Fractal Design Define R4 Review
Written by
Harry Butler
July 20, 2012 | 12:46
Tags: #define #define-r4
Companies: #fractal #fractal-design
1 — Fractal Design Define R4 Review2 — Fractal Design Define R4 — Interior3 — Fractal Design Define R4 — Cooling Performance4 — Fractal Design Define R4 — Performance Analysis and Conclusion
Manufacturer:Fractal Design
UK price (as reviewed):£79.86 Inc. VAT
US price (as reviewed): TBC
It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than two and a half years since Fractal Design’s Define R2 first landed in our labs, impressing with its minimalist (aka, looking like a mini-fridge) styling, build quality and focus on sound-deadening extras. Long a feature of our hardware buyers guides, it’s since seen an update in the form of the Define R3, as well as faced increasingly stiff competition from the likes of Corsair’s Obsidian 550D. Today Fractal Design takes the wraps off the latest iteration of its flagship chassis, with the Define R4 offering a larger, more feature equipped case, without driving up the price.
Click to enlarge — The Define R4’s minimalist design will appeal to many
Aesthetically we were pleased to find that little’s changed, with the R4 still offering minimalist rather that militarist looks. Side and roof panels are bare save for the mandatory fan mounts and a brushed aluminium-finish front door maintains the R4 as a case that’s a little more refined in its styling. Of course, this also means that it can be called plain and there’s certainly little to catch the eye if you want to show off your build.
While the styling hasn’t changed, the sizing has, albeit slightly. At 232mm x 464mm x 523mm (W x H x D) the Define R4 is taller (by 22mm) and noticeably wider (by 25mmm) than the R3, so it mightn’t fit into the tightest of cubby holes anymore. It’s still far from a super-size chassis though, and the extra volume allows the case to accommodate taller CPU coolers and roof-mounted radiators.
Click to enlarge — The case’s front door hide a 3-speed fan controller
Elsewhere on its exterior we find the welcome return of plastic fan-mount blanking plates, dubbed ModuVent by Fractal. These plates, backed by sound-deadening foam, fill three of the case’s exterior fan mounts, preventing dust from entering and noise from escaping. Elsewhere on the dust-fighting front is a huge removable dust filter along the case’s floor, and a combined dust filter and fan-mount cage hidden behind a push-button hatch at the front of the case. This means that, out of the box, every fan mount in the case (bar the rear exhaust) can either be blanked off or dust filtered, making it easy to keep your PC’s guts clean and grime free.
The R4’s front panel is neatly arrayed along the top of the case’s plastic front fascia, and now sports a pair of USB 3 ports in addition to a pair of USB 2 ports, microphone and headphone jacks and both power and reset buttons. The front plastic fascia itself is perforated with vents up both sides to allow effective airflow to the intake fan fitted behind, and the whole fascia can be popped off with a firm tug at the base to reveal the fan mounts and drive bays behind.
Click to enlarge — ModuVent blanking plates block off un-used fan mounts
Fractal has retained the decision to fit the R4 with just a pair of external 5.25in drive bays, with the front door backed in foam to again, reduce noise. A major new addition secreted behind the front door though is that of an integrated three-speed fan controller. A simple toggle switch with positions for 12V, 7V and 5V supports up to three 3-pin fans via an array of internal connectors. We’re not sure of its use out-of-the-box considering the R4’s pair of bundled 140mm cooling fans only spin at an inoffensive 1,000rpm, but for those adding in their own cooling it’s a welcome extra.
Click to enlarge — A dust filter covers a large section of the case’s floor, while a filter equipped fan mount is fitted into the front of the case
Looking to the case’s rear you’ll find that once again, Fractal has chosen to equip the R4 with a vertically orientated expansion slot, alongside the seven standard expansion slots.
This extra slot has, in the past, been used for mounting Fractal’s bundled fan controllers, but is similarly useful for mounting extra connection ports or lighting controls. Interestingly, the R4 doesn’t offer rear water-cooling grommets, a decision we can’t complain about due to their increasingly rare use now all-in-one liquid coolers and internal USB 3 connectors are wide-spread.
