The Fractal North is a nice case to build in, I've used one of each style so far. The finish on the wood used in the white/blonde wood example I used was a bit uneven, but the overall fit and finish were otherwise good. On my black example the mesh side panel was warped but was fine when installed. The threading for the finger screws was all pretty tight and I ended up using a screwdriver, they could take a lesson from LianLi in fit and finish on their thumbscrews. They are beautiful cases of reasonable dimensions that take some planning to build-in, but the people I used these for were not typical "gamer" buyers and wanted these for front-of-house business use in design forward showroom spaces. I did one Ryzen 7700x with a Geforce 4080 with a Noctua D15 air cooler... and another featuring a Ryzen 7950x with a Geforce 3080ti and a 280mm AIO. Caveats/Lessons learned: Be aware that you need to screw the front case fans in from INSIDE the case, so place your fans or rad before you install other components unless you have a side ratcheting or stubby screwdriver. The power supply has to slide through the BACK of the case, so if you are in the habit of pre-connecting cables and then mounting it to the case this isn't going to fly. There is a bit of play once you slot the PSU into the case, but it's pretty tight. I'd probably remove the 2 x 3.5" drive bays on the bottom panel if you aren't using them to give yourself more room to coil up your excess power cable slack. With the mesh side panel you get the extra fan/AIO mounting cage for extra fans or even an AIO. Even without fans you get some airflow for your GPU which is good because aside from the bottom front intake fan there isn't any opportunity to give the GPU fresh air with the glass side panel installed. The top rad mount is basically unusable with a 280mm AIO + fans (not just the thick Arctic models) due to motherboard clearance issues with the 8-pin power connector(s) and VRM heatsinks, a 240 might fly... plan accordingly. I had no issue fitting a Gigabyte Geforce 4080 OC in mine, however the Gigabyte specific anti-sag bracket extended forward and into the fan mounting locations, luckily it fit between two of the mounting slots but it did require relocating the fans above and below which might trip up some people's OCD. Clearance to the front fans was close, if you are doing a 4090 style card you will not be able to install a front mount rad. I had no issue installing an EVGA FTW3 Ultra 3080ti in this case with a 280m AIO in front.
I like my case Fractal North case as well. Wish it was slightly bigger to width wise to make better use of the the side fan or they could come out with an accessory to mount the graphic card vertically. Also to make it so you can screw the front fans to the front of the case instead of the back. Hard to remove the screws once all built or if a fan dies. I had to use rad screws and wishes and nuts to secure them that way.
I got the North one day after seeing your review, and I love it. It also gave me the kick to finally upgrade a few other furniture pieces and decor to suit the black and dark-wood aesthetic.
@@ArchAzrael79 yeah I like ITX as much as the next guy who’s into SFF cases. But that ITX “premium” I’m not a fan of. I’d like to opt for a sub 20L mATX compatible case. I don’t think it’ll happen, because it’s a more narrow market, but I’d be interested in a case with the North’s wood accents included.
It is crazy how long Lian Li has been relevant in the custom pc scene. They really are a great company. I remember buying a lian li pc65 case in like 2004.
Fractal killing it for 2 consecutive years? 🤘🤘 Perfect handling of the Torrent's fan hub issue in 2021. North, while good looking doesn't top my Torrents for both of my rigs. Great job Fractal.
Really like my Fractal North in black mesh. The mesh defuses the RGB inside and looks great with a low gold hue inside to match the wood and brass. I have a walnut stained desk I built myself and the case really completed my office look and theme of natural wood tones. 10/10 for me.
I would say that JONSBO D30 and D40 are missing because of the different designs (similar to NR200) which makes them small but quite roomy at the same time.
Surprised the Lancool 216 didn't get a mention. I can't decide between that or the Fractal North. GPU clearance more generous on the Lancool but the Fractal North is aesthetically more pleasing to me.
Those were the two on my shortlist as well, in the end the North wins for me because of better looks. The 216 has a slightly better layout and cooling performance. I will probably get a mesh and add two side fans for extra cooling.
@@lokibro82 I didn’t know choosing a case would be this difficult😁. Since this post I’ve been thinking that I should go for the NZXT H7 Flow, but now want the 5000d. I’ll probably change my mind again in two weeks.
I’m literally torn between these exact two cases right now. Been going back and forth for a while on which one, but ultimately I think I’ll go with the 216. I actually think it looks better, since I don’t really think wood paneling will mesh well with ANY of my setup. Now if they made a variant with gold plated paneling to match the black case with gold accents, it would have been an instant buy. Even just a satin black or metallic finish
My case of the year is the Lian Li Lancool 216, its priced well and if you install 2 intake bottom fans infront of the gpu (without the metal bracket) plus the fan at the back as exhaust (outside of the case + f.e. your aio at the top or just fans for exhaust if you use and air cooler for your cpu, this case will be hard to beat in any temp tests. Yes its not the best looking case but in terms of temps for gpu and cpu it would destroy the north pretty bad.
