I’ve reviewed countless gaming desktops, but as a PC builder, I’ve rarely considered buying one myself. Prebuilts cater to a specific audience, and I’ve always preferred the hands-on approach. However, the Corsair One i500 has challenged my preconceived notions. It’s the first prebuilt that genuinely makes a compelling case for choosing a ready-made gaming PC. Exceptional build quality, impressive performance, and remarkable thermal management set the Corsair One i500 apart. Despite its high price, the Corsair One i500 feels surprisingly worth the investment.
A logo on the Corsair One i500.
Corsair One i500: Specs, Pricing, and Configurations
Corsair offers two configurations of the One i500, both premium-priced. Both feature the Intel Core i9-14900K processor and a 2TB SSD, but differ in other key specs. The more affordable model includes an RTX 4080 Super and 32GB of RAM, while the higher-end model boasts an RTX 4090 and 64GB of RAM, retailing for $3,600 and $4,700, respectively. These prices are steep, especially compared to similarly configured competitors like the Alienware Aurora R16 and HP Omen 40L.
I reviewed the Origin PC edition of the Corsair One, which offers greater customization. You can upgrade to a massive 8TB of storage and include an Elgato capture card. However, this flexibility comes at a cost, with my fully loaded review unit priced at $5,700. Beyond customization, the Corsair and Origin versions are identical.
| Feature | Corsair One i500 (Origin PC Edition) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i9-14900K |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 4090 |
| Cooling | Liquid cooling for GPU and CPU |
| Motherboard | MSI B760 Micro ATX |
| Power Supply | Corsair 1000W SFX, 80 Plus Gold |
| Storage | 2TB NVMe SSD (Up to 8TB) |
| Memory | 96GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 |
| Networking | 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Elgato 4K Pro Capture Card (Optional) |
| USB Ports | 4x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 3x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 |
| Price (as reviewed) | $5,700 |
The premium price reflects not just the high-end components, but also the meticulously designed case and high-quality parts. Corsair uses its own Vengeance DDR5 memory clocked at 6,000 MT/s and a compact 1,000W SFX power supply with 80 Plus Gold certification. Crucially, both the CPU and GPU benefit from liquid cooling, a significant contributor to the higher price, but essential for managing the thermal demands of these powerful components. While expensive, the Corsair One i500 offers comparable value to similarly sized, high-end prebuilts like the Falcon Northwest Tiki.
Ports on the Corsair One i500.
Design and Build Quality: A Masterpiece of Engineering
The Corsair One i500 is a work of art. Its design is purposeful and refined, reminiscent of the Falcon Northwest Tiki. Every component has its place within the beautifully crafted case, which also incorporates several user-friendly features.
The external design is familiar, retaining the classic One series form factor, but now featuring an elegant wooden front panel available in light or dark finishes (my review unit was dark). LED strips flank the wooden panel, illuminating the front of the case.
The power button on the Corsair One i500.
Powering on the One i500 feels futuristic. The large, metallic Corsair logo on the wooden front doubles as the power button, illuminating along with the surrounding LED strips. Combined with underglow from LED strips on the sides, the PC blends classic and modern design elements seamlessly.
The sides of the chassis are covered by magnetically attached cloth grates, providing easy access for cleaning and dust removal.
The back ports on the Corsair One i500.
The back of the case showcases another clever touch: a string of lights above the ports that activate when your hand approaches. This thoughtful feature illuminates the connections, simplifying cable management in tight spaces. While the sensor isn’t perfect, it functions reliably and adds a touch of elegance.
Internally, the One i500 is densely packed, prioritizing space efficiency over easy servicing. Accessing the internal components requires removing several screws beneath the magnetic dust filters and then more screws for the fans mounted around the edges of the PC.
Fans inside the Corsair One i500.
Despite the compact design, upgrades are surprisingly feasible. Corsair utilizes standard-sized components, including an SFX power supply and a mini-ITX motherboard. While upgrading will require effort due to the small form factor, it’s a welcome option for future-proofing.
Performance: Impressively Powerful for its Size
Given its small form factor and top-tier hardware, the Corsair One i500 inevitably makes some performance compromises. However, these are minimal. The fact that Corsair manages to deliver this level of performance in such a compact design is remarkable.
