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Fractal's North, though, performed exceptionally well in our testing – especially with CPU thermals. And it can be mounted in three different locations (bottom, middle, or top) to best suit the needs of your build. Behind the wood are two pre-installed Fractal Design Aspect 140mm fans, which can be replaced with fans or radiators up to 360mm.
Tom's Hardware Verdict
Finally, just as the temperatures turned frigid and the year was winding down, the company fittingly launched the North. Despite its price of $130, it stands out in a case market that’s become boring by delivering great airflow and stand-out looks. Case companies often take an existing design and mostly (or sometimes only) change the front panel. This isn’t the case (no pun intended) with the North, which is available in either white or black and with a mesh or tempered glass side panel. While the original North was fairly roomy inside, its GPU support was limited to 14 inches and its CPU cooler height to 6.6 inches (without the side fan bracket).
Included GPU support bracket
What’s more, be aware the case seems to have some quality control problems (likely due to the very low price point for its feature set). The reason we don’t rate it highly is because it doesn’t have quite the level of quality, features, and noise-dampening we love from Fractal. But we have to say, if your heart is set on the form factor, you can still have a powerful, quiet machine in the Nano S. But the storage will only be a concern for high-capacity builds (think server pc cases or video editing builds) – there’s more than enough here for gaming. Many of our top picks remain the same this year, but there’s been a few fantastic releases that I’ve added as alternatives where relevant. Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.
Define S2 Vision Blackout
Just below the surface of the top panel, you will find a large plastic mesh fan filter, and below that are mounting locations for three 120mm or two 140mm fans. 2022 has been a big year for Fractal Design; the Swedish case company started off with the Torrent Compact, which was an impressive start. In the summer, we saw the Pop Silent, which was refreshing, as the case market has become saturated with mesh and RGB. Then we tested the ITX Ridge, which stood out for its console-sized frame and build quality.
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Currently, the PC case market is saturated with chassis constructed of more glass than mesh, so anything else is a breath of fresh air. While the wood front panel is gorgeous and hasn’t shown signs of decay over the last year, I would like to see Fractal Design release additional front panels. For example, I’d love to see a brass front panel on this case to compliment the accents. Once again, I was blown away by the thermal performance of the Fractal Design North XL. Despite its wood-slatted front panel, plenty of air is able to flow into the chassis, thanks to the three 140mm Aspect 14 PWM fans. If you're looking for the best balance, the Fractal Design Define R6 is the case to pick.
An uncluttered, small form factor case designed to integrate seamlessly into your living space and daily rituals. An evolution of the slimline format, Ridge was developed in collaboration with gaming and entertainment enthusiasts to subtly improve their homes and enhance the small form factor PC experience. The Define Series of cases focuses on delivering the perfect balance between silent operation and minimalist Scandinavian design. The understated look and feel allows for a natural fit into your home or office while never compromising on quality, performance of configurability. The Core 1100 is a very impressive offering for its price point and would be a great choice for a very cheap budget PC.
When I took the North XL out of the box, I was taken aback by the attention to detail in this chassis. Instead of boring black or silver accents, the charcoal black version features brass-colored IO ports and feet. I don’t think I have ever been impressed by the feet on a case before, but there’s a first time for everything, I suppose. Speaking of the IO, the top panel features separate audio in and out jacks, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports and one USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 2 port. But if you’re after a stylish, minimalist PC case with a price built on nothing but pure quality and performance, then this is the best choice and one of our all-time favorite cases. Not only do you have great cooling potential and GPU space for a powerful overclocked gaming build.
Core
While we love this chassis, we think the R5 strikes a better balance price-wise; and those with less price concern would largely be better off with the 7 XL. Not only is it the best Fractal PC case for mITX builds, but one of the best from any brand on the market today. Anybody building an mITX build will know they’re not going to get quite the same performance as a larger build. You’re still getting the fantastic sound-dampened steel and classy metallic finish on the outside of the case. Tied in with excellent cable management facilities, incredible low-decibel performance, and a beautiful build, there are few cases that match how impressive the Define 7 XL is. Now don’t get us wrong, the Define R5 and our other top picks have excellent performance potential.
Meshify
Available in either chalk white or charcoal black, can the North XL land Fractal another notch on our Best PC cases list? We’ll have to test it to find out, but first, let’s take a look at its specs. Behind the motherboard tray, you’ll find the usual cable tie points, a dual 2.5-inch drive bracket and two 3.5 or 2.5-inch drive trays.
It’s a strange time for PC cases, especially if, like me, you’re not a big fan of so-called “fishbowl” chassis with glass on as many sides as possible. Sure, on the better models, airflow has improved to the point where, with some smartly placed fans, you don’t usually have to worry about cooking your high-end components. Now Fractal Design is back with the North XL, aimed at beefier builds, with E-ATX motherboard support, and room for larger coolers and GPUs. The latter is particularly welcome because the Colorful RTX 4090 Vulcan OC just barely fit when we used the North to update our How to Build a PC article. At $180, it’s not exactly budget, but it’s surprisingly affordable given its internal space and stunning external design.
However, Fractal Design offers a ton of options, so picking the best one for you can be tough. Our testing hardware to uses Intel’s 12 Gen “Alder Lake” platform, specifically a Core i KF, which is cooled by a Noctua U12s air cooler. Our testing hardware uses Intel’s 12 Gen “Alder Lake” platform, specifically a Core i KF, cooled by a Noctua U12s air cooler. If you want the Fractal Design quality but something a little…different, then the Node 804 is a great choice.
Despite the thumbscrews and still-not-quiet acoustics, the unique look and attention to detail outweigh those fairly minor issues, especially with its sub-$200 MSRP. Heck no, but for $180, the price isn’t outlandish for a case of this size, especially when you consider the fact it comes with three 140mm PWM fans and the wood accents as standard. If you want wood panels on competing Corsair cases, you’ll have to spend $70 or more, with the recently launched dual-chamber 6500 case line selling for $199 with no wood and no included fans. For storage beyond M.2, there are a pair of 2.5-inch brackets behind the motherboard plate. And you can install two more 2.5-inch or two 3.5-inch drives in trays housed under the PSU shroud. Power supply space is ample, at up to 11.4 inches, although that space lessens as you add drive trays and / or a front radiator.
