I think that people who usually buy this case, will not change anything- they dont want rgb, any modding, anything else. Just an case for adults with not so much time and modern design.
Looks interesting. The reason why I avoided North was because its too small. But damn, that noise issue might be a dealbreaker, especially for an high end pricetag case.
@@AO-yo1ke It's hard to calculate real life fans usage because of multiple factors, and sound level meter being unable to capture low noise. So people uses 1800 rpm as a reference for lower speeds. The logic is that; If fans "A" + case "A" runs quieter than fans "B" + case "B" on max rpm, then fans A + case A will run quieter on lower noise than fans B + case B. It might not exactly a big deal, but this is an $150+ case. Low thermals and low noise should be the standard.
@@vensroofcat6415 i hope that fractal moves on from that kind of case in favor of a more space-optimized approach. the terra and ridge were both good starts. maybe they could modify the north's design to become something like the ncase m1 or nr200. the mesh side panel would lend itself very well to that kind of design.
@@maximus3294 I would have bought Torrent mini. If it could actually fit mATX. Have been a fan of mATX for almost 2 decades, tried ITX twice, made custom chassis... not convinced. mATX has a lot more room for SSD, connectors, better price, etc. ITX doesn't save any room with modern GPU these days. 95% wasted. Only thing I like about ITX is CPU being closer to rear panel thus you can redesign airflow slightly better. But it's niche.
I’ve watch three reviews of the XL today, and you are the only one that called out key issues IMO. I was planning on switching to the XL, but the turbulence caused by the front panel at higher RPMs has left me rethinking the purchase. I hope the Torrent line gets a new release this year, because ultimately I care about airflow and noise more than I do aesthetics. I’d love to see less USB-A on the panel-perhaps 1:2 port ratio in favor of USB-C instead of the current 2:1. I do love the color matched USB, nice touch!
Nothing wrong with this case champ. You will never run the fans at full speed and don't need too. Any case where you run 140's or 120's at full speed well over 1100rpm will exhibit terrible noise.
@@bosco9028When I'm doing UE5 compilation or path trace rendering my 13900KS will go to 90C and my fans at 100 percent. There are always certain cases where you need 100 percent fan speed. Just because you only play games doesn't mean others don't use their PC for actual work.
@@bosco9028 you seem to know a lot about my system usage… Outside of my home lab hardware, my gaming PC also serves as a machine learning node. Thermal and noise performance are key factors when the door is closed in my home office. I want performance when it is required, and I loathe-and neurologically sensitive to-unnecessary noise. That’s why I have replaced every fan in every server with Noctua-everything is optimized. The noisy rigs are in the basement lab. Different strokes for different folks.
They probably kept the 2:1 ratio for USB ports because there are still a lot of peripherals using USB A instead of USB C. The stock fans (Fractal Design Apex 14 PWM) are loud on the regular Fractal Design North too, but as top exhaust with a customized fan curve they're a bit more silence. I bought a 5-pack Artic P12 PWM fans to replace them. Sure 140mm vs 120mm is not that fair, but 120mm in theory should be louder because of higher RPM to move the same amount of air.
@@bosco9028 Exactly what i was thinking, the whole point of 140s is good airflow are lower rpm. Mine are at 600rpm, 800 if it gets really hot so i don't think it's an issue at all.
Yeah, an ITX or mATX case that small, but not super small (around 20-25L), thereby enabling eg. Air Cooling with a decently tall cooler. Not everyone who buys a higher tier CPU, also wants a GPU so large and heavy that you need to buy separate supports in order to prevent it from sinking to the center of the earth... Given the lack of 3.5" and 5.25" bays in today's larger chassis, I don't think I'm the only one who wants something in-between the shoebox sized ITX cases and the building sized "Gaming" ATX cases!
Exactly the same problems with my Meshify 2 case. The fan mounting position from behind is making really annoying hum. The only solution is to use 120mm fans or like in my case dremel the 120mm positions out permanently which worked wonderfully. It has been reported many many times to Fractal yet they don't bother to fix it. Finally someone saying the obvious loud!
Even msi gungnir 300 have a removable front fan plate that supports 12cm or 14cm fans. default 12cm fans are screwed behind but they have cutouts, and they are 1200rpm max, so the swirling is quieter. 14 cm fans gets obstructed either way. What i would prefer is just a big removable mesh (like exhaust area) in front with bigger washer screws so you can do whatever you want.
I already had the fan bracket noise issue in my otherwise beautiful Meshify 2. I just put some tape over it and it helped or you could replace the 140mm fans with 120mm so nothing overlaps, but this isn't perfect either. It's time for a design update in this regard.
Very balanced review! I like that you acknowledge that the North line is leaning hard on the wood panels and there is a honeymoon period, just like you would experience with the O11 style cases. In the end, the case still has to be competitive and I'm not seeing how this is.
I think it depends on what you want to built in it. If you like the wood design and the system isn't something extremely heavy like a Core i9 with a 4090 or something then is not really that worse than anything else. I mean if you have an up to 8 core Ryzen CPU with a 4070 or lower then you can probably keep the fans at lower RPM and not feel the noise issues at all. I believe for the average user the disadvantages of this case can be ignored in favor of the design since he may never be affected by them. But such a user doesn't even need an XL in the first place. A simple modest system can work fine on the normal mid tower. So the XL thing becomes kind of redundant since it is something a more power user might want that plans to use many components etc but that user might feel disappointed by the issues. The last thing i want to mention is that i see the window glass option of this case as complete hubris. The whole point of going with a case like this is wanting something more classic with wood etc. Having a window with little RPG lights in a case that tries to look less sci-fi but more like a classic old furniture is just a duality born from anathema.
