Fractal Design Announces the Define Series 7, 7 XL Chassis

[Raevenlord]

Featuring the most comprehensive refinement of design elements yet, the Define 7 brings a new body to the long established Define series while staying true to its heritage as a solid platform for the silent PC.

Always pushing boundaries, Fractal product developers added loads of new features to ensure that the 7 series is the most capable and cohesive Define range ever released. Thanks to an adaptable dual-layout interior, the Define 7 can easily accommodate motherboards all the way up to 285 mm E-ATX, extensive storage arrays with up to 14 HDDs, 4 SSDs and an ODD bay, and robust cooling with a 420 mm radiator and up to nine fans. Versatile new multi-brackets allow you to convert any unused fan position to an HDD, SSD or pump mount.






The new front panel features an improved reversible hinge design with magnetic latching, and the fully removable top panel opens to provide totally unhindered interior access. The 7 XL is the most expandable Define case ever. With its bold and innovative design, it sets a new standard for what you should expect from a full tower case in terms of modularity, flexibility and ease of use.



Supporting the largest E-ATX and enterprise boards, multi-GPU setups, and almost two dozen storage devices (in Storage layout), you'll be hard pressed to find a limit to what you can do with your build in the Define 7 XL. The extra elbow room isn't the only feature that makes for a smoother building experience - the top panel can be fully removed for completely unhindered interior access, and is interchangeable from sound damped solid steel to filtered ventilation using the included accessory panel.



Define 7 XL also comes with two new and versatile multi-brackets for converting any unused fan position to an HDD, SSD or pump mount, which will be welcome news for anyone not utilizing all eleven 120 mm (or nine 140 mm) fan positions. The Define 7 and the Define 7 XL are available worldwide now, and will be complemented with a unique range of accessories to help customize your building experience.

Key Features: Define 7

• Spacious and extensively adaptable dual-layout interior easily accommodates large motherboards up to and including 285 mm E-ATX
• Support for radiators up to 360 mm in front, 420 mm up top, or 280 mm in the base in the default Open Layout
• Convert to Storage Layout for up to 14 HDDs along with 4 dedicated SSD mounts and one ODD bay (6 HDD/SSD + 2 SSD brackets + 1 multi-bracket included)
• The single 5.25" ODD bay can be converted to an additional 140mm front fan mount with filtered louver covering
• Silence-optimized construction with industrial sound-damped front, top, and side panels
• Top panel effortlessly swaps from sound-damped solid steel to filtered ventilation
• New chassis design opens up to fully expose the case interior for totally unhindered installation and cable routing
• Outstanding cooling capacity with a total of 9x 120/140 mm fan mounts and three preinstalled Dynamic X2 GP-14 fans
• Versatile new multi-brackets convert any unused fan position to an HDD, SSD or pump mount
• Tool-less, top-latching panels allow quick access while preventing accidental drops

Key Features: Define 7 XL

• Spacious, extensively adaptable dual-layout interior easily accommodates large motherboards up to E-ATX and SSI-EEB
• Mount up to 18 HDD/SSDs plus five SSDs in the Storage Layout (6 HDD/SSD trays + 2 SSD brackets + 2 multi-brackets included)
• Use the Open Layout for more headroom and gargantuan water-cooling with radiators up to 480 mm in front or top and 280 mm in the base
• Two 5.25" ODD bays can be converted to an additional front fan mount with filtered louver covering
• Silence-optimized construction with industrial sound-damped front, top, and side panels
• Outstanding cooling capacity with a total of 9x 140 mm or 11x 120 mm fan mounts and three preinstalled Dynamic X2 GP-14 fans
• Five front USB ports including one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C with fast charging support and speeds up to 10 Gbps
• Ultra-slim Nexus+ 2 fan hub connects up to three PWM fans and six 3-pin fans directly in line with cable channels along the edge of the case
• 13 pass-through holes with ten rubber grommets and two removable covers make for clean cable routing regardless of motherboard size
• Detachable PSU cable shield and integrated cable guides with Velcro straps further simplify cable management behind the board

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Xzibit]

Update the Define C now.

 

[efikkan]

I'm really looking forward to reviews of both of these.
An updated Define XL is long overdue.

 

[s3thra]

I really like this design. So minimalist and classy.

 

[Mussels]

i still think they need a top for the case like the front, where you can have it solid but vented

RN its annoying af, because dust, debris and *shudder* children can put anything down open top if you want to use it for cooling

 

[bonehead123]

meh x7 ...

