They have a great customer support as well! I wrote them an email as the USB headers on my R5 Define case was starting to give out. Wanted to buy the header cables, but it was discontinued. Support guy just asked for serial number, told me where to look, and then asked my address. Took like 25 minutes from start to end. Then he shipped me a new cable - free of charge.
@@-timosflight Yeah, that's 26 liters and is MFF. Could do a heavily modified S300 (8L), but I'm looking for something that doesn't require excessive mods.
They are out of sync. When there were plenty models of mITX, only ugly media center cases were on a market. Now there are many interesting cases on sale, but number of mITX motherboards is low, and they are expensive. These guys won’t meet each other
@@sc0or There are great mITX boards for every major socket. It is an enthusiast plattform, people are willing to pay high prices for having high quality hardware in compact space. You can still find cheap mITX boards on chinese online stores. But why would you use something like that in an expansive case.
😆… I mean to give you some context, go watch the original Era review. That was a total fail hot-box. I’m just happy to see them release a worthy ITX case that can do water cooling. -D.
Should be, it's larger than the NR200 and the NR200 has way more compatibility. This case is gorgeous but just like the Terra, is way behind it's similar sized competitors in functionality. I hope Fractal starts making these great looking SFF cases more functional at some point, I mean look at the T1, H2O, M2 and C4-SFX if you want to see some great cases that trump this in terms of functionality and compatibility.
The Fractal Design Era 2 is an absolute triumph in compact PC case design, and I have to say-it’s a game changer. This isn’t just another case trying to look pretty while offering little substance. No, this is a perfectly crafted blend of form and function, with that wood top panel adding a touch of elegance while the engineering beneath makes building in this case a dream. The tool-less design, magnetic panels, and flexible interior options scream innovation. Sure, cable management can be a pain, but the thoughtfulness in the design offsets that. Fractal is pushing the industry forward, and it’s about time others catch up
These premium ITX cases they have are great but I'll still hope to god that someday, they do an updated Nano S. That was a really solid, classic case and it's worthy of a successor.
Close, very close to greatness. I'd like to see more adjustment options for the PSU. Adjustable PSU vertical position. Adjustable PSU (180 degree) rotation. Option to change which way the PSU intake fan faces. Similar options for the position of the SSD cage. Two 140mm fans on the bottom. Thanks.
I would jump so hard on an olive green color of this. Like I might even justify the dumb financial decision of swapping my Terra for a green one of these.
I really dislike how you did temperature testing with an i5 9600k and 2060 super. I get that tighter and smaller cases will trap heat but at least something from the past 3 years should be used. the 9600k is 6 years old and 2060 is 5.5 years old. No one will be building a new pc with those specs. Saying "temperatures are OK" isn't a great statement in this case imo.
@@HardwareCanucks I understand that but it's still irrelevant to what people use nowadays. A 2060 super is only using 175w and with the new CPUs being difficult to cool even in large cases it would be great to showcase if it starts throttling in the smaller enclosure just so people know if it will cause issues. The comparative test makes sense but it just disregards problems that modern hardware might cause, and a comparative test could still be done on modern hardware as well. Just a suggestion, I've been watching for years and I love the videos overall
PC case designers. Look at the keyboard market for inspiration. Colors, material diversity, etc. Where is pink for the girls! And boys. We need a magenta, pink etc, something bright and warm. In fact what we need is 1 standard option, the interior frame, and multiple exterior options. Agree 💯, every company should start looking at color and materials, I would love to see plastics like the original iMacs. Computers can be much more fun and joyful.
For maximum wow factor would of been nice to see a RTX 4000 series or 7900XTX gpu with big powercables and 12-pin for 4090 to see compatibility and clearance.
@@loganwhite6173 I have a 7900XTX in a Louqe Raw S1. Prior to that, I had a 6800XT in a Sliger SM560. Plenty of SFF cases can accommodate the larger cards.
@@loganwhite6173 I was able to find a 4090 that would fit anything once they started being more in stock around the first of the year with the MSI Slim X.
They aren't the only one's that put the power cable too close to graphics card. With so much attention to detail, I'm surprised they didn't change this.
Fractal, please, please, PLEASE for the love of all that is good make an ATX sized version of this! I HATE small form factor, I've done it, it's a nightmare because of where I live. I can't just "go to the store and return things that don't fit." The nearest physical store that sells PC components is a 4 hour drive from me, then 4 hour drive home! and the store sucks too! I don't care if it ends up twice the price I want that blue one! But I want my components to FIT!