The metal accents on the black version should have been Copper not Brass & the the metal accents on the white version should have been Brass not Silver... would complimented the wood colour much better
If there was a bigger gap between the front panel and the fans that would be much quieter. I’m using the regular North, and the T30 fans. A tight fit, but the only fan that can move enough air and stay dead silent. Only going for the XL when Phanteks release the 140mm T30.
It's still the most beautiful case on the market and the only one I want. The only reason I didn't get the North was it's size. They've fixed that, and that black XL with mesh is an instant buy.
I bought the Black nromal one in January and it arrived last month, noise, looks, temperature is soo good. Set it up with 2 noctua NF-A12x25 ULN and it is amazing compared to what i used to have.
@@donkeysunited Most of the noise is produced by air being bounced around (turbulence) as it weaves its way through the wooden grill. The air filter is a very fine nylon mesh (at least it is on my Fractal Torrent), and so air flowing through the mesh makes little noise. Since the mesh reduces the airflow though the wooden grille, that reduces the turbulence there and thus reduces the noise. The fans make little noise themselves because of the design of the blades, and, as with the wooden slats, cutting off air to the fan blades actually reduces the noise they make as well.
@@guccipucci69420 The Terra is ITX only, so I don't see how an mATX case would compete with it. They already have some in that form factor (mATX), their designs are just getting old.
A year and a half ago I bought a Torrent case from Fractal. I made the mistake of getting the version with a sold metal panel and no glass. I tried to purchase the glass after the fact and had zero luck. Fractal basically just said to buy a whole new case. I wish I could just get that glass.... I'd pay for it; not asking for a freebee. sigh...
My Meshify-2 has this issue with the fan brackets causing turbulence noise, it seems to be the case with this product. They need to redesign the fan brackets.
Build quality on this case equals my $64 Montech Airbase 903...and that's a great case. Case of the Year Award if you'll ask me you'll not gonna find a better case for the money.
Great friendly critical review! What I'm looking for in 2024 is a new case from Fractal. What's next after Torrent, North and Terra. Is there anything?
Turbulence with 140mm fans in the front is a BIG ISSUE on basically all Fractal Cases, because of the way they get mounted (on that rail style) which is also a thing on the Meshify C, Meshify 2, Define Editions etc. Which was a reason I opted out to 120mm fans instead. That turbulence was driving me insane.
@@TimberWulfIsHere the torrent, afaik, with the default fans isn't on a rail system mounted like the cases I mentioned (and probably some others / like the north).
Having gotten this chassi with a Lian Li Galahad for the processor, Be Quiet in the back, a RTX4080 etc, the noise level is surprisingly low, with the open front (I used to run a FD R5 chassi w a Strix 980ti, got mighty hot) and the mesh side/upper mesh, seem to keep it very cool indeed, even under pressure, without much noise. That is the constant weigh-in: closed, damped chassi with massive fans, or a more open solution w maybe not so much cooling (or at least it should not have to work at max). Satisfied so far.
First of all...good video and good points made. The one thing im gonna address a bit is the whole acoustic part. On idle it doesn't sound louder than most other cases but realistically how often do we run our PC-s on load without a headset on our head? Does that make it a non problem? No...its still an oversight but in my opinion an oversight that you will notice less than you might think.
Well it's not like everybody uses headphones all the time. My desktop speakers are good for games where positional audio and really deep basses aren't a thing, and by definition more comfortable to use for a couple of hours than any headphone can be.
I love my OLD Fractal Design R5! It is ABSOLUTELY QUIET! And had LOT of space inside! Only downside is that is really heavy! BUT! It just stays near my desk, I don't take it anywhere! 😛
Fractals fans aren't the quietest above about 1200 RPM even outside of the North. I personally wish manufacturers wouldn't include fans at all with cases or had a fanless option that was slightly cheaper, because for me and a lot of others it's an extra step to remove them and replace them with what I actually want and while I hold onto my unused fans for emergencies or just to play around with, a lot wind up in the trash as e-waste. Also I think the price isn't the best but Fractal has sales fairly regularly, I picked up my North for $120 just a couple months after it released which puts it right in line with other similarly featured cases while also having a unique aesthetic. Personally, I honestly don't know why case price is such a huge deal to some, since most people are going to use a case they like for years or decades across multiple builds and only upgrade when something finally breaks or components stop fitting, and $180 for the XL and $150 isn't really a whole lot of money anymore, especially as a one time cost for a near infinitely reusable component like a computer case.
Yes, it'd be good to have an option with no fans. Or sell them all with no fans and sell a pack of 3 or 4 fans alongside it. I know why they don't do that - a lot of reviewers compare cooling at stock and this case would perform horribly with no fans in it.
I love the design, but I am concerned about the lack of a dust filter in the rear part, that is mostly meshed: when you shut off the PC for some time, dust can enter from there.
I love my North case. The only way I move out of this case is if Fractal releases a case that is Torrent compact/nano layout and size with the North styling and wood front panel. That would be perfection.
I'd just like a quiet, smart looking case, but not that many options it seems. The Proart and this have been my options recently, but really tricky to choose, especially now that you showcase the noise levels which to me is a priority. Any tips?
