I really wish they would do the Compact at the same width as the full-size case. I would strongly prefer the smaller case but I want the same air cooler height options, and I want the 140mm rear fan. This applies to the compact cases from many manufacturers.
Very nice review. I went for the normal version. I haven’t had a pc in years so I’m a bit surprised with the case size so I had to rearrange furniture in m flat to accommodate everything. I’m quite happy with the case, it’s very easy to take things apart. I did replace the stock cans with 6 be quiet ones. Now I’m just missing cpu and GPU to complete my build.
Cant find any comparisons on it but the Fractal Design 7 Mid tower seems like the sweet spot for many, it's at least called that here in Norway and it's slightly larger than the compact. Priced between the compact and 7. Thanks for the video!
Got the full size one on sale at Black Friday. For 99€. It'll replace my old Define R4 in my new silent build (whenever the processor arrives). I'm quite impressed with the modularity of the newest iteration - it's such a pleasure to work with. The R4 lasted me for a bit over seven years, and it served me very well. The only reason I won't do the new build in it is because the Define 7 happened to be on such a good sale.
Awesome review, thanks! Looking forward to receiving my Define 7, going to fit a 2000W PSU in there. Just want a build that can last me at least 10+ years, obviously with CPU/GPU/storage upgrades in between as needed and I think this case will do just fine.
Really great comparison, thanks, and helped make up my mind for the bigger one as I have 8 HDD that need to fit. Plus it will b nice for a change to actually have space in the case.
Thanks for this video! I was struggling to decide between the two for the same reason. I refuse to mount a radiator on the front and blow hot air through my pc. However, I decided to go with the compact bc of the nice form factor. I will just be sticking to a top mounted 240mm radiator, which isnt a huge compromise. Your video helped me finally make my decision, so thank you!
I would run a 24 pin extension on the compact version and stuff the rest of the thick cable at the bottom. Plus I would get rid of the 3.5 inch tray from the bottom as well.
The review is very good, just fine!! But (!) no one ever tells the whole truth about tower coolers.(Including on this channel) I chose Fractal Design Define 7 Compact, I chose strictly according to those characteristics and specifications on the official website. I chose a serious tower cooler for it, which by all parameters SHOULD fit into this case, this is Noctua NH - D15. According to the stated data on the Noctua website, its size is 165mm in height. In the Fractal Design Define 7 Compact case, according to the data on the Fractal website, the maximum height of the tower cooler is 169mm. See how everything fits perfectly, doesn't it?!! . . . . But really, the Noctua tower cooler does not fit into the Fractal Design Define 7 Compact case, it does not fit!!!!!! And now the essence of the question, about which everyone, including TehnoBelka, is "loudly" silent: Actually, the tower fits, even the average fan becomes good, but the front fan, located above the RAM slats, moves up because of these very slats, and because of this, the real, I emphasize, the real size of the Noctua NH - D15 tower cooler goes beyond the officially declared.About 2.5... up to 3 cm!!! Noctua does not write about this, and it looks like this is some kind of conspiracy of all reviewers on TH-cam. How many people get to the hull like this, or to replace a smaller tower (or should I take my own)? Dear author of this video! I appeal to you with a request to spread this information, because the mystery covering this topic will be a major upset for hundreds of trapped people!! This case is able to fit Noctua NH - D15 with only one central fan. If you install a second fan in front, the glass does not close. That is, either this way, or with 2 fans, but without glass (or a blind metal wall)But this, as you understand, is a collective farm and not an option. Therefore, it is impossible to put processors of the upper line in this case, which have a strong heat dissipation.Only with ITS own. This information will save a lot of people from spending, through the fault of Noctua.
I'm going with the compact because I have multiple monitors and thus need a smaller case. I also prefer the look of more compact cases, and I can easily move a smaller case around.
Something I saw another review mention was that it was supposedly possible to attach the side panels with a screw behind the front panel, which could fix the issue of the back side panel popping off if that's accurate? I couldn't find any info about it in their manual though nor another confirmation that it was possible anywhere else. Another thing that can help with the cable management problem is that the plastic cable guides can be removed entirely which would give you some extra space to play with, the velcro straps can still be used but attached to the case itself instead. I also saw that you commented in the second video that you couldn't remove the hard drive cage which just isn't true, there was a guide how to do just that in the manual. Other then that, great review!
