Corsair Platform:6 gaming desk review – fantastic function, funky form

The Corsair Platform:6 is a premium gaming desk with dozens of additional options and non-obligatory add-ons that allow customers to construct a complete gaming station. There’s top adjustment, built-in monitor arms, further facet desktop areas, an enormous rear pegboard part, built-in cable storage, further energy extensions, and rather more, relying on which model you purchase.

It’s all sufficient to simply earn the Corsair Platform:6 a spot on our greatest gaming desk and finest standing desk guides, simply merely due to its largely unmatched versatility. Nonetheless, you positively pay a excessive worth for all these options, and there are some areas the place the Platform:6 doesn’t fairly ship the premium match and end you would possibly count on.

It’s obtainable in an entry-level, non-adjustable-height model, in addition to an choice with digital sit-stand adjustment, whereas one other taste provides you a big pegboard part on the rear on which you’ll hold all of your gaming equipment.

Corsair Platform:6 specs

The precise Platform:6 specs will differ relying on which model you purchase. We’re reviewing the Elevate model, so we’ve detailed its specs beneath, a lot of that are shared with the opposite variations of the desk. Nonetheless, the base-level model doesn’t have sit-stand adjustment, so it prices $400 lower than the Elevate. In the meantime, the Creator model contains the rear pegboard part, on which you’ll mount all of your peripherals and different further {hardware}, for an additional $400.

Corsair Platform:6 options

The place do you begin with the variety of options packed into the Platform:6? For a begin, outdoors of the pegboard of the Creator version and the dearth of top adjustment on the Commonplace version, the core options of the Platform:6 are the identical.

So, that will get you a 72-inch x 30-inch (180cm x 76cm) desktop, which is sort of large in comparison with many gaming desks. Extra typical desk widths are 47-55-inch (120-160cm), with the likes of Lian Li’s DK-05F measuring 55-inch x 30-inch and the Flexispot E7 Professional beginning at simply 48 inches large and maxing out at 72 inches large.

Contemplating that that is the one desk measurement Corsair provides, it’s stunning the corporate has gone so large. The desk isn’t fairly so remarkably deep, however in some methods this truly works in opposition to it, as we’ll talk about extra within the design part of this assessment.

Elsewhere, the desk features a T-channel equipment bar that runs alongside your complete again of the desk. This supplies a method of attaching all method of gadgets – some included – to the bar, eradicating the necessity to use typical desk clamps, or so that you can drill into the desk.

One such accent that may be connected to the T-channel bar is a three-socket energy extension (the UK model is pictured above) that will also be simply clamped to the desk and features a USB-A and USB-C port for connecting gadgets that simply want USB energy.

One other energy extension is offered that features six sockets and extra USB charging ports, nevertheless it doesn’t have devoted mounting {hardware}. As an alternative, it’s designed to be slung into the under-desk cable administration tray.

4 primary cable administration equipment are offered, with the primary one being the under-desk tray. This very giant, perforated steel panel attaches securely to the desk to supply a spot to stash energy extensions, energy adapters, and different cables.

Two small cable/bits trays are additionally offered for attaching to the T-channel part – helpful for monitor cables – and the fourth cable-tidying further is a gap within the middle of the desk into which you’ll stuff cables. This gap additionally supplies USB energy pass-through ports, which means you may cost gadgets right here, with energy provided from the under-desk cable tray.

The ultimate primary addition is the dual-monitor arm system. That is the first characteristic that attaches to the T-channel, and it lets you utterly release desk house by not solely utilizing a monitor arm within the first place, but in addition by having it mounted on the T-channel. The arms can every assist as much as 32-inch screens (weight dependent).

For customers of the Elevate or Creator desk, there’s additionally an included management panel that may be positioned on both the left or proper sides of the entrance of the desk. It homes up and down buttons, a small top readout show, and buttons for storing and recalling two preset heights.

Together with these core options, the Creator version provides the rear pegboard mount, which will also be purchased individually because the Elgato Multi Body for Platform:6 ($300). All variations will also be augmented by facet extensions that add an additional 30cm of width to every facet, and include pegboards you can too hold from the facet of the desk.

It’s a really lengthy record of principally helpful additions, however not all of them will likely be helpful for everybody. Particularly, the concept of extensions feels barely out of contact with the already very large measurement of the desktop. The T-channel can be solely helpful if you’ll find elements that connect to it. Many of the Elgato webcam/mic/lighting equipment are appropriate, however step outdoors of the Corsair fold and, whereas T-channel attachments are extensively used elsewhere, it’s not a very widespread selection for desk equipment.

In the meantime, the monitor arms are definitely helpful, however some screens merely should not appropriate with monitor arms, or at the least are too heavy to work with these arms. In case you’re eyeing up an enormous 49-inch superwide panel such because the Samsung G95SC, the monitor arms and T-channel aren’t going to be a lot use.

Corsair Platform:6 design and construct

When it comes to the design, the Platform:6 retains it easy. The desk is barely obtainable in black with a selection of black laminate or both rubberwood or walnut-stain picket desktops. So, when you’re gunning for an all-white setup, desk included, this isn’t the gaming station for you.

In any other case, the Platform:6 is wise and easy with out trying overly plain or boring. Nonetheless, the black desktop does choose up and reveal fingerprints and different such marks fairly clearly. White desktops are worse for revealing crumbs and low stains, however they at the least conceal hand prints. On stability, the picket prime variations are higher on this regard, as they conceal the pure construct up of those marks.

