Just make sure you bring your modular SFX power supply. And the Terra's flip-up doors and adjustable spine make this case surprisingly easy to build in for something so compact. But if you don't need to pack in the absolute most powerful components (particularly on the CPU side) and you don't need more than a few storage drives, Fractal has once again delivered one of the prettiest cases available – especially if you want a respite from the RGB and aggressive designs that dominate the gaming side of the PC realm. I doubt it will have as wide an appeal as its larger North cousin, since component and airflow options are far more limiting here. As compact cases go, this is one of the prettiest around. But at 10.4 liters, the Mini-ITX Fractal Design Terra case has (just) enough room for most big GPUs, while delivering eye-catching aesthetics thanks to an aluminum exterior with some real wood trip up front. The smallest DIY PC cases from just a few years ago have often been thwarted by the increased cooling needs and size of today's components – particularly graphics cards like Nvidia's RTX 4090. Read: NZXT H7 Flow review Best Performance-Focused ATX Case And if you don't like the look of the fully vented front and you aren't that concerned about keeping your temps a low as they can go, the non-Flow H7 model has a solid front, but with everything else we loved about the H7 Flow. That, combined with the boxy look and perforated front means this case isn't the prettiest on our list, but it can certainly look good with some tasteful lighting delivered via your components, extra fans or a light strip. The primary missing feature here, which will feel refreshing for many builders, is the lack of any RGB to light up your system. It's also a pleasure to build in, with good cable management and a $130 MSRP that's quite reasonable in this era of seemingly ever-increasing prices. With just two of the company's F120Q Airflow case fans behind a skeletal frame with a perforated front panel, the NZXT H7 Flow manages to deliver excellent temperature and noise level numbers in our testing, beating or competing well against pricier chassis with more fans and glass panels. But priced about $30 more than the Corsair case, with somewhat noisy fans and CPU thermals that weren't quite as good as we'd expect from a mesh front case with three 140mm spinners, it's not as easy to recommend as Corsair's 4000X RGB. Read: Corsair Obsidian Series 4000X RGB ReviewĪlternatively, if you're after something with a bit more flexibility, the Lian Li Lancool III RBG is an impressive option with movable front IO, excellent cable management and lots of internal space. Add to that Corsair’s class-leading RGB ecosystem, and you’ve got a very pretty case that’s convenient in use and always looks good, no matter what you install inside it. While it won’t blow you away with premium materials such as aluminum, the dark tinted glass ensures that you only see RGB lighting inside the case, allowing you to be a little sloppy with cable management because you won’t see it anyway. Indeed, the 4000X RGB (as well as the similar 4000D airflow), is an extremely easy and convenient chassis to build a system in, and everything just makes sense. Priced at about $135 now, it’s not cheap, but its design is thoroughly considered and as you build with it, it’s clear where Corsair’s gaming and PC building pedigree comes from. We hope Fractal's bold move inspires other case makers to try something different.įans don’t spin fast enough for extreme performance requirementsĬorsair’s 4000X RGB is a sleek gaming tower that comes with two glass panels and three RGB spinners. But if you're after a case that matches the pretty furniture in your living room, has lots of room for storage, and won't break the bank at $130, nothing else comes close to the North. If you don't like the case's looks, then the company's Meshify 2 Compact (below), is probably a better option for you. The glass side panel may help a bit on the noise front, but likely at the cost of at least some thermal performance. Just note that it can get noisy when delivering those temps. Available with either a mesh side (as we tested) or tempered glass, and in white with chrome accents on the IO and feet, or black with some seriously pretty brass, this is arguably the prettiest PC case ever produced, period.Īnd thanks to its pair of 140mm fans and an included side bracket (for the mesh model) that can hold another pair of 140mm fans (not included), the North has excellent thermals as well. We aren't sure who asked for a PC case that mixed mid-century modern design (wooden slats and all) and high airflow, but we sure are glad that Fractal Design answered with the excellent North mid-tower.
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