Literally just decided i was going to build again and was watching your video on fractal nano to compare it to a meshlicous and i think im going to just skip riser cables
I love the north but I really wish they hadn't put all the holes in the side panel and instead made it like the Pop silent. As on a classy model like that the noise is also a factor, while 20 million fan that do nothing it just OTT. I really want the glass Black/grey and Gold case. But would have love a solid side panel with sound proofing, So I could cheap out of the inside rather than have to spend on Match Modo and dGPU and a loop, and make my build with my pro server hardware.
If you are looking for a case now? Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB is the only case to get. Cheap and cable management is perfect. Best clean build I done. Front fans are great and change out the back 140 fan with a cooler master Halo fan . It matches and works perfect with controller. Work the ring and fan separate just like the front 160 fans. Don't forget the extra add on fan controller with USSB. I got the case that comes with it.
I’ve been deciding between this case and the north for a while now, but heavily leaning towards the 216. Can you plug those two front fans to the Lian li connect hub controller? Im planning on switching all my old Corsair fans out with the infinity style unifans, which is another reason why I’m probably gonna go with the 216.
I've pretty much been a lover of Fractal cases since their Define series cases. These days, I'm using a Fractal Torrent Compact, since I found I don't particularly care for RGB and lighting anymore, save for having it on my keyboard for the backlit keys. Keeps my temps well under control on stock cooling with a Fuma 2CPU cooler. In fact, even under load, I don't think I've ever seen my temps go above 77C, often hovering around 75C under load for the GPU, and 72-73C for the CPU. Mind you, this is with my ambient temperature typically no higher than 24C in the summer, and no lower than 18C in the winter.
As Dimitri is going through the cases, I kept thinking of the image of the fractal North. And I’m wondering, “which case is he gonna pick as case of the year?” I wasn’t thinking of the fractal north as case of the year, it simply is the one that kept going through my mind during the presentation!
Very glad you included the Cooler Master HAF 700 case - the ULTIMATE enthusiast PC case, capable of three 420mm radiators at the same as and STILL have two 200mm fans on the front and two 120mm fans on the back! There is no other case which comes as close to being this cool - excuse the pun! There are two models - the EVO costs about $100 more but has the most extreme RGB of ANY case available, the non-evo case is identical but doesnt have the HUGE RGB strips or display screen on the front.
I got the North the day it came out as a fluke. Went on new egg and saw it was already for sale. I absolutely love it, and it beats the terrible thermals of my NZXT H510 original.
The case of the year winner is the only one that really challenges the mould from an aesthetic perspective. Some manufacturers have stepped up, and others are clearly being left behind. Overall, i welcome innovation across the industry.
I've had several Fractal cases over the years (Define R4, Define R5, Define S & Meshify C) and I nearly jumped ship to Lian Li with the Lancool 216, then Fractal released North and reeled me back in such a beautiful case
Another note on the Lancool III. If you have 90 degree plugs (like some EATX motherboards have) the sliding cover does an amazing job at hiding all the cables.
I switched my build from Corsair Crystal 570rgb to the Hyte Y60 and couldn't be happier. Even though the asus rog strix 3070ti is massive, the chimney works and temps are way better and it's different. Only minus on Y60 for me is the lack of hdd/ssd-cages. My two old hdd's take the only spots offered, but luckily the three ssd's are hiding under the front radiator.
Your reviews, videos, style and pace are outstanding. They really helped me to set the right level for my build (not overdone with RGB for example :-) Keep the level for 2023 !
I'm thinking about getting a Pop Mini for my next build but what I would really love is if Fractal made a mini version of the North. I love the way it looks but I just prefer the size of mATX mini towers. You don't make as many sacrifices as you do with mini ITX builds while still being smaller than ATX mid or full towers. It's truly the sweet spot
I agree with you on the North, when I first saw the images of the black version I thought it would have looked at home in Deckards apartment. If I could afford to build another PC this would be my first choice, the last gaming rig I built & could game on was in a CM Storm Scout with ddr2 ram & an XFX4890 I bought back in the days when Linus still worked with NCIX. I hope someday to return back to PC gaming. Happy New Year everyone from Vancouver Canada!
I really wanted a full or at least Medium Tower of that Lian LI A4-H20! I...don't trust glass panels. I know that they can handle freaking hammers thrown at them, but I'm scared my cats will jump on top of the case, something is going to move the wrong way, the panel breaks, there's gonna be glass everywhere, and I won't be at home, and chaos will spread over the Earth. All because I bought a case with glass panels.
