• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Is this repairable? (Fractal Define R3)

Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
117 (0.03/day)
Hello guys, I got a very good offer to buy a used Fractal Define R3 Black Pearl case (in Slovakia it costs about 110€) for a very good price (50€) but it has a little hole on the top, I just want to ask you if you think is this hole repairable.




 

LGV

New Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2011
Messages
260 (0.05/day)
System Name outdated
Processor AM2 6400+ X2 black @stock
Motherboard MSI K9N SLI @ HOT (very, 65+)
Cooling air
Memory 4x2GB OCZ @stock
Video Card(s) 260 gtx
Storage Hitachi 650 / ssd corsair force 3//120
Display(s) 26''
Case Cooler Master Centurion
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar DX2/ Z5500 X2 :)
Power Supply Mushkin 1000W
Software Win7/64
Its very hard to see
its just bent in?
Then I say yes,
1 take off front panel.
2. get two small hammer
3. place one "flat" side ( top) may need a cloth to cover thet hammer , ( hold in there tight)
4. small hits from inner side

may put some cloth on floor to order to protect it from scratches
 
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
861 (0.17/day)
System Name FragBox
Processor Intel Core i7 2600K @ 5.0GHz/1.45 volts
Motherboard Asus P8Z77 WS
Cooling Custom CPU loop
Memory Kingston 12GB DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) Galaxy GTX 680/Zotac GTX 680 in SLi/EVGA GTX 650Ti
Storage 2 Vertex 3 120's, raid 0, 2 Seagate Momentus XT 500GB's in raid 0, 1 Hitatchi 2TB for backup
Display(s) 3 Acer S232HLX2 in nvidia surround
Case Corsair C70 White
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsair AX1200
Software Win 7 x64 Pro
if its just bent, should be easy to fix by hammering it out. If a chunk of metal is missing, then no, not really.
 

theonedub

habe fidem
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Messages
8,025 (1.47/day)
Location
Northern CA, USA
System Name Erakith || AsRock NUCS
Processor AMD ThreadRipper 2990WX ES (32c/64t 3.5ghz@1.02v) || Intel i7 1360P Raptor Lake-P
Motherboard MSI X399 MEG Creation || AsRock OE
Cooling EK Supremacy TR4 Full Nickel, D5 w/ EK Top, 2X EK-CoolStream XTX 360 & Photon 270 Res || OE
Memory 32GB (4x8GB) Corsair Vengeance PRO RGB DDR4 3000|| 2x16GB Corsair DDR4
Video Card(s) Vega 64 EK FC|| Intel Iris Xe
Storage 250gb WD Black NVMe & (2) 2TB Intel 660p NVMe || 2TB Corsair MP600 Pro
Display(s) 34" Dell Ultrasharp U3415W
Case CaseLabs Merlin SM8 || Aluminum Unibody
Power Supply Corsair HX1000
Mouse Corsair Harpoon Wireless RGB
Keyboard Corsair Strafe RGB w/ Cherry MX Silent
Software Windows 10 Pro x64 || WIndows 11 Pro x64
Benchmark Scores WCG & F@H Only
If its a hole I would fill it with JB Weld (or similar filler), sand it, mask off the area, and hit it with a little paint. Cheap solution.
 

AsRock

TPU addict
Joined
Jun 23, 2007
Messages
18,871 (3.07/day)
Location
UK\USA
Processor AMD 3900X \ AMD 7700X
Motherboard ASRock AM4 X570 Pro 4 \ ASUS X670Xe TUF
Cooling D15
Memory Patriot 2x16GB PVS432G320C6K \ G.Skill Flare X5 F5-6000J3238F 2x16GB
Video Card(s) eVga GTX1060 SSC \ XFX RX 6950XT RX-695XATBD9
Storage Sammy 860, MX500, Sabrent Rocket 4 Sammy Evo 980 \ 1xSabrent Rocket 4+, Sammy 2x990 Pro
Display(s) Samsung 1080P \ LG 43UN700
Case Fractal Design Pop Air 2x140mm fans from Torrent \ Fractal Design Torrent 2 SilverStone FHP141x2
Audio Device(s) Yamaha RX-V677 \ Yamaha CX-830+Yamaha MX-630 Infinity RS4000\Paradigm P Studio 20, Blue Yeti
Power Supply Seasonic Prime TX-750 \ Corsair RM1000X Shift
Mouse Steelseries Sensei wireless \ Steelseries Sensei wireless
Keyboard Logitech K120 \ Wooting Two HE
Benchmark Scores Meh benchmarks.
Hammer and cloth knock that bitch out.
 
