Excellent Design: Fractal North Case Review & Benchmarks

[@GamersNexus]

Watch our case reviews playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJDaYYGYd51nhpI The best way to support our work is through our store: store.gamersnexus.net/

[@RetiredEE]

Thanks Steve!

[@BerserkPublishing]

I've seen earlier reviews of this case. As an owner of the older quiet Fractal case I'm very intrigued with this one for my next build. I'm very curious as to your opinion on how that wood will hold up. While the black metal case is nowhere near as attractive to their new North Case, it could probably outlive me in longevity. Do you think the wood finish will hold up, or do you see the heat from the case possibly causing the wood to dry and crack over time?

[@k24skin]

Great review video as usual but, I'm just little disappointed to see the Arctic Liquid Freezer AIOs as a sponsor, this being that their "repair kit" answer to their bad gaskets is a less than desirable solution for customers who bought a closed loop AIO to avoid draining and cleaning of their cooling solution in the first place :/ Now, whether they're a PC novice or not this IMO was an unacceptable response to "Arctic's defective part" :(

[@1carusGG]

I think they could've left the option to mount the fans directly to the side panel. That would've reduced costs and maybe gotten some of the clearance issues resolved. Also the rear cable management space is just inadequate. I think case manufacturers should take a page out of the Antec 1100 case from 2011 or the Phanteks P600A/S and see just how cable management should be designed.

[@carnsoaks1]

I'm looking for the retraction or correction. None showing after 54 minutes. Disappointment Reigns.

[@Lishtenbird]

I really love that case design is finally catching up with the clean, natural material aesthetic that's been around for a while in the desk setup department. Plastic has many benefits, sure, but it's often hard to treat it as a piece of more modern, solid interiors.

[@neoqueto]

It's the IKEA case, but I mean that in a good way

[@ernestoditerribile]

@@neoquetomore like Bang & Olufsen. Some speakers from them have that wood.

[@christopherdavis3517]

Case design? This is complete abdication of design and critical thinking. A case that can't hold even 6 hard drives is pretty gay. It's okay if you're building a computer for grandma, but this isn't that audience .

[@ska042]

This case is a slam dunk imo, with this combination of looks, performance and price.

[@CuteMegaPanda]

@@ernestoditerribile yup looks like it will blend well with the Beolab 18 or a Beosound Level.

[@tihruytssgjjvsavcxtbvhj3429]

In 20 years of building PCs I've NEVER seen a case that I wanted. Until this one. I bought it on launch day. It's awesome.

[@OllieHamon]

How was it to build in? What GPU and cooling set up did you go for? After having it for a while is there anything you don't like?

[@lewisner]

It's not available in the UK till the end of March and start of May for the two colours 😢

[@OllieHamon]

@@lewisner they keep going out of stock because they are so popular, just keep checking back or set up email alerts

[@spacechannelfiver]

It’s the most aesthetically pleasing tower case we’ve had on the market for quite a long time. I do like the Lian-Li O11 and if I was having a build where I wanted to show of the internals that would be a solid (if bulky) option. The last case I truly loved was the Silverstone Fortress 2, they really leaned into the brushed Aluminium look that was on point at the time. Am due a rebuild at some point to stick in a new PSU so the mesh version of this in white will probably be it, will go nicely with my Sony Inzone screen.

[@generalawareness101]

I love how it gives me the 1970s vibes I grew up in, but 355mm max GPU length is DOA for me as it has no future proofing (heck, there are a couple of models of AIB 4090 that are over 355mm). In 2023 400mm (give or take 5mm) with the front radiator installed is a must.

[@MrAston111]

This case seems to do great with a vertical GPU mount. Several people who tested it on this case show a 5-9 degree decrease when mounting the gpu vertically. Also, this solves the side bracket for extra fans problem! Having fans blowing right on the GPU only showed a 1-2 degree decrease however, I expected it to be higher. Building in this case with this setup in beginning of march once the case arrives, I'll update you :)

[@MrAston111]

To add to your point on "having to mount the radiator up front", a 240 mm radiator on top seems to work fine- even with the arctic liquid freeze 2 240 (However, its a tight fit). A regular thickness rad should give you about 1-2cm clearance which would be fine. Mounting it up front limits GPU length by quite a bit, so u can basically only fit a 4090 if it's a founders edition

[@Distrusted_Citizen]

Bumpppppo

[@sinnthetic616]

Would having the glass side reduce this effect of the GPU being cooler with a vertical mount?

[@startedtech]

@@sinnthetic616 using a glass side panel would get rid of any benefits, temps would be worse.

[@davidelliott5520]

Anyone besides reviewers actually get one. Sold out everywhere I look.

[@praxisrebourne]

Finally, we are getting polished and sleek designs in the industry. Angles, RGB and color accents are cool too, but felt like the PC gamers market been missing the other part too.

[@fierybl4de400]

facts ive been in a toss up between black pc components with white rgb, but this shit is way 2 fucking clean

[@gehtdinichtsan309]

this. having built my first pc around the year 2000 i always found the rise of rgb with the angular design straight out of a hollywood blockbuster from the early 00's super cringy. my pcs, even before my first diy one, always sit underneath my desk. so all the blinkin lights in rainbow colors mean absolutely nothing to me.

[@davidbrennan5]

I bought a Fractal Torrent based on the review on this channel and it is the best case I have ever owned by far. My temps dropped a lot going from a cheap mid tower case to this one. My wife even likes to clean this one because it is so easy.

[@GamersNexus]

Glad the Torrent is working well for you! Its cooling is great!