Nice that the North gets the XL treatment, I got a Define S2 housing a 13900K cooled with a EK-AIO Basic 360 and a 3090 (for now), planning to upgrade to a 5090 ith AIO when released and the standard North is too small for that.
The noise aspect of a case during a workload doesn't bother me as long as it can be made silent again or maintain very low decibels when it performs minimal tasks like web surfing or playing video.
Yeah the noise is not an issue if you're running around 1000 RPM on the front, and a bit lower for the side intake. But FD not addressing the turbulence issue is a concern. Hopefully in rev3. -D.
Great Video Dmitry! I'm looking for a new wired "all in one" FPS/Story/Music/Movies headset which would you recommend between those 6 1- Logitech G Pro X 2- Hyper X Alpha S 3- Hyper X Cloud 3 4- Hyper X Cloud 2 5- Razer Kraken V3 6- Razer Blackshark V2 7- Steelseries Arctis Pro + Gamedac 8- Epos H6 Pro 9- Corsair HS80
I have the normal north and I can’t remember if the stock fans have any rubber mourning pads for noise. Can you confirm if they do? Might explain the higher noise levels.
Just dug around in my closet to find the fans that came with my North, and no, no they do not have any kind of vibration or noise insulation material, just straight ABS plastic. Not only are they not isolated, Fractal is far from the quietest fan brand in the world to begin with. That being said the front panel is still fairly loud when the fans are running at high rpm even with the chonky insulation on the Bionix fans I'm running, anything above 1200 rpm or so is going to massively increase noise through the front panel plus the front dust filter on the North isn't the greatest and high airflow will pull lots of finer dust through, so I just run them at low rpms and it's as quiet as any other computer case to the point I can hear my AIO's pump and the GPU fans over the 6 case fans when under load.
@@baronvonslambert yeah I noticed when I first setup the computer that the front fans can produce quite a bit of noise on max speed, but I have then tuned down on a lower noise curve. I might try mounting them with rubber isolation mounts and see if that improves things. Kind of a weird omission on fractals part to have plastic on metal fan mounting for a case in this price class.
I have to agree with the build quality concerns. Definitely a case that prioritizes looks over everything else, but it appears to be working for them since the original North was sold out everywhere for the longest time. I say this as an owner of a North. I absolutely love how it looks! But it was not a premium building experience.
That's a shame about the acoustics, it might be best to keep the front fans at a steady, low RPM to stay around ambient noise, then maybe use some fans on top for additional intake with an appropriate curve
You would think when they went from regular to XL they would have improved on the case, but all they did was make it bigger just like they did making the compact smaller all around and had no room for cables and a proper AIO. I was always a big fan of Fractal cases and would have bought the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact except it needed to be wider and a little deeper to fit a 360 AIO on top. When they went from the regular to compact they made the legs shorter, to narrow (like the Define C) and to short to fit 360 AIO on top.
Yeaaaah I agree they really just mailed it in with this one. No real improvements on practical design despite having all the extra space for more possibilities. Very disappointed here -- this just seems lazy and they knw people will still buy it because of the look
While this is a gorgeous case I don't like it because when it's clearly a case tailored toward appearance I want certain things. I want a vertical mount so I can showcase that component, but I don't limit my access to the other PCIe slots. I feel like the north in a lot of ways is a step down rather than a step up. I feel like Fractal and a lot of case manufacturers focusing on aesthetics rather than features which is dumb because you can sell the aesthetics as an add-on. Say what you want about the Corsair, but The fact that the wood panel is something I can buy later and snap in was a bit of genius. At the end of the day, a lot of the aesthetic pieces are just things that attach to the top, bottom, or front of the case. I get new cases when they add new features. But the north just made me sad and the XL makes me sadder. Most cases are the same boring thing with minor changes that could have been sold as some add-on.
Rather than fans on the side bracket - how do we think this case would perform with a 3090FE vertically mounted so it can intake air from the mesh side panel?
Seiko? For a sec I thought it might have been a Doxa. Wow, the 60mm limit for 120mm based AIO is a real bummer. I love using the EK p360m and Phanteks T30, ~68mm thickness. I didnt think such a mod would be needed in 2024.
I wish you tested swapping out the front fans with say the Phanteks T30s, in both positions, in front and behind the mounting brackets just to see how they would behave.
Oh man, I just got mine a few months ago. It was the biggest pain to put the 4090 in there and now there’s an XL?! Ugh, well when I recover from buying a 4090 this will be next.
This is such a disappointment, all they had to do was take the Torrent arguably the best large form factor case and stick a wood panel on it. That's it, so much wasted potential
Who's actually going to utilize those noisy fans, anyhow? I've just purchased this case, and my intention is to swap out the front fans and install the ProArt LC 420 all-in-one CPU liquid cooler instead. In my view, your criticisms aren't warranted; this case is fantastic.
I've done some builds to North with custom fan-tunings and I don't really see the turbulence at 1800 rpm (it starts lower tho) as an issue. It's because it has great acoustics at low rpms and the open design also allows you to run at such low rpms. Plus the 1800 rpm is there as "just in case" anyway.
It is still a flaw with the design. I have the Meshify 2 with the same fan bracket design, I also have high RPM fans because I use my PC for rendering and UE compilation. My fans are quieter outside of the case instead of inside which is ridiculous and it's all because of the bracket (the front mesh doesn't affect the fan noise in the case of the Meshify 2).