Joined
Nov 29, 2011
Messages
5,975 (1.32/day)
Location
Hi! I'm from the Internet
System Name Selene / Yoda
Processor Fx 8350 @ 4.4 / Phenom II x6 1090t @ 3.6
Motherboard Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 r4.0 / Gigabyte 890XA-UD3
Cooling H100i / Xig Dark Knight
Memory 4x 8gb G.Skill Snipers / 4x 4gb G.Skill Ares
Video Card(s) Gigabyte R9 290x / XfX DD & VisionTek HD6850's C'fired
Storage 256gb ssd, 2x 2tb Wd Blacks & 1x 1tb Wd black / 1x 1tb
Display(s) Dell Ultra Sharp 2408 WFp / Hp w2207
Case Raidmax Vampire / Chieftec Alum. Dragon Blue
Audio Device(s) Onboard Hd Audio / Onboard Hd Audio
Power Supply Corsair TX 850 watt / Corsair TX 750 watt
Mouse Logitech G500s
Keyboard Corsair Strafe
Software Win 10 pro / Win Vista Home prem. 64 bit
Benchmark Scores What are benchmarks anyway?
Or not worry about it as you will probably be the only one who sees it.
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
117 (0.03/day)
hmmm and do you think that I would get a hammer in there? would there be enough place? Wouldnt the Optical Drive Bays block the acces there?

and there are 2 more broken things on this case... There are just cosmetic. Im still thinking if it worths for 50€. But the rest of the case looks like a new.





Thank you for your advices I really appreciate it
 

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop
Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
18,927 (2.86/day)
Location
Piteå
System Name Black MC in Tokyo
Processor Ryzen 5 5600
Motherboard Asrock B450M-HDV
Cooling Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2
Memory 2 x 16GB Kingston Fury 3400mhz
Video Card(s) XFX 6950XT Speedster MERC 319
Storage Kingston A400 240GB | WD Black SN750 2TB |WD Blue 1TB x 2 | Toshiba P300 2TB | Seagate Expansion 8TB
Display(s) Samsung U32J590U 4K + BenQ GL2450HT 1080p
Case Fractal Design Define R4
Audio Device(s) Line6 UX1 + some headphones, Nektar SE61 keyboard
Power Supply Corsair RM850x v3
Mouse Logitech G602
Keyboard Cherry MX Board 1.0 TKL Brown
VR HMD Acer Mixed Reality Headset
Software Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores Rimworld 4K ready!
Is it the newer one with USB3? Worth it anyway I think, for you at least. They are about €70 new here (with USB3) but if they are €110 where you live I'd say go for it. It's a very nice case.
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
117 (0.03/day)
Hmm Im not sure, I just have these photos of front panel I attached :) Nut on the pic it looks like USB 2.0

and with all these fractures it is a real FRACTAL :)

but do you think that this broken "thing" on the front fan doors is not necessary to close them properly?

but this case is being sold without fans... and does not have insurance :( I dont know if I should go for it...
 
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Messages
9,899 (1.77/day)
Location
Essex, England
System Name My pc
Processor Ryzen 5 3600
Motherboard Asus Rog b450-f
Cooling Cooler master 120mm aio
Memory 16gb ddr4 3200mhz
Video Card(s) MSI Ventus 3x 3070
Storage 2tb intel nvme and 2tb generic ssd
Display(s) Generic dell 1080p overclocked to 75hz
Case Phanteks enthoo
Power Supply 650w of borderline fire hazard
Mouse Some wierd Chinese vertical mouse
Keyboard Generic mechanical keyboard
Software Windows ten
I'd say just leave it, it's aesthetic after all.

If you really want rid of it get some epoxy putty and fill the dent in with that.

Sand it down and then paint it.



Stuff is awesome.