[@Will-db5el]

likewise, although my wife doesn't clean mine :)

[@tallguysix8]

@@Will-db5el yeah, my wife doesn’t clean my PC either 😂

[@LeUberTroll]

My wife picked that case out of a lineup of 3 potential cases. Fractal should put a “Wife Approved” sticker on the marketing 😂

[@-externalbuilder9132]

@@LeUberTroll lmao

[@KCVitamins]

Really agree with the verdict that fractal has found a good balance here. I'm not looking for that gaudy gamer look and this hits a good balance between reasonable thermals, acceptable looks and not asking an obtuse price for it. Would be sweet to have more cases like this to have some options but as is this is highly likely the case I'll choose for my next build later this year.

[@mannydcbianco]

Yes, this. I wanted exactly the same; a case that looks classy and fits in well in a home office, isn't tacky or gaudy like most gamer cases, but still offers good airflow for gaming. The number one thing I would change for a "2.0" version would be to make the case about an inch to an inch and a half wider. Keep everything else identical, but a bit wider. That would really help with the clearance issues for the side mount fan bracket.

[@alexbisgounis4055]

I was watching the hardware news last night and I thought to myself "I hope they do a case review soon". You guys are the best

[@westerwald78]

Discovered the North about a week ago and thought the same 😀

[@timgrelka]

I don’t usually write comments, but this case really got my attention. My home office / desk is in my living room, where I am quite conscious about design choices and really picky with furniture. My desk has been kind of an eyesore (at least to me) for a long time. I try to keep it minimalist and clean, and this case (especially in the white variant) fits right in along my other furniture, which makes me quite excited about a new PC build. It’s overdue by now, though I’m still waiting on new and viable video card options (I don’t game too much, but sometimes still want to). I will probably choose this case for that build - thanks to your review, I feel like this will be a good choice! Excellent combination of both design and function. Thank you for the work you do, keeping us consumers informed with a factual basis. I believe you have very well-earned high trust throughout the community, but definitely from me.

[@Intelwinsbigly]

Caveman last name

[@Anechoic]

I think that was exactly Fractal's goal with this case: make something with a high "wife approval rating", basically a case that won't make your living room/bedroom ugly. The average age of gamers/pc enthusiasts will only get higher in the next 20-25 years, so I think we'll see more and more cases that have similar aesthetic.

[@xomm]

Definitely agree, the dominant aesthetic choices in gaming PCs for 3 decades has been just flashy LEDs or monochrome. Cases with actual color palettes and varying material choices are a welcome addition.

[@x86FTW]

This case got my attention because it's really ugly.

[@Astelch]

Man I saw a beautiful build with noctua fans with this case it’s stunning. Only problem I have with it is that it’s a very tight fit for a rtx 4000 series card

[@prierec5959]

Always wanted a case with nice minimalist wood accents, and fractal definitely didn't disappoint here!

[@Moonblade042194]

They disappoint with stock.

[@volvo09]

They are beautiful. Makes the PC look more like a piece of furniture that actually adds to a rooms design.

[@mikkodoria4778]

@@volvo09 yeah they also cut tress, not good for the environment

[@angrysocialjusticewarrior]

@@mikkodoria4778 Wrong. Cutting down old trees and plants VERY good for the environment because it gives room for younger trees to grow tall without having to compete against the roots of the old tree. So you must apologies to Fractal for daring to claim that they are hurting the environment. Say sorry, now!

[@mikkodoria4778]

@@angrysocialjusticewarrior wrong old tress can be use by other animals as shelter or a good foundation for plants like vines so they have a chance to reach a sunlight too, now make yourself educated more and feel sorry for what opinions you express.

[@DotNET83]

Steve I am a critic turned fan of yours. When I first watched one of your videos I thought you were just being too critical and nitpicking everything. I was ignorant to what you were actually doing. You hold companies accountable for their often times misleading and misbranded products which forces them to evolve into better companies and interaction with their base customers. You are fighting for people who would not be able to get the results you do as we aren’t big enough to matter in these companies eyes calling out their BS on a larger platform where everyone can see. Thank you so much for what you do for all of us.

[@mightylink65]

Fractal has very quickly become one of my favorite brands, I tried the Focus G Mini and s24 aio and the build quality was top notch for the price and included lots of additional screws and zip ties that could of been used on a whole second build. I also really loved that every bay was removable giving you much more airflow. Very customizable cases for a cheap price.

[@TheDiner50]

Fractal Torrent Compact came with no thumb screw for the side covers. Had to raid the Focus G supply. Had some small zip ties in a bag included for the compact and EVERY SINGLE ONE was needed for the build. The PSU came with a bit bigger zip ties that saved me from a trip to the garage. Literately used the fan hub mounting screws to hold the front IO cables in place. Why you ever had ran the fan hub in this case when the space it takes up was better served to hold case cables in place. And cable ties meant to be used outside of the case for the top mounted PSU power cable instead served to hold internal SATA cables in place. Love the Torrent but like. wow. More screws and cable tie points are needed. Not less! :)

[@lamakicker69]

I got lucky and was able to buy it the 1 day it came back in stock, absolutely love the look of it. Best way I heard someone describe it is that it’s a case that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to have in my living room. It’s a sleek looking case that isn’t so “in your face” like so many other cases.

[@sam.shock924]

Jealous! I haven’t been able to find it literally anywhere. Not even an “out of stock” listing.

[@EvanOfTheDarkness]

6:14 - "It's a case made of cardboard. They claim it decomposes, we asked for one, so we could burry it in the yard and test it, and then they took back their offer and didn't send it..." - That made my day 🤣

[@halicon7475]

it's the little treasures he blurts

[@wuhanclan]

He says it like a joke, but he's also serious at the same time. These companies need to realize that they can't just blurt out random claims and not expect GN to actually test them.