The most noticeable compromise is the CPU. The Core i9-14900K is a powerful but notoriously hot chip. The 120mm liquid cooler struggles to keep it cool under heavy load, resulting in slightly lower benchmark scores compared to larger systems with more robust cooling solutions.
| Benchmark | Corsair One i500 (Core i9-14900K / RTX 4090) | Falcon Northwest Talon (Core i9-14900KS / RTX 4090) |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R24 (Single/Multi/GPU) | 134 / 2061 / 34469 | 137 / 2132 / 34924 |
| PCMark 10 | 10603 | 10250 |
| PugetBench Premiere Pro | 11581 | 10848 |
Surprisingly, this performance difference doesn’t translate to other applications. In PCMark 10 and PugetBench for Premiere Pro, the Corsair One i500 outperformed the larger and more expensive Falcon Northwest Talon, highlighting the system’s overall efficiency.
Internals on the Corsair One i500.
In gaming benchmarks, the Corsair One i500 performed admirably, matching or exceeding a custom-built RTX 4090 PC in several tests and closely trailing the Falcon Northwest Talon in others.
| Benchmark | Corsair One i500 (Core i9-14900K / RTX 4090) | Falcon Northwest Talon (Core i9-14900KS / RTX 4090) | Custom RTX 4090 PC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Fire Strike | 47741 | 49014 | N/A |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 33072 | 33534 | 31409 |
| 3DMark Port Royal | 25415 | N/A | 25667 |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad | 9190 | N/A | 9350 |
Real-world game testing showed the One i500 lagging slightly behind a custom RTX 4090 PC, which is understandable given the latter’s superior cooling. However, the One i500 consistently achieved frame rates above 60 fps at 4K with maximum settings, often with headroom for ray tracing.
| Game | Corsair One i500 (Core i9-14900K / RTX 4090) | Custom RTX 4090 PC |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon Zero Dawn 4K Ultra | 159 fps | 163 fps |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 4K Ultra | 123 fps | 125 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 4K Ultra | 67 fps | 73 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 4K Ultra RT | 40 fps | 43 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 4K Ultra RT w/ DLSS 3 | 121 fps | N/A |
| Returnal 4K Ultra | 104 fps | 113 fps |
| Returnal 4K Ultra RT | 89 fps | 91 fps |
| Returnal 4K Ultra RT w/ DLSS 3 | 144 fps | N/A |
Nvidia DLSS 3 further enhances performance, allowing for triple-digit frame rates even with ray tracing enabled at maximum settings. While the One i500 may not achieve absolute peak performance, its ability to approach it in such a compact form is truly impressive.
Thermals and Cooling: Managing the Heat
With such powerful components crammed into a small chassis, thermal management is critical. The Corsair One i500 effectively controls heat without excessive fan noise, though it does reach performance limits in certain scenarios.
As mentioned, the Core i9-14900K is the primary thermal bottleneck. Under full load, it reaches its thermal limit of 100 degrees Celsius, impacting performance. Corsair’s choice of such a power-hungry CPU for a small form factor design is questionable. While the system extracts impressive performance from the chip, a more efficient CPU option would be beneficial.
Fan bracket on the Corsair One i500.
Fortunately, the thermal limit is primarily reached during extreme CPU workloads. In less demanding scenarios like gaming, temperatures remain within acceptable ranges. The liquid-cooled GPU performs exceptionally well thermally, maintaining low temperatures even under stress. This highlights the effectiveness of the cooling system and suggests even greater potential with a more efficient CPU. Fan noise is noticeable but not distracting, even under load.
Bloatware and Configuration: A Clean and Optimized System
A key advantage of the Corsair One i500 over mainstream prebuilts is its clean, out-of-the-box experience. Bloatware is minimal, and the BIOS is pre-configured for optimal performance. The use of an MSI motherboard also provides a familiar and user-friendly BIOS interface.
Corsair includes two utility applications: a diagnostics tool and a system vitals monitor for customizing lighting and monitoring performance. These are unobtrusive and don’t pester the user with unnecessary notifications.
Crucially, Corsair correctly configures the memory overclocking profile and enables Resizable BAR for the GPU, maximizing performance from the start. This attention to detail reflects a custom PC builder mentality and sets the One i500 apart from many prebuilt competitors.
Should You Buy the Corsair One i500?
The Corsair One i500 sitting on a coffee table.
The Corsair One i500 is a remarkable machine. While the choice of a power-hungry CPU and the high price are drawbacks, the system’s performance, build quality, and thoughtful design are undeniable. The One i500 offers competitive performance in a compact and stylish package, effectively managing heat without excessive noise. It’s a premium prebuilt that justifies its premium price. If you’re looking for a high-end, small form factor gaming PC and are willing to pay for it, the Corsair One i500 is a compelling choice.
