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Corsair iCUE Link 3500X vs Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB: Comparison
What is the difference between Corsair iCUE Link 3500X and Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB?
Gpu clearance is where these two genuinely part company, Corsair iCUE Link 3500X 370 mm against Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB 420 mm, a 12% lead for Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB. Cpu cooler clearance is closer, 170 mm on the Corsair iCUE Link 3500X versus 175 mm on the Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB. There is a split on radiator support as well, Front up to 360mm, top up to 360mm on the Corsair iCUE Link 3500X versus Front 420mm, Top 360mm on the Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB. They differ on motherboard support too, ATX, mATX, ITX on the Corsair iCUE Link 3500X versus E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX on the Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB. They differ on panel type too, Tempered glass, dual-chamber on the Corsair iCUE Link 3500X versus Mesh front panel, tempered glass side on the Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB.
Which should you buy, Corsair iCUE Link 3500X or Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB?
Buy the Corsair iCUE Link 3500X for iCUE Link ecosystem builds and cable-management-obsessed builders, though it is not built for Non-Corsair fan ecosystems and E-ATX motherboards. The Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB suits 420mm AIO or custom loop builds and flagship GPU builds needing maximum clearance, though it is the wrong buy for small desks with limited space and budget builds not needing 420mm radiator support. Our rating of the Corsair iCUE Link 3500X (8/10): the cleanest cabling you'll get out of the box if you're buying into iCUE Link fans, with a solid mid-tower dual-chamber design underneath. Our rating of the Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB (8/10): one of the best mid-towers for 420mm radiator support and flagship-length GPUs without stepping up to a full-tower case.
What Corsair iCUE Link 3500X and Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB have in common
Everything else lines up. Included fans, case type and front usb-c read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Specs and benchmarks
Motherboard Support
- Corsair iCUE Link 3500X
- ATX, mATX, ITX
- Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB
- E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Case Type
- Corsair iCUE Link 3500X
- Mid-Tower
- Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB
- Mid-Tower
Panel Type
- Corsair iCUE Link 3500X
- Tempered glass, dual-chamber
- Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB
- Mesh front panel, tempered glass side
GPU Clearance
- Corsair iCUE Link 3500X
- 370 mm-12%
- Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB
- 420 mmBest
CPU Cooler Clearance
- Corsair iCUE Link 3500X
- 170 mm-3%
- Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB
- 175 mmBest
Included Fans
- Corsair iCUE Link 3500X
- 3
- Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB
- 3
Radiator Support
- Corsair iCUE Link 3500X
- Front up to 360mm, top up to 360mm
- Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB
- Front 420mm, Top 360mm
Front USB-C
- Corsair iCUE Link 3500X
- Yes
- Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose Corsair iCUE Link 3500X if you want the higher included fans (3 vs 3).
Choose Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB if you want the higher GPU clearance (420 mm vs 370 mm) and the higher CPU cooler clearance (175 mm vs 170 mm).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Corsair iCUE Link 3500X | Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $170.00 View on Amazon | |
| Corsair Store | View on Corsair Store | |
| Thermaltake | View on Thermaltake |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Corsair iCUE Link 3500X
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The cleanest cabling you'll get out of the box if you're buying into iCUE Link fans, with a solid mid-tower dual-chamber design underneath.
Thermaltake Ceres 500 TG ARGB
8 / 10 Expert Rating
One of the best mid-towers for 420mm radiator support and flagship-length GPUs without stepping up to a full-tower case.