Its a good change, but too late. Wonder why they did not thought of compatibility first before release. Swapped my North for PA602. Even though North was such an aesthetically pleasing case.
I don't understand, how multimillionary companies can invest so much money on a product design... and simply don't make sure to cover all the details, or even basic stuff... I just don't get it, it's like they just don't test them... wtf. Thank you Dimitriy, for another great video! :)
The bending of the side panel seems irrelevant unless it makes sound while mounted properly in the case. The fact that at full speed, which I doubt anyone would use anyway, the fans make more sound with some configurations seem irrelevant as well.
Why can't they add wood to the right side panel? That seems like a perfect place to add wood to a PC case without any compromise (other than a heavier side panel NBD).
I had my Fratal torrent for a few years and It's sad that they didn't manage to replicate that kind of performance yet. The torrent is so quiet and pretty sure still has the best airflow on the market. I'm running a 14700k with a D15 noctua and even while rendering It's so quiet and cold...
As he said, they’re likely protecting the Torrent product line. Kind of odd though because you’d think they’d go all-in, and incorporate the Torrent platform into other lines like the North. If I was a competitor, I’d use the Torrent blueprint and innovate aesthetics on top (e.g., wood, etc.) 🤷♂️
@@abb0ttIndeed. And if the wood strips are an accoustic problem, they could do a wood surround instead. I'm sure it would be just as pretty while not interfering with the airflow.
I think that people who usually buy this case, will not change anything- they dont want rgb, any modding, anything else. Just an case for adults with not so much time and modern design.
Exactly the reason why I got my North XL 😎
Thats dumb af I'm an adult 38 I have this case with rgb wtf u talking bout
That's me, white with tempered glass, sporting tasteful black components inside, including an arctic liquid freezer III AIO and black noctua fans
Yeah real talk I got ADHD and if I can see the pretty lights from my computer they're gonna distract me. 😫
Exactly!!!
I love how they made it both wider and taller, it really makes it a nice xl compared to just tall, weird xl cases.
Looks interesting. The reason why I avoided North was because its too small.
But damn, that noise issue might be a dealbreaker, especially for an high end pricetag case.
who runs thier fans at 1800 rpm anyway ?!
@@AO-yo1ke
It's hard to calculate real life fans usage because of multiple factors, and sound level meter being unable to capture low noise.
So people uses 1800 rpm as a reference for lower speeds.
The logic is that; If fans "A" + case "A" runs quieter than fans "B" + case "B" on max rpm, then fans A + case A will run quieter on lower noise than fans B + case B.
It might not exactly a big deal, but this is an $150+ case. Low thermals and low noise should be the standard.
I'd love for them to make a North in an ITX form factor.
Their ITX North would have the size of decent mATX case and shifted one slot short to actually fit one. Looking at you, Torrent mini 🧐
feel like they did itx with wood accents right with the Terra, I don't think I would want the north as an ITX case.
@@vensroofcat6415 i hope that fractal moves on from that kind of case in favor of a more space-optimized approach. the terra and ridge were both good starts. maybe they could modify the north's design to become something like the ncase m1 or nr200. the mesh side panel would lend itself very well to that kind of design.
@@maximus3294 I would have bought Torrent mini. If it could actually fit mATX. Have been a fan of mATX for almost 2 decades, tried ITX twice, made custom chassis... not convinced. mATX has a lot more room for SSD, connectors, better price, etc. ITX doesn't save any room with modern GPU these days. 95% wasted. Only thing I like about ITX is CPU being closer to rear panel thus you can redesign airflow slightly better. But it's niche.
There's the Fractal Design Terra, which isn't too far from it, I suppose?
Fractal south. Make this a reality Fractal.
Colab with Shin x Southern Cross from hokuto no ken
Its just an inverted North
@@raith3700 U turn the standard Fractal North upside down then? 🤔
Just put it upside down man
Tiki edition with balsa wood
We want a smaller North lol
Itx north now
I was coming here to post the same thing lmao
Nah bigger the better
mATX, good compromise. I live in the same town as their main office, perhaps I should pay them visit and hand over a petition? 😂
@@stennan that would be perfect since they already have the Terra itx.
I’ve watch three reviews of the XL today, and you are the only one that called out key issues IMO. I was planning on switching to the XL, but the turbulence caused by the front panel at higher RPMs has left me rethinking the purchase. I hope the Torrent line gets a new release this year, because ultimately I care about airflow and noise more than I do aesthetics.
I’d love to see less USB-A on the panel-perhaps 1:2 port ratio in favor of USB-C instead of the current 2:1. I do love the color matched USB, nice touch!
Nothing wrong with this case champ. You will never run the fans at full speed and don't need too. Any case where you run 140's or 120's at full speed well over 1100rpm will exhibit terrible noise.
@@bosco9028When I'm doing UE5 compilation or path trace rendering my 13900KS will go to 90C and my fans at 100 percent. There are always certain cases where you need 100 percent fan speed. Just because you only play games doesn't mean others don't use their PC for actual work.
@@bosco9028 you seem to know a lot about my system usage…
Outside of my home lab hardware, my gaming PC also serves as a machine learning node. Thermal and noise performance are key factors when the door is closed in my home office. I want performance when it is required, and I loathe-and neurologically sensitive to-unnecessary noise. That’s why I have replaced every fan in every server with Noctua-everything is optimized. The noisy rigs are in the basement lab.
Different strokes for different folks.
