The Fractal Ridge is the BEST console case yet!

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0:00 - Intro
1:20 - The old HTPC
2:34 - Panel Removal
4:07 - Fan & Radiator Support
4:52 - SSD Mounting
5:05 - Motherboard & Air Cooler Support
5:42 - PSU Support
6:22 - GPU Installation & Support
7:03 - Cable Management & Internal Capacity
8:58 - Case Feet Installation
9:42 - Things to consider with this form factor
10:50 - Thermals
12:19 - Pricing & Availability
12:43 - Let us know your thoughts

[@joelconolly5574]

The SFF community will definitely be pleased with this case.

[@akiraic]

only for old parts you mean. as we know, 4080 will be larger and won't fit

[@crimsonleg4237]

@@akiraic The FE actually might fit, if the compatibility dimensions are anything to go by. The PNY and FE cards of the 4000 series may be doable, but their heights are just at the compatibility max and of course, there is the issue of the adapters.

[@mikeymaiku]

@@akiraic or you can stop bitching about it and buy a FE card that is actually smaller than the 3090ti

[@crimsonleg4237]

Another video by A2K answered this question; yes, you can fit the 4090 FE in the case, but you must remove the two fans. Even the Strix 3080 can fit as well despite being 3mm off of the specs.

[@Chiefhao]

@@akiraic not sure about case spec but if your building SFF you’re usually using founders cards for sure. Some SFF cases might be able to accommodate larger cards

[@thomasgibbs7295]

I think I just found my next case to build in. Love the simplicity of this case and the front mesh panel is so clean. Great work! Amazing content as always.

[@GearSeekers]

Thanks so much,🙏

[@azathothwakesup]

This case is so cool! I wanna get it to use horizontally under a monitor like the old days air cool it with all those tiny side fan mounts love it!

[@meltyblood]

Thanks! super useful video. I like that you covered the practicals of working within the form factor, and also included thermals.

[@transformer88]

I have just a month ago put together a SFF PC with Silverstone ML08. I chose that case because it is the only consoled sized case I could find… still glad that this case came out to support the SFF community!!

[@TP015657]

I have the rvz02 from Silverstone with the handle (since 2017), same layout/frame as ml08 just different front, hope you are enjoying it just as much as i do, i believe this design by Silverstone beats node 202 which is mostly plastic and feels cheap, the only case i believe that beats the Silverstone in form factor is the Zaber Sentry but that is no longer attainable outside of scalpers (sentry 3.0 is in planning, they are waiting for all the GPUs to come out first) Fractal Ridge IMO is too bulky for the form factor but that is mainly to accommodate the new GPU market i guess, more choices is always good anyway.

[@rcarter1690]

Love seeing interesting cases like this.

[@strawberryforte]

I just got this case and I am *absolutely loving it.*

[@Equatis]

I really like the look of this case. Looks nice on an entertainment center. Not just a black piece of metal. The fabric in front looks nice.

[@imsoflyrn]

OMG HERE YOU ARE AGAIN, Finding you twice looking for an itx case, wow, first the meshroom, now this. Definitely insta subscribed. Thank you for this. This will be a nice Node 202 upgrade for me.

[@jamesreeve6465]

My build. Asrock A620i lightning, 7800X3D, RTX 4080 Super FE, corsair SF1000L. idcool is67xt. Works great. Temps are way better than expected . Very happy.

[@TheGameBench]

This is QUITE a bit improved from the Node 202. Built a personal build in one a while back, and this looks like a much better case to build in and it's just a better layout and better looking. Granted, it looks like you might run into some of the same thermal issues with a not so quite overbuilt cooler like that TUF. Though, the option to add six 80mm fans might be able to help and this could be an interesting option for de-shrouding. One thing I'd like to try... get rid of that lager foot and use three more of the smaller one to make it look like it's levitating.

[@malvnathaniel]

Will be perfect for my steamOS console!! Currently using Nzxt H1(v1) but looking for horizontal case and this will do the job really well!

[@jwaye89]

Banger of a video fams. Case looks awesome, keep up the hard work

[@SoulRollerFIN]

I loved my Node 202. Heck, I still do! Keeping it as a spare, maybe transform it into a home server.