Specifications
- Dimensions (mm) 232 x 523 x 464mm (W x D x H)
- Material Steel, plastic
- Available colours Pearl Black (reviewed), Arctic White, Titanium Grey
- Weight 12.3kg
- Front panel Power, reset, 2 x USB 3, 2 x USB, stereo, microphone,
- Drive bays 2 x external 5.25in drive bays, 8 x internal 3.5in/2.5in, 2 x 2.5in drive bays.
- Form factor(s) ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- Cooling 2 x 120/140mm front mounts (1 x fan supplied), 1x 140mm rear fan mount (fan supplied), 2 x 120/140mm roof fan mounts, 1 x 140mm side fan mount, 1 x 120/140mm floor fan mount
- CPU cooler clearance 170mm
- Maximum graphics card length 295mm with HDD cage, 430 without
- Extras Dust filters, 3-speed fan controller, sound-deadening foam, ModuVent blanking plates
1 — Fractal Design Define R4 Review2 — Fractal Design Define R4 — Interior3 — Fractal Design Define R4 — Cooling Performance4 — Fractal Design Define R4 — Performance Analysis and Conclusion
Fractal Design Define R4 Review (Page 2 of 4)
Page 2 — Physical Look — Outside
As I have mentioned on the previous page, the Define R4, ostensibly, it just a chubby version of its predecessor.
Depending on how you would like to interpret of what we call a ‘clean and simple design’, I have always appreciated the approach Fractal Design takes. The company calls this a «minimalistic and stunning Scandinavian design» (Probably inspired by a fridge), but it is still extremely appealing to people like yours truly, who takes great interest in exemplary clean looks. And if you think that is a bad thing, don’t let my words provide the wrong connotation. If the design of a fundamentally clean case (Read: The entire front is a completely blank door, with a brushed texture to enhance its looks) combined with an intrinsic attention to detail and emphasis on silence, our Black Pearl Define R4 provides me a striking reminder both in philosophy and implementation to the old school Antec P182 I have reviewed nearly five years ago. The difference is, while Antec has their logo embedded at the top right corner of the door, Fractal Design leaves the user the choice of finding your own Maytag, Whirlpool, or GE badge.
Fact is, you just won’t find Fractal Design’s logo anywhere on the entire product, just like all their other products.
A quick glance at the left side panel reveals an opening for a 140mm fan. Fractal Design calls this the «ModuVent». Why such a fancy name for a simple fan opening? The answer is simple. The opening is sealed off with sound absorbing material by default. This provides an advantage in preventing dust from entering your system, and noise from exiting your system. If you ever decide to install an intake fan in this area, you can easily remove the material that seals off this vent. Quite a nice touch in my opinion. Other than that, the right side panel is completely blank. This time around, you can pick up a version of the Define R4 with a clear side panel. Awesome — they finally made what everything was asking for! Too bad we don’t have any on hand at the moment, but we will try to pick up one in the near future.
Measuring in at 232mm width, 464mm height, and 532mm depth, the Fractal Design Define R4’s dimensions are about right for an ATX computer case.
However, it has increased dimensions in all three directions compared to the Define R3’s specification of 207.4mm width, 442mm height, and 521.2mm depth. On the other hand, it tips the scales at 27.06lbs, which is actually lighter than the Define R3 at 27.5lbs. It is still a bit heftier than the competition though. The reason for its increased weight is because quiet computer cases are built with more sound insulation materials and other miscellaneous items.
Opening the magnetically held shut front door reveals the usual things we are used to seeing in a standard computer case. However, before we start talking about that, let me just point out the direction the door swings cannot be changed. It only swings clockwise, and that’s quite a bummer. While it is true most of us rarely access optical drives anymore, I would still like to see a little more flexibility in this area. Actually, I think many of us place our computers on our right, so I think it makes more sense if the door swings counterclockwise instead.
With that in mind, it is quite rare for me to use my optical drive anyway, so it has never been a big issue for my day-to-day usage.