They probably kept the 2:1 ratio for USB ports because there are still a lot of peripherals using USB A instead of USB C.
The stock fans (Fractal Design Apex 14 PWM) are loud on the regular Fractal Design North too, but as top exhaust with a customized fan curve they're a bit more silence.
I bought a 5-pack Artic P12 PWM fans to replace them. Sure 140mm vs 120mm is not that fair, but 120mm in theory should be louder because of higher RPM to move the same amount of air.
@@bosco9028 Exactly what i was thinking, the whole point of 140s is good airflow are lower rpm. Mine are at 600rpm, 800 if it gets really hot so i don't think it's an issue at all.
Here i was hoping for a Fractal Design mix between North and Terra.
Yeah, an ITX or mATX case that small, but not super small (around 20-25L), thereby enabling eg. Air Cooling with a decently tall cooler. Not everyone who buys a higher tier CPU, also wants a GPU so large and heavy that you need to buy separate supports in order to prevent it from sinking to the center of the earth... Given the lack of 3.5" and 5.25" bays in today's larger chassis, I don't think I'm the only one who wants something in-between the shoebox sized ITX cases and the building sized "Gaming" ATX cases!
@unholydonuts let's hope it won't be a design like the previous Nano cases, which defeats the itx/sff purpose.
Exactly the same problems with my Meshify 2 case. The fan mounting position from behind is making really annoying hum. The only solution is to use 120mm fans or like in my case dremel the 120mm positions out permanently which worked wonderfully. It has been reported many many times to Fractal yet they don't bother to fix it. Finally someone saying the obvious loud!
Even msi gungnir 300 have a removable front fan plate that supports 12cm or 14cm fans. default 12cm fans are screwed behind but they have cutouts, and they are 1200rpm max, so the swirling is quieter. 14 cm fans gets obstructed either way.
What i would prefer is just a big removable mesh (like exhaust area) in front with bigger washer screws so you can do whatever you want.
I already had the fan bracket noise issue in my otherwise beautiful Meshify 2. I just put some tape over it and it helped or you could replace the 140mm fans with 120mm so nothing overlaps, but this isn't perfect either. It's time for a design update in this regard.
100%! With Lian Li and Phanteks so far ahead in this area, i'm honestly surprised we dont see a removable and OPEN front fan bracket on the XL.
-D.
Same, my Meshify 2 is very noisy only because of the fan bracket, I use the Noctua fan offset bracket and that helped a lot.
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@@HardwareCanuckswhich case is the Best airflow case for a 4080 super and noctua nh-d15 With a ryzen 7800x3d?
Very balanced review! I like that you acknowledge that the North line is leaning hard on the wood panels and there is a honeymoon period, just like you would experience with the O11 style cases. In the end, the case still has to be competitive and I'm not seeing how this is.
Still liking mine after 5 months. Such a pretty front and power button
They should do a gold version instead of wood
@unholydonuts I'd say prett, good.
I think it depends on what you want to built in it.
If you like the wood design and the system isn't something extremely heavy like a Core i9 with a 4090 or something then is not really that worse than anything else.
I mean if you have an up to 8 core Ryzen CPU with a 4070 or lower then you can probably keep the fans at lower RPM and not feel the noise issues at all.
I believe for the average user the disadvantages of this case can be ignored in favor of the design since he may never be affected by them. But such a user doesn't even need an XL in the first place. A simple modest system can work fine on the normal mid tower. So the XL thing becomes kind of redundant since it is something a more power user might want that plans to use many components etc but that user might feel disappointed by the issues.
The last thing i want to mention is that i see the window glass option of this case as complete hubris. The whole point of going with a case like this is wanting something more classic with wood etc. Having a window with little RPG lights in a case that tries to look less sci-fi but more like a classic old furniture is just a duality born from anathema.
The metal accents on the black version should have been Copper not Brass & the the metal accents on the white version should have been Brass not Silver... would complimented the wood colour much better
If there was a bigger gap between the front panel and the fans that would be much quieter. I’m using the regular North, and the T30 fans. A tight fit, but the only fan that can move enough air and stay dead silent. Only going for the XL when Phanteks release the 140mm T30.
Yeah the T30s are incredible. Might swap into my next system.
-D.
@@HardwareCanuckswhich is the Best case for a good airflow? I got a etc. 4080 super and a ryzen 7800x3d and a noctua nh-d15. Which case should i buy ?
I laughed out loud seeing the side panel flexing and then remembering my old lady 3/4mm thick aluminium side panel.
It's still the most beautiful case on the market and the only one I want. The only reason I didn't get the North was it's size. They've fixed that, and that black XL with mesh is an instant buy.
I bought the Black nromal one in January and it arrived last month, noise, looks, temperature is soo good. Set it up with 2 noctua NF-A12x25 ULN and it is amazing compared to what i used to have.
Good on you for pointing out the shortcomings of the case. Too bad the Torrent looks so unappealing.
The dust filter restricts the airflow, and the reduced airflow reduces the noise. Love the look of the case, but I'll keep my Fractal Torrent.
I would have thought that reduced airflow would increase noise as the fans have to work harder?
@@donkeysunited Most of the noise is produced by air being bounced around (turbulence) as it weaves its way through the wooden grill. The air filter is a very fine nylon mesh (at least it is on my Fractal Torrent), and so air flowing through the mesh makes little noise. Since the mesh reduces the airflow though the wooden grille, that reduces the turbulence there and thus reduces the noise. The fans make little noise themselves because of the design of the blades, and, as with the wooden slats, cutting off air to the fan blades actually reduces the noise they make as well.