I'm hoping the North signals a change in the "traditional" monolithic case, and towards cases that are more attractive and interesting. The Hyte Y60 tried something a little different, and they should be applauded -- although it's really still a big, obtrusive box. Manufacturers need to -- *ahem* -- think outside the box. What about a case that exposes the motherboard? Watercoolers that *are* the case (i.e. support the components)? Cases that neatly fit behind monitors? I think we've been looking at these things for so long that we're stuck.
I was expecting you'd include a best matx case in your category but I understand that only a few people build on matx/medium form factor pc. Personally, I love the Jonsbo d30/d31. Very compact and no compromise matx case. Excellent airflow, with up to 360 rad, and psu placed in front to give airflow from the bottom panel.
Even though it deserves it, I'm so upset that Hyte case has become so popular. From the moment I first saw it I fell in love and decided on my next case. Now I've waited too long and it's like the most popular case and I hate doing what everybody else is doing. Guess I'll just go open frame like I was going to before I saw the Hyte.
after more than 20 years, Fractal Torrent series "reinvents" top-mounted PSU so the GPU can actually have decent air intake from the bottom, what a "game-changer" xD
For me, I'm trying to decide between the G500a (fanless) or the H7 Flow. I'm just waiting on Noctua to release their new 140mm fans to see if I want to use them in the build. The North is also nice but is more a 120mm fan case. Always a must watch end of year tech video. Thanks for sharing your insight.
Literally the only reason why I wouldn't buy the Lancool III is the shape of the power button. Every case I've ever owned with asymmetrical power buttons has ALWAYS lead to them eventually catching on one side over time. Outside of that, it darned near perfect.
I always love these vids. I build my PC in 2017 and I picked my case cause of this video for 2017. I bought the Phanteks Enthoo Pro and I absolutely loved it. Perfect choice. So I appreciate you guys for helping me with my first PC.
Love the North! Hopefully with its popularity Fractal makes a “Mini” or “Nano” version. Enjoying my Meshify 2 Mini, which the “Mini” mATX size came out this year.
Got myself a 4000d airflow, pimped it out with 4 Noctua fans and Arctic Freezer II 240 on top. I don't care if it's "best" case, it's working like magic.
im more then sure, best cooling solution allrounder is Lianli_like cases , 3 bottom fans intake, 3 side fans intake, 3 fans on top exhaust , its second case i bought in a row for me... no worries about temp for any hardware....
The timber for the case at the end won’t crack, the worse thing that’ll happen to them is they’ll bow and twist from the heat. Users have to make sure when cleaning that case to also make sure to care for the polish on the wood.
Hmm, me living in sweden with the Fractal design north priced to 190:-.... Not fun, doe the nr200p is just 50 bucks sometimes which is awesome and acually in stock!
I'm so happy to see my pc case categorized in the best rgb types. As someone who has this thing next to me as of writing this, it is so cool and its worked for me for the past few months of having it. I had a cheap rgb case awhile back and all I got what was a case by the end of the day. My friend installed it, but the rgb was dead on arrival and the company has not reached back. Overall, it's a great case if you can afford it, but it was worth it and I highly recommend it.
Samsonite with a small 4 wheel bottomed suitcase should get into the PC case game, I mean everyone and their mother seems to make a case, with the mainstream OEM's producing near hundred different models hoping one sticks. Imagine a zipper opening for your side panels instead of screws / slides etc?
Or even just a suitcase PC that has wheels, and can be moved around. Stick with the typical "front to back" airflow pattern, standard USB setup, no need for viewing windows - it's just a Samsonite suitcase that has a computer inside it. Being able to wheel around a computer would be a major selling point for a ton of people.
@@arthurwintersight7868 I dunno I was kind of envisioning a little bit more but, maybe we can use your suggestion for the Samsonite Coffin, or Samsonite Beer Keg?
@@Dobermanator - I was thinking more in terms of "I've been homeless." That creates a ton of issues for owning a computer, and setting up in a motel just to take things back down again is both a pain, and presents a very real danger of damaging parts of your system. I would legitimately buy a suitcase PC case if it was available, now that I've got some cash, just for the ability to easily move it around without as much danger of damaging components.
@@Dobermanator - I was homeless for two months, a year ago, and laptops don't have the power I want, or the storage capacity. Moving from apartment to apartment is yet another reason for wanting a suitcase PC.
