Fractal Design is not the oldest company in the business but has surely established itself as one of the top PC case manufacturers, even though its portfolio goes beyond that. Its Define and Meshify series of cases have become extremely popular among gamers who value aesthetics just as much as performance. The company has PC cases in all form factors, whether large or small, with different front panel choices.
Established in 2007, Fractal Design introduced its first PC case in 2009, and it was the Define series that took the industry by storm. Since then, Fractal has been continuously innovating and improving its lineup, to the point where now the variety of cases has made it a little challenging to find the perfect one. Fractal Design cases are fairly straightforward to categorize and have interesting names as well, rather than unappealing model numbers and SKU codes.
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Fractal Design Meshify 2
The Meshify 2 from Fractal Design is an upgrade to the highly popular original Meshify case. It is an E-ATX case, and it comes with eight storage drive mounts, nine fan mounting options, and steel side panels. It has a full mesh front which lets air flow through without any restrictions.
- Color
- Black TG Dark Tint
- Brand
- Fractal Design
- Weight
- 10.1 kg
- CONNECTIVITY
- 7+2 expansion slots, eight storage drives
- STORAGE OPTIONS
- 6x 3.5/2.5-inch drives, 2x 2.5-inch drives
- Ports
- 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.0, Audio I/O
- Unrestricted airflow
- Easy to build in
- Ample storage options
- A bit on the pricey side
As the name suggests, this is the second iteration of the Meshify series of PC cases. The Meshify 2 is the more standard-looking case that supports most motherboard form factors, including E-ATX, ATX, mATX, and Mini-ITX. There is a mesh front panel that allows air to flow in freely while at the same time keeping dust particles out. Speaking of keeping dust out, there are mesh filters at the top and the bottom as well. The frame is made from steel and there is also a tempered glass panel on the side.
For cooling, a total of nine fans can be installed in the Meshify 2, be it 120mm or 140mm. Three can be set at the front for intake, while one at the back, two at the bottom, and three at the top can act as exhausts or whatever configuration you feel fit. Adding storage is also simple and easy considering there are six universal drive mounts and two dedicated 2.5-inch drive slots.
Building inside the Meshify 2 is very easy as the front, top, and side panels come off. The front panel is also on a hinge so it can just swing out of the way, for whenever you need to access the front mounted fans. The case also has a Nexus+ 2 fan hub that allows connecting up to three PWM fans and six 3-pin fans. Managing all those cables is also a breeze thanks to the detachable PSU cable shield and integrated cable guides with velcro straps. You also get a USB Type-C port at the front for easy access.
Overall, the Fractal Design Meshify 2 is a great mid-tower PC case that will fit in most gaming setups and is also available in white, along with a few other combination colors.
Fractal Design North Chalk White
The North by Fractal Design is a stylish and sophisticated PC case, which uses real wooden accents to turn the average PC into a centerpiece. The North can be further customized, with the option of a tempered glass or mesh side panel. This case fits all motherboard sizes up to the standard ATX and is an excellent choice for both air-cooled and water-cooled systems, with radiator support up to 360 mm.
- Brand
- Fractal Design
- Material
- Steel, Oak Panels, Tempered Glass (optional)
- Motherboard Size (Max.)
- ATX / mATX / Mini-ITX
- RGB Lighting
- No
- Viewing Window
- Yes, TG
- 2.5" Drive Slots
- 2
- Power Supply Size (Max.)
- 1 HDD Tray: 255 mm max, 2 HDD Tray: 155 mm max
- Exterior Dimensions
- 447 x 215 x 469 mm
- Color Options
- White, Black, Mesh or TG
- Unique design
- USB Type-C up front
- Integrated tab for taking panels off
- White color is generally more difficult to maintain
- Replacement front panels are not available in case of damage
The Fractal Design North takes a different approach to PC case aesthetics. There is a wooden front panel that makes the case stand out, and it does not impede airflow in any way, which is the most important. The slats at the front that sit on top of the mesh panel are made from real walnut or oak, along with sleek brass or steel details. The uniqueness in design doesn’t end there, as you get an integrated tab for easy access to the top of the case and case feet with brass accents which continue to the top with the power button.
The Fractal Design North comes in two variants, one that fits up to ATX motherboards and one that is designed to accommodate larger motherboards. With the ATX case, you don’t get the most storage mounting options as there are only two combined 3.5-inch/2.5-inch drive mounts along with two dedicated 2.5-inch drive mounts. For cooling, the mesh side panel version of the North PC case supports up to eight 120 mm or six 140 mm fans, while the tempered glass version supports two fewer fans.
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At the front, you get two USB Type-A ports and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port. It can fit up to a 355 mm GPU with the front fans installed. You also get two Aspect 14 PWM fans preinstalled, as well as a fan hub and a fan bracket. The Fractal Design North can be purchased in black or white colors, but the front wooden panel design remains the same.
