 120mm or 140mm fans or a radiator exactly where airflow is needed, without being limited to fixed mounting points. Staying on theme, this case supports up to 10 x 120mm fans, including three fans along the bottom, if you want to keep your GPU extra cool. Airflow has been carefully thought through: fresh air enters from the side and top panels and is exhausted through the rear, creating an efficient cooling path that keeps high-performance components running at their best.

This case supports reversed connector motherboards, giving it a much cleaner look by letting you plug most cables in from the back. The FRAME 4500X is compatible with ASUS BTF, MSI Project Zero and Gigabyte Project Stealth motherboards, having strategically-placed cable cutouts and tie-downs that are designed to line up with the reverse headers and connectors, making cable management easier and less visually obstructive. Beyond looks, this design opens up more options for CPU coolers and GPUs, while also improving airflow. With fewer obstructions inside, cooling performance is elevated with this approach.

Moving on to the quality of life features this case offers. GPUs have become bigger and heavier than ever, necessitating extra support to prevent sagging, which can cause damage to your expensive GPUs. Often, people will use a default GPU support bracket that typically comes with the graphics card, but these can be a bit of an eyesore and disrupt the aesthetics of the internals. The FRAME 4500X comes with an adjustable bracket built in that is seamlessly tied in with the surrounding parts. Another handy feature is the dust filters on the side and bottom, providing extra protection for your components. They also make cleaning your PC easier when the time comes.

Features We Like

Plentiful Fan Support

This case is well-equipped for keeping your components cool, with a capacity of up to ten 120mm fans! This allows you to both optimise and maximise your airflow potential, as most cases have a max capacity of around six or seven fans.

ARGB Fans Pre-installed

This is an under-appreciated, thoughtful consideration by Corsair. By offering both ARGB and RGB iCUE LINK options, they’re not only accommodating different budgets but also supporting customers with non-Corsair setups. Choosing the ARGB variant allows for a more non-conformative approach, giving users the freedom to rely on their motherboard’s software rather than being tied to iCUE, while still enjoying a customisable and streamlined lighting setup.

Modular Design

This feature is becoming a standard for chassis, and we love it at GeekaWhat. We love it because it aligns with our founder, James’s, advocacy for a DIY approach to PC building. DIY-ers can swap shrouds, brackets, trays, and panels to fit air cooling, AIOs, custom loops, or vertical GPUs, customising their build to their components. Another thing to consider is that because it is engineered to incorporate more recently designed parts, it’s bound to stay relevant for longer.

Features We Don’t Like

PSU Shroud Fan Support

This is a tricky topic because while I understand Corsair’s approach, I keep thinking about how pragmatic it really is. If the PSU is mounted in the shroud, which is the only real option, it will block a lot of the airflow that the bottom intake fans could otherwise provide. And if you fully populate the bottom of the chassis with fans, you’re essentially creating a two-tier fan setup, which also adds extra cable management challenges. That said, Corsair did include cutouts in the PSU shroud to improve airflow, and that’s an obviously necessary design choice worth giving them credit for.

Bottom Fan Cooling Approach

There’s another issue when using 120mm fans at the bottom: they don’t align with the side-mounted fans. There are no screw holes to allow for proper alignment, which forces you to push the outermost fan right up against the PSU, causing visual asymmetry and disharmonising the visual flow of the build.

Front IO Position

I’m not a massive fan of the front IO being at the bottom of the case. This won’t be an issue for everyone, but moving the IO to the bottom of the chassis makes it harder to access unless it’s on top of a desk. In terms of connectivity, there are two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports and one USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port, all of which are relatively standard offerings.

Conclusion

Corsair FRAME 4500X Case

Product Name: FRAME 4500X

Brand: Corsair

• Features
• Design
• Versatility
• Value For Money

4.3

Summary

In conclusion, this is a brilliant case with numerous thoughtful design choices. It offers some high-end specs, including generous clearances, fan capacities, an overall modular layout, vertical GPU mounting, and cable routing options at a perfectly acceptable price considering it’s Corsair. For the more expensive variant, the pricing is honest as add-ons are not being priced up when you take into account that the iCUE fan controller costs $59.99.

 The ARGB/RGB lighting is fully supported on the software side, whether that is using iCUE or the motherboard’s software like ASUS Aura Sync or MSI Mystic Light, for example. This flexibility makes it easy to integrate into almost any build without locking you down.

This premium case features a visually appealing curved tempered glass panel and steel framing in key areas, ensuring robustness and durability. I can admit that Corsair are pandering a little bit more towards enthusiasts with this luxurious case, but at least it has reasonable characteristics.

I have one personal reservation, considering the PSU shroud combined with the bottom-mounted multi-level fans, should you choose to use it. Although the airflow cutouts are present, the PSU will partially block the airflow, and a fully populated bottom intake could compromise the case’s aesthetics, making this design choice unsuitable for everyone. 

Nevertheless, Corsair have made a practical and stunning case that blends enthusiast-grade flexibility with thoughtful design.

Pros

✅ Justified MSRP pricing

✅ DIY friendly for beginners or enthusiasts

✅ Quality of life features

Cons

❌ Questionable PSU shroud positioning

❌ IO positioning and limitations

❌ No riser cable included, extra expense