[@Chiefhao]

Love this case and SFF builds!

[@jerrardbeasley4247]

I am so glad they made getting into this case so much easier. The Node 202 is such a pain to open with the little clips and it feels like you are going to break it everytime you try to get into it.

[@deadcell1]

I actually broke mine lol

[@seyahtan24]

Nice! Will probably be my next case!

[@RayWelpott]

Saw the announcement and got excited

[@henkdevries]

I think horizontal cooling would benefit from putting the CPU towards the top and gpu to the bottom. My thoughts: the gpu area has vents on both sides and with the aditional fans hot air will escape quite easily. Meanwhile putting the CPU side on the bottom, it only has ventilation from it's respective top (top to bottom cooling). Sucking in cool air from the bottom has a bigger chance of getting hot air trapped in the case. I'd love to see some testing of this and am thinking of picking it up myself.

[@chrisvanhorn]

Exactly what I plan to do in my build. I’ve seen too many builds have it upside down in my opinion, and also use CPU coolers that are doing intake instead of exhaust.

[@chrisvanhorn]

@@yodude101ful Not really. Just flip the case and attach some different feet.

[@sebastianwedemann3718]

This is a nice one! 😍 I looked up a second ago that there will be a white one in Germany as well... Thanks for the video! 🥳

[@steaksauce1740]

I never knew there was console shaped cases? Great build idea for future me.

[@gorillaxrich]

Love your videos... Production is top notch...

[@Continus]

I like the case. It's very similar to the Sentry but with more space for bigger GPU's

[@samuelschwager]

Looks much nicer than the Node 202 and seems to be easier to work with. Win, win!

[@DeadBySweat-cj3ev]

Im in love with this case 😅 I think I’m gonna use it in my new build

[@daisyduck8593]

It's good they bring out this. The node 202 had not enough air grids/holes for a custom design gpu imo. Only a blower design gpu was good imo.

[@daisyduck8593]

Nice. first video i see with a big / maximum cpu cooler size.

[@vintage0x]

wow. nice looking case.

[@ozsarpkaya6843]

Fractal is on a roll! I just need a full tower like the meshify 2xl but a little smaller. maybe a 1.5XL

[@fffforever]

this case is absolutely massive

[@michaelthompson9798]

As a SFF and itx pc builder, LOVE this case 🥰❤😍! I’d consider adding the following: 1) plus some 0.5mm thermal pads between the HSF cpu cooler and case for additional cooling under heavier loads for better cpu thermals. 2) replace the case fans near the GPU for slimmer fans to prevent some turbulence noise. 3) give me the case 🥰😉😜🤣🤦‍♀🤦☺ for my next build hehe. Looks like an IKEA Bluetooth integrated sound system 👍 Enjoy your new rig Nic and Klaire 🥰👍

[@ZacDonald]

I wonder if you'd be better off keeping the case GPU fans and taking the fans and shroud off of the GPU itself.

[@nextjin]

@@ZacDonald Most Node 202 users did that and it provided better thermals. I had a 2080 Ti with the shroud off and 2 Noctua A12's. I had to cut the top of the case out and put either mesh or fan grills in otherwise after 10-20 mins it would be screaming hot. It looks like Fractal listened to most people's requests because that was an obvious flaw of the Node 202. It was really designed for blower cards. The modern QoL improvements are welcomed too, having to take the entire bottom off to get to the underbelly mesh was asinine on the Node 202.

[@vascovalente3929]

I love SFF, thank you for this new fractal review :)

[@TheTPCRyanGamer]

I appreciate the daily dose of tech video man. Thank you

[@KlaireGearSeekers]

Thanks for watching daily! 😂😂

[@TheTPCRyanGamer]

@@KlaireGearSeekers because both of you are doing absolutely an amazing job!

[@akmarksman]

I would like to see case manufacturers put in a estimated or maximum length needed for PSU cables.

[@phil_matic]

as a person who has had to buy custom made cables for builds three times now, this would be very nice information, epsecially when you're on a time crunch. You can order the case and the cables at the same time and have it all completed at once

[@bajannovazone]

great video, that's a very interesting case 🙃👌

[@27Zangle]

The Fractal Ridge is really nice and would love to have one but I ordered a HYTE Revolt 3 w/power Supply for $120 yesterday.