*edit* No fans? I wouldn't bother with it then lol The missing fans is why it's so cheap if you consider each fan included in the case is up to 10 euros each.
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
117 (0.03/day)
but arent these broken things on the case (broken front panel on the bottom, broken the "thing" which is meant for closing on the front fan doors, bent on the top side) as bad? Do you think it worths the price?
 

Norton

Moderator - Returning from the Darkness
Staff member
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Messages
14,108 (3.13/day)
Location
Northeast USA
System Name Main PC- Gamer- Main Cruncher/Folder and too many crunching/folding rigs
Processor Ryzen 5900X- Ryzen 5950X- Ryzen 3950X and etc...
Motherboard Asrock X570 Extreme4- MSI X570S Tomahawk MAX WiFi- MSI B450M Bazooka Max and etc...
Cooling Noctua NH-U14S (dual fan)- EK 360 AIO with push/pull fans- Corsair H115i RGB Pro XT and etc...
Memory 2x16GB GSkill FlareX 3200/c14- 4x8GB Corsair Vengeance 3600/c16- 2x16GB Team 3600/c18 and etc..
Video Card(s) MSI Gaming RX 6800- Asus RTX 3070 TUF OC- MSI Ventus GTX 1660Ti and etc...
Storage Main PC (1TB WD SN850- 2TB PNY CS 3040- 2TB Seagate Firecuda) and etc...
Display(s) Main PC (2x24" Dell UltraSharp U2414H)
Case Phanteks P600s- Seasonic Q704- Fractal Meshify C and etc...
Audio Device(s) Logitech Z625 THX 2.1 speakers
Power Supply EVGA 750 G3- SeaSonic DGC 750- EVGA P2 850 and etc...
Mouse G300s
Keyboard Corsair K65
VR HMD N/A
Software Windows 10 Pro or Ubuntu
Benchmark Scores Why sit on the Bench when you can get in the game and Crunch!!!
Offer 40 due to the missing fans (originally came with two).... are all of the other pieces coming with the case (screws, fittings, fan controller, etc...)?

Fractal's are great cases. I have a Define Mini and the build quality is outstanding!!!
 

LGV

New Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2011
Messages
260 (0.05/day)
System Name outdated
Processor AM2 6400+ X2 black @stock
Motherboard MSI K9N SLI @ HOT (very, 65+)
Cooling air
Memory 4x2GB OCZ @stock
Video Card(s) 260 gtx
Storage Hitachi 650 / ssd corsair force 3//120
Display(s) 26''
Case Cooler Master Centurion
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar DX2/ Z5500 X2 :)
Power Supply Mushkin 1000W
Software Win7/64
hmmm and do you think that I would get a hammer in there? would there be enough place?

You have to take off the whole front panel to able to access.

I can weld and replace bits of plastic, I can do it, got the staff too.
Would cost you a bit, and you need knowledge about all diff plastic material too.
I say not worth to touch it. :)

The deal you made is fantastic, dont worry,forget it, go to sleep. :)
 

crazyeyesreaper

Not a Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Messages
9,760 (1.77/day)
Location
04578
System Name Old reliable
Processor Intel 8700K @ 4.8 GHz
Motherboard MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Cooling Custom Water
Memory 32 GB Crucial Ballistix 3666 MHz
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X
Storage 3x SSDs 2x HDDs
Display(s) Dell U2412M + Samsung TA350
Case Thermaltake Core P3 TG
Audio Device(s) Samson Meteor Mic / Generic 2.1 / KRK KNS 6400 headset
Power Supply Zalman EBT-1000
Mouse Mionix NAOS 7000
Keyboard Mionix
doesnt seem worth it

$110 in your area

$50 + 20 for fans = $70 then pay $20 or so to get jbweld some paint etc that you needs your now at $90 to repair that broken case and get fans,

so no not worth it.
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
117 (0.03/day)
I dont count 20€ for repairing, it is bent, I would try to do it on my own, but the price for fans is too big you are right
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
117 (0.03/day)
Finally I got an offer to buy Corsair Carbridge Series 500R White with 3 120mm fans and 1 200mm side fan, with year warranty and non used for 50€. So I bought that one. :)

But now I have got dillema how to set the fans in that case.