I wish you'd update the test components. I mean, Core i5-9600, who has any sense of what kind of temps this gives off anymore? It's six years old! Edit: Anyway, thumbs up! Awesome case!
Am I the only one that's not really impressed? I wish they would just make a mini/micro version of the Fractal North already... Fractal nailed it that case - an absolute masterpiece. Come on Fractal, Design us a SFF North - Conventional layout, marginally narrower, air cooler friendly... Similar to the new NCASE M2 grater... just not... 'half-baked'😕
No offense, but a wrong standoff screw is not a little whoopsie, that is a huge oversight that should be scrutinized. If they are not going to include extras, they cannot afford that mistake.
How is it that you guys review ITX cases and praise some as your favorite as if you’ve sampled what’s out there, and you STILL haven’t looked at the FormD T1?
Isn't that essentially impossible to get your hands on? I could be thinking of a different case, but I thought that thing was a unicorn. Not to say they couldn't get one, but it wouldn't be a very useful review if none of their viewers could get one.
As an owner of the OG Era ITX, I got excited for the Era 2, but then I saw that it could not accommodate my miniDTX mobo (ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Impact); sadface...
I don't know. Looking at things like this and the PS5 (just for example), I'm not a fan of case designs that look like contemporary art pieces. This one in particular is like if Dr. Seuss made a PC, although I do like the blue color. I wish more cases had a variety of colors to choose from, or just offered a silver, brushed aluminum aesthetic.
Ah, ok. A fact that the shell opens upwards makes it useless for me, cause I have no space above a case to open it without disconnecting all cables, and pulling it out. That’s a table PC. Not an “invisible” one. Vivid colors give some clue about that
Love the Terra's size, but man does the design and cooling advantage really draw me towards the Era 2. Terra's cooling is just bottom tier and I wish they improve that with the Terra 2.
whish they made a terra v2 that fits fans on the bottom and the top(no radiator, just fans, maybe even just slim fans), and with more IO (no other changes)
Cases like this ate why I stopped caring about ITX. Look at the A3/AP201/Sama mATX, they're half the price, just slightly bigger but still fairly compact, fit mATX (less expensive than ITX boards), better cooling (especially for air coolers), ATX PSU (SF PSU are overpriced af and not many good models are available). Also, if you really want to accept all the ITX limitations just get a Terra whic is actually very small.
I understand the appeal of SFF builds but to me they reek of form over function. Personally, I'd rather buy a mid-tower in which I don't have to make component (size considerations) or cooling compromises. If I was building a HTPC or a low power work station or something than I could consider the form factor.
today there's not as much compromise with regard to part selection because you can adequately cool basically any cpu and gpu in an SFF case, but it is a little cost-prohibitive to some.
Iqnix ZX1 watercooled makes more sense than this one, I do own the air cooled version of that. I would rather buy Dan A3 and build a microatx system. However the case do looks beautiful and with the features it is much easier to build in this one.
Man, they need to stop coming out with these awesome cases. Bought a Fractal North in black and almost swapped to the Fractal Terra in jade. Now this Era 2 in Midnight blue, damn..
I love the look of these, so I probably would get one just based on that... not that I can justify another build. Or can I... 🤔
For an ITX case, there's nothing better than FormD T1. Or the NCASE M2 if you want something larger.
Love your mouse review
Totally WORHT it!
WOHOOPS
I hope it was worht 😅
-D.
@@HardwareCanucks Totally was - I found my new pc case! 😍
Ever since buying my first Fractal case I've been a fan.
They have a great customer support as well! I wrote them an email as the USB headers on my R5 Define case was starting to give out. Wanted to buy the header cables, but it was discontinued. Support guy just asked for serial number, told me where to look, and then asked my address. Took like 25 minutes from start to end. Then he shipped me a new cable - free of charge.
Good joke 🎉. I laughed.
SFF Fractal North when:
There is still the a3 matx with wood front panel, but its a bit big
won't happen forget it
I did that (almost) 😂 can be 3D printed
Google
3D Printed prototype of Fractal Design North Weird-chain
Didn't they do that as the PI case
(Not really ITX, but definitely SFF)*
@@-timosflight Yeah, that's 26 liters and is MFF. Could do a heavily modified S300 (8L), but I'm looking for something that doesn't require excessive mods.
they should make small MATX case like this...