Choosing the picket prime can be a greater thought in relation to consolation too, because the black desktop of our assessment pattern was made fairly uncomfortable due to a pointy edge all the way in which round. As an alternative of utilizing rounded edging (just like the white desk above), the plastic edging right here (black desk above) seems to have been trimmed flush with the desktop, then given a 45-degree chamfer.

This knocks off what would in any other case be a viciously sharp totally sq. edge, however the edges of the chamfer itself haven’t been honed down in any respect. In consequence, they’ll dig into your arms, legs, and cables – the outer casing of my headset cable was lower open by being caught between the desk edge and armrest of my gaming chair.

These sharp edges can simply be eliminated simply by scraping a pointy knife alongside them to knock off their tops, or by utilizing some nice grit sandpaper, nevertheless it’s not a step many customers will likely be snug doing, nor ought to they must do it on a desk that may price upwards of $1,800.

Another construct high quality issues appeared when developing the desk. Largely it’s an intuitive and straightforward course of, although you’re prone to want some assist because it has a really heavy primary desk part that comes with a number of of the steel body elements already connected.

Additionally, the uprights for the T-channel didn’t align all that effectively with the holes offered, inflicting one of many stabilizing dowels to snap. Fortunately, the bolts are safe sufficient that the T-channel nonetheless holds agency with two 27-inch screens connected.

The monitor arms themselves are a little bit of a disappointment too. Their motion could be very stiff, making them a ache to regulate. As soon as in situ, they do their job, however my present $60 twin monitor arm is way smoother – fortunately it’s capable of clamp to the T-channel.

One other challenge we encountered once more associated to utilizing a monitor that isn’t appropriate with the monitor arms. If it’s important to resort to utilizing the stand of your monitor, it’s prone to imply the monitor sits proper on prime of the central cable administration stowage space. The T-channel additionally pushes the monitor ahead which means that, regardless of being such a big desk, it will possibly really feel fairly cramped in entrance of a big monitor that isn’t utilizing the T-channel stand.

This stowage space can be simply usually a bit tough to maintain tidy when there are a couple of peripheral cables working into it. It comes by default with detachable plastic divider/cable wraps, with the concept being that you may compartmentalize the house for various cables or adapters. Nonetheless, the dividers slide free simply and shortly get in the way in which of cables. I principally resorted to eradicating all of the dividers and shoving all of the cables into the world directly, directing them out of solely one of many cutouts.

My remaining grumble is that the three-socket energy extension that may connect to the t-channel or clamp to the desk tends to slip backwards off the desk when plugging gadgets into it, when you’re utilizing the desk clamp.

In any other case, the general solidity of the Platform:6 is spectacular. It’s a hefty unit that doesn’t tilt or bend ahead when you lean on the entrance – in contrast to cheaper models such because the Flexispot E7 – and as talked about, the T-channel is rock stable as soon as connected.

The peak regulate motors are additionally very highly effective, but extremely quiet. I measured a noise stage of simply 39dB from a distance of 1m in entrance of the legs. That compares to 43dB for the Flexispot E9 and 55dB for the Yo-Yo Desk Professional 2. The quite mushy rubber buttons used to manage the peak adjustment system should not that satisfying to press, and the peak regulate system has a big time lag from stopping urgent the button to the motion stopping. It solely quantities to about 5mm of motion nevertheless it was nonetheless noticeable.

Corsair Platform:6 worth

With a worth beginning at $999 for a desk with out top adjustment, the Platform:6 is obvious and easily costly. You’ll be able to choose up height-adjustable desks with comparable desk sizes for $300, with higher-end variations going for $700. For Corsair to be asking double the latter quantity for its height-adjustable model is sort of the ask.

Then once more, you do get quite a lot of further options right here, so the worth facet of the desk will strongly depend on you taking full benefit of all of them, with the monitor arms and T-channel being the important thing ones that basically set this desk aside.

Corsair Platform:6 conclusion

The Corsair Platform:6 is a incredible gaming desk choice when you can take full benefit of all its options. It’s effectively made, quiet, and trendy sufficient in a easy form of approach, whereas the sheer quantity of extras it provides is compelling.

Nonetheless, when you’re in any respect not sure when you’ll use the T-channel bar, the monitor arms, or certainly all the opposite extras, its worth begins to get eroded in a short time. In case you discover you’re utilizing one giant monitor with its included stand as a result of it’s too heavy for the included monitor arms, then half the advantage of this desk is thrown away.

That may all be a good stability – the correct product on the proper worth for the correct individual – however the small variety of construct high quality points we encountered additional dent its attraction at this worth. The sharp edge to the desktop, the snapped dowel for the T-channel stands, and the rubbery top regulate controls are all beneath expectations for such an costly desk.

Corsair Platform:6 alternate options

If the Platform:6 isn’t for you, listed here are another choices which may swimsuit you higher.

Flexispot E7 Professional

The Flexispot E7 Professional is a sturdier, extra feature-rich different to the E7, making it an amazing choice when you simply desire a fundamental height-adjustable desk. For $700 with the identical desk measurement because the Platform:6, it supplies a giant saving so that you can add your individual monitor mounts and different desk equipment.

Secretlab Magnus

With its steel desktop, the Magnus provides a barely totally different tackle a gaming desk, and a big leatherette cowl is offered to melt the entire prime floor. Its key characteristic is a flip-up part that runs all alongside the again edge, offering entry to a full-width cable stowage tray, making for a handy place to stuff cables and energy adapters.