I also think if u used better fans like be quiet silent wings pro 4 u would get way better noise control.
thank you for doing noise test. I don't see people doing review with this test. Hope you do more on more cases.
I was hoping for an mATX form factor case lol.
Why would they do that when they have the Terra??
@@guccipucci69420 The Terra is ITX only, so I don't see how an mATX case would compete with it. They already have some in that form factor (mATX), their designs are just getting old.
@@apricanephoto you’re correct. Maybe check out the Corsair 2500?
A year and a half ago I bought a Torrent case from Fractal. I made the mistake of getting the version with a sold metal panel and no glass. I tried to purchase the glass after the fact and had zero luck. Fractal basically just said to buy a whole new case. I wish I could just get that glass.... I'd pay for it; not asking for a freebee. sigh...
I'd love an mATX option. For me mATX is the perfect size; not tiny, but not a piece of furniture.
I like the looks of the Fractal North, but between the build quality and the front fan bracket, I think I'll stick with my NZXT H7 Flow case.
My Meshify-2 has this issue with the fan brackets causing turbulence noise, it seems to be the case with this product. They need to redesign the fan brackets.
beef up the panels with sound dampening, and put a solid side panel (no more LED crap), and this case would be perfect.
Build quality on this case equals my $64 Montech Airbase 903...and that's a great case. Case of the Year Award if you'll ask me you'll not gonna find a better case for the money.
3:43 Tell this to Corsair, same = ))
Great friendly critical review! What I'm looking for in 2024 is a new case from Fractal. What's next after Torrent, North and Terra. Is there anything?
Turbulence with 140mm fans in the front is a BIG ISSUE on basically all Fractal Cases, because of the way they get mounted (on that rail style) which is also a thing on the Meshify C, Meshify 2, Define Editions etc.
Which was a reason I opted out to 120mm fans instead. That turbulence was driving me insane.
No issue with my torrent.
@@TimberWulfIsHere the torrent, afaik, with the default fans isn't on a rail system mounted like the cases I mentioned (and probably some others / like the north).
@@Electric_Doodie check again. It has 2 detachable rails.
@@Electric_Doodie I have the issue with my torrent. I have to cap the fans at like 45 percent of they start humming
@@TimberWulfIsHereI had the same issue on my Torrent, it depends on the fan speed and proximity to the front obstruction and railing.
Having gotten this chassi with a Lian Li Galahad for the processor, Be Quiet in the back, a RTX4080 etc, the noise level is surprisingly low, with the open front (I used to run a FD R5 chassi w a Strix 980ti, got mighty hot) and the mesh side/upper mesh, seem to keep it very cool indeed, even under pressure, without much noise. That is the constant weigh-in: closed, damped chassi with massive fans, or a more open solution w maybe not so much cooling (or at least it should not have to work at max).
Satisfied so far.
I'd try to put some rubber o-rings around the screws or some gasket material between the fans and the metal bracket which should help lower the sound.
First of all...good video and good points made. The one thing im gonna address a bit is the whole acoustic part. On idle it doesn't sound louder than most other cases but realistically how often do we run our PC-s on load without a headset on our head? Does that make it a non problem? No...its still an oversight but in my opinion an oversight that you will notice less than you might think.
Well it's not like everybody uses headphones all the time. My desktop speakers are good for games where positional audio and really deep basses aren't a thing, and by definition more comfortable to use for a couple of hours than any headphone can be.
Curious the optional side panel mount is built with so much proportional open area relative to the front panel.
Much appreciated. Considered this case for the aesthetics but after watching opted for the Pop Silent XL, due to the silence and it is really great!
Advise them to make fractal north compact matx case please
I have the original North, and i stuck it full with fans from Noctua 😎
I love my OLD Fractal Design R5! It is ABSOLUTELY QUIET! And had LOT of space inside! Only downside is that is really heavy! BUT! It just stays near my desk, I don't take it anywhere! 😛
Looks great, but like the North, I still want at least 1 5.25 bay
Ok so, after these negatives, what would you suggest as an alternative for someone who wants a black case with a wooden theme?
Fractals fans aren't the quietest above about 1200 RPM even outside of the North. I personally wish manufacturers wouldn't include fans at all with cases or had a fanless option that was slightly cheaper, because for me and a lot of others it's an extra step to remove them and replace them with what I actually want and while I hold onto my unused fans for emergencies or just to play around with, a lot wind up in the trash as e-waste.
Also I think the price isn't the best but Fractal has sales fairly regularly, I picked up my North for $120 just a couple months after it released which puts it right in line with other similarly featured cases while also having a unique aesthetic. Personally, I honestly don't know why case price is such a huge deal to some, since most people are going to use a case they like for years or decades across multiple builds and only upgrade when something finally breaks or components stop fitting, and $180 for the XL and $150 isn't really a whole lot of money anymore, especially as a one time cost for a near infinitely reusable component like a computer case.
Yes, it'd be good to have an option with no fans. Or sell them all with no fans and sell a pack of 3 or 4 fans alongside it.
I know why they don't do that - a lot of reviewers compare cooling at stock and this case would perform horribly with no fans in it.
We need a North Mini for M-ATX next.
I love the design, but I am concerned about the lack of a dust filter in the rear part, that is mostly meshed: when you shut off the PC for some time, dust can enter from there.