Fractal Design Terra
Terra is a PC case designed and engineered to reshape the small form factor gaming experience. It includes a PCIe 4.0 riser cable and features a stepless, slidable central wall for build flexibility, providing space for a powerful GPU up to 322 mm long. Terra incorporates boutique design features such as thick panels cut from anodized aluminum, CNC-milled details, and FSC-certified solid walnut.
- Brand
- Fractal Design
- Material
- Annodiezed aluminum, Solid Walnut
- Motherboard Size (Max.)
- mITX
- Graphics Card Size (Max.)
- 322 mm
- 2.5" Drive Slots
- 2 (included)
- Power Supply Size (Max.)
- 130 mm
- Exterior Dimensions
- 343 x 153 x 218 mm
- Color Options
- Jade, Graphite, Silver
- Elegant design with wooden panel integration
- All panels come off making it easy to build in
- Ships with PCIe 4.0 riser
- On the expensive side
- More challenging to source compatible components
Not everyone can accommodate a mid-tower or a full-tower PC case in their gaming setup and that’s where small form factor cases come in. The Fractal Design Terra is the perfect example of that, blending style, compatibility, and ease of use into one impressive package. The Terra case is designed for mITX motherboards and has a volume of just 10.4 liters, which on paper may seem cramped, but the case has been designed in a way that optimizes the available space and makes it easy for even new PC builders.
Being a small form factor case, the Terra does not offer the expansion and storage options as the mid-tower cases, so keep that in mind before proceeding with the purchase. There are only two dedicated 2.5-inch drive slots, which is fine considering most modern PC builds rely on high-speed PCIe storage. It can house only a single 120mm fan, but the airflow is only restricted by the components you choose to cram in the case. The side and top panels are perforated, which is perfect as the CPU is mounted on one side while the GPU, through a PCIe 4.0 riser cable, is mounted on the other side.
Building in the Fractal Design Terra will surely be more challenging than in a mid-tower case with plenty of space, but the company has made it as easy as possible to fit your components in. Not only are the side and top panels fully removable, but the motherboard plate itself is adjustable, allowing for 30mm of flexibility.
The Fractal Design Terra is available in Jade, Black, and White colors, all of which have a small wooden panel at the front that houses the power button, a USB A port, and a USB Type-C port.
Fractal Design Pop Air RGB
The Fractal Design Pop Air RGB is a budget-friendly mid-tower PC case that features a mesh front panel and a tempered glass side panel. It comes with three 120 mm Aspect 12 RGB fans and has a hidden compartment for two concealed 5.25-inch bays that are easily accessible. The case has two versatile storage trays and each supports a 3.5-inch and a 2.5-inch drive.
- Brand
- Fractal Design
- Motherboard Size (Max.)
- ATX
- Graphics Card Size (Max.)
- 405 mm with front fan mounted
- 3.5" Drive Slots
- 3
- RGB Lighting
- Integrated ARGB controller
- 2.5" Drive Slots
- 4
- Power Supply Size (Max.)
- ATX
- Very affordable
- Integrated ARGB controller
- Hidden 5.25-inch drive bays
- Can only fit two fans at the front
- No cable routing gromets
The Pop series of cases from Fractal Design are the more standard-looking cases that come in two versions: Air and Silent. The Air versions of the case have mesh front panels while the Silent versions come with tempered glass. There are also options for RGB and non-RGB versions, but the RGB version comes with an integrated ARGB controller with a button located right next to the power button for easy access.
What this controller essentially allows for is integrating all the RGB components, be it case fans or case lights all in one place, being controlled via a single button. The colors and effects can be changed by holding down/ pressing the button, which makes it extremely easy to use and bypasses any software.
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As for compatibility, you get three 3.5/2.5-inch drive bays, four dedicated 2.5-inch bays, and also two 5.25-inch drive bays hidden away but also easily accessible from the front. It is a compact mid-tower case that can accommodate up to an ATX motherboard and up to five fans. There is plenty of space for even larger components as it can fit GPUs up to 405mm and has a CPU cooler clearance of up to 170mm. In terms of radiators, up to a 280mm radiator can be fitted at the front and up to 240mm at the top.
For well under $100, the Fractal Design Pop Air case is available in black, white, and a combination of white and grey.
Fractal Design Torrent
The Fractal Design Torrent is a modern-looking PC case that features a large base for mounting up to three fans that direct the airflow upwards toward the GPU. As for radiator support, the Torrent can accommodate up to 420mm radiators at the front as well as the bottom. It comes with a total of five case fans, two 3.5-inch drive bays, and four 2.5-inch drive mounts. Additionally, Fractal Design offers a Nexus 9P Slim PWM fan hub, a GPU bracket, cable straps, and more with the Torrent.