Moving on, from the top we have two 5.25″ openings for optical drives, and other case accessories such as fan controllers. Of course, unless you are up to something sophisticated, it is probably not necessary, because the Define R4 already has one built in. A 3.5″ drive bay converter is no longer included. While I will agree two external 5.25″ drive bays is not a lot, I can’t recall myself using more than two at a time, so it should be sufficient for most users out there. Under it is a secondary push-lock door hiding space used to accommodate up to two 120mm or 140mm fans; one of which — a Silent Series R2 — is included from the factory. The stock fan is white in color. Washable dust filters are placed in front of each and every included and optional fan. I really like that. A built in three-speed fan controller switch is in place where the reset button is used to be; labeled 5V, 7V, and 12V.
I think the switch feels a bit cheap and out of place for a case of this class. Last but not least, as shown in our photo above, a layer of sound absorbing material is installed behind the door, used to dampen the sound emitted from the front fans.
Rather than setting the front panel connectors behind the door, Fractal Design made a wise choice in putting them at the top of the Define R4, just like the Define R3 and Define XL. The Define R4’s layout configuration is revised once again. With its power button placed nice and center, the designers managed to create a level of symmetry in an asymmetric fashion. On the right side of the power button, we have two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports. It was a wise move to ditch eSATA in my personal opinion, since having four USB ports is probably much more practical. On the left side of the power button, we have two 3.5mm audio jacks for microphone in and headphone out, as well as the relocated reset button. I think it was better to have the reset button behind the front door, but at least it is still hard to press accidentally.
Surrounding the power button is a stylish blue LED ring that dips down at the front for maximum visibility and aesthetic appeal. Notably missing from today’s party is the hard drive indicator LED as always, which is nowhere to be found.
Painted black to match the rest of the chassis, the back of Fractal Design’s Define R4 is pretty much standard for a case with a bottom mounted power supply bay. We can expectantly spot an included white colored Silent Series R2 140mm fan placed adjacent to the motherboard I/O backplate; up from the 120mm from last year. Much to our surprise, there are no radiator pipe openings. Both side panels are held closed by two thumbscrews each, with a much larger and robust handle for better grip compared to what we have seen in the past. This is particularly useful for removing the side panels. The ventilated plates enclosing the seven expansion card slots are painted white, as shown in our photo above. A vertical slot is also present for stuff like aftermarket LED lighting control.
The rear handle of the washable fan filter for the power supply can be seen in our photo above, which can be pulled out for easy cleaning.
Shifting our focus a little bit, there are elements that make the Fractal Design Define R4 quite unique. Traditionally, case designers install top mounted fans to efficiently draw heat away from the processor. This makes a lot of sense, since heat rises, so we are only adhering to the natural laws of physics. Unfortunately, this is a two way street, as it is also very easy to get a lot of dust in the system that way when it is turned off. I am not a big fan of such a design, and I really dislike it when manufacturers force me to use that opening. Therefore, to rectify this problem, Fractal Design made a wise choice and gave the user an option to choose what they want. Want silence and no maintenance? Leave the ModuVent covers on. Want more airflow? Take one or both of them off in any order, and you can install up to two 120mm or 140mm fans. It is that simple.
Why can’t more manufacturers learn from Fractal Design?
Shiny legs with rubber bottom resembling those commonly found on home electronics can be seen on the Fractal Design Define R4. The front legs are larger than the rear legs, because they will need to leave some space for the power supply fan filter, as shown in our photo above. The legs provide the chassis about 1 cm rise over the surface it resides on. For those who want more fans in their systems, the bottom panel has room for one 120mm or 140mm fan, with a fan filter also mounted externally.
Overall, the Fractal Design Define R4 ATX case is one of the most solid cases I have seen with regards to build quality. All the panels fit together extremely well with minimal panel gaps — in fact, it is pretty darn close to perfection in refinement. With that out of the way, nothing feels flimsy or cheap. Sharp edges are out of the question. The amount of attention to detail is very noticeable, and I would say it is even better than the Define R3, which is ridiculously awesome.