They are out of sync. When there were plenty models of mITX, only ugly media center cases were on a market. Now there are many interesting cases on sale, but number of mITX motherboards is low, and they are expensive. These guys won’t meet each other
@@sc0or
There are great mITX boards for every major socket.
It is an enthusiast plattform, people are willing to pay high prices for having high quality hardware in compact space.
You can still find cheap mITX boards on chinese online stores.
But why would you use something like that in an expansive case.
I feel reviewers are like cats, you give them a new box and they think it's the best thing ever.
wow wood panel greatest invention of all time - youtubers
😆… I mean to give you some context, go watch the original Era review. That was a total fail hot-box. I’m just happy to see them release a worthy ITX case that can do water cooling.
-D.
@@HardwareCanucks I will take a look at the first one to see how it compares.
I'll just stop here in the comments. Perfect! 😂
This case looks big enough to be able to set it up in a traditional layout.
Should be, it's larger than the NR200 and the NR200 has way more compatibility. This case is gorgeous but just like the Terra, is way behind it's similar sized competitors in functionality. I hope Fractal starts making these great looking SFF cases more functional at some point, I mean look at the T1, H2O, M2 and C4-SFX if you want to see some great cases that trump this in terms of functionality and compatibility.
@@dewjustin The M2 and T1 are goated cases
"New Era" is the name of my local Chinese take away. That will make this case even more special for me.
Unlike their food, this case is probably actually made in China lol.
I been waiting/searching for this for months and it’s finally out for reviews and not even a recommendation from YT
Now we just need more ITX boards that don't cost more then the ATX counterparts.
I'm here for the thumbnail misspell. You got me. Fine, I'll watch this.
Welcome 🙏
-D.
Appreciate the lines and the fingerprints in proper lighting
The white one really reminds me of XBOX 360
I have to say, the design team at Fractal is creating some of the best-looking cases lately-like the Terra, Era, and Ridge.
I really hated the Ridge. One of the few cases in my life that I flipped. Terra and Era 2 are much improved, I recommend these instead.
Love that mid night blue
I would like it if there was an ATX version
FINALLY!!! I was waiting for a review video to finally drop for this case
reminds me of that beautifful 90's Compaq PC and Monitor design
The Fractal Design Era 2 is an absolute triumph in compact PC case design, and I have to say-it’s a game changer. This isn’t just another case trying to look pretty while offering little substance. No, this is a perfectly crafted blend of form and function, with that wood top panel adding a touch of elegance while the engineering beneath makes building in this case a dream. The tool-less design, magnetic panels, and flexible interior options scream innovation. Sure, cable management can be a pain, but the thoughtfulness in the design offsets that. Fractal is pushing the industry forward, and it’s about time others catch up
This would have been a must-have for me if the GPU clearance was ~336mm.
i havent thought about replacing my o11 until just now. this case is awesome looking
Love the thicker Xbox 360 refresh look
These premium ITX cases they have are great but I'll still hope to god that someday, they do an updated Nano S. That was a really solid, classic case and it's worthy of a successor.
Is that Burt Reynolds presenting this video? Love the denim shirt!
This is AWESOME! well done!
Fractal keeps impressing!
Close, very close to greatness. I'd like to see more adjustment options for the PSU. Adjustable PSU vertical position. Adjustable PSU (180 degree) rotation. Option to change which way the PSU intake fan faces. Similar options for the position of the SSD cage. Two 140mm fans on the bottom. Thanks.
"sauna floor top panel " 🤣
I mean for real tho 😂 I love a Finnish sauna, and seeing the top panel immediately reminded me of it.
-D.
I would jump so hard on an olive green color of this. Like I might even justify the dumb financial decision of swapping my Terra for a green one of these.
kinda cool. bigger terra with water cooling support. I think that price is quite steep tho.
I really dislike how you did temperature testing with an i5 9600k and 2060 super. I get that tighter and smaller cases will trap heat but at least something from the past 3 years should be used. the 9600k is 6 years old and 2060 is 5.5 years old. No one will be building a new pc with those specs. Saying "temperatures are OK" isn't a great statement in this case imo.
It's a comparative test so we could have done it with a potato and it would have still been relevant.
@@HardwareCanucks I understand that but it's still irrelevant to what people use nowadays. A 2060 super is only using 175w and with the new CPUs being difficult to cool even in large cases it would be great to showcase if it starts throttling in the smaller enclosure just so people know if it will cause issues.
