Table Of Content
The Fractal Design Meshify C is a full-tower case with a ton of room for customization. The Meshify C is for those looking for a huge case with a ton of features packed in, all while carrying a price tag that isn't too high. The Core i K is set at a fixed 4.7GHz clock at 1.3v on all performance cores to ensure consistent power consumption across test scenarios.
Fractal Design North XL Review: The Prettiest PC Case Gets Upsized
Ultimately, the Fractal Design North can support four 2.5 and two 3.5-inch drives simultaneously, which is very respectable in 2022. A PWM fan hub is also included, mounted behind the motherboard tray by default. It can be moved to a position above the rear fan mount, but we expect most will find its default location more convenient–and better for aesthetics as well, should you opt for the glass side panel. Known as the finest case Fractal Design makes, the Define R6 is the case to go for for a quiet build. The case packs in a ton of features, however, with great radiator and AIO cooling support, and a mid-tower form factor with plenty of room for all your hardware.
Next level GPU cooling
The Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact is one of the newest cases from the company, and it brings the goodness of the Meshify design in a compact case. The case has a fully removable top panel for better access, as well as a full-length power supply shroud to counter the pitfalls of the compact design. The Fractal Design Define 7 is equipped with an excellent fan filtration system, with large removable nylon filters on every fan mounting location including the power supply.
Ridge White
The Torrent is a perfect fit for anyone serious about high-end cooling – with or without a custom water loop. North reimagines the gaming PC, introducing natural materials and bespoke details to make gaming a stylish addition to your living space. Leveraging design to give you a better experience, its airflow functionality and intuitive layout make building and gaming both smooth and enjoyable.
Letting the GPU run at 75% fan speed enables it to maintain its power target while sticking to one set reasonable fan speed, so that the temperature is the only variable. Then tying all that together is the fantastic sound dampening material seen throughout the case; performing comparably to its larger counterparts in noise reduction. Ranking amongst the best PC cases of all time (not just from Fractal), the Define R5 hits the perfect sweet spot in offering what a majority of gaming/production builds will be looking for at its mid-range price. You might assume the mesh improves thermals, but there's also evidence (at least in some cases) that air coming in from the side can be detrimental to the front-to-back airflow path. The only other case we've tested recently with a mesh side panel was the Azza Aero 480, and that did not perform very well.
Best minimalist PC cases in 2024 - XDA Developers
Best minimalist PC cases in 2024.
Posted: Thu, 23 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Define 7 XL
Best PC cases for airflow in 2024 - XDA Developers
Best PC cases for airflow in 2024.
Posted: Sun, 01 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The North XL bumps this up to support for air coolers as large as 7.2 inches(185mm) and GPUs up to 16.2 inches (413mm). With an incredible balance between price, build quality, feature-set, and noise reduction, Fractal is one of the masters at providing the highest quality at an impressive price point in its line of minimalist towers. The Fractal Design Define Nano S is the best ITX case that the company makes. Just like the Define 7, Fractal Design has made a lot of effort to get around the disadvantages of the form factor with this one. The Define Nano S can take full-sized components and has an ATX-like layout. The case also gets sound dampening, making it a good fit for a quiet ITX build.
While the top picks are our favorites, we’ve included a few other options for the minority of readers who may have very specific requirements. Finally in our top picks is something designed for those after an extra small Fractal PC case. But anyone looking for a server, HTPC, or video production PC case will have one of the largest storage capabilities we’ve seen at this price point (and more than we can imagine any user needing).
Define C Tempered Glass
Starting with the build is the high-quality finish and largely steel exterior you expect from its more expensive counterparts. Simply put, whatever your requirements, the Define R5 is a masterpiece and easily the best Fractal computer case to cater to a majority of builds. What’s more, the case consistently outperforms many of its more open-ended rivals in terms of thermal benchmarks despite the focus on silence. Front I/O includes two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port is nestled between the power and reset buttons. You get two USB 3.0 Type-A, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C and separate audio and headphone jacks.
The North is an ATX mid-tower chassis that features wood slats on the front panel (backed by mesh) and the option for a mesh or tempered-glass side panel. Fractal Design’s new case retails for $130 and comes in Charcoal Black or Chalk White. The Fractal Design Define 7 works with two different internal layouts, "open" and "storage." Open layout resembles many current mid-tower ATX cases on the market today. An open main chamber equipped with a pair of 3.5-inch hard drive mounts under the PSU tunnel and a couple SSDs mounts tucked neatly behind the motherboard tray. While the Fractal Design North XLsports a familiar look, I’m glad that the company brought a larger version to the market.
Fractal's North is a mid-tower ATX case that disguises itself as a pretty piece of furniture. Obviously, the most appealing feature of this case is its wood front panel. Now, I never took woodshop in high school, but this feels and looks like bamboo. Staying on the topic of fan support, the North XL can fit as many fans as expected from a chassis of this size.
The chassis measures 546.8 x 240 x 474.2 mm and tips the scales at just over 15.9 kg (35 pounds). When outfitted with a tempered glass side panel is priced at $170 / £154 or $150 / £144 without it. A complaint we had about the original Fractal Design North when we tested it was its high noise levels.
But if this case fits your spec needs better, know it is very much in the same realm of fantastic quality. Alongside a decent ITX motherboard, this would be perfect for a portable PC case (for gaming/LAN parties or even a travel HTPC). Simply put, the Define Mini C is the best Fractal case available today for MATX builds bar none and perfect for most compact enthusiast builds. And with the Mini C’s decent airflow/cable management facility, you’ll get decent mileage out of an air/water cooling solution you do go with. And the Meshify C does just that, with some impressive quality for its price (if you are looking for something extra cheap, see our “cheapest PC case” pick further below).
And, finally, the rear fan mount can fit a 120mm spinner, although the case only comes with the two fans up front. The top of the North features a removable panel with a leather tab and the back for easier removal. The side panels are removed via two thumb screws, which is a bit disappointing for a case of this price, and it’s almost ironic when you consider the otherwise excellent aesthetics of this chassis. Overall, the North XL looks just as stunning as the original, but I would still personally still opt for the mesh side panel, as I feel like it fits the case’s aesthetic better than the tempered glass does. But if you do want to show off your internals, the vertical GPU kit certainly makes more sense with the glass panel.
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