Hshshshs i got a G500A. I really like it but yeah, those plastics sucks. It only has two things that annoys me: The plastics and having almost 0 air flow for power supplies that have the fan on 'top', i have a rog thor and i can rotate it to get air but i lose the rgb and the oled display. For the plastics, i made holes in one of them to put a RGB SSD, so now they are 'useful' but im looking for a 3d printer for the other 3 but managing the 24 pin cable is absolute pain And for the psu, im sure I'll lost the patience and drill it. I just need to figure how to paint it back. Anything aside, is almost perfect
My nzxt h410 still the best case so far, all their fans gave up, but fractal design can’t beat it on temps, it still look nice so maybe in 10 more years we would get a decent case that is not meant to break apart in 6 months
In your Fractal Design North review you mentioned that you can fit a 280 mm radiator in the top. That is unfortunately not true. While I love the design, one should also note that you will not be able to fit an aftermarket 4080/90 with a front-mounted radiator, and that only the mesh variant comes with a fan hub. It's hard to justify it being case of the year, when the build has to be relatively specific.
The lancool III is amazing in every aspect (I built my new rig with it), but it is freakingly heavy! I often have to move my desktop from a room to the next, I am far from being weak, and sometimes I really have trouble lifting the unit when I am tired in the evenings.
No love for the original full-size Fractal Torrent? Huge? Yes. Keeps stuff cool? Yes. Good looking? Yes. Room to move into it if you can't pay the rent? Yes. Love it.
The Lancool III is my COTY. It's the only case I would even consider upgrading from my current champion, the Phanteks Evolv X. It's just that the X is so good, I don't really need anything else.
Fractal Torrent/Torrent compact with the North's walnut/brass treatment.......pretty please Fractal.
The Fractal North is a nice case to build in, I've used one of each style so far. The finish on the wood used in the white/blonde wood example I used was a bit uneven, but the overall fit and finish were otherwise good. On my black example the mesh side panel was warped but was fine when installed. The threading for the finger screws was all pretty tight and I ended up using a screwdriver, they could take a lesson from LianLi in fit and finish on their thumbscrews. They are beautiful cases of reasonable dimensions that take some planning to build-in, but the people I used these for were not typical "gamer" buyers and wanted these for front-of-house business use in design forward showroom spaces. I did one Ryzen 7700x with a Geforce 4080 with a Noctua D15 air cooler... and another featuring a Ryzen 7950x with a Geforce 3080ti and a 280mm AIO.
Caveats/Lessons learned:
Be aware that you need to screw the front case fans in from INSIDE the case, so place your fans or rad before you install other components unless you have a side ratcheting or stubby screwdriver.
The power supply has to slide through the BACK of the case, so if you are in the habit of pre-connecting cables and then mounting it to the case this isn't going to fly. There is a bit of play once you slot the PSU into the case, but it's pretty tight. I'd probably remove the 2 x 3.5" drive bays on the bottom panel if you aren't using them to give yourself more room to coil up your excess power cable slack.
With the mesh side panel you get the extra fan/AIO mounting cage for extra fans or even an AIO. Even without fans you get some airflow for your GPU which is good because aside from the bottom front intake fan there isn't any opportunity to give the GPU fresh air with the glass side panel installed.
The top rad mount is basically unusable with a 280mm AIO + fans (not just the thick Arctic models) due to motherboard clearance issues with the 8-pin power connector(s) and VRM heatsinks, a 240 might fly... plan accordingly.
I had no issue fitting a Gigabyte Geforce 4080 OC in mine, however the Gigabyte specific anti-sag bracket extended forward and into the fan mounting locations, luckily it fit between two of the mounting slots but it did require relocating the fans above and below which might trip up some people's OCD. Clearance to the front fans was close, if you are doing a 4090 style card you will not be able to install a front mount rad. I had no issue installing an EVGA FTW3 Ultra 3080ti in this case with a 280m AIO in front.
Thank you for your sharing!
Thanks for all the info!
I like my case Fractal North case as well. Wish it was slightly bigger to width wise to make better use of the the side fan or they could come out with an accessory to mount the graphic card vertically. Also to make it so you can screw the front fans to the front of the case instead of the back. Hard to remove the screws once all built or if a fan dies. I had to use rad screws and wishes and nuts to secure them that way.
You can fit a 240 in the top, I have a Corsair H100i LCD Elite installed.
Fractal Design straight up copied Asus ProArt Station PC case lmfao 🤣
I got the North one day after seeing your review, and I love it. It also gave me the kick to finally upgrade a few other furniture pieces and decor to suit the black and dark-wood aesthetic.
why not use the chapters feature for videos like this...
added!
-D.
@@HardwareCanucks Use them less. Cuts down on watch time 😉
@@HardwareCanucks still don’t see any.
@@mazo7846
Give TH-cam some time to stop being stupid
@@mazo7846 There are time stamps in the description. Though nobody reads the description.