[@oyundalaienkh-amgalan7720]

@@wuhanclan Gamer Jesus indeed

[@GeekProdigyGuy]

tbh a decomposition test would be sick, but rather than burying it it'd be fun to keep it in a clear tank with some dirt and water, do a time lapse vid

[@ikkeheltvanlig]

Fractal North going for Nordic Minimalist. Love it. As a Scandinavian I think they've really nailed the design language (in stark contrast to all the examples shown of other cases implementing wood). As a first version they did awesome, think that will sell like hot chocolate in a blizzard over here.

[@wolfganginvasion]

super cool insight as i had no clue what scandinavian design looked like prior to your comment.

[@starwarsnerd95]

That side fan bracket is a fantastic idea, I will probably use one of these cases for my next living room/media pc where exhausting from the top would normally be blocked so allowing the side panel to be used for that ia great

[@Vivi-tz2rl]

I got this case last week, and here are a few comparisons to my experience vs this review; - Cable management sucks in the event you have anything that you want to route through the top. There is only one hole near the rear to route things, and getting an AIO and three fans routed through it is a nightmare. -The top mount was actively bending as I was screwing the AIO rad in. There were no clearance issues, but it's as if the top is slanted towards the front. -As mentioned, the rear is super fragile. It was bent almost immediately to the point where the IO shield wouldn't actually contact the board. It can be bend back, but be careful. -My unit did not have a fan hub included. -The second HDD tray should honestly be removed from the start, otherwise standard modular PSUs will have a hard time without bending the motherboard cables at a weird angle. Overall though, it does look pretty sick.

[@Twistedvaccine]

Only the mesh version has a fan hub weirdly..

[@advfix]

Of all the cases manufacturers I love Fractal the the most. They seem to be the only one that looks like is playing around with design and pulling it of making very functional cases.

[@Dark.Syndicate]

lian li? hyte? Asus? Cougar? nothing else either? how limited knowledge u have dude.

[@sagichnicht6748]

@@Dark.Syndicate I don't know any case from Lian Li which has such an interesting aesthetic, in the non-RGB space for people who can't be bothered with the gamers aesthetic. They do have some cases with neutral ambience but nothing going the other way like the North. Hyte does have an interesting alternative to the Fractal Ridge indeed, with the Revolt. Asus and Cougar have little to offer to those people in general, They have very few non-gamer aesthetics cases and those which might fit somewhat look rather bland. Maybe some in that market segment find something like the Prime attractive but most people would rather want something slimer and more interesting.

[@nolanlemos]

​@@Dark.Syndicate Seems like the wood grille front is pretty unique to the North. Not everybody wants a computer that looks like a mini nuclear reactor. The North almost has a mid-century vibe to it. If any of those companies make a similar case, please drop a link, because I'd be interested.

[@TeeFunkable]

One suggestion for the series: I would also like to hear some kind of a low'ish load absolute noise test for all of these cases. I feel this performance normalized with noise is slightly at odds with several computer use cases. I use mine for music recording (relatively low load, very low fan rpm, noise critical), media consumption (basically idle) and photogrammetry/ 3D modelling, where I don't really care if it sounds like a jet engine as it's work and I can just exit the room for the day it chugs along. So while noise normalized results give me an idea of how the case performs, I'd really like to see some standardized, noise focused test procedure across all cases for media consumption/ creation scenarios that wouldn't be so heat dependant.

[@Just_a_commenter]

Not gonna lie, the first time I saw this case, I thought it was strikingly similar to an open breifcase filled with manilla folders... And I think I liked it more because of that. That aside, it's definitely a stylish case! Edit: jeez, the NSFW bots are out in force today. Please, don't engage with them, folks.

[@PropaneWP]

Being from Norway, the front panel immediately reminded me of a Nordic style sauna or bath. It was pretty cool to see later that they were going for a Nordic inspired design. There hasn't really been a lot of interesting pc case designs beyond Apple's iMac computers. To see someone incorporating natural materials like wood is really cool. The leather details on the other cases were not as great, imo. But still, it's a change from the usual plastic and metal.

[@AaronShenghao]

@@PropaneWP with a 4090, you can put this case in the sauna act as heating element. We turned down heat when my BF is gaming with his 4080 here in Sweden 😂

[@arnox4554]

Looks like a hipster version of every other case. Along with no 5 1/4" bays. Again. INB4 "WHY YOU USING 5 1/4" BAYS, BRO? YOU USING BLU-RAYS, BRO? THEY'RE OUTDATED, BRO."

[@startedtech]

@@arnox4554 5¼" bays have been niche since like 2017. Definitely have their uses but it's silly to complain about a 2023 aesthetics focused case not having them lmao.

[@arnox4554]

@@startedtech From an aesthetics point of view, I can kinda see what you're saying, and normally, I wouldn't say anything about this, but it seems EVERY SINGLE CASE that comes out these days has no damn bays, and to be honest, I'm kinda getting sick of it. They are incredibly useful for all sorts of reasons.

[@DrewbehHD]

the side-fan bracket seems like it would be a really good idea if this case had a vertical-gpu mounting option similar to the lian li o11 d mini vertical gpu bracket (to bring fresh air from the side panel straight to the gpu intake fans). it's an aesthetically pleasing enough case to consider modifying it for this, too.

[@davidskarbrevik]

Would modification be needed to use a vertical mount? (since there are no bars between pcie slots)

[@DrewbehHD]

@@davidskarbrevik good question! i’m unfamiliar with universal vertical gpu brackets, but you could be very right! if i had this case, i’d definitely try it.

[@TheSweMusicMan]

Check the Fractal Design Flex B-20 vertical riser bracket. It's compatible with the North.

[@davidskarbrevik]

@@TheSweMusicMan this is a cool option but I think they only sell it with a gen 3 riser cable and the screw placements from the bracket to the cable make me question compatibility with other riser cables. Phanteks has a gen 4 cable+bracket that may work in the North, not sure though.

[@TheSweMusicMan]

@@davidskarbrevik Yes, it's PCIe 3, but that won't make much of a difference as long as your GPU uses the full x16.