I have

2x 120mm Noctua 1200RPM for intake outtake
1x 120mm Noctua 700RPM for intake outtake
Noctua NH-D14 on the CPU

and in the case will be

1x 120mm (i dont know RPM) fan
2x 120mm (i dont know RPM) LED fans
1x 200mm (i dont know RPM) side fan

so I think that the best setup will be

2 1200 RPM noctuas on the top
700 RPM Noctua on the bottom
LED fans on the front
120mm corsair fan rear outtake
and i will not use 200mm fan, or should I?

Do you think it is the best option to put it this way?
 

LGV

New Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2011
Messages
260 (0.05/day)
System Name outdated
Processor AM2 6400+ X2 black @stock
Motherboard MSI K9N SLI @ HOT (very, 65+)
Cooling air
Memory 4x2GB OCZ @stock
Video Card(s) 260 gtx
Storage Hitachi 650 / ssd corsair force 3//120
Display(s) 26''
Case Cooler Master Centurion
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar DX2/ Z5500 X2 :)
Power Supply Mushkin 1000W
Software Win7/64
I think the intake should be higher then out, just a bit.

just try the setup what you think, see the temps and noise, then change the set up.
make note of all .
post it here the results, curious. :)
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
117 (0.03/day)
ok I will, but im nearly decided that I will put the fans the way I described :) I hope that GPU will have lower temps (now hitting 86C without OC)
 
Joined
Jan 15, 2012
Messages
1,194 (0.27/day)
Location
Arcadia
System Name Xeon build X58 / Main Rig X79
Processor Intel Xeon x5650 @ 4.2Ghz with HT / Xeon E5 1650 v2 @4.5Ghz
Motherboard Asus Rampage II Extreme socket 1366 / Asus P9X79 Pro socket 2011
Cooling Thermalright Archon +Ty 140mm|Fans : 2 front-1top-1rear-1bottom/ Gelid Phantom Twin Tower
Memory 16gb DDR3 1600mhz Kingstone Hyper x Quad Channel / 16gb DDR3 1600MHZ Patriot Viper 3
Video Card(s) Sapphire hd 7950 3gb Boost edition dual fan X / ZOTAC 1080 Ti Blower Edition
Storage Kingstone AV400ssd 120gb+Seagate B 2Tb+WD g 1tb+WD g 3tb+WD r 3tb+Seagate B 4tb+Lexar 2Tb NVMe
Display(s) AOC E2460S 24" 1080p 60hz 1ms / LG 32UK550B 32" UHD 4K HDR 10 with Freesync
Case Enermax Phoenix / Fractal Design Arc midi
Audio Device(s) SoundMaxHD+5.1 BHT1100 BLUESKY,Fiio E10 Olympus+SuperluxHD668b+KZ HBB pr2,Superlux E205.
Power Supply Sharkoon WPM Gold Zero 650W semi modular / Corsair RM 850 Fully Modular
Mouse Generic Mice / Corsair M90
Keyboard Generic Keyboard / Microsoft WK600
Software Windows 10 Pro 64 /Windows 10 Pro 64
Finally I got an offer to buy Corsair Carbridge Series 500R White with 3 120mm fans and 1 200mm side fan, with year warranty and non used for 50€. So I bought that one. :)

But now I have got dillema how to set the fans in that case.

I have

2x 120mm Noctua 1200RPM for intake outtake
1x 120mm Noctua 700RPM for intake outtake
Noctua NH-D14 on the CPU

and in the case will be

1x 120mm (i dont know RPM) fan
2x 120mm (i dont know RPM) LED fans
1x 200mm (i dont know RPM) side fan

so I think that the best setup will be

2 1200 RPM noctuas on the top
700 RPM Noctua on the bottom
LED fans on the front
120mm corsair fan rear outtake
and i will not use 200mm fan, or should I?

Do you think it is the best option to put it this way?

my question is where in europe you find this kind of case life fractal r3 and carbide r 500 at 50€ where? tell me is an amazing price
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
117 (0.03/day)
at internet jumble sales (bazaars) where people sell things they dont need. I dont buy these sort of things in shops... I also bought there DeathAdder 3.5G + Goliathus Alpha for 30€... Many people dont link this sort of buying, they want just new things, but I have only good experience with buying (non)used things :)

But PC parts such as CPU, mobo, GPU, PSU etc. wouldnt I buy from bazaar, cause you dont have any guarantee that it will be working, but if you request many photos of pc case you see if its all right or not...
 