Admittedly, the Fractal Design Define R4 is a bit on the heavy side, but quality and sound insulation material comes at a price. You will see why in the next page.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look — Outside
3. Physical Look — Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
Fractal Design Define R4 Case Review and Test
Contents
- Introduction
- Packing and contents
- Appearance and design
- Internal structure, assembly features
- Cooling system
- Specifications
- Test stand
- Test methodology, utilities used
- Test results
- Noise
- Conclusion
Introduction
The overclockers.ru laboratory continues to acquaint readers with the products of Fractal Design, a Swedish company that produces cases, power supplies and cooling systems. Until recently, this brand was little known in the Russian market.
But now the situation is starting to change for the better.
Among the Fractal Design cabinets, the «quiet» Define series is the most famous. Today, stores are littered with «leaky» gaming cases, so the release of each new case, aimed at lovers of silence, attracts increased attention from a wide variety of users. Before us is just such a case — the fourth representative of the Define series, which was introduced in July 2012. Its predecessor with the R3 index has already visited the overclockers.ru laboratory and left the most pleasant impressions. The new product contains notable design changes, which, in theory, should make the case even better.
ModuVent technology is especially advertised. What it is, we will soon try to figure it out. And let’s start the review, as usual, by examining the packaging of the case and the accessories supplied with it.
Packaging and Contents
The Fractal Design Define R4 is packaged in a relatively large cardboard box: 535 x 325 x 610 mm (L x W x H).
Weight (gross) — about 13 kg. Against the general background, the rather large width of the box stands out especially. I wonder what such a wide manufacturer has placed inside …
The packaging is simple, but not tasteless. On the front side — a model and a schematic representation of the case.
Other surfaces are more informative. On the back you can get acquainted not only with the main design «chips» of the product, but also with its structure on the «exploded view». The sidewalls do not lag behind either: performance characteristics and another scheme are displayed on them.
Standard side cutouts instead of handles. Thanks to them, transporting the case on yourself will not be difficult. True, because of the solid mass, except for short distances.
Inside the Fractal Design Define R4 is packaged as standard in clear polyethylene and is firmly clamped between two foam dampeners.
As expected, the case is located with the front panel up.
Here, under a layer of polyethylene, in one of the recesses of the damper, additionally packed in polyethylene, there is a user manual. The instruction is given in ten languages, including Russian. There are no illustrations in the manual; the only exception is the very last sheet, where the body is disassembled — with all detachable components.
A nice box with accessories was discovered after opening the Fractal Design Define R4 — it was hidden in one of the hard drive bays. Inside — only the most necessary.
Particulars:
- Hexagonal brass standoffs for mounting system board — 9 pcs.;
- System board screws — 9 pcs.;
- Screws for fastening the power supply — 4 pcs.;
- Thumb screws for mounting 5.25-inch devices — 8 pcs.;
- Original screws for mounting 3.5-inch drives — 32 pcs.
; - Screws for mounting 2.5-inch drives — 32 pcs.;
- Silicone anti-vibration o-rings — 12 pcs.;
- Plastic cable ties — 6 pcs.;
So, we figured out the packaging and equipment, it’s time to proceed directly to the study of the main «experimental».
Look and feel
Fractal Design Define R4 is available in three color options: Black Pearl, Titanium Gray and Arctic White. The first is completely black outside and inside. Titanium Gray features a silver front panel. Arctic White, as you might guess from the name, is completely painted snow white. Also, they all come in a version with a transparent acrylic window. A total of six different variations.
Black Pearl was tested without a window.
Fractal Design Define R4 belongs to the medium tower form factor. Its dimensions: 232 x 464 x 523 mm (W, H, D), weight — 12.3 kg (which is normal for a blank steel box). The case is not too high, but wide enough — this allows you to install high cooling towers in it and leaves enough space for wires behind the motherboard tray (its predecessor was most criticized for narrowness in width, and the manufacturer clearly heard these claims of observers and users).
And, of course, the solid depth of the «case» will allow you to install even the longest video cards inside.
Fractal Design Define R4 is made of SECC millimeter steel. This applies to both the body chassis itself and the side panels. Outside, the case is painted with black matte paint that is rough to the touch. Fingerprints are almost invisible on it.
There is also plastic — the front panel is made of it, covered with a decorative door. The door is finished in stainless steel.