[@puddsy]

I bought a Pop Air based on your review of it and love it. I'm a journalist and I'm always so impressed with the standards you guys hold yourselves to. This type of rigor is really only seen at legacy papers these days.

[@gustavvonrauch8942]

Really like seeing cases that are more focused on matching general decor aesthetics while also being good cases/airflow than just the oversatured typical gaming case market. i have the fractal torrent which i don't see myself changing from for a really long time still, love what fractal is doing here because there's absolutely a market for people who want to build high end rigs but have a decor setup that something looking lowkey would fit much better with

[@kalark]

When this case came out a couple months ago I bought it immediately! I love the wood front and clean design. The mesh side panel looks so much nicer than the tempered glass panel imo. Great video!

[@BBWahoo]

All hail the sonic totem

[@Ant-P]

I think the glass looks much nicer, but to each their own.

[@anariasiseve5349]

You did the right thing. I put it on my list for new PC...now I want it, and at least here in Germany it's sold out completely for over a month now.

[@goldenfalcon75]

I would LOVE an mATX or at least Compact version of the North like Fractal has done with their other cases. Keep up the good work Fractal, and as always great review from GN!

[@reav3rtm]

Yes

[@poiuytrewq8ff]

I have a Define Mini C and a Define C - I love my mini but my Strix 3080ti wont fit without losing a front fan. one thing that does make their Mini series of cases so good other than build quality and airflow is they are wide enough to mount a Noctua D15

[@busterscrugs]

This case basically is a compact. It's smaller than a Torrent Compact in length and width, height is only 2mm taller.

[@FatalityDiablo]

@@poiuytrewq8ff the define mini c fits GPU up to 340mm and 140mm front top + 120mm front bottom very easily. Just need to unscrew the HDD shroud in the front.

[@tier1detailing]

Agreed. With m.2's being able to store terabytes of data now, I'm surprised something as modern as the North even considers HDD storage

[@minonkh]

Fractal is really making so much awesome stuff.. 2 friends + me have the torrent and I love the looks of it and ofc the performance.. the north just looks epic and their Pop air and meshify series is also damn good..

[@jackpd34]

Built 5 PC's in my time and have always used Fractal cases. Their quality and looks are so nice and the best out there imo, so easy to build in also.

[@HigherMammal]

I'm glad I stuck with my selection of the Torrent for room to build and thermals sake, but the aesthetics on this are so appealing. Hopefully they come out with some future models that blend the benefits of both in a good way.

[@Praderanoire]

GN have to be the best tech reviews out at the moment. They feel genuine, like your friend who is just really passionate giving no-bullshit advice and backing it up only with data.

[@LordChariot]

I love that you show the fitment of radiators in the case. That's one of the hardest things to judge from pictures when deciding what case to get for a custom loop.

[@jackalclone1]

I feel like this case was made specifically to match BDi's modern walnut desks. And I love it. Will definitely be ordering the black/walnut to match the home office. Love to see more case manufacturers embrace style and function.

[@vdfritzz]

15:40 i put a small exhaust fan there in my case and my gpu went like 10 to 15ºc lower, the side glass was getting warm before i did it, very underrated fan location, every case should come with some sort of fan support under the gpu, it gets rid of any hot air recirculation by the gpu, also creating a clean air flow path from the lower front fans to the rear, passing right in front of the gpu

[@vasiovasio]

That is very good and objective advice! Thank you!

[@tombenham9458]

Wouldn't it be better as intake ? Bringing fresh air directly to the GPU ? And then having the exhaust at the top ? Or would the hot air of the GPU just choke the CPU ?

[@vdfritzz]

@@tombenham9458 then it would take dirty air in, without filtering and the front and top of the case already has enough air coming in, one thing that could be the problem is that the single exhaust fan was being overpowered by all the intake ones so air from beneath the gpu couldn't climb to where the exhaust fan is, just a theory though, but placing an exhaust fan where i described definitely solved the issue, a better solution would require maybe a thermal camera

[@sonsofalchal]

Indeed surly an exhaust under the GPU is a good idea. Will try it when my case arrives.

[@MADHIKER777]

@dvfritzz What a great comment! I think this additional rear exhaust fan, below the GPU level sounds fantastic! Probably both of the rear fans curve should be set slower than the front fans curve, thereby maintaining positive pressure. Plus, the rear should be 120mm or less, compared to the two 140mm fans in front. As an alternative you could replace the two 140mm front fans with three 120mm fans.

[@LilYellowDog]

This case rocks. Saw it when it came out, it sold out for three months and I couldn't buy it. Came back in stock around the time of this video. Bought one and I freaking LOVE it. So clean and fairly easy to work in.

[@CapnSnackbeard]

We are entering an exciting era in cases: good looking and functional.

[@chedinbuildsstudio5144]

I hate minimalist designs , especially cases and wanted to see more flashy gamery cases , but nowadays everything must appeal to boring bland minimalist corporate slave aesthetic . Why are case designers so lazy and creatively bankrupt in every way ? Why must everything be sterile like Fractals and NZXTs ?

[@chedinbuildsstudio5144]

I worry about the future in case designs where adding even one line in front on cases will be called out for not appealing to close-minded minimalists like you because "everything must blend in with office surroundings" .

[@chedinbuildsstudio5144]

People like you are the reason creativity went bankrupt and responsible for the "please don't turn me into an oversimplified logo" norm .

[@chedinbuildsstudio5144]

No more minimalist cases ! No more classy cases , please ! There are too many adult cases nowadays , needs more flashy and gamery cases to spring up the boring design landscape !