The comparative test makes sense but it just disregards problems that modern hardware might cause, and a comparative test could still be done on modern hardware as well. Just a suggestion, I've been watching for years and I love the videos overall
Function follows design
Crazy the temp difference in cpu and GPU generations. GN tested this case with a 4070 and 13600k. And the temps were way lower than this setup.
PC case designers. Look at the keyboard market for inspiration. Colors, material diversity, etc.
Where is pink for the girls! And boys. We need a magenta, pink etc, something bright and warm. In fact what we need is 1 standard option, the interior frame, and multiple exterior options. Agree 💯, every company should start looking at color and materials, I would love to see plastics like the original iMacs. Computers can be much more fun and joyful.
Again the GPU compatibility sucks.... Ncase M2 it is.
For maximum wow factor would of been nice to see a RTX 4000 series or 7900XTX gpu with big powercables and 12-pin for 4090 to see compatibility and clearance.
My exact thoughts as well. I have the 7900xtx and it's aggravating never being able to go sff
@@loganwhite6173 Ncase M2.
@@loganwhite6173 I have a 7900XTX in a Louqe Raw S1. Prior to that, I had a 6800XT in a Sliger SM560. Plenty of SFF cases can accommodate the larger cards.
@@loganwhite6173 I was able to find a 4090 that would fit anything once they started being more in stock around the first of the year with the MSI Slim X.
Fractal really be delivering lately
Nice Seiko!
Please check the ACER Predator MI900 case. It looks amazing and it is fully modular.
They aren't the only one's that put the power cable too close to graphics card. With so much attention to detail, I'm surprised they didn't change this.
Yeah… but at least it’s easily removable for installation purposes.
-D.
I love it, I wish they would make an mATX version.
Fractal, please, please, PLEASE for the love of all that is good make an ATX sized version of this!
I HATE small form factor, I've done it, it's a nightmare because of where I live.
I can't just "go to the store and return things that don't fit." The nearest physical store that sells PC components is a 4 hour drive from me, then 4 hour drive home! and the store sucks too!
I don't care if it ends up twice the price I want that blue one! But I want my components to FIT!
truly beautiful design
Debating whether to get this or the Fractal Terra! Great review.
The last one was a disappointment after the initial wow factor. Good to see they've made it better.
Hair reminds me of Kramer when there was no water pressure in the build
I don't understand the component choice for the testing what so ever....and the PSU is oriented the wrong direction.
Laziness. A lot of these tech channels don't give a shit anymore and just pump out sponsored content for $$$. Don't blame them, it's their livelihood.
I wish you'd update the test components. I mean, Core i5-9600, who has any sense of what kind of temps this gives off anymore? It's six years old! Edit: Anyway, thumbs up! Awesome case!
Am I the only one that's not really impressed? I wish they would just make a mini/micro version of the Fractal North already... Fractal nailed it that case - an absolute masterpiece. Come on Fractal, Design us a SFF North - Conventional layout, marginally narrower, air cooler friendly... Similar to the new NCASE M2 grater... just not... 'half-baked'😕
Damn it thought i would be fine with the lian li a3. Now im thinking to getting this and a mb. Looks soooo elegant, its tempting.
No offense, but a wrong standoff screw is not a little whoopsie, that is a huge oversight that should be scrutinized. If they are not going to include extras, they cannot afford that mistake.
For sure 👍 I’ve never seen this happen in 13yrs of building and reviewing cases. Hoping Fractal takes it seriously.
-D.
It's pretty but i still prefer the TERA! For me it's still the pretiest SFF case !
I plyed around with the original. This looks so much better from first glance alone
Is it wrong of me to wait for a fishtank design from Fractal? I just love the aesthetics and I know their quality will make it even better
Waiting for the Fractal North 2 for when I get my big ass rtx 5090.
5090 will be the size of the Terra case
It’s released but isn’t available for purchase yet ? Weird
hi, thx for your work! whats about the noise in the case? grafixcrad is on the left side so is it very noisy then? thx
Are you going to look at ThermalTakes Tower 600? It's finally something new and refreshing
How is it that you guys review ITX cases and praise some as your favorite as if you’ve sampled what’s out there, and you STILL haven’t looked at the FormD T1?
Isn't that essentially impossible to get your hands on? I could be thinking of a different case, but I thought that thing was a unicorn. Not to say they couldn't get one, but it wouldn't be a very useful review if none of their viewers could get one.
fractal's cases thought into details are amazing. but i think fractal should pay more attention to exterior or the case's shape.