Square shapes and right angles — for most users, the classic design was and remains the most preferred, although today many vendors have taken the fashion to create «cosmic» cases with bizarre shapes and patterns. Against their background, the Fractal Design Define R4 looks solid and stylish.
Fractal Design Define R4 Case Review and Test GECID.com. Page 1
::>Enclosures
>2015
> Fractal Design Define R4
05-04-2015
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If among car enthusiasts the phrase «Swedish quality» is associated with Saab, Scania and Volvo, then among computer enthusiasts the memory of Fractal Design products definitely arises.
Like many other European companies, it is increasingly difficult to compete with the Asian market due to the large difference in production costs, so most of them have moved their industrial capacities to China, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries on the shores of the Indian and northwestern parts of the Pacific Ocean. But eminent manufacturers from the Old World, even after the «moving», continue to take care of the high quality of their products in order to maintain their good name in today’s tough competitive conditions. In the case of the Fractal Design range, the fact that the development and design of the devices is still carried out in Sweden also contributes to this.
In this review, we want to introduce you to the Fractal Design Define R4 case, which embodies not only Scandinavian quality, but also a strict, although no less charismatic design. The novelty will be able to accommodate ATX, microATX and Mini-ITX motherboards, video cards up to 430 mm long and many other useful components.
But the list of its benefits does not end there, but only just begins.
Specification
|
Manufacturer |
Fractal Design |
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Model |
Define R4 (FD-CA-DEF-R4-BL) |
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Frame size |
Middle Tower |
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Supported motherboard form factors |
ATX / microATX / Mini-ITX |
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Color |
Pearl Black |
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Compartments |
2 x 5.25” (external) 8 x 3.5” / 2.5” (internal) 2 x 2.5” (internal) |
||||
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Slots for expansion cards |
7+1 |
||||
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Maximum video card length |
With top basket installed |
295 mm |
|||
|
Without upper basket |
430 mm |
||||
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Maximum CPU cooler height |
170 mm |
||||
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Maximum power supply length |
With fan installed at the bottom of the case |
170 mm |
|||
|
No fan installed |
270 mm |
||||
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Cable management space behind system board |
26 mm |
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Connectors |
2 x USB 3. 2 x USB 2.0 2 x audio outputs (headphones, microphone) |
||||
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Pre-installed fans |
Front panel |
1 x 140mm |
|||
|
On the back panel |
1 x 140mm |
||||
|
Possibility to install fans |
Front panel |
2 x 140mm / 2 x 120mm |
|||
|
Top panel |
2 x 140mm / 2 x 120mm / some 280mm radiators CBO |
||||
|
On the side panel |
1 x 140mm / 1 x 120mm |
||||
|
On the back panel |
1 x 140mm / 1 x 120mm |
||||
|
On the bottom panel |
1 x 140mm / 1 x 120mm |
||||
|
Pre-installed fans |
Title |
Fractal Design Silent Series R2 140mm (FD-FAN-SSR2-140) |
|||
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Quantity |
2 (front and rear) |
||||
|
Dimensions |
140 x 140 x 25 mm |
||||
|
Rotation speed |
1000 rpm |
||||
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Noise level |
18. |
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Airflow |
112.2 m 3 /h (66 CFM) |
||||
|
Static pressure |
0.84 mm H 2 O |
||||
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Start voltage |
<6V |
||||
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Rated voltage |
12V |
||||
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Current |
0.3 A |
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Power connector |
3-pin |
||||
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Cable length |
50±1 cm |
||||
|
Weight |
149 g |
||||
|
Power supply |
No |
||||
|
Materials |
Front panel |
Plastic |
|||
|
Chassis and side panels |
Steel 0. |
||||
|
Case dimensions |
523 x 232 x 464 mm |
||||
|
Weight (net) |
12.3 kg |
||||
|
Manufacturer website |
Fractal Design |
||||
0 
5 dB 
83 mm thick Packaging and scope of delivery
The novelty comes in a traditional cardboard box for most similar devices. On it, the manufacturer shows us the appearance of the case, its internal structure, as well as the specification table. With the help of the information placed here, the buyer can study in detail the design of the novelty and its characteristics, however, knowledge of English is required for this.