[@CapnSnackbeard]

@@chedinbuildsstudio5144 it was impossible to get an entirely RGB free build. I had to download an app to turn the one on my graphics card off. Plenty of RGB out there. Since you shared: I think RGB makes it looks like a kid's computer, and I would be horrified to show a lover my bedroom if my computer was Waifu'd out like a streamer, with LED lighting, and action figures in my Ikea bookcase behind me. No thanks. It's a small, blacked out appliance under my desk.

[@michaelthompson9798]

I’ve actually pre-ordered this case in black, with dark tinted glass and dark wood accent which I love. This is the ONLY case I’ve purchased as an itx pc builder for 10+ years! I’m looking at a dual radiator setup in this with my RTX 4090 👍💪🥰

[@TilW]

I've been waiting for this review, even though I already got the Torrent Compact shortly before the North was announced. The design really is excellent, in my opinion Fractal completely dominates the rest of the market in terms of aesthetics.

[@TheDiner50]

I have no idea why anyone had wanted to get this thing over the Torrent Compact. The wood? Like I'm from Sweden and yea it is a good looking case and whatever. Torrent is just better. Torrent Compact is really running everything to the limit when it comes to space. But at the end you end up with a compact high end system with just as much of a sharp good look as some wood glued to some plastic. They are about the same size too. Same price. Fractal do not just have a good eye at looks. The more important thing is the design and high quality for a reasonable price. And this case? The design is flawed. Torrent got 180mm fans. This wood thing? It got a useless bracket. Wanted Steve to yeet it so badly since the only good thing to say about it was how easy it was to throw away and not feel bad about it. Point is. Fractal is not just good ascetically. Before they where very boxy and I ran them without the front cover. It is not the look but the practical aspect too. And this case failed on that front. It only has a extra HDD position over the Torrent. And some wood and leather? Wow.

[@startedtech]

@@TheDiner50 lol you're writing this like your opinions on the case's aesthetics are factual and indisputable. A lot of people like the design of the case and wouldn't get any real benefit from a 'more featured' case.

[@Zanpaa]

@@TheDiner50 Most people seem to think this looks better than the Torrent.

[@interruptVEKTOR]

@@TheDiner50 Mostly because the front panel of the Torrent is fucking ugly

[@devencherry8976]

I’ve seen a few videos about this case, and thought it offered some really cool features.. glad to see Steve reviewing this case, and I’m excited to see what he has to say about it.. often times I’ll think a case, or other item might be a really good buy; right up until I end up watching a gamers Nexus review. He really does get way more In depth In his reviews than I’ve seen elsewhere. Which is genuinely very useful when trying to make a purchasing decision.. for that, thank you Steve..

[@billienomates7100]

I assume the idea of the fan mount is that you use a riser and bracket for the GPU and have the fans blow air directly into it. It'd make sense in that case as the vertical GPU would take up less room.

[@ellowell8160]

Yeah, bit surprised this wasn't looked into in earnest when he spent so much time focusing on the side bracket and its (im)practicality.

[@McTroyd]

Glad to see GN reviewing this case. Having been dealing with metal and plastic for the last couple decades, this is a nice refresher. I suspect Fractal will be getting my money when I do my next build; the only question is when that will happen... 💸

[@DeckDogs4Life]

I honestly really hope to see more wood used in cases in the future. I was hopeful that, after Tempered Glass, the next fad would be wood but that didn't happen. The wood accents look great imo.

[@volvo09]

Both would look great under or on a wood desk. I'm surprised it took so long for a case to arrive that actually compliments a nice wood desk.

[@ericconnor8419]

It is the next fad is is happening now. People think gluing a tiny sliver of veneer onto a plastic box will make them seem more classy.

[@AndoXD2448]

@@ericconnor8419 Or maybe they just like how it looks? Why do you people have to be so spiteful about aesthetics in computers?

[@BRUXXUS]

I think fabric/textile mesh might see an uptick in use as well.

[@andreasu.3546]

Not sure if putting high power electronics with PSUs putting out amps like arc welders in wooden boxes would a good idea. Maybe wood verneer on metal could work, like what the car makers use.

[@E_Sunbro]

I bought this case as soon as it came available. It is fantastic. Keeps my 4090 just as cool as it was on my open air frame. Been wanting a mesh side panel on a mid-tower for years.

[@Azratful]

its not compatible with E-ATX?

[@EnricoAnsaloni]

I understand that it would be a pain in the ass, but rather than the normalized test I'd love to see a "maxed out" case test where you fill all the fan mounts in every case in the best configuration possible to see the maximum performance possibile for every case. Anyways, your reviews are the best... You and derBauer are my favourite tech channels for your scientific approach

[@ElijsDima]

Agreed. For many of these cases, it's not really that useful to test the stock or "standard" configs when people will buy this and similar cases with the intention to max them out.

[@iforgotmyname2306]

More often than not, if you were to "max out" the amount of fans in a case, you'd end up with worse performance than if you were to use two or three.

[@EnricoAnsaloni]

@@iforgotmyname2306 it depends on the case and how you configure the fans: in my Meshify 2 I have much better performance than the GN charts with 9x140mm fans (3 front intake, 2 bottom intake, 3 top exhaust, 1 back exhaust)

[@Ratseeker]

Especially if they can go with the biggest slowest fans possible.

[@NightDragon2383]

I love Fractal's cases! I got the Meshify 2 a couple years back for my first ever self build after seeing GN's review of it, originally I was gonna get the Meshify C as part of a Black Friday deal, but I'm glad I went with the 2, even though it's larger that what I need it was a breeze to work with and the stock 140mm fans are perfectly fine and keep my CPU, GPU and Mobo at reasonable temps.

[@iwsfg]

I got the Meshify C in 2018 and it was a very pleasant build experience coming from HAF 922 and cheap $50 cases of the past. North didn't initially catch my interest from seeing it on the thumbnail or just static renders but dynamic camera angles in the video convey the depth better and that front panel really sells it. Even if it was lower on the chart I'd still want it and will probably get it for the next build

[@iwsfg]

Really happy with what Fractal and Lian Li been doing with their case designs in the recent years.