WHEN?! I want it so badly
Nice design!
I can’t be the only one. It looks like a fancy trash can, hamper, or air filter.
Looks great 😍
I'm a bit disappointed that Dmitry still hasn't covered SUP-01 yet 😢
199 is way too high. For that price you can get the new NCase M2.
That's a dehumidifier!!! don't let them fool you!!!
As an owner of the OG Era ITX, I got excited for the Era 2, but then I saw that it could not accommodate my miniDTX mobo (ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Impact); sadface...
still waiting for flat case with side window
I NEED ONE IN GREEN!!!!!!!!!
I don't know. Looking at things like this and the PS5 (just for example), I'm not a fan of case designs that look like contemporary art pieces. This one in particular is like if Dr. Seuss made a PC, although I do like the blue color. I wish more cases had a variety of colors to choose from, or just offered a silver, brushed aluminum aesthetic.
As soon as Fractal lets me, I am buying it.
6:30 I despise screw-in standoffs. I'd rather have standoffs built right into the motheboard tray.
Ah, ok. A fact that the shell opens upwards makes it useless for me, cause I have no space above a case to open it without disconnecting all cables, and pulling it out. That’s a table PC. Not an “invisible” one. Vivid colors give some clue about that
Damnnn it is TOTALLY WORHT!!!
Love the Terra's size, but man does the design and cooling advantage really draw me towards the Era 2. Terra's cooling is just bottom tier and I wish they improve that with the Terra 2.
What a beauty
Feedback: Mention component clearances within the first minute. Literally the most important factor these days. Especially for SFF.
Having to unplug all peripherals in order to get into the internals has to be one of the worst design decisions ever made.
One of these days a company is going to make an itx that can actually fit long gpu and I will be giving them all my money
All I want is FRACTAL to restock Torrent Nano cases....they shut it down hard as soon as they were gearing up for new cases..
whish they made a terra v2 that fits fans on the bottom and the top(no radiator, just fans, maybe even just slim fans), and with more IO (no other changes)
Personally I don't like the tiny holes on the side in that pattern. It gives 2000 computer vibes
Love it 👌🏻
I want one.
Cases like this ate why I stopped caring about ITX.
Look at the A3/AP201/Sama mATX, they're half the price, just slightly bigger but still fairly compact, fit mATX (less expensive than ITX boards), better cooling (especially for air coolers), ATX PSU (SF PSU are overpriced af and not many good models are available).
Also, if you really want to accept all the ITX limitations just get a Terra whic is actually very small.
Yeah but Terra doesn’t accept water cooling. This Era 2 solved the problem with 240/280 rad support.
-D.
I understand the appeal of SFF builds but to me they reek of form over function. Personally, I'd rather buy a mid-tower in which I don't have to make component (size considerations) or cooling compromises. If I was building a HTPC or a low power work station or something than I could consider the form factor.
Right? I'd LOVE a tiny build, but, the compromises :(
today there's not as much compromise with regard to part selection because you can adequately cool basically any cpu and gpu in an SFF case, but it is a little cost-prohibitive to some.
There are SFF cases with zero compromise other than price. Mainstream case makers like Fractal just don't make them.
It reminds me of an Xbox 360 and I'm here for that
flip the fucking bottom fans
Hii I am looking for a razer keyboard do you have any recommendations???
Will a Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX fit in here?
Can't fit a 4090? Pass. Next.
Can we get some jonsbo cases they are beautiful
And extremely affordable **slaps D30 on top**
@@MKR3238been eyeing this case for a while, care to share your specs and temps?
It's nice but definitely I'll not pay 199$ for it, Specialy with this temps
Thumbnail
WORHT it
Don't like the shell. I need instant access on all sides without removing cables. And the outer shell is not mesh thats why temps are high.
Iqnix ZX1 watercooled makes more sense than this one, I do own the air cooled version of that. I would rather buy Dan A3 and build a microatx system. However the case do looks beautiful and with the features it is much easier to build in this one.
Am I the only one that saw the spelling mistake in the thumbnail?
You’re not the only one 😅
-D.
@HardwareCanucks I run several TH-cam channels, and brother, you're not the only one who's made this mistake! Haha!
Man, they need to stop coming out with these awesome cases. Bought a Fractal North in black and almost swapped to the Fractal Terra in jade. Now this Era 2 in Midnight blue, damn..
Remember me a fat 360 from 2035