- Brand
- Fractal Design
- Material
- Steel, tempered glass
- Motherboard Size (Max.)
- E-ATX
- Graphics Card Size (Max.)
- 423mm
- 3.5" Drive Slots
- 2
- RGB Lighting
- Yes
- Fan Controls
- Yes
- Viewing Window
- Yes, tempered glass
- 2.5" Drive Slots
- 4
- Color Options
- Black, White, Grey with Light Tint, Black with Dark Tint, Black with Light Tint, White with Clear Tint
- Unique design
- Plenty of space to build in
- Accommodates three fan setup at the bottom
- Expensive
- Angular design may not appeal to everyone
The Torrent, Torrent Compact, and Torrent Nano are the three versions available in the series and all of them are premium offerings from Fractal Design. Once again, the company has knocked it out of the part in terms of design and the Torrent PC case comes with a stylish front panel that has angular lines running from top to bottom. This front panel has a fine mesh panel right behind it to keep all the dust out while still giving the case an elegant look.
A total of seven fans can be mounted inside the Fractal Design Torrent and you get two Prisma AL-18 180mm fans included in the RGB version. The side panels are tool-less, making it easy to build in. There are also cable gromets and straps to ease cable management. It is a full-size case and can fit up to an E-ATX motherboard. The Compact and Nano versions of the case are designed to take up less space and work with motherboard sizes smaller than E-ATX.
There are plenty of radiator mounting options with the Torrent case and the bottom also has a mesh for dust filtering. It also comes with a pre-installed Nexus 9P Slim PWM fan hub, vibration-damping rubber grommets for the storage bays, and an included GPU support bracket. Do note that the PSU is mounted at the top, which makes some of the cable runs a bit easier.
Fractal Design Define 7 XL
- Color
- Black
- Brand
- Fractal Design
- Weight
- 16.5 kg
- STORAGE OPTIONS
- 12 storage drives (5.25/3.5/2.5-inch)
- Ports
- 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, Audio I/O
- Plenty of space for building/expansion/storage
- Plenty of radiator mounting options
- Easier cable management thanks to cable shield, guides, straps
- On the pricey side
- No option for a mesh or tempered glass front panel
If a gigantic tower is what you want next to you on your desk, the Fractal Design Define 7 XL is the case for you. Unlike some of the Fractal cases with unique front panels, the Define series keeps things more “normal” and has a solid plane front panel with ventilation on the sides. With this much space, there are endless possibilities for cooling, be it air or water cooling. Up to a 480mm radiator can be mounted at the front and the top while the bottom can house up to a 240mm radiator. The ample space allows you to mount your GPU vertically without worrying about airflow.
There are eight 3.5/2.5-inch drive bays, two dedicated 2.5-inch bays, and two 5.25-inch bays. All these drives can be mounted in many different positions and orientations. There are also 12 expansion slots, support for up to 11 fans, and an optional tempered glass side panel. Furthermore, up to a 530mm GPU can be fitted in the case and the CPU cooler has 185mm of clearance.
Those who need a lot of storage bays will be pleased to know that the Define 7 XL can accommodate up to 18 HDD/SSDs plus five SSDs in its Storage Layout. While the Fractal Design Define 7 XL is a big and heavy case, the industrial appearance makes it feel more slender than it is. It is also very easy to build in this case, with ample space for everything, including cable management.
Here’s What to Look for in a PC Case
Form Factor: PC cases are available in a few different sizes based on the size of the motherboard they can accommodate. The larger E-ATX or ATX cases can accommodate smaller motherboards, but not the other way around. Additionally, E-ATX and ATX (full-tower and mid-tower) cases are the easiest to build in and source components for.
Front Panel: There are two options when it comes to front panel design. You can either go with a mesh front panel or a solid front panel (including tempered glass). The mesh front panels typically have better airflow, while tempered glass front panels give unrestricted visual access to the internals.
Storage Support: While the industry is moving towards PCIe-based storage, there are still a lot of gamers who like to stick with HDDs or SSDs. Depending on your particular use case, the number of available drive mounting options would dictate which cases you can consider. Fortunately, most mid-tower cases offer sufficient storage options.
Radiator Support: Fans of water-cooled gaming PCs must first find out what the radiator support looks like in a PC case. Usually, radiators can be mounted at the front or the top, but some modern cases allow for bottom-mounted radiators as well. It should be noted though that a lot of cases will lose some clearance when fans and radiators are mounted at either the front or the top.
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FAQ
Q: What's the best Fractal Design case?
Overall, the Fractal Design Meshify 2 is the best PC case as it offers a great combination of aesthetics and functionality.
Q: Who are the competitors of Fractal Design?
Fractal Design is in competition with other major PC case manufacturers, like Lian Li, Corsair, NZXT, and Cooler Master, to name a few.