[@JackDangerous]

I absolutely love the design of that case, simple yet tasteful, the wood detail fits perfectly and i wish more cases used it. I'd absolutely get the black one if my current Cooler Master H500 wasn't doing its job perfectly fine 😅

[@colin_ross]

Good to see the Meshify 2 Compact getting some mentions throughout this video. Really is a top tier case with great thermal performance for its size, people should consider that if wanting a Fractal and don't quite like the wood accents and weird side panel on the North case.

[@Targonis1]

I went with the Meshify 2 regular, and it really is a great case. I have a 280mm AIO mounted at the top, leaving the front free if I go for a liquid-cooled video card for my next upgrade next year.

[@KenS1267]

I like the idea of the side fan bracket. Fractal, and the rest of the industry, is going to have to bite the bullet and pay for new tooling for larger cases. They've all been getting by for a long time using a few base widths for ATX cases, with a few notable exceptions, and GPU's have gotten taller and longer to the point where those cases simpler don't work any more. When Fractal does a new wider case they should revisit the side fans.

[@nepnep6894]

I really like the fan bracket as well. I think one of the usecases it could be really good at is the top position for cooling ram and to a degree motherboard vrm. DDR5 at high speeds is insanely temp sensitive to the point that using a ram waterblock is actually useful now.

[@onutaoyusao]

They have that vertical GPU bracket that fits most of their current cases, but it's 50$ extra and the riser cable that comes with it is only pcie 3.0.

[@FTWGame0N]

Be quiet 500DX / FX case is couple cm wider and you can get a 140 rear exhaust even i think. With how popular o11 cases are it shows consumers dont mind a wider case.

[@kevinerbs2778]

I want one that can fit a 200mm fan at the rear then. Also I would use the side mount fans as an exhaust not an intake.

[@blarghmcblarghson1903]

@@onutaoyusao Also that bracket is only for two slot GPUs, if someone has a 40 series card that's too wide to be compatible with the side fan mounts, it's also going to be too thick to work with the vertical bracket. They need an updated bracket that can support up to 4-slot cards.

[@RobbinJane]

My fiance (who's a gamer) wants to build a PC for me so we could play Baldur's Gate 3 together 😅 I was excited about the gaming portion, not so quite about building it, researching cases, parts etc...I was going to let him choose everything and do it for me until I found this channel. I literally know NOTHING about PCs but now I have the case in mind, the card, the fans...and have a whole list of things to discuss when he gets home. haha wish me luck! Hopefully will update with my final product ❤

[@javidg96]

Ahh, yes. Here it is! I've been expecting this since the case was announced! I am currently using the black glass side panel version as my Meshify C would not fit my RX 6800 without removing the lower front fan. My only issue with it so far was that my B550 board does not have the smaller-factor header for the front USB-C, so good reminder to always verify things with your manual. Don't be like me - now I need a PCIe adapter... Edit: The required internal header for the two USB-A front IO ports is the usual standard size USB header. It's only the USB-C port which requires the newer, smaller version.

[@zach1972]

As a consumer who really wants this case, I like that little solid front panel, asthetically it makes the interior look smaller than it is, effectively covering the deadspace in the case, I'm planning to go non-RGB in the front with a black/white look

[@DavidtheBard1]

Been trying to get one of these for the last two weeks, they're out of stock everywhere. Now that you guys made a video it'll be even more difficult to find one 😂

[@Moonblade042194]

Yep all these KZbinrs somehow have no problem getting stock. Fucking lame.

[@volvo09]

Very nice case, I hope you can get one.

[@TheGulfryd]

@@volvo09 yeah i hope theyre gonna get one as well and also i hope i get one as well because well im s scandinavian so i need it

[@rdbrdd1126]

I am still looking everyday lol.

[@TexasCat99]

Its a clean design that older users will like. The front little side piece looks good too. They also should offer it with solid sides for people who don't want lights coming out of the sides.

[@rooob91]

Groin kick comment to me, 31 who likes this design.

[@JulianDaniel2003]

@@rooob91Bro i'm 20 and I love this design. Coming from an crappy Sharkoon TG4 that I only bought because the fans were included. This one was very satisfying to build in, the cable management is way easier.

[@hazonku]

I haven't fallen in a love with the aesthetics of a case this hard since the Tower 900 and will likely get the white with glass panel to match my current Tower build.

[@agogo8861]

i bought a fractal for my build a few years ago because you rated it so highly, and it was nice to see it on your shelf~!

[@RonnieDeuce87]

It's definitely a slick looking case. I do like that case manufacturers are trying new things these days instead of the same metal box with a glass side panel.

[@EvileDik]

New things? My mother's 70's radiogram called Fractal, it wants its design aesthetic back. Still nice to see some other materials used on PC cases.

[@hi-fi3889]

I just built the PC and I'm fine with the case. I love this thing so much I want to buy it and set it aside for 5 years from now when I build another computer. It's great

[@tommybronze3451]

wow, a case that is not a mix of anime techno and rgb vomit ... Feels like something one would not be totally ashamed to put on the desk

[@danylbekhoucha6180]

If you like having a computer as noisy as a vaccum cleaner then yes.

[@tommybronze3451]

@@danylbekhoucha6180 smal price to pay to not be a schmuck ;)

[@treloarw]

Love this case! Literally right after it was released I found myself shopping for cases for a build for my mom. She’s a serial laptop killer with her excessive in-bed use with her bed blanket suffocating vents and the high content of dog hair in her home. I finally talked her into letting me build her a desktop set up with both the 60” tv i mounted in her room a few years ago and a wireless keyboard/mouse for bed-use. Or just sitting down at her desk with regular monitor. The black mesh variant was a perfect fit for her with all the wood furniture already in her room.

