Corsair One i600: Small Size, Serious Power
The Corsair One series has always tried to do something tricky in the PC space: pack true high end gaming hardware into a compact chassis without turning it into a screaming, overheating jet engine. The latest Corsair One i600 shows just how far that idea has come.
This new version is a bit taller and deeper than the original Corsair One, but that extra size is put to smart use. It allows Corsair to handle the heat of top tier CPUs and GPUs much more effectively, while still staying smaller than most desktops built around a GeForce RTX 5080.
If you compare it to a typical mid tower RTX 5080 gaming rig or a DIY small form factor build, the i600’s strength is clear. It keeps noise and temperatures impressively low while delivering the performance you expect from serious components.
Hardware Specs and Cooling Design
The Corsair One i600 tested configuration is aimed squarely at gamers and creators who want strong all round performance:
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
- GPU: Liquid cooled GeForce RTX 5080 (up to RTX 5090 supported in the range)
- Memory: 64 GB DDR5 6400 (2x 32 GB)
- Storage: 2x 2 TB MP700 NVMe SSDs
- Motherboard: Asus Prime Z890M Plus Wi Fi
- Power supply: 1000 W SFX
- Networking: 2.5 Gb Ethernet and Wi Fi 7
- Size: 391 x 300 x 185 mm and about 16 kg
The star of the show is the cooling system. Instead of one big loop handling everything, Corsair uses two separate 240 mm all in one liquid coolers:
- A radiator in the top of the case dedicated to the graphics card
- A radiator on the side that swings open to cool the CPU
This split loop approach lets the RTX 5080 and the Core Ultra 9 run at full performance without needing loud fans. In testing, the Corsair One delivers some of the lowest GPU and CPU temperatures among RTX 5080 systems, despite its compact footprint.
During a 10 minute Cinebench stress run the CPU peaked at about 88 degrees Celsius, below throttling levels. In gaming, both CPU and GPU temps stayed comfortably in check while the system remained notably quiet.
Gaming and Creator Performance
The key question for any compact PC is how much performance you give up for the smaller case. With the i600, the answer is not much at all.
Across 1440p benchmarks in modern games like Avatar Frontiers of Pandora, Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, Black Myth Wukong, and Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, the Corsair One i600 hangs right with full size RTX 5080 desktops.
Compared to a Corsair Vengeance A7500 with the same RTX 5080 but a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the story is pretty straightforward:
- In most titles the Core Ultra 9 based i600 performs where you would expect an RTX 5080 gaming rig to land.
- The Ryzen 7 9800X3D pulls ahead in CPU heavy games like Baldur’s Gate 3, thanks to its 3D V Cache design. If you are a pure gamer, that AMD chip still has an edge in some titles.
In short you are not taking a large performance hit just because you are using a compact case. The RTX 5080 and Core Ultra 9 combination behaves much like it would in a standard ATX tower, but with better acoustics and very competitive thermals.
Thermals, Noise, and Real World Use
Where the Corsair One i600 really shines is in day to day use. Under gaming and creator loads, the dual loop cooling keeps things quiet and cool. Average gaming temperatures sit in the low sixties for the GPU and mid fifties for the CPU, with relatively low peak values even when pushed hard.
For creators, idle and load temperatures remain in a healthy range as well, and SSD temperatures stay under control despite the cramped internal layout.
The overall aesthetic is subtle compared to many gaming PCs. You can choose between different front panel looks, including wood and cherry blossom designs, or stick with the clean black version. RGB lighting is limited to trim along the sides and can be adjusted or disabled through a touch panel on the front. If you are tired of over the top gamer styling, the Corsair One feels refreshingly understated.
Upgradeability, Price, and Who It Is For
The two biggest trade offs with the Corsair One i600 are upgradeability and cost.
Internal access is fairly good once you remove a few screws. Swapping RAM or adding and replacing SSDs is straightforward. However larger upgrades are another story:
- The compact Asus board and its layout are very specific. Replacing it with another mini ITX motherboard is possible in theory, but you need to find one that physically fits and does not interfere with the CPU radiator swing mechanism.
- The custom liquid cooled GPU uses specific mounting hardware. Future GPU upgrades would require compatible brackets and clearance which is far from guaranteed.
- On the Intel side, future CPU generations like Nova Lake will most likely use new sockets, meaning a board swap at minimum. That is why the AMD based a600 model with its AM5 platform is a more future friendly option for some buyers.
Then there is the price. The tested i600 spec comes in at around 4,000 dollars. Part of that is the generous 64 GB of fast DDR5, which is not cheap, and dual 2 TB PCIe 4 NVMe drives. But a similar spec in a standard mid tower from other brands, or a DIY build, will generally be cheaper.
You are paying a clear premium for the engineering required to fit this level of performance into a compact, quiet chassis and for the design and build quality. If you want maximum frames per dollar or easy long term upgrade paths, a larger standard tower like the Corsair Vengeance A7500 or Acer Predator Orion 7000 makes more sense.
The Corsair One i600 is for a different kind of gamer or creator: someone with the budget who cares about desk space, aesthetics, and noise as much as raw performance, and who is happy to treat the PC more like a powerful console or appliance rather than a constantly evolving DIY project.
If you understand that it is expensive, not infinitely upgradeable, and not quite as tiny as the original Corsair One, this new model is still a genuinely impressive compact powerhouse. For many well heeled gamers, especially those in tight setups or clean minimalist desks, it is exactly the kind of quiet, serious machine they have been waiting to park beside their monitor.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-pcs/corsair-one-i600-review/