Unsure about the panel fix, but worth a try. I tried to remove the HDD tray on the Compact and didn't believe it to be possible due to a lack of space, happy to be proved wrong. That said, I applied human logic and not Fractal logic ie with their lack of cable management :) I thought it was installed as part of the case construction instead of at the end. Fantastic cases though :)
@@WayneWebbFilms Yeah it wasn't too obvious because in the manual you had to take it out through the PSU hole. At least they thought about it even if it wasn't particularly obvious, they've tried to save as much space as possible without actually limiting certain options I guess hence some weird implementations..
Great review. Still thinking of going for the full size one, mainly because I end up keeping cases for a very long time and you never know what sort of build you might want to do down the line...
WebbTech I agree with you. I’ve spent days watching every fractal case review trying to figure out the ins and outs of fractals current lineup. They’ve made it almost too complex frankly, a lot of cases which are all very similar. I may end up going for the Meshify S2, it’s slightly smaller in terms of dimensions over the Define 7, cheaper and has better air flow...
I don't know first hand, but I don't think the quality is at the same level, I've owned the Meshify C and it was meh...the new line up is streets ahead in build quality, up there with Nzxt now in my eyes. As with anything you won't know until you get your hands on and try.
WebbTech oh really interesting, so the 7 feels like a step up in terms of quality? There’s just a couple of things I don’t like about the 7, mainly the vent pattern and that ‘pop’ on side panel without thumb screws on that rear motherboard side. Sounds picky I know, but I think that might annoy me on the compact like you’ve highlighted.
Have you thought about the R6? I haven't used one for about 18 months but I was impressed with the quality. Their doors are similar in function but have thumb screws. The lack of screws on the Define 7 isn't an issue unlike with the Compact. Anyway, good luck with whichever one you go for :)
Great comparison, I like your calm explanations. The Compact would be totally fine for me, I'm just hesitating because of the issue with too less space for the cables there. :( I've also read reviews where the side would pop off eventually after a while. Is there no way to secure the side, maybe with a screw from behind the front panel? At least the Define 7 mentions this 'trick' in the manual (but not for the compact unfortunately).
Thanks for the feedback. With the decent job I did with the cable management, 2nd time around, there is very little danger of it just coming off. Previously, I used a strong magnet I picked up from somewhere random and put in one of the corners and that certainly helped. There is no need to put a screw in to be honest. You could experiment and put some sort of clamp at the rear between the io shield and the rear panel if that makes sense. The most important thing is to do a really good job on cable management and/or remove the HDD tray. The Compact is well worth buying and is actually my favourite case of all time I think and I've had quite a few cases over the years...its not perfect but it has a certain charm and character that other cases don't have.
Those filter fins that are orientated down are for sound dampening. Especially if the case is sitting down, near you. :) What I hate/do not like is the design they did on filter and grills. Now that is useless and ugly. :D
Would a 420 go comfortably and look good on the roof of the standard 7? I've currently got a 240 on the roof towards the front with a 140mm fan also on the roof towards the rear to exhaust gpu heat with the normal exhaust fan on the back of the case, just below that roof 140. I've got a chance to get the new arctic freezer aio in any size I want and not sure which to go for (define 7 glass side case with a 7950x3d). 3x 140mm fans on the front
Question how is the airflow and noise? I have a silencio s600 with 4 120 mm fans and a i9 9900k with a Noctua NS- D15. I can hear the fans currently. So how noisy is this case ?
Hi there, which case in particular? The Define 7 has better airflow than the Compact I would say (no way to measure really), temps are a bit lower on the Define 7 but that could be down to the larger volume of air inside and not down to the design of the case. Also, you can open the front door of the Define 7 to let more air in if you need to. In terms of noise, it depends on your idea of what is noisy, your choice of case fans, what load it's under and the fan curve you have. Having just had a look at a couple of pictures of your case I would say that the Define 7 would be quieter and have better airflow. I hope this helps a little :)
I built a define 7 with the D15 in, and while the CPU temp was ok the noise of the fans was noticeable, I also built a 7 Compact (solid) with a U14s in a push pull, and the temps were much better, as well as the noise- its a dead silent PC. Personally I prefer the compact. In the compact i removed the Hard drive caddy and put in a 120mm noctua fan instead and that helped a lot with the temperatures. I also found out by removing the plastic cable retention brackets made cable management a lot easier.
Nice Vid Thanks! Are there any Difference in Temps? i own die Big on... an the Temps are Great. But the Case is a lit to big for me. So when ich get the smaler on, is there more Heat in the System ?
Hi there, I'm pretty sure it's covered in the video, but the larger of the two has a bit better temps. The larger is also able to house more stuff and larger AIOs and coolers. Hope this helps
Yes depending on whether it's a FE or AIB card. You have up to 360mm room so depending on whether you have an AIO and the actual card you should be fine.