Joined
Jan 15, 2012
Messages
1,194 (0.27/day)
Location
Arcadia
System Name Xeon build X58 / Main Rig X79
Processor Intel Xeon x5650 @ 4.2Ghz with HT / Xeon E5 1650 v2 @4.5Ghz
Motherboard Asus Rampage II Extreme socket 1366 / Asus P9X79 Pro socket 2011
Cooling Thermalright Archon +Ty 140mm|Fans : 2 front-1top-1rear-1bottom/ Gelid Phantom Twin Tower
Memory 16gb DDR3 1600mhz Kingstone Hyper x Quad Channel / 16gb DDR3 1600MHZ Patriot Viper 3
Video Card(s) Sapphire hd 7950 3gb Boost edition dual fan X / ZOTAC 1080 Ti Blower Edition
Storage Kingstone AV400ssd 120gb+Seagate B 2Tb+WD g 1tb+WD g 3tb+WD r 3tb+Seagate B 4tb+Lexar 2Tb NVMe
Display(s) AOC E2460S 24" 1080p 60hz 1ms / LG 32UK550B 32" UHD 4K HDR 10 with Freesync
Case Enermax Phoenix / Fractal Design Arc midi
Audio Device(s) SoundMaxHD+5.1 BHT1100 BLUESKY,Fiio E10 Olympus+SuperluxHD668b+KZ HBB pr2,Superlux E205.
Power Supply Sharkoon WPM Gold Zero 650W semi modular / Corsair RM 850 Fully Modular
Mouse Generic Mice / Corsair M90
Keyboard Generic Keyboard / Microsoft WK600
Software Windows 10 Pro 64 /Windows 10 Pro 64
at internet jumble sales (bazaars) where people sell things they dont need. I dont buy these sort of things in shops... I also bought there DeathAdder 3.5G + Goliathus Alpha for 30€... Many people dont link this sort of buying, they want just new things, but I have only good experience with buying (non)used things :)

But PC parts such as CPU, mobo, GPU, PSU etc. wouldnt I buy from bazaar, cause you dont have any guarantee that it will be working, but if you request many photos of pc case you see if its all right or not...

i try to find it on google but i dont find nothing , can you please send me the link? thanks xd
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
117 (0.03/day)
I think the intake should be higher then out, just a bit.

just try the setup what you think, see the temps and noise, then change the set up.
make note of all .
post it here the results, curious. :)

So after a little bit testing

Results (Comparison)

New Case (Corsair Carbidge Series 500R Arctic White) - Old Case (Cooler Master Elite 335 Black)

(CPU Cooler = Noctua NH-D14 + stock fans)
(GPU = Sapphire Radeon HD6950 + stock VaporX Chamber Cooler)

CPU Temps

OLD idle +-38 Celsius Degrees
NEW idle +-30 Celsius Degrees

OLD burn +- 64 Celsius Degrees
NEW burn +- 56 Celsius Degrees

GPU Temps

OLD idle +- 50 Celsius Degrees
NEW idle +- 45 Celsius Degrees

OLD burn +- 86-88 Celsius Degrees
NEW burn +- 70-73 Celsius Degrees

Personally Im surprised how much the case influence the heat (Maybe a great effect has got the PSU position (In CM it was in the upper part of the case, now it is in the bottom)

CM Elite 335 fans positions

Front 1x Noctua NF-S12B 1200 RPM intake
Rear 1x Noctua NF-S12B 1200 RPM outtake
Side 1x Cooler Master 700 RPM intake

Corsair 500R fans positions (I think this is the best setup possible)

Front 2x Corsair 1200 RPM LED fans intake
Front 1x Corsair 1200 RPM fan intake
Side 1x Corsair 700 RPM LED fan intake
Bottom 1x Noctua NF-S12B 700 RPM intake
Rear 1x Noctua NF-S12B 1200 RPM outtake
Top 2x Noctua NF-S12B 1200 RPM outtake

I hope that this is the comparison you expected, if not Im sorry, I will add any information on request.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LGV
Top