The wood paneling on pc cases looks sick! Reminds me of an old school atari or something
Gross.
I’d love a mATX version of the Fractal North.
Mmmmm that would be nice
Isn't it already so small?
and here I'm wishing for ITX version of the Fractal North (hopefully sandwich style with top exhaust fan/radiator, not like ridge)
@@ArchAzrael79 yeah I like ITX as much as the next guy who’s into SFF cases. But that ITX “premium” I’m not a fan of. I’d like to opt for a sub 20L mATX compatible case. I don’t think it’ll happen, because it’s a more narrow market, but I’d be interested in a case with the North’s wood accents included.
I'd love for it to be in stock.
I would love to get a fractal design north but unfortunately they aren't available anywhere....
That compartment on the Pop Air...the first thing that came to mind was, "you put your weed in there".
Expected the Lian Li Lancool 216 and NZXT H7 Flow to be mentioned.
He just don't know about lian li Lancool 216 🙂
It is crazy how long Lian Li has been relevant in the custom pc scene. They really are a great company. I remember buying a lian li pc65 case in like 2004.
I´m building my first ever pc and still debating whether I will go Lian Li O-11 Evo or the new Hyte Y60
Fractal killing it for 2 consecutive years? 🤘🤘
Perfect handling of the Torrent's fan hub issue in 2021.
North, while good looking doesn't top my Torrents for both of my rigs.
Great job Fractal.
Really like my Fractal North in black mesh. The mesh defuses the RGB inside and looks great with a low gold hue inside to match the wood and brass. I have a walnut stained desk I built myself and the case really completed my office look and theme of natural wood tones. 10/10 for me.
Would be cool to get some pictures of your setup if you don't mind sharing.
@@jonathaneriksson9273 yeah
A fractal black north is on its way! Looking forward to build in it.
The H7 Flow is just fantastic!
Bought my NR200p for $45 on campaign back in february, great case!
Corsair 4000d air, 5000d air, nr200p max and lian li dynamic still my best case
I would say that JONSBO D30 and D40 are missing because of the different designs (similar to NR200) which makes them small but quite roomy at the same time.
It'd be great if Fractal made a desktop/HTPC version of the North case. That would blend in very nicely in a TV console!
I love the H7 Flow. It's not the best at anything but it's pretty well rounded for my use case.
I am happy to see fanless versions of cases, not because I want to save money, but because I want to pick the fans myself and buy them separately.
definitely a good idea if you are not happy with the brands included fans
Surprised the Lancool 216 didn't get a mention. I can't decide between that or the Fractal North. GPU clearance more generous on the Lancool but the Fractal North is aesthetically more pleasing to me.
216 comes with "technically" 4 fans fractal I think only 2 and its also more money
Those were the two on my shortlist as well, in the end the North wins for me because of better looks. The 216 has a slightly better layout and cooling performance. I will probably get a mesh and add two side fans for extra cooling.
This is all I’ve been thinking about for the last two weeks. Now I wait for the NORTH to become back in stock.
@@lokibro82 I didn’t know choosing a case would be this difficult😁. Since this post I’ve been thinking that I should go for the NZXT H7 Flow, but now want the 5000d. I’ll probably change my mind again in two weeks.
I’m literally torn between these exact two cases right now. Been going back and forth for a while on which one, but ultimately I think I’ll go with the 216. I actually think it looks better, since I don’t really think wood paneling will mesh well with ANY of my setup. Now if they made a variant with gold plated paneling to match the black case with gold accents, it would have been an instant buy. Even just a satin black or metallic finish
The Hyte 40 will be announced at CES similar to Y60 but squared off instead of rounded edge and at a cheaper price
My case of the year is the Lian Li Lancool 216, its priced well and if you install 2 intake bottom fans infront of the gpu (without the metal bracket) plus the fan at the back as exhaust (outside of the case + f.e. your aio at the top or just fans for exhaust if you use and air cooler for your cpu, this case will be hard to beat in any temp tests. Yes its not the best looking case but in terms of temps for gpu and cpu it would destroy the north pretty bad.
That has NOTHING on the Hyte Y60
A smaller MATX/ITX Fractal North would be sick!
Literally just decided i was going to build again and was watching your video on fractal nano to compare it to a meshlicous and i think im going to just skip riser cables
I love the north but I really wish they hadn't put all the holes in the side panel and instead made it like the Pop silent. As on a classy model like that the noise is also a factor, while 20 million fan that do nothing it just OTT. I really want the glass Black/grey and Gold case. But would have love a solid side panel with sound proofing, So I could cheap out of the inside rather than have to spend on Match Modo and dGPU and a loop, and make my build with my pro server hardware.
thats EXACTLY what I'm hoping for, a North Silent. maybe a little larger with sound proofing on the side panels.