[@MD_Builds]

I genuingly love the wooden fins. Its rather retro yet aesthetically pleasing.

[@reniervandermerwe]

just got the windowed one , fan hub and fan bracket is only included with the mesh case for some reason yet the mesh one is cheaper. i put 6 fans in and had to buy my own hub. still love the case though. thank you for the nice review

[@hussainsajid4929]

18:38 It's a very niche scenario but if you use a side panel for aio, you can stack things on top of the case without worrying about reducing airflow

[@joshjlmgproductions3313]

That's actually a really good point.

[@gregbrown6822]

​@@joshjlmgproductions3313😊

[@SargentAlebeard]

Been waiting for this review for a long time 😁 This has been one of my favorite cases I've built in so far. You can vertically mount the GPU using the Antec adapter, which gives plenty of room to use the side mounted fans.

[@ChaitanyaBhagwatChai]

but there's no vertical mount option on the back of the case?

[@SargentAlebeard]

@@ChaitanyaBhagwatChai right, it requires the Antec adapter.

[@hassosigbjoernson5738]

Great idea! Didn't know such holders replacing the normal card slots would excist! One downside: with that all card slots are taken, so even a simple wifi-card or a hdmi capture card is out of the question. I did also found a universal holder from Cooler Master (vertical graphic card holder v2). This could also fit, although it's "just" PCIe 3.0. (would be enough for me!)

[@AnthonyStudio]

Great review as always! Kinda fell in love with this case at first sight. Unfortunately, none in stock online for 3+ weeks now. Got tired of waiting while my components for a new build just sat in the corner so went with a Meshify 2. Once the North is available, I'll probably switch over.

[@SmoodGraphics59]

This wood style case looks like something you would find in a IKEA store. And they should have made it wider because of the issue with graphics card cables, and this side bracket for the fans.

[@ncohafmuta]

It seems this would be technically at the top of the chart for GPU thermals (from the noise normalized chart). Surprised this wasn't mentioned otherwise a great review as always.

[@matasa7463]

Lol I know the case is amazing before your review, but thanks for the confirmation Steve! The real problem with these cases is that we can't find any - they're just always sold out!

[@CivBase]

I really love the aesthetic of this case (especially the black+walnut+brass) for a living room VR rig. But I wish they offered a slightly larger version to accommodate (increasingly common) large GPUs without sacrificing the vertical radiator mount or the side-mounted fans. Maybe they could even do a vertical GPU mount in a wider version, so it could suck fresh air through the mesh side panel.

[@Treety1791]

I live in sweden and the wood panels is something youll see in the interior design right now quite often. Funny thing is, I showed this to my wife and if I decided to get the case, I got to build a new PC. Win win, as I do like the design a lot myself. It's as if the PC becomes a part of the room instead of a "PC in the corner".

[@CFI963]

Always great to see a case review by you. But why there is no GPU temperature this time ? Just curious 😅

[@GamersNexus]

Just cutting down on testing time while we work toward building and deploying a new case testing bench!

[@odi8359]

@@GamersNexus Is the noise-normalized GPU temperature right though? It seems suspiciously low. And it's hard to validate without any secondary tests for the GPU. Multiple people have commented about this and I am still very curious.

[@FullMetalPanicNL]

Ever since I got my first Fractal case I've been a fan. I just love the build quality.

[@chinmayudar4061]

Glad I waited for the Lancool 216 to come back in stock. Building was surprisingly easy and it runs pretty cool. 4080 and the Corsair 12VHPWR cable fit as expected. Great to see it topping the charts too.

[@chieftain20]

I bought the black glass North as soon as I could since I absolutely loved it's design. I'm running a 240mm AIO on the top with slim mount fans and it barely cleared my RAM. But coming from a NR200 it was a straight swap. I would like to upgrade eventually, but I'm good with what I got. As far as quietness of the case, I generally run my fans at 30% during idle use, but ramp them up to about 50% when gaming and it keeps things cool enough. Definitely one of my favorite cases I've purchased, and will enjoy this one for years to come.

[@adrianwarner8686]

If they make an XL version to make those side fans more usable option, I'm in. Love those looks and if I could have some intake fans right onto my GPU that would be sweet.

[@FTWGame0N]

XL will most likely just be taller longer but not wider. Bit this alone will allow for a 280 up top and a longer GPU with a AIO at the front. Wider would be great though. you can use the side bracket for a 280 AIO even now.

[@MegaMuz1]

I'm a big fan of this case and after seeing multiple reviews including this one, i feel my next build may happen in this later on this year. I was a little concerned with the GPU since i might be upgrading to an 80 series card from a 70ti but after seeing the reference model, feel a bit better. Its a shame the side plate there isn't much use for many configurations. I would put a fan on the backside to exhaust and possibly one or two up top to add. Love the 140's. Glad GN covered this one.

[@ryba5353]

I really like the side intake while using a liquid cooler for RAM and VRM cooling. But yeah, it would be way better if the case would be a bit bigger. But Fractal made the Torrent in different sizes, so maybe this will get a bigger version too?

[@fractera]

Thanks for this review and these charts. I finally upgraded to the Torrent Compact.

[@MattMills91]

Very interesting case. I would be interested in a physically bigger version, around the size of a P500a, maybe then that side intake idea could work with hardware made in this decade. Another thought, it could probably work very well with a vertical gpu mount if done right

[@forestR1]

Side tray for AIO!! - did you miss this, Steve? - If that's what it is for (i see no other purpose) then that's a pretty important feature. It allows for a total height reduction, and some layout individuality

[@CPowell133]

Might have made sense to get this setup for a vertical GPU setup on this one given the mess and potential air intake on the side

[@Blafard666]

The problem with GN is that they never try to explore any other configuation than their standardized setup.... they think they are being thorough but they often let a lot of the product capabilities unreviewed....