I agree completely. The compact is slightly too small and the non compact is a bit on the large side. They also have an XL version so they missed a trick with their sizings. Either one is a good choice though
Hi, that is correct. The Compact is a solid panel and doesn't support a 5.25" drive whereas the non Compact version does. The trend has been moving away from optical drives for a number of years and it's fairly rare to have the option of a drive bay. The non Compact case is excellent and you will have a much easier time building in it.
@@WayneWebbFilms Yeah, that is the reason I watched the video, thanks for the reply, I still like optical drives and side panels fans, but I can't get that combination with tempered glass for some reason.
@@WayneWebbFilms That's a stupid trend. Since DVD-RW is still overall the best option to store important data (photos, videos etc.). And ofc there's Blue-Ray as well.
A workaround would be to wire the pwr led into the hdd led header, since it's pretty ovbious when the power is on. The power light becomes your HDD activity light.
@@WayneWebbFilms A thanks for this video, I was thinking about Compact, now I think I will pass. Regular is too big. Also thanks for C vs Compact one. C need a revision, this plastic is uhh.
Yeah the be plastic isn't great and yeah the regular is too long. I change cases all the time and was looking for another after doing lots of Matx reciews. I had the choice between the normal and compact because they are both great in their own right...I went with the compact. The normal one is great but too big for my needs. The compact is a little too small, but suits me right now :)
You realize the define 7 compact is the successor to the Define C, right? Fractal tends to make new compact define cases every 3 years, so the define 7 compact will be relevant until 2023.
I really wish they would do the Compact at the same width as the full-size case. I would strongly prefer the smaller case but I want the same air cooler height options, and I want the 140mm rear fan.
This applies to the compact cases from many manufacturers.
Very nice review. I went for the normal version. I haven’t had a pc in years so I’m a bit surprised with the case size so I had to rearrange furniture in m flat to accommodate everything. I’m quite happy with the case, it’s very easy to take things apart. I did replace the stock cans with 6 be quiet ones. Now I’m just missing cpu and GPU to complete my build.
Thanks. Exactly what I was looking for.
Which one are you going for?
Cant find any comparisons on it but the Fractal Design 7 Mid tower seems like the sweet spot for many, it's at least called that here in Norway and it's slightly larger than the compact. Priced between the compact and 7. Thanks for the video!
Got the full size one on sale at Black Friday. For 99€. It'll replace my old Define R4 in my new silent build (whenever the processor arrives). I'm quite impressed with the modularity of the newest iteration - it's such a pleasure to work with. The R4 lasted me for a bit over seven years, and it served me very well. The only reason I won't do the new build in it is because the Define 7 happened to be on such a good sale.
Amazing deal, such a great price. I had the R6 and loved that. Good luck with the build once your CPU arrives.
Thanks for this. Best review ive seen for these cases on the internet.
Awesome review, thanks! Looking forward to receiving my Define 7, going to fit a 2000W PSU in there. Just want a build that can last me at least 10+ years, obviously with CPU/GPU/storage upgrades in between as needed and I think this case will do just fine.
How many watts! :)
Yeah, it's a brilliant case tbf. Food luck with the build.
Really great comparison, thanks, and helped make up my mind for the bigger one as I have 8 HDD that need to fit. Plus it will b nice for a change to actually have space in the case.
Thanks for this video! I was struggling to decide between the two for the same reason. I refuse to mount a radiator on the front and blow hot air through my pc. However, I decided to go with the compact bc of the nice form factor. I will just be sticking to a top mounted 240mm radiator, which isnt a huge compromise. Your video helped me finally make my decision, so thank you!
Very useful video.
Compact was the right size for me, but unfortunately, no 5.25 support, so I went for the "standard' size.
I would run a 24 pin extension on the compact version and stuff the rest of the thick cable at the bottom. Plus I would get rid of the 3.5 inch tray from the bottom as well.
Definitely agree that you can do that. I personally utilize the HDD trays but the extension could improve things :)
The review is very good, just fine!!
But (!) no one ever tells the whole truth about tower coolers.(Including on this channel)
I chose Fractal Design Define 7 Compact, I chose strictly according to those characteristics and specifications on the official website.
I chose a serious tower cooler for it, which by all parameters SHOULD fit into this case, this is
Noctua NH - D15. According to the stated data on the Noctua website, its size is 165mm in height. In the Fractal Design Define 7 Compact case, according to the data on the Fractal website, the maximum height of the tower cooler is 169mm. See how everything fits perfectly, doesn't it?!! . . . .