[@j.p.h.8126]

If this case had launched last year i would have bought it. My HTPC was in the Silverstone RVZ03 case. Its about the same size as that. But it was so hard to build in or make any changes. So then i changed into the Meshlicious and it was a nice case. But i hated how hard it was to unplug the hdmi cagle from it. And there were some other little issues. So then i changed into a little bigger kinda mATX case the Silverstone Alta G1M. And i absolutely love that case i have almost nothing bad to say about it. Well exept the included 180mm fan is crappy and loud. So i replaced it with a 180mm Fractal fan and now its very quiet. The things i like about the Alta are the support for mATX boards, full lenght GPU's and 360mm rads. Its a shame that Ridge did not launch before i found the Alta. I would have loved to try it out. 🙂

[@Phalaxis83]

I've often contemplated selling my Series X lately as I find myself gaming on my PC more and more these days. I'd definitely go down the path of HTPC if had the money for a second build. This case is legit! Excellent video fams.

[@shadowarez1337]

I need to grab one of these I was lucky and got my hands on a Sager console case made a Destiny 2 Themed HTPC. @1:23 I just built a 5950x with 3070Ti FE in this case got it cooled by the glacier one 240 aio 64GB Gskill Royal 3800mhz. And after tuning with PBO temps and noise are down across the board while OC steady 4799 when needed. Only gripe with this Case is the RGB Spaghetti to get everything running but this is first time I took time to make sure all the 🌈 Vomit was working as it'll be sold.

[@bornwisedistruction]

$129 not bad I paid $140 for my Node 202 about 3 years ago this may be on my radar once I build my ITX Ryzen 7000 mini platform.

[@justaguy6216]

Honestly my next pc build will probably be in this one.

[@marchespants8643]

Just wondering if the thicker 15mm 2.5" HDDs would fit in all four mounting locations as I use them in my current HTPC setup and would love this case to fit a full size GPU for a gaming PC / HTPC hybrid.

[@Lukas_Miglioranza]

Nice; nice; nice video too. Thanks.

[@hrdcpy]

I was just deep cleaning my Node 202 case today and wondering if I should build or sell...only has space for two expansion slots though

[@thatguycalledaustin4206]

I think that the Fractal fans will cause you airflow issues with them being so close to the GPU fans. It’s been a while since I studied airflow for fans but if I remember correctly you don’t want them to be butted up right next to each other. It’s more ideal to not have those fans there at all which will allow your GPU to pull in air as needed. Otherwise you may (can’t remember if this is fact) damage the GPU fans if the fractal fans are pushing too much air through or not enough air through and therefore putting a lot of unnneeded strain on the GPU fans. Other than that I love this build! Thanks for sharing

[@gamerscore88]

This case is sweet 🤘

[@trevordautzenberg2663]

That's a nice LTT screwdriver you got there

[@MyLeoOne]

One thing I want is this case with a handle like a briefcase, as a college student it would be great for gloomy back home and to LAN parties

[@cjpartridge]

I wish one of these modern case designers would create a HTPC style case with 2-5 hot swap bays (preferably hidden by some sort of facade) that isn't as large as something like the SilverStone CS351 with better aesthetics.

[@DuhBlackBandit]

Love the case but I’m really interested in how you got your Noctua L12 to fit in low profile mode with a Strix B660-I. Mine didn’t fit :(

[@jacobplyler3470]

This case is pretty tempting, but the FormD T1 is as well, especially since I have an EK 240 AIO. My air cooler I have for this case would only be a big shuriken 3.

[@smaller_cathedrals]

The T1 is considerably more expensive though!

[@loganfaraday1740]

Weird question, if you had a portable air conditioner cooling this system would it cause condensation or would it just cool the exterior of the case, making the cpu thermals better?

[@la009895]

I love this case, the air cooler support is tough for something like ryzen 7000 but, I bet with eco mode it would be fine.

