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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. Fractal's North, though, performed exceptionally well in our testing – especially with CPU thermals. 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.
PC OK Omegna snc.
It's airflow design is enough to meet the needs of almost all PC builders and its premium feel makes the case an ideal chassis for those who want a modern Scandinavian-styled PC without breaking the bank. 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. My preferred fans are going to be black Noctuas as I've used them in the past and like how quiet they can be. It's been many years since I built a PC and I don't remember the slightest thing about how to do an optimal fan setup for a case like this. A fine chassis for PC builders itching to forego RGB glitz in favour of genteel elegance.
Yet another Fractal North + AIO cooler compatibility question
Fractal Design North review: A unique PC case for a brighter Fractal future - XDA Developers
Fractal Design North review: A unique PC case for a brighter Fractal future.
Posted: Fri, 08 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. North XL combines a transformative take on the gaming PC case with a generous form factor. It fuses design materials with airflow engineering, to make performance gaming a stylish addition to the living space. Inside, it boasts a spacious, flexible, and intuitive interior layout so you can make the most of your building and gaming experience. For storage beyond M.2, there are a pair of 2.5-inch brackets behind the motherboard plate.
FREEZING HARDWARE
There are some limitations; for example, you can put the 240 mm radiator at the top, but the RAM height can be only 35 mm. 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. The Fractal Design North measures up at 18.5 x 8.5 x 17.5 inches (HWD), so I wouldn’t try to fit an E-ATX board in here. However, this case can fit GPUs up to 13.98 inches (355mm), and our Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC fits perfectly.
Testing Hardware
Another gripe I had with the original North was its lack of E-ATX support. Fractal Design's cases generally aren't all that quiet, and that's true here as well. During our full-speed test, we got an average of 53 decibels, which is, bluntly, quite loud. Even though the case is loud, let’s not forget that the side panel is mesh. So it's likely the tempered glass version of the North is at least a little quieter. Case companies often take an existing design and mostly (or sometimes only) change the front panel.
Fractal Design North; Less Ikea, More ScanDesign - PC Perspective
Fractal Design North; Less Ikea, More ScanDesign.
Posted: Thu, 08 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Ultimately, the Fractal Design North can support four 2.5 and two 3.5-inch drives simultaneously, which is very respectable in 2022. If you need more than that you'll generally have to look to a bigger case. A PWM fan hub is also included, mounted behind the motherboard tray by default.
Then we tested the ITX Ridge, which stood out for its console-sized frame and build quality. 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.
Features of the Fractal Design North
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. And, finally, the rear fan mount can fit a 120mm spinner, although the case only comes with the two fans up front.
Memory PC GmbH
Welcome to your go-to-channel for everything Fractal-related from information to inspiration. Being a mid tower you have room inside for all of the latest hardware, motherboards up to ATX, graphics cards up to 355 mm, CPU coolers as tall as 170 mm, long power supplies, and up to six hard drives out of the box. For those wondering about watercooling you can fit a 360 mm radiator in the front of the case and 240 mm in the top. The case does come with two included 140 mm fans, which are mounted in the front of the case and there is an included fan hub as well. While the Fractal Design North XLsports a familiar look, I’m glad that the company brought a larger version to the market.
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. 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. As long as the performance is decent, there's nothing wrong with more traditional basic black PC case boxes or aggressive RGB-and-glass gamer chassis.
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. Fractal was also able to keep the price of the North XL pretty reasonable. At $180, it’s not exactly budget, but it’s surprisingly affordable given its internal space and stunning external design.
Fractal Design’s new case retails for $130 and comes in Charcoal Black or Chalk White. Staying on the topic of fan support, the North XL can fit as many fans as expected from a chassis of this size. The front of the North can fit up to 3x 120 or 140mm fans and the corresponding radiator sizes. If you don’t have the gargantuan Torrent fans as mentioned above, the top of the case can fit three 140mm fans.
Our testing hardware uses Intel’s 12 Gen “Alder Lake” platform, specifically a Core i KF, cooled by a Noctua U12s air cooler. 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. The Fractal Design North isn’t perfect, but it’s undoubtedly interesting and unique, and if you love it at first sight, I don’t think any of the little quirks are going to put too many people off buying one. 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.
We hypothesized that the tempered glass side panel would likely be quieter than the mesh variant. Fast-forward to today, the tempered glass variant of the XL model is, in-fact, quieter. No, but if fan noise particularly bothers you, you may want to consider the glass panel even if you don’t care much about looking at the internals of your case. Official subreddit of Fractal – leading designer and manufacturer of premium PC gaming hardware.
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. One of the few gripes I had with the original North was the thumb screws needed to remove the side panels, and that carries over to this larger model. I suppose it’s more secure than the pop-off pegs that have become increasingly common. But it’s also worth mentioning that the thumbscrews here are very stiff and require a screwdriver to remove. With the Fractal North, PC builders have access to something that is simple, modern and relatively affordable.
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