Inside the box, the case is securely protected by two foam inserts and placed in an additional plastic bag to protect against moisture.
In the package you can also find three brochures and a small box, on the back of which the manufacturer has carefully listed all the components inside.
The latter are placed in separate plastic bags for convenience. So, in total, the Fractal Design Define R4 package includes the following components:
- 4 screws for mounting the PSU;
- 9 screws and stands for mounting the motherboard;
- motherboard mounting tool;
- 32 screws to secure 2.5″ drives;
- 8 thumbscrews for installing devices in 5.25-inch bays;
- 8 screws for installing hard drives;
- 32 anti-vibration screws for mounting hard drives;
- 12 anti-vibration washers;
- 6 cable ties;
- two brochures and instruction manual.
In general, the kit is commendable, as it includes a lot of screws for installing various devices, as well as nice additions in the form of gaskets and cable ties. This will allow, when mounting drives and other components, even in all possible compartments, not to lack any elements.
The only thing I would like to see here is a system speaker that allows you to detect faults that have arisen using sound signals.
Exterior
The Fractal Design Define R4 has a clean exterior. But in this case, “strict” does not mean “boring” at all. Rather, on the contrary — despite the external minimalism, it attracts attention. Note that in addition to the black version of this model, you can find completely white on sale, as well as titanium gray, which is distinguished by a lighter front panel.
The familiar elements of the front panel are placed on its upper part, so that even when the computer is located on the floor, everything you need is always at hand. The latter includes two audio jacks, power and reset buttons, two USB 3.0 interfaces and the same number of USB 2.0 standard connectors.
There is also one moderately bright LED that illuminates the power button. Depending on the preference of the owner, it can be used to inform about the operation of the computer or as an indicator of the drive.
The front panel of the Fractal Design Define R4 itself is a solid plastic door that resists fingerprints well. Behind it are visible two bays for 5.25-inch devices and a 305 x 155 mm grille.
The panel is attached to the metal frame with latches, and there are no backlashes here.
On the reverse side of the front panel there is sound-absorbing material (foam rubber) — a pleasant and far from the only manifestation of the manufacturer’s concern for reducing background noise.
The two 5.25-inch drive bays are covered by easy-to-remove and reinstall. To the right of them, you can see the switch for the supply voltage supplied to the turntables. Two pre-installed fans are connected to this device, and it is also possible to attach another propeller. There are three modes of their operation: 12V, 7V and 5V. When using this component, we advise you to make sure that the connected turntables have the appropriate starting voltage, otherwise they may not rotate in some modes.
Pre-installed fans work in all switch positions.
The bottom grille of the front panel is attached from above with two latches. Behind it, you can see a removable synthetic dust filter. There is another latch on top that allows you to completely remove the front frame with the filter and fans.
A 140mm Fractal Design Silent Series R2 140mm turntable is pre-installed here, detailed specifications of which are given in the specification table at the beginning of the material. We note the low starting voltage of this propeller, which allows it to operate in 5 V switch mode. At the same time, even at a maximum rotation speed of 1000 rpm, the fan is very quiet (noise level 18.5 dB), so two pre-installed turntables (another similar one is located on the rear panel) do not create a noticeable background noise. But their placement on opposite sides of the body and a high rate of generated air flow (112.2 m 3 /h or 66 CFM) will theoretically achieve good case cooling efficiency.
We will talk about this in more detail in the corresponding section.
The frame has a slot for another 140mm turntable. If desired, two 120 mm propellers can be placed instead. True, if in the first case the fans are fastened with latches, then 120-mm solutions will already have to be fixed with screws.
The back side, like all metal panels of the body, is covered with black matte paint, on which fingerprints are almost invisible. The novelty is distinguished by the lower location of the power supply, which is already a standard layout for modern cases in the middle and high price segments.
There are seven horizontal expansion card slots on the rear panel and one vertical slot next to it. With it, you can use the connectors on the system board more efficiently. For example, you have an expansion slot between two video cards in which you need to install a discrete sound or network card. Its presence there is not desirable, since the board will block air access to the cooling system of the upper video adapter.