[@GearSeekers]

Yeah for the 7600X it would be just fine 😊

[@mirkodiciano4647]

i had a node 2 but i was lucky enough to pick up an ncase m1 v6.1 in black

[@johnqsak]

So the Cooler looked like after screwed in it fit well under the lip of the case. Great news

[@slawomirzawislak7385]

Great case from Sweden!! I need to buy white version...

[@NodtheThird]

love my node 202 lanbox... maybe it is time to get it a new case

[@adamhaqim]

Is it okay to only have intake fans? Should I change the inbuilt/stock fans to outtake/exhaust?

[@polaroidd1306]

cool case personally like the nodes design better though, you should do a build in the jonsbo t8 plus its an sff case you can fit an atx psu

[@arq.carlosp.custodioortiz5904]

Nice!!! Case!!!

[@ChipsAndWires]

I love my L12S, but where the heck does the air come from under the CPU? I fear that lack of any flow around that PCIe riser and case bottom and cable mess would cause the fan to struggle (noise) and the fan-against-fan in the GPU chamber will cause more turbulence (more noise) but if it works, yay! I do love that they're adopting this design too.

[@notgesund]

Which way would you install 80mm fans on the top? Intake or exhaust?

[@Spawn223311]

Thinking between this and A4 H2O for an air cooled build. This one has much more space for a CPU cooler and comes with 2 fans 🤔

[@haasii]

on fractals site seems like the mounted the stand a diff way, across the whole front, seems like you can do that too

[@Tommo_]

steer clear from that lian li psu. the fans spin up every 5 minutes to max even while idle and it sounds like a bloody jet engine

[@danielaguirre5949]

Fuck yeah! I found my new case. I was looking around for a new sff case to give me the push I needed to get the LG C2 and this is the case.

[@KlaireGearSeekers]

Do eiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

[@blademasterzero5295]

Would you say that there’s no room for 40mm fans in the CPU compartment? I used two Noctua A4x20 fans in my old Node 202 build to improve CPU thermals

[@greatwall9741]

Good video man. I used to crave for the 202 but pcie riser cards/cables were a mess with new hardware and old PC cases. I am honestly trying to dispose of my current Dan A4 case because I don't wanna deal with riser sh*t anymore. I hope I'm wrong, but pcie gen5 might mess things up again, even more, including this case you have here.

[@mikeymaiku]

when you want the highest spec and technologies but dont want to pay for it.

[@greatwall9741]

@@mikeymaiku I did pay for it, I have pcie gen4 but I will not wait for gen5 to build my next PC. It's about doing things now rather than later. My comment was about pcie gen4 on this case when gen5 is already here.

[@fikriilhamfadhillah4467]

Yeesss, I think I knew what case I am gonna downsize to

[@GearSeekers]

Do it!

[@johnqsak]

Wondering on thermals during gaming I'm sure they'd be less since that 1hr stress maxes the system more than a game would.

[@ThatGamerDude9000]

Love the aesthetic of an HTPC case, but hate the thermals. Just got the Sony A95K, and I'll be using it as my monitor for a home theater/gaming build. Since I got one of the best TVs on the market, I want to get the most out of it with a PC that can push the 4K frames, while not making my home theater a sauna. A 3070ti won't cut it, and putting a higher end GPU in there would just introduce thermal throttling. Not to mention, I got some 4K blurays I want to rip, and HTPCs don't always have the space for internal optical drives, let alone a water cooling loop. Have to go with a microATX to get it all (relatively small case+water cooling+high end gpu clearance+optical drive bay). Maybe the RX12000/RTX9000 series will be able to fit in an HTPC case without needing water cooling to survive.

[@colbyboucher6391]

Simple, just don't overbuild it like everyone does. Go with relatively low-wattage, efficient parts rather than a monster GPU and it's fine. 4k is a joke, there's a reason consoles just outright lie about being 4k rigs.

[@infusen619]

In the case specification and on screen at 6:20 it says 137mm w/o top fans, but then you say that a GPU of 141 width fits?

[@StogieSmokinFool]

Awesome video. I love that intro music. Do you have a full track for it?