Silent Wing 4s would suffice for better CFM and much lower dBa.
I love my North case. The only way I move out of this case is if Fractal releases a case that is Torrent compact/nano layout and size with the North styling and wood front panel. That would be perfection.
I'd just like a quiet, smart looking case, but not that many options it seems. The Proart and this have been my options recently, but really tricky to choose, especially now that you showcase the noise levels which to me is a priority. Any tips?
Nice that the North gets the XL treatment, I got a Define S2 housing a 13900K cooled with a EK-AIO Basic 360 and a 3090 (for now), planning to upgrade to a 5090 ith AIO when released and the standard North is too small for that.
I wish they would deliver the smaller north. This is a little bit dissapointment.
Won't a smaller North be the Terra case though?
@@jangovin1maybe mATX?
@@illus1v3Yep, i wish they were release something like North compact (for mATX).
A smaller case won't fix larger gpu's. Infact the whole point of this case is to house a larger gpu.
I've found any fan rail system makes an awful noise. You could mod it with a Dremel and get much better audio profile. Thin steel doesn't help either
Does the noise come from the airflow being blocked by the rail, or is it vibration from thin unsupported mounts?
The noise aspect of a case during a workload doesn't bother me as long as it can be made silent again or maintain very low decibels when it performs minimal tasks like web surfing or playing video.
Yeah the noise is not an issue if you're running around 1000 RPM on the front, and a bit lower for the side intake. But FD not addressing the turbulence issue is a concern. Hopefully in rev3.
-D.
@@HardwareCanucks I do appreciate your insight and attention to detail, another awesome and informative review.
Great Video Dmitry! I'm looking for a new wired "all in one" FPS/Story/Music/Movies headset which would you recommend between those 6
1- Logitech G Pro X
2- Hyper X Alpha S
3- Hyper X Cloud 3
4- Hyper X Cloud 2
5- Razer Kraken V3
6- Razer Blackshark V2
7- Steelseries Arctis Pro + Gamedac
8- Epos H6 Pro
9- Corsair HS80
I guess it doesn't matter which case you use, since 1800 rpm fans is going to be loud no matter what at 100%, right?
I have the normal north and I can’t remember if the stock fans have any rubber mourning pads for noise. Can you confirm if they do? Might explain the higher noise levels.
Just dug around in my closet to find the fans that came with my North, and no, no they do not have any kind of vibration or noise insulation material, just straight ABS plastic. Not only are they not isolated, Fractal is far from the quietest fan brand in the world to begin with.
That being said the front panel is still fairly loud when the fans are running at high rpm even with the chonky insulation on the Bionix fans I'm running, anything above 1200 rpm or so is going to massively increase noise through the front panel plus the front dust filter on the North isn't the greatest and high airflow will pull lots of finer dust through, so I just run them at low rpms and it's as quiet as any other computer case to the point I can hear my AIO's pump and the GPU fans over the 6 case fans when under load.
@@baronvonslambert yeah I noticed when I first setup the computer that the front fans can produce quite a bit of noise on max speed, but I have then tuned down on a lower noise curve. I might try mounting them with rubber isolation mounts and see if that improves things. Kind of a weird omission on fractals part to have plastic on metal fan mounting for a case in this price class.
I have to agree with the build quality concerns. Definitely a case that prioritizes looks over everything else, but it appears to be working for them since the original North was sold out everywhere for the longest time. I say this as an owner of a North. I absolutely love how it looks! But it was not a premium building experience.
That's a shame about the acoustics, it might be best to keep the front fans at a steady, low RPM to stay around ambient noise, then maybe use some fans on top for additional intake with an appropriate curve
7:20 Are you sure they're "protecting" the torrent? I thought that case was discontinued...
You would think when they went from regular to XL they would have improved on the case, but all they did was make it bigger just like they did making the compact smaller all around and had no room for cables and a proper AIO. I was always a big fan of Fractal cases and would have bought the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact except it needed to be wider and a little deeper to fit a 360 AIO on top. When they went from the regular to compact they made the legs shorter, to narrow (like the Define C) and to short to fit 360 AIO on top.
Yeaaaah I agree they really just mailed it in with this one. No real improvements on practical design despite having all the extra space for more possibilities. Very disappointed here -- this just seems lazy and they knw people will still buy it because of the look
While this is a gorgeous case I don't like it because when it's clearly a case tailored toward appearance I want certain things. I want a vertical mount so I can showcase that component, but I don't limit my access to the other PCIe slots. I feel like the north in a lot of ways is a step down rather than a step up. I feel like Fractal and a lot of case manufacturers focusing on aesthetics rather than features which is dumb because you can sell the aesthetics as an add-on. Say what you want about the Corsair, but The fact that the wood panel is something I can buy later and snap in was a bit of genius. At the end of the day, a lot of the aesthetic pieces are just things that attach to the top, bottom, or front of the case. I get new cases when they add new features. But the north just made me sad and the XL makes me sadder. Most cases are the same boring thing with minor changes that could have been sold as some add-on.
Rather than fans on the side bracket - how do we think this case would perform with a 3090FE vertically mounted so it can intake air from the mesh side panel?
Seems like case quality is going backwards and prices skywards. My P600S weighs a metric tonne and feels so well built and it cost me £120 only!
I'm happy my system never revs up the fans to maximum.