But really, the Noctua tower cooler does not fit into the Fractal Design Define 7 Compact case, it does not fit!!!!!!
And now the essence of the question, about which everyone, including TehnoBelka, is "loudly" silent:
Actually, the tower fits, even the average fan becomes good, but the front fan, located above the RAM slats, moves up because of these very slats, and because of this, the real, I emphasize, the real size of the Noctua NH - D15 tower cooler goes beyond the officially declared.About 2.5... up to 3 cm!!! Noctua does not write about this, and it looks like this is some kind of conspiracy of all reviewers on TH-cam. How many people get to the hull like this, or to replace a smaller tower (or should I take my own)?
Dear author of this video! I appeal to you with a request to spread this information, because the mystery covering this topic will be a major upset for hundreds of trapped people!!
This case is able to fit Noctua NH - D15 with only one central fan. If you install a second fan in front, the glass does not close. That is, either this way, or with 2 fans, but without glass (or a blind metal wall)But this, as you understand, is a collective farm and not an option. Therefore, it is impossible to put processors of the upper line in this case, which have a strong heat dissipation.Only with ITS own.
This information will save a lot of people from spending, through the fault of Noctua.
I'm going with the compact because I have multiple monitors and thus need a smaller case. I also prefer the look of more compact cases, and I can easily move a smaller case around.
Something I saw another review mention was that it was supposedly possible to attach the side panels with a screw behind the front panel, which could fix the issue of the back side panel popping off if that's accurate? I couldn't find any info about it in their manual though nor another confirmation that it was possible anywhere else. Another thing that can help with the cable management problem is that the plastic cable guides can be removed entirely which would give you some extra space to play with, the velcro straps can still be used but attached to the case itself instead.
I also saw that you commented in the second video that you couldn't remove the hard drive cage which just isn't true, there was a guide how to do just that in the manual. Other then that, great review!
Unsure about the panel fix, but worth a try. I tried to remove the HDD tray on the Compact and didn't believe it to be possible due to a lack of space, happy to be proved wrong. That said, I applied human logic and not Fractal logic ie with their lack of cable management :) I thought it was installed as part of the case construction instead of at the end. Fantastic cases though :)
@@WayneWebbFilms Yeah it wasn't too obvious because in the manual you had to take it out through the PSU hole. At least they thought about it even if it wasn't particularly obvious, they've tried to save as much space as possible without actually limiting certain options I guess hence some weird implementations..
The IO connectors on the top will fill up with dust and also the cords will be stressed from pointing upwards
Great review. Still thinking of going for the full size one, mainly because I end up keeping cases for a very long time and you never know what sort of build you might want to do down the line...
I'd like to see one in between the two...is that unreasonable of me? Yeah the Define 7 is probably the better bet if you keep your cases for a while.
WebbTech I agree with you. I’ve spent days watching every fractal case review trying to figure out the ins and outs of fractals current lineup. They’ve made it almost too complex frankly, a lot of cases which are all very similar. I may end up going for the Meshify S2, it’s slightly smaller in terms of dimensions over the Define 7, cheaper and has better air flow...
I don't know first hand, but I don't think the quality is at the same level, I've owned the Meshify C and it was meh...the new line up is streets ahead in build quality, up there with Nzxt now in my eyes. As with anything you won't know until you get your hands on and try.
WebbTech oh really interesting, so the 7 feels like a step up in terms of quality? There’s just a couple of things I don’t like about the 7, mainly the vent pattern and that ‘pop’ on side panel without thumb screws on that rear motherboard side. Sounds picky I know, but I think that might annoy me on the compact like you’ve highlighted.
Have you thought about the R6? I haven't used one for about 18 months but I was impressed with the quality. Their doors are similar in function but have thumb screws. The lack of screws on the Define 7 isn't an issue unlike with the Compact. Anyway, good luck with whichever one you go for :)
Great comparison, I like your calm explanations.
The Compact would be totally fine for me, I'm just hesitating because of the issue with too less space for the cables there. :( I've also read reviews where the side would pop off eventually after a while. Is there no way to secure the side, maybe with a screw from behind the front panel? At least the Define 7 mentions this 'trick' in the manual (but not for the compact unfortunately).
Thanks for the feedback. With the decent job I did with the cable management, 2nd time around, there is very little danger of it just coming off. Previously, I used a strong magnet I picked up from somewhere random and put in one of the corners and that certainly helped. There is no need to put a screw in to be honest. You could experiment and put some sort of clamp at the rear between the io shield and the rear panel if that makes sense. The most important thing is to do a really good job on cable management and/or remove the HDD tray. The Compact is well worth buying and is actually my favourite case of all time I think and I've had quite a few cases over the years...its not perfect but it has a certain charm and character that other cases don't have.