If you are looking for a case now? Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB is the only case to get. Cheap and cable management is perfect. Best clean build I done. Front fans are great and change out the back 140 fan with a cooler master Halo fan . It matches and works perfect with controller. Work the ring and fan separate just like the front 160 fans. Don't forget the extra add on fan controller with USSB. I got the case that comes with it.
I’ve been deciding between this case and the north for a while now, but heavily leaning towards the 216. Can you plug those two front fans to the Lian li connect hub controller? Im planning on switching all my old Corsair fans out with the infinity style unifans, which is another reason why I’m probably gonna go with the 216.
@@Zjombie Yes and the Cooler master Halo fans work perfect with the controller to to add more fans that match the front 2 fans.
I've pretty much been a lover of Fractal cases since their Define series cases. These days, I'm using a Fractal Torrent Compact, since I found I don't particularly care for RGB and lighting anymore, save for having it on my keyboard for the backlit keys. Keeps my temps well under control on stock cooling with a Fuma 2CPU cooler. In fact, even under load, I don't think I've ever seen my temps go above 77C, often hovering around 75C under load for the GPU, and 72-73C for the CPU.
Mind you, this is with my ambient temperature typically no higher than 24C in the summer, and no lower than 18C in the winter.
I just got the NZXT h1 v2 for only $200 in the US! They went on sale and I’m so happy because it’s an insane deal.
that's killer. they are sold out unfortuantely
Ive been looking for sellers for the fratal north, but I haven't found anything! I need a new case and the north seems very nice.
As Dimitri is going through the cases, I kept thinking of the image of the fractal North. And I’m wondering, “which case is he gonna pick as case of the year?” I wasn’t thinking of the fractal north as case of the year, it simply is the one that kept going through my mind during the presentation!
fractal with compatible side fan and that wood...chef kiss
When you lived long enough trough rgb fan feast and matured enough to love wood accent!
Gotta get that case when I build my next computer!
Bought the North Glas Panle Version to replace my sub desk standing, black Define r5. I just love everything about it.
I've been rolling with an r4 for 10 years now, the North might be the one to make me get a new case.
Very glad you included the Cooler Master HAF 700 case - the ULTIMATE enthusiast PC case, capable of three 420mm radiators at the same as and STILL have two 200mm fans on the front and two 120mm fans on the back! There is no other case which comes as close to being this cool - excuse the pun! There are two models - the EVO costs about $100 more but has the most extreme RGB of ANY case available, the non-evo case is identical but doesnt have the HUGE RGB strips or display screen on the front.
I got the North the day it came out as a fluke. Went on new egg and saw it was already for sale. I absolutely love it, and it beats the terrible thermals of my NZXT H510 original.
The case of the year winner is the only one that really challenges the mould from an aesthetic perspective.
Some manufacturers have stepped up, and others are clearly being left behind. Overall, i welcome innovation across the industry.
Fractal Design North NEEDS AN XL VERSION!!!!
and a Mini version.
One of my goals for 2023 is to build a new computer, thanks for all the reviews and inspiration!
0:35 Looks even better when an artist gets his hands on it….. yeah, this guy did that 👋🏾🥰
I've had several Fractal cases over the years (Define R4, Define R5, Define S & Meshify C) and I nearly jumped ship to Lian Li with the Lancool 216, then Fractal released North and reeled me back in such a beautiful case
NZXT H7 flow and H5 flow, lian li Lancool 216, Fractal Design focus 2 rgb, is on my fav list.
Another note on the Lancool III. If you have 90 degree plugs (like some EATX motherboards have) the sliding cover does an amazing job at hiding all the cables.
I switched my build from Corsair Crystal 570rgb to the Hyte Y60 and couldn't be happier. Even though the asus rog strix 3070ti is massive, the chimney works and temps are way better and it's different. Only minus on Y60 for me is the lack of hdd/ssd-cages. My two old hdd's take the only spots offered, but luckily the three ssd's are hiding under the front radiator.
You know your cases. Bought my last three Phanteks cases based on your recommendation and no regrets.
Nice! What’s going to be your next case?
-D.
Fractal just makes so much things right. They've been so many times Case of the Year in this channel!
Your reviews, videos, style and pace are outstanding. They really helped me to set the right level for my build (not overdone with RGB for example :-) Keep the level for 2023 !
I wish there was a North XL, as sadly my enormous E-ATX motherboard, at over 30mm, doesn't fit.
The North inspired me to finally upgrade my gaming 2016 gaming PC. Truly gorgeous case and fun to build in.