Seiko? For a sec I thought it might have been a Doxa. Wow, the 60mm limit for 120mm based AIO is a real bummer. I love using the EK p360m and Phanteks T30, ~68mm thickness. I didnt think such a mod would be needed in 2024.
I wish you tested swapping out the front fans with say the Phanteks T30s, in both positions, in front and behind the mounting brackets just to see how they would behave.
I want a small one, Fractal!!!
She's a gorgeous case. Still prefer the Pop series just for that 5.25" drive bay option. (Need that DVD drive for Plex server backups.)
I have an external DVD drive over USB. I almost never use it but you may have to go that route in future.
Now I'd love to see mATX version for us more budget oriented builders.
Oh man, I just got mine a few months ago. It was the biggest pain to put the 4090 in there and now there’s an XL?! Ugh, well when I recover from buying a 4090 this will be next.
I love mid to full tower cases and cases like the Hyte Y60
Is it possible to review the Sharkoon C70 wood case too? Looks nicer than the Fractal more minimalist design
This is such a disappointment, all they had to do was take the Torrent arguably the best large form factor case and stick a wood panel on it. That's it, so much wasted potential
…and move the PSU to the bottom. I am sure the top PSU mount is essential to the Torrent’s performance, but I cannot stand it.
Not a bad case, but certainly not Fractal's best. Very much looking forward to the Define 8 and Meshify 3 when(ever) they arrive
Thats nice but what about ITX? 😢
I would have loved this size when I bought the original North, great stuff.
I’d like to see a test with 120mm fans. Maybe a test with the 120 support cut out.
I humbly await for a Fractal North mini or a Terra XL made for matx cases.
Who's actually going to utilize those noisy fans, anyhow? I've just purchased this case, and my intention is to swap out the front fans and install the ProArt LC 420 all-in-one CPU liquid cooler instead. In my view, your criticisms aren't warranted; this case is fantastic.
Matx is what i was waiting for. Well maybe next year.
I'd love for you to try to get a copy of the cubeor kanto case - way pricier, but ... all the more important more reviews come.
MicroATX North please!
I also agree. Too expensive. So many good cases South of $150. 😂
I've done some builds to North with custom fan-tunings and I don't really see the turbulence at 1800 rpm (it starts lower tho) as an issue. It's because it has great acoustics at low rpms and the open design also allows you to run at such low rpms. Plus the 1800 rpm is there as "just in case" anyway.
It is still a flaw with the design. I have the Meshify 2 with the same fan bracket design, I also have high RPM fans because I use my PC for rendering and UE compilation. My fans are quieter outside of the case instead of inside which is ridiculous and it's all because of the bracket (the front mesh doesn't affect the fan noise in the case of the Meshify 2).
Its a good change, but too late. Wonder why they did not thought of compatibility first before release.
Swapped my North for PA602. Even though North was such an aesthetically pleasing case.
I don't understand, how multimillionary companies can invest so much money on a product design... and simply don't make sure to cover all the details, or even basic stuff... I just don't get it, it's like they just don't test them... wtf. Thank you Dimitriy, for another great video! :)
They should've made the fan brackets removable as both in the front and top as there's just a horrible turbolence breaking the airflow and being loud.
3:55 OMG I once dropped a define panel on my foot, one of the most painful experiences of my life
The bending of the side panel seems irrelevant unless it makes sound while mounted properly in the case. The fact that at full speed, which I doubt anyone would use anyway, the fans make more sound with some configurations seem irrelevant as well.
It bounces around in its mount. So does the top panel. If you tap the case, it clunks.
-D.
@@HardwareCanucks Ah, then it is relevant for sure 👍
We want a mATX North !!!!
talk about Sh-- hitting the fan with that case making that much noise. it sounded like a an old 10 year old HP case that never had a cleaning job.
Why can't they add wood to the right side panel? That seems like a perfect place to add wood to a PC case without any compromise (other than a heavier side panel NBD).
I wish they made fractal West. A horizontal case. I had my north going sideways lol.
No one use the fans at max speed 🤦🏻♂️
Would you recommend this case for a AI workstation with 4 double slot GPU? Any other best option? Thanks a lot ❤
On the ordinary model, 140mm fans in the top are a pain in the a**.
I just bought the Fractal North and it hurts me a little to see that they released an XL one just now
North Tiny should have been a thing🤩 itx and itx or low profile gpu would be awesome with this design😁
i love this guy real talks straight on point no shitsss!
Is it noisier than the standard north ? You didn't mention anything about noise in the original north review
7:34 Is depth a restriction on 280mm rad at the front? Wouldn't it be higher away from PSU shroud?
The reason I bought the XL was for the looks and reduced the fan speed and to go no RGB
I had my Fratal torrent for a few years and It's sad that they didn't manage to replicate that kind of performance yet. The torrent is so quiet and pretty sure still has the best airflow on the market. I'm running a 14700k with a D15 noctua and even while rendering It's so quiet and cold...
As he said, they’re likely protecting the Torrent product line. Kind of odd though because you’d think they’d go all-in, and incorporate the Torrent platform into other lines like the North.
If I was a competitor, I’d use the Torrent blueprint and innovate aesthetics on top (e.g., wood, etc.) 🤷♂️
@@abb0ttIndeed. And if the wood strips are an accoustic problem, they could do a wood surround instead. I'm sure it would be just as pretty while not interfering with the airflow.
Thankfully, this doesn't offer much more over the original mesh North that I just bought last month!