Those filter fins that are orientated down are for sound dampening. Especially if the case is sitting down, near you. :)
What I hate/do not like is the design they did on filter and grills. Now that is useless and ugly. :D
Would a 420 go comfortably and look good on the roof of the standard 7? I've currently got a 240 on the roof towards the front with a 140mm fan also on the roof towards the rear to exhaust gpu heat with the normal exhaust fan on the back of the case, just below that roof 140. I've got a chance to get the new arctic freezer aio in any size I want and not sure which to go for (define 7 glass side case with a 7950x3d). 3x 140mm fans on the front
Good review thanks mate.
i wish the compact was a bit wider so it could fit 280mm radiator on the top and 140mm fans. is there any alternative?
Yeah I know, quite frustrating tbh
Question how is the airflow and noise? I have a silencio s600 with 4 120 mm fans and a i9 9900k with a Noctua NS- D15. I can hear the fans currently.
So how noisy is this case ?
Hi there, which case in particular? The Define 7 has better airflow than the Compact I would say (no way to measure really), temps are a bit lower on the Define 7 but that could be down to the larger volume of air inside and not down to the design of the case. Also, you can open the front door of the Define 7 to let more air in if you need to. In terms of noise, it depends on your idea of what is noisy, your choice of case fans, what load it's under and the fan curve you have. Having just had a look at a couple of pictures of your case I would say that the Define 7 would be quieter and have better airflow. I hope this helps a little :)
@@WayneWebbFilms I will consider the define 7. Thank you for your answer.
I built a define 7 with the D15 in, and while the CPU temp was ok the noise of the fans was noticeable, I also built a 7 Compact (solid) with a U14s in a push pull, and the temps were much better, as well as the noise- its a dead silent PC. Personally I prefer the compact. In the compact i removed the Hard drive caddy and put in a 120mm noctua fan instead and that helped a lot with the temperatures. I also found out by removing the plastic cable retention brackets made cable management a lot easier.
Nice Vid Thanks!
Are there any Difference in Temps? i own die Big on... an the Temps are Great. But the Case is a lit to big for me. So when ich get the smaler on, is there more Heat in the System ?
Hi there, I'm pretty sure it's covered in the video, but the larger of the two has a bit better temps. The larger is also able to house more stuff and larger AIOs and coolers. Hope this helps
Would a rtx 3090 fit in the compact?
Yes depending on whether it's a FE or AIB card. You have up to 360mm room so depending on whether you have an AIO and the actual card you should be fine.
I wish they'd make one in the middle. lol
I agree completely. The compact is slightly too small and the non compact is a bit on the large side. They also have an XL version so they missed a trick with their sizings. Either one is a good choice though
Which gpu is in the compact?
Asus Strix RTX 2060 Super (may be non super don't fully recall)
SO, in the compact version you cant open the front panel, you can´t install an optical drive to watch blu rays.
Hi, that is correct. The Compact is a solid panel and doesn't support a 5.25" drive whereas the non Compact version does. The trend has been moving away from optical drives for a number of years and it's fairly rare to have the option of a drive bay. The non Compact case is excellent and you will have a much easier time building in it.
@@WayneWebbFilms Yeah, that is the reason I watched the video, thanks for the reply, I still like optical drives and side panels fans, but I can't get that combination with tempered glass for some reason.
@@WayneWebbFilms That's a stupid trend. Since DVD-RW is still overall the best option to store important data (photos, videos etc.). And ofc there's Blue-Ray as well.
there both beautifull
Agreed, either one is a good choice. 9/10 in the looks department, but the Compact isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer (cable management) :-)
this case dont have power led for hard disk.. too bad
A workaround would be to wire the pwr led into the hdd led header, since it's pretty ovbious when the power is on. The power light becomes your HDD activity light.
They should make Compact the same as regular Define 7 just shorter, it will be way better.
100% agree
@@WayneWebbFilms A thanks for this video, I was thinking about Compact, now I think I will pass. Regular is too big. Also thanks for C vs Compact one. C need a revision, this plastic is uhh.
Yeah the be plastic isn't great and yeah the regular is too long. I change cases all the time and was looking for another after doing lots of Matx reciews. I had the choice between the normal and compact because they are both great in their own right...I went with the compact. The normal one is great but too big for my needs. The compact is a little too small, but suits me right now :)
You realize the define 7 compact is the successor to the Define C, right? Fractal tends to make new compact define cases every 3 years, so the define 7 compact will be relevant until 2023.