I'm thinking about getting a Pop Mini for my next build but what I would really love is if Fractal made a mini version of the North. I love the way it looks but I just prefer the size of mATX mini towers. You don't make as many sacrifices as you do with mini ITX builds while still being smaller than ATX mid or full towers. It's truly the sweet spot
I agree with you on the North, when I first saw the images of the black version I thought it would have looked at home in Deckards apartment. If I could afford to build another PC this would be my first choice, the last gaming rig I built & could game on was in a CM Storm Scout with ddr2 ram & an XFX4890 I bought back in the days when Linus still worked with NCIX. I hope someday to return back to PC gaming. Happy New Year everyone from Vancouver Canada!
I really wanted a full or at least Medium Tower of that Lian LI A4-H20!
I...don't trust glass panels. I know that they can handle freaking hammers thrown at them, but I'm scared my cats will jump on top of the case, something is going to move the wrong way, the panel breaks, there's gonna be glass everywhere, and I won't be at home, and chaos will spread over the Earth. All because I bought a case with glass panels.
I'm hoping the North signals a change in the "traditional" monolithic case, and towards cases that are more attractive and interesting. The Hyte Y60 tried something a little different, and they should be applauded -- although it's really still a big, obtrusive box. Manufacturers need to -- *ahem* -- think outside the box. What about a case that exposes the motherboard? Watercoolers that *are* the case (i.e. support the components)? Cases that neatly fit behind monitors? I think we've been looking at these things for so long that we're stuck.
I bought the North after your first review. Was lucky to get it on preorder. Showed up early. Now I just need the rest of the PC.
Less glass side panel is what I've been waiting for.
After spending about a week or two I decided on the Fractal Design North and it is by far, the best case I've ever gotten.
I was expecting you'd include a best matx case in your category but I understand that only a few people build on matx/medium form factor pc. Personally, I love the Jonsbo d30/d31. Very compact and no compromise matx case. Excellent airflow, with up to 360 rad, and psu placed in front to give airflow from the bottom panel.
Even though it deserves it, I'm so upset that Hyte case has become so popular. From the moment I first saw it I fell in love and decided on my next case. Now I've waited too long and it's like the most popular case and I hate doing what everybody else is doing. Guess I'll just go open frame like I was going to before I saw the Hyte.
after more than 20 years, Fractal Torrent series "reinvents" top-mounted PSU so the GPU can actually have decent air intake from the bottom, what a "game-changer" xD
For me, I'm trying to decide between the G500a (fanless) or the H7 Flow. I'm just waiting on Noctua to release their new 140mm fans to see if I want to use them in the build. The North is also nice but is more a 120mm fan case. Always a must watch end of year tech video. Thanks for sharing your insight.
Inter-Tech / Sama IM-01 fan here. Just so small for what it does. And priced nicely.
I wanna build my first gaming Pc, but i dont know what case fits for the intel core i9 12900k. Can someone please help me?
Imagine putting wood on the front panel is "changing the game", crazy days we live in
Literally the only reason why I wouldn't buy the Lancool III is the shape of the power button. Every case I've ever owned with asymmetrical power buttons has ALWAYS lead to them eventually catching on one side over time. Outside of that, it darned near perfect.
the era of big closed cases with many big fans and RGBs is over.... now it is cool to have very small open cases with no RGBs.
5:02 beautiful lighting
the only problem is the fractal design north is unavailable to buy.
Really missed a M-ATX options besides the Fractal pop... Just like with M-Itx it deserves a category on his own
I always love these vids. I build my PC in 2017 and I picked my case cause of this video for 2017. I bought the Phanteks Enthoo Pro and I absolutely loved it. Perfect choice. So I appreciate you guys for helping me with my first PC.
Love the North! Hopefully with its popularity Fractal makes a “Mini” or “Nano” version. Enjoying my Meshify 2 Mini, which the “Mini” mATX size came out this year.
Got myself a 4000d airflow, pimped it out with 4 Noctua fans and Arctic Freezer II 240 on top. I don't care if it's "best" case, it's working like magic.
Hyte Y60 case of the year
im more then sure, best cooling solution allrounder is Lianli_like cases , 3 bottom fans intake, 3 side fans intake, 3 fans on top exhaust , its second case i bought in a row for me... no worries about temp for any hardware....
The timber for the case at the end won’t crack, the worse thing that’ll happen to them is they’ll bow and twist from the heat. Users have to make sure when cleaning that case to also make sure to care for the polish on the wood.
Where did you get that great sweater? I've been looking for one just like it!
Been watching Dmitry for years now, get some much needed sleep my brother, it’s showing under your eyes. 😔 love you though happy new year.