 

[kapone32]

I am planning on getting the Define 7 XL that will be my new work/play station computer. I love the fact that you can fit 2 420mm rads in the case without having to pay over $1000 for the Phanteks Elite. It looks like the case comes with a nice perforated replacement plate for the top. I would hope that in the near future they release a mesh front panel for the case as well. But things like Native USB C on the front are where it's at for me.

 

[rtwjunkie]

i still think they need a top for the case like the front, where you can have it solid but vented

RN its annoying af, because dust, debris and *shudder* children can put anything down open top if you want to use it for cooling

They’ve always had the ability to selectively close top vents. It also aids in acoustic muffling for those it is very important to. Does this not have that?

 

[LordAlu]

They’ve always had the ability to selectively close top vents. It also aids in acoustic muffling for those it is very important to. Does this not have that?

This new model has an interchangeable top panel, as mentioned in the article. You can unscrew the solid top panel and replace it with a mesh filtered one.

The extra elbow room isn't the only feature that makes for a smoother building experience - the top panel can be fully removed for completely unhindered interior access, and is interchangeable from sound damped solid steel to filtered ventilation using the included accessory panel.

Not many places have taken pictures of it with the vented top panel, although I found one on the KitGuru review:

 

[efikkan]

I am planning on getting the Define 7 XL that will be my new work/play station computer. I love the fact that you can fit 2 420mm rads in the case without having to pay over $1000 for the Phanteks Elite. It looks like the case comes with a nice perforated replacement plate for the top. I would hope that in the near future they release a mesh front panel for the case as well. But things like Native USB C on the front are where it's at for me.

While more options are good, I don't get why so many want to put water cooling in a case with such restricted airflow. A big air cooler will be plenty for what this case can handle. And if you want a meshed front panel, there are many cases featuring that. That is, unless you want the water cooling just for the looks.

If I could change one thing I would want to increase the front intakes slightly so it becomes a "medium airflow case", striking a sweet-spot between airflow and silence, which is a market I don't think many cases target.

But I do like the XL case though. While many builders today seem to favor smaller cases, I'm going in the opposite direction. I want convenience, something that is easy to service, easy to replace a harddrive, etc.

 

[Mussels]

They’ve always had the ability to selectively close top vents. It also aids in acoustic muffling for those it is very important to. Does this not have that?

they have layers, but its an all or nothing affair. I want some venting without the top being open.

Look at the front of the case where the vents are on the sides and not the front - thats what i think belongs on the top.

 

[Xzibit]

they have layers, but its an all or nothing affair. I want some venting without the top being open.

Look at the front of the case where the vents are on the sides and not the front - thats what i think belongs on the top.

like the NZXT H700 & BeQuiet Dark Base 900 ?

 

[Mussels]

i wont touch NZXT after some terrible products from them, but yeah i want fractal to do their own spin on that design

 

[kapone32]

While more options are good, I don't get why so many want to put water cooling in a case with such restricted airflow. A big air cooler will be plenty for what this case can handle. And if you want a meshed front panel, there are many cases featuring that. That is, unless you want the water cooling just for the looks.

If I could change one thing I would want to increase the front intakes slightly so it becomes a "medium airflow case", striking a sweet-spot between airflow and silence, which is a market I don't think many cases target.

But I do like the XL case though. While many builders today seem to favor smaller cases, I'm going in the opposite direction. I want convenience, something that is easy to service, easy to replace a harddrive, etc.

I have been looking for a viable replacement for my Thermaltake Core X9. I already have the equipment I mentioned. The reason I want it is because it is the only case in that form factor that supports 2 420MM rads. The only other is the Phanteks Elite but it costs 4x more.

 

[Platinum certified Husky]

It will be better if fans can be mounted in front of fan mounts . Any obstacle that is close to fan blade, especially in the front, will create a lot of turbulence thus increases the noise, especially for high speed fan, e.g. A12x25
Other than, the build quality of Fractal Design case is pretty good.

 

[Makaveli]

Good looking case.

I'm using a Fractal Design Meshify S2 and love it.

Though I prefer the top grill on my case.

 

[Master Tom]

Fractal Design is too cheap for me and has very bad quality.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Fractal Design is too cheap for me and has very bad quality.

That is pure comedy gold there! Try stand up, you’ll be a hit.

I hate to break it to you but excellent build quality is what they are known for. If you had said they don’t always have the best temperatures (they require careful planning of airflow and fans) more people would take you seriously. But quality?

 

[Master Tom]

That is pure comedy gold there! Try stand up, you’ll be a hit.

I hate to break it to you but excellent build quality is what they are known for. If you had said they don’t always have the best temperatures (they require careful planning of airflow and fans) more people would take you seriously. But quality?

I have the Core 3500 and the Define R5.
My next Tower will not be from Fractal Design again.