Therefore, it can be brought out with an adapter and installed vertically, where it will not interfere with other components and still be able to perform its functions properly.
All expansion slot covers, as well as the blades of the bundled fans and trays in the drive cages, are white. Thanks to such design touches, there is an original and eye-pleasing contrast that does not spoil the appearance of the novelty. The plugs themselves are attached with screws.
Near the interface panel there is a seat for a 140-/120mm fan, which is initially occupied by a pre-installed 140mm Fractal Design Silent Series R2 140mm fan.
On the bottom panel, attention is attracted by a rather large grille (295 x 140 mm) with a dust filter, which is responsible for the cleanliness of the interior of the novelty. There is also a sticker indicating the model of the case and its serial number, and closer to the front panel we see an embossed inscription informing about the manufacturing country — China.
There are two perforated areas under the grille. The smaller area measures 134 x 113 mm and is designed to capture cool air with the installed power supply. But the large area (138 x 138 mm) is square and allows you to place a 140-/120-mm turntable. True, in this case, the length of the power supply will be limited to 170 mm, but without a fan, you can freely install a source up to 270 mm long on the bottom panel.
The tested novelty has two types of legs: large ones at the front panel and more compact ones at the back of the case. Their height of 15 mm allows for the supply of fresh air to the power supply. But when installing on a pile carpet, you should make sure that there is space for the necessary ventilation.
The top panel has two slots for 140/120mm fans or a CBO radiator up to 280mm long.
The right side wall is solid, while the left side has a slot for one 140/120mm turntable. Note that all three color variations of the case are also available with a window on the left side panel, but without a fan seat.
On the sides of the front panel, along the entire height of the case, there are two oblong ventilation grilles measuring 420 x 25 mm.
Internal device
Visually, the entire internal space of the case can be divided into two parts: the left, where the motherboard and power supply will be placed, and the right, reserved for 5.25-, 3.5- and 2.5 -inch devices. Despite the impression, in fact, the tested solution boasts enviable flexibility.
Drives have two drawers with pull-out trays to accommodate 5 and 3 devices respectively. The trays themselves are designed for screwless mounting of 3.5-inch media or fixing 2.5-inch devices with screws. We emphasize the initial presence of gaskets in them to mitigate the vibration created by hard drives during operation. In addition, 12 more similar gaskets are included in the package.
The top basket can be removed, which increases the maximum possible length of graphics cards from 295 to 430 mm, but only if video cards occupy expansion slots one through five.
Otherwise, you will have to dismantle the lower basket.
The upper basket can also be mounted rotated by 90°. This way the drive trays will be used to direct air from the fan directly onto the motherboard. However, this will slightly reduce the maximum length of a compatible video card.
In addition to cages, drives can also be placed behind the motherboard tray. True, there is room for only two 2.5-inch media. In addition, they should be installed before installing the system board itself, and the cables to be connected should have straight (not L-shaped) connectors. There is no need to worry about the availability of space for wires, including for their hidden installation — there is enough space for connecting all system devices.
We’ve seen the top panel from the outside, but the inside looks even more interesting. Seats for turntables are covered with plastic plugs with foam rubber, which not only prevent dust from getting inside the case, but also provide a sound-absorbing effect.
It’s nice to note that the place for installing the power supply is equipped with softening elements: along the contour of the hole on the rear panel and at four points directly under the source. As you can see, the manufacturer has properly taken care of eliminating unwanted vibrations in those places where they can actually occur.
We haven’t forgotten about sound absorption either: there is soundproofing material on both walls, including where the turntable is mounted on the left side. The side panels themselves are easy to remove and install thanks to the use of shaped screws and the presence of bulges for a grip on the ends.
Front panel cable set includes HD Audio header, power/reset button and LED connectors, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 cables. The length of all these wires is 800 mm.
Additionally there are connectors for connecting the fan speed switch. In this case, the four-pin peripheral connector is connected to the power supply, and the turntables themselves are connected directly to the three-pin interfaces, the speed of which you want to change.