I would get the North if it had an all white interior for the white cases :) YES FRACTAL, IM LOOKING AT YA
Hmm, me living in sweden with the Fractal design north priced to 190:-.... Not fun, doe the nr200p is just 50 bucks sometimes which is awesome and acually in stock!
Me watching 15 videos on the Fractal Design North just to remember i got a 280mm AiO and will not get to use a case this pretty for quite some time.
Fractal Design
Torrent also comes with anti-sag bracket
I'm so happy to see my pc case categorized in the best rgb types. As someone who has this thing next to me as of writing this, it is so cool and its worked for me for the past few months of having it. I had a cheap rgb case awhile back and all I got what was a case by the end of the day. My friend installed it, but the rgb was dead on arrival and the company has not reached back.
Overall, it's a great case if you can afford it, but it was worth it and I highly recommend it.
Samsonite with a small 4 wheel bottomed suitcase should get into the PC case game, I mean everyone and their mother seems to make a case, with the mainstream OEM's producing near hundred different models hoping one sticks. Imagine a zipper opening for your side panels instead of screws / slides etc?
Or even just a suitcase PC that has wheels, and can be moved around. Stick with the typical "front to back" airflow pattern, standard USB setup, no need for viewing windows - it's just a Samsonite suitcase that has a computer inside it. Being able to wheel around a computer would be a major selling point for a ton of people.
@@arthurwintersight7868 I dunno I was kind of envisioning a little bit more but, maybe we can use your suggestion for the Samsonite Coffin, or Samsonite Beer Keg?
@@Dobermanator - I was thinking more in terms of "I've been homeless." That creates a ton of issues for owning a computer, and setting up in a motel just to take things back down again is both a pain, and presents a very real danger of damaging parts of your system. I would legitimately buy a suitcase PC case if it was available, now that I've got some cash, just for the ability to easily move it around without as much danger of damaging components.
@@arthurwintersight7868 Dude, you've been homeless too long. They have this new technology, it's called a "laptop."
@@Dobermanator - I was homeless for two months, a year ago, and laptops don't have the power I want, or the storage capacity.
Moving from apartment to apartment is yet another reason for wanting a suitcase PC.
I’m so excited to build in the North later this year. What a stunning case
I ended up with the one sponsored the video 🤣🤣 it got no prizes but still think it's cool
Every single time I’ve bought a case, it’s been from one of your lists lol
Hshshshs i got a G500A. I really like it but yeah, those plastics sucks.
It only has two things that annoys me:
The plastics and having almost 0 air flow for power supplies that have the fan on 'top', i have a rog thor and i can rotate it to get air but i lose the rgb and the oled display.
For the plastics, i made holes in one of them to put a RGB SSD, so now they are 'useful' but im looking for a 3d printer for the other 3 but managing the 24 pin cable is absolute pain
And for the psu, im sure I'll lost the patience and drill it. I just need to figure how to paint it back.
Anything aside, is almost perfect
My nzxt h410 still the best case so far, all their fans gave up, but fractal design can’t beat it on temps, it still look nice so maybe in 10 more years we would get a decent case that is not meant to break apart in 6 months
O11 and the North are the best for me. Great lineup, Дим. )
In your Fractal Design North review you mentioned that you can fit a 280 mm radiator in the top. That is unfortunately not true. While I love the design, one should also note that you will not be able to fit an aftermarket 4080/90 with a front-mounted radiator, and that only the mesh variant comes with a fan hub. It's hard to justify it being case of the year, when the build has to be relatively specific.
The lancool III is amazing in every aspect (I built my new rig with it), but it is freakingly heavy! I often have to move my desktop from a room to the next, I am far from being weak, and sometimes I really have trouble lifting the unit when I am tired in the evenings.
Any other complaints you have other than weight ?
I am thinking of buying this case 😶
No love for the original full-size Fractal Torrent? Huge? Yes. Keeps stuff cool? Yes. Good looking? Yes. Room to move into it if you can't pay the rent? Yes. Love it.
Love my phanteks evolv shift XT. It looks so good with strip lightning in the top
Is there a case (xl tower) you could recommend if you want 6+ 5'25inch external slots (for fitting hot swappable drive bays) and loads of hard drives?
Turtle necks are back?! Nature is healing.
If not for the lack of side panel venting. The Lian-Li TU-150 is a great case for those not a fan of RGBling.
9:27 you forgot to tell that those screws are as firm as plastic😂 one-time-screwable ))
I like the Hyte Y60, but my wall would block the aire flow
The Lancool III is my COTY.
It's the only case I would even consider upgrading from my current champion, the Phanteks Evolv X. It's just that the X is so good, I don't really need anything else.
agree with the case of the year, very nice looking case.