[@CPowell133]

@@Blafard666 I get the point of their standardized testing and the real benefit to it for comparisons. I think Fractal left an option on the table with not including a vertical GPU setup on this one. Would have made sense given the vented side. Though, based on this review it doesn't look like they anticipated the shear size of RTX 4000 series cards.

[@teaser6089]

I've been really hyped for this review(haven't watched it yet). Really hoping it's good! I love the looks, if it's good enough for me I really consider buying it!

[@certifiedpossum1638]

Given the target market for this case (older, non-gamer aesthetic demographics) Fractal should release an ITX version of this, similar to Torrent Nano. This design + A4-H20's form factor would be perfect.

[@chrislightfoot]

Just wanted to say Good job! Really enjoy your reviews. They feel genuine which makes your approach feel trustworthy. A lot of review videos have a sense of desperation or some gimmick in their delivery. Seriously, way to go!

[@zlkj1234]

@Gamers Nexus Hey Steve. What you missed noticing is the fact that the frontal USB Hub isnt attached to the frontal panel,which is really a nice evolution from the Meshify S2 for example.Its hell taking off the front panel on that case due to that limitation especially if you are cleaning your PC at home :D

[@ragingsilver]

Big Fractal design fan. Last two cases have been by them in the Define S and 5 and my current case in the Meshify case.

[@Unholybeef]

I love the wood look so much.

[@bloonface]

I have one of these with a Deepcool AK620 and a reference 7900 XT, and not only does it look sick, but I can fit two side intake fans on (as the reference 7900 is pretty small as these things go) and the temps I get are astonishing for a quiet air cooled build. They really smashed this one out of the park.

[@coryv5679]

I miss the days when cases had a side panel fan. That actually helped a lot with air flow for the GPU. It is weird that they didn't keep something like that over the years.

[@lewisner]

I have a HAF X which had a side fan and I got rid of the panel because it looked ugly and I used watercooling.

[@devour1259]

im loving mine so far, I even managed to install a 240mm radiator on the "fan" bracket. The only problem I ran into is the front panel plastic pins broke off, but fractal was kind enough to send me an entire new front panel for free

[@StandTallTx]

Awwww shittttt. Wood paneling electronics are making a comeback!

[@WastingSanityGR]

I picked up a couple of Torrents and built a couple of PCs with them. Really happy with them.

[@Gavo172]

Let's freaking go been waiting for this review, really intrigued to see the thermals. Might have to say goodbye to my 500 DX

[@jamesbertok2265]

I tried to buy one of these two weeks ago for a high-end client build. There is no stock anywhere in the US of any of the 4 versions. Two weeks ago there was an option on Amazon to pay a $142 international shipping charge to import one from a warehouse in Europe, but as of today that option is also gone. Some US resellers "expect" to have inventory available the third week of February. If you really want one, good luck finding it.

[@Hybris51129]

I think Fractal like most case makers are running up against the limits of what this form factor can handle. All of these cases look and feel the same and if you need/want something different it's hard to find because the industry is choked with a bunch of cookie cutter cases.

[@BunzJackson]

Probably true, but you never know when something weird like vertical GPU mounts or less need for HDD slots will pop up.

[@Hybris51129]

@@BunzJackson That's the problem. There is a clear need for bigger cases on the market but we are seeing case makers keep rehashing the current mid tower case layout instead of meeting the markets needs.

[@jamesbuckwas6575]

To be fair most of limits are drawn from processor and graphics cards thermal and cooler designs, which have slowly been getting more and more thermally intensive for years, and that could be why many cases are similar now with including mesh panels and good airflow. In the future we could also see different power supply designs for conveniences in cable routing and cleanliness in the front, different fan mounting designs as seen here for improved CPU/GPU thermals, and different options for customization like InWin's still-unreleased Mod Free case, where things like hard drives and larger radiator mounts are included only for those who require them, and left out it they don't. I get your argument though, it does feel like a lot of cases are similar for what to purchase aside from the obvious differences in cable routing, thermals, and motherboard/GPU/drive bay clearances. But there are still directions for case manufacturers to take in terms of new features to provide.

[@Agent_N7]

first case I ever build in was a Fractal Design Focus G. Love their cases, easy to work in/with and very good looking. really regret moving away from them, definitely going to use the meshify 2 for my next build

[@TsunaXZ]

I've been waiting for a modern wood design cases for a long time, hopefully this became popular so a budget version of this would appear in the market.

[@macht6231]

The fans in the side grill can cool the ram sticks which helps with overclocking them.

[@leyterispap6775]

i know this comment is a bit late , but i just bought the North with the glass side panel and it replaced my NZXT H500 . Running a 13600k with aircooler ( arctic e sports duo ) and i have to state that i live in a warm climate . That being said , my cpu temps went 17c DOWN which left me bloody speechless . The transition was made without removing the cooler from the cpu just because i wanted to see the difference . I can now run a 1 hour cinebench r24 with the temp stabilizing at around 78-80 c , whereas with the previous case i would thermal throttle after the first 5minutes . I never expected that just the case could make that big of a difference .

[@MVicarious]

I just built my first rig in like 10 years. Came across this case in my searches and fell in love with it. Unfortunately, I wasnt able to get one due to lack of availability. But I'm glad Captain Overcritical got to join the 50 other youtubers making North videos. lol

[@Healcraft]

What about a 2x120 radiator on the side, with the fan mount? Then you get vrm cooling kinda as well ***also need mATX version in dark grey with purpleheart wood

[@xtr0city]

I'm just absolutely amazed that review system setup hasn't just fallen apart with how many cases it's been in, msi might wana talk about durability a bit more.

[@Steven-ex3ne]

Great review, would love some follow up testing where the side panel fans can be used (most budget builds).