[@GearSeekers]

We make all the music. It's available by clicking the join button

[@kurkurstuff2522]

can you fit 4090 suprim x? is it possible to fit it if you cut a few things?

[@massam9343]

im sooo interested in installing a 3 x 80mm fans and then 2 x 120mm fans on the gpu and wanna see how the temps will be!!! but sadly a 4080 would be hard to fit in.... maybe 4070??

[@JazzWaveTech]

Looks good! Hi Nick and Klaire does the case fit in big backpack? mainly for travelling reasons. Thank you.

[@KlaireGearSeekers]

It'd be a squeeze I think. Get a big backpack haha

[@dvnkfx]

I'm looking to build In this case,Just worried about my cpu cooling (5600X) would a kraken M22 cooling work?

[@elyad67]

can only imagine a oem 4080 inside this little beast, probably equivalent to a ps7, that fits inside a backpack, im gonna make a 4070 i5 13600k build with this case, just hope it will fit inside a backpack

[@mrthemoonbear]

Digging those assymetric feet (don't take that out of context) One day I will justify to myself buying one of those LTT screwdrivers, you had me pretty convinced with that backpressure display tbh

[@GearSeekers]

They are really good. Super duper handy!

[@KlaireGearSeekers]

What'd you say about my feet?

[@woosaheightnine]

Hey man nice case! Might get this if this will fit a 3070 suprim card..

[@Dcs987]

Can you confirm it is 4.5kg on its own? I was getting a case made, same layout, trying to get the weight down due to carry on luggage restriction

[@danielaguirre5949]

Does adding 1-3 80mm case fans help with better thermals

[@christiaanventer8183]

I'm gonna try and do it; shove a thin 240mm rad and cool both cpu and gpu. but where to put the pump... so many options!

[@gucky4717]

Honest Question. Doesn't the GPU Fans make more noise with the Case Fans on top?

[@Punkertoon]

Probably going to buy this case and let it collect dust until I retire my current living room build.

[@blah426]

I looks like 80mm fans can go behind front panel?

[@tendosingh5682]

120mm right up to GPU fans is a HORRIBLE idea. If the GPU fan shroud with fans was removed then yes makes more sense.

[@GearSeekers]

They are 140mm. It actually improved the thermal performance of this GPU

[@anggaavenue6229]

Is it posibble put alpenfohn blackrige on fractal ridge?

[@RichardSanchez137]

Be still my heart!

[@cbrunnem6102]

someone needs to make a AiO where the water pumps into a heatsink mounted to the cpu block. this way you can use them in a sff build

[@Richy59]

Unbelievable, I have literally just put together a Node 202 a few days ago and started making modifications to it to allow better airflow wishing they would have made an updated version...then along comes the Ridge 🤣 Looks great though, might just have to upgrade now...

[@ulisesavila2879]

Well this is bigger than the 202. The 202 with mods can work wonders. People have even put a custom loop there. I finished yesterday my deshroud build in a 202 and feel good. Better temps better sound. I cannot be happier

[@PATroll_knocking]

Wanna fit a radiator and slim fans with 2slot gpu🤔

[@banniball]

Was the thermal test in vertical or horizontal orientation?

[@alherch]

Any room for a full soft tube water cooling setup in this case? Or am I dreaming..

[@EhEhEhEINSTEIN]

I know it's more expensive but I'd prob still go with sff time if I was building something this size

[@kimizle]

I believe de-shrouding the GPU would be fantastic in this case as there are two large fans blowing through anyway.

[@liquicitizendirk2147]

Yeah that could be an absolut banger in this case. But GPU thermals are already looking good as is. Very nice to see how fractal designed this.

[@lenaic3360]

just switched from a node 202 to a Pop Air Mini... Fractal just keeps finding new ways to take my money :O edit: it's like they heard everything I was thinking about how difficult a Node 202 was to build in and did it even better ... I'm salivating :OOOO

[@_._._._X]

my next case

[@ghostshield4000]

Looks better than the Silverstone Milo case series

[@rorisxng]

How does the PC become a home theatre system?? Do you run Windows/Linux or is there another OS I’m unfamiliar with? It doesn’t appear an elegant solution granted a console or streaming box has a dedicated OS for their purposes?