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Of course the maximum spec for EATX motherboards is only 330mm, and the empty holes that fit the extra standoffs required to support such wide motherboards are clearly visible just a few inches behind the front fans. A cutaway in the power-supply shroud beneath the motherboard tray provides space behind the fan mounts to install radiators up to 58mm thick. Developed for an enjoyable building and gaming experience, North offers an intuitive interior layout and generous compatibility. It supports GPUs up to a length of 355 mm, or up to 300 mm with a 360 mm front radiator. For a smooth start, it includes two 140 mm Aspect PWM fans, a USB-C port and drive mounts for up to four 2.5” drives and two 3.5” drives out of the box.
MAINGEAR Launches Fractal North Series with Noctua, Configurations Abound! - Gaming Trend
MAINGEAR Launches Fractal North Series with Noctua, Configurations Abound!.
Posted: Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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Still, the cost of raw materials these days is up, up, and up, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a finer-looking combo of steel, glass, and wood outside an architect’s studio. You might assume the mesh improves thermals, but there's also evidence (at least in some cases) that air coming in from the side can be detrimental to the front-to-back airflow path. The only other case we've tested recently with a mesh side panel was the Azza Aero 480, and that did not perform very well. Fractal's North, though, performed exceptionally well in our testing – especially with CPU thermals. The top of the North features a removable panel with a leather tab and the back for easier removal.
Building With the North XL: North Star
My previous case was a Phanteks P400s TG, so the review is coming from that angle.
Verdict: Wood I Ever Build a Big PC, This Wood Be the Case
We were able to get our test configuration’s standard parts installed quickly, and connected the cables…after manually operating our screwdriver, of course. Look past the back-panel power-supply insertion, and the North XL is one of the simplest cases we’ve ever used in a build. Like the standard North, the North XL lacks the proper clearances behind its solid panel to insert a power supply from the side and thus relies on a removable bracket to enable installation through the back panel. The washable dust filter matches the one on its smaller sibling, just large enough to cover the intake vent beneath the power supply bay. 2022 has been a big year for Fractal Design; the Swedish case company started off with the Torrent Compact, which was an impressive start. In the summer, we saw the Pop Silent, which was refreshing, as the case market has become saturated with mesh and RGB.
Case companies often take an existing design and mostly (or sometimes only) change the front panel. This isn’t the case (no pun intended) with the North, which is available in either white or black and with a mesh or tempered glass side panel. Enter Fractal Design, a case manufacturer that often finds itself on our Best PC Cases, and its latest (and hopefully trend-setting) North case. The North is an ATX mid-tower chassis that features wood slats on the front panel (backed by mesh) and the option for a mesh or tempered-glass side panel. Fractal Design’s new case retails for $130 and comes in Charcoal Black or Chalk White.
"Olympus". Fractal North build.
The Fractal Design North XL is a little noisy at full speed, partly because it has large fans, and partly because its front panel is designed for optimal airflow rather than as a noise barrier. Fortunately for Fractal Design, most of its competitors are also a little noisy. Regardless of how we got there, the installed card now sits vertically above the power supply tunnel and looks pretty spiffy, if you ask us.
Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox. Here’s a quick recap of the parts in our standard test build for ATX and larger chassis. It fits together as shown, by removing the North XL’s original eight slot covers. We found, though, that the heads of the included card screws were too large to fit through the openings above them. Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.
Internal Layout
As with its smaller sibling, North XL fuses design materials with airflow engineering, to make performance gaming a stylish addition to the living space. Though our graphics card’s RGB logo is a little harder to see from the new angle, keen eyes will still discern that the card’s fans face the tinted-glass side. As long as the performance is decent, there's nothing wrong with more traditional basic black PC case boxes or aggressive RGB-and-glass gamer chassis. But it's great to have attractive and well-performing alternatives like the North, that blend into a living room in a living room instead of standing out like an alien artifact.
North reimagines the gaming PC, introducing natural materials and bespoke details to make gaming a stylish addition to your living space. Leveraging design to give you a better experience, its airflow functionality and intuitive layout make building and gaming both smooth and enjoyable. What would the popular Fractal Design North look like, expanded to Extended ATX (EATX) scale? Real walnut trim was the biggest thing that made Fractal Design’s original North a big hit among ATX system builders, and the firm is ready to take another chunk out of the market (and some forest) with a $179.99 North XL version. Key improvements include the ability to fit a triple-140mm (420mm format) radiator up front or a graphics card up to 413mm deep, and all that extra capability costs only an extra inch or two of additional space on your desk.
PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund in accordance with our return policy – no receipt needed if you have a Micro Center Insider Account. Fractal's North is a mid-tower ATX case that disguises itself as a pretty piece of furniture. Now, I never took woodshop in high school, but this feels and looks like bamboo. I recently bought a Fractal North (Charcoal / Black Mesh version) and I just wanted to share some impressions before I forget.
North reimagines the gaming PC, introducing natural materials and bespoke details to make gaming a stylish addition to the living space. Fusing design and airflow engineering, the case features fine-patterned mesh ventilation and an open front with real walnut or oak panels. The design is complemented by sleek brass or steel details and an integrated tab for easy access to the top of the case. Inside, North offers an intuitive interior layout and generous compatibility. Behind the motherboard tray, you’ll find the usual cable tie points, a dual 2.5-inch drive bracket and two 3.5 or 2.5-inch drive trays. The drive trays actually live under the PSU shroud, eacg can fit a 2.5-inch drive and a 3.5-inch drive at the same tiem, and can also be mounted upside down to make room for chunkier PSU cables – a well-thought-out feature by Fractal.
The small connector seen on the right uses a 4-pin PWM connector for motherboard control and connects up to four PWM fans (including the three front fans that come with the case). The Core i K is set at a fixed 4.7GHz clock at 1.3v on all performance cores to ensure consistent power consumption across test scenarios. Letting the GPU run at 75% fan speed enables it to maintain its power target while sticking to one set reasonable fan speed, so that the temperature is the only variable. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
The side panels are removed via two thumb screws, which is a bit disappointing for a case of this price, and it’s almost ironic when you consider the otherwise excellent aesthetics of this chassis. If you’re smitten with the wood face of the original North, the North XL will be likely your go-to pick if your timber-lust goes along with a need for oversize components. It didn’t dominate our benchmarks, but it’s no slouch, and the build process was about as easy and quick as any of recent note.
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