Fractal Define 7

[Darksaber]

The Fractal Define 7 is the seventh generation of the Define R series of cases. It sports a new, clean branding, loads of new features and plenty of enhancements over the previous version without compromising on the core functionality and design that has defined the series this last decade.

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[Chrispy_]

I am generally impressed with Fractal. Case build quality has come down a lot in the last 20 years after peaking around the millenium with everyone trying to make a case with the highest quality materials, paint finishes and contruction quality. Things like the Coolermaster ATCS and Lian-Li's rise to fame were those years. Fractal have never strayed too far towards cheap-feeling but have never made anything that feels truly as premium as those offerings. In-Win probably gets closest now with some seriously high-quality machining on solid chunks of brushed Aluminium.

Giant, tempered glass cases offend me, but I like the clean looks here and look forward to seeing this rebranding happen to things like the Node 202 and Define Nano S.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I’ve always been happy with Fractal cases for their built like a tank a oustical properties while swallowing any PC components I can throw at them. Build wuality has always been extremely high.

This though, seems like they managed somehow to take a step forward!

 

[newtekie1]

Damn that's a sexy case! Maybe time to finally replace my Define S...

One suggestion for the review is on the Case Temperature Over Time graphs, I feel they should both have the same scale. Right now, the first goes from 20° to 90° while the second goes from 20° to 80°. This makes it look like there is more of a difference than there really is. Neither went over 80° but both came close, so I don't know why 80 was just the top end of the scale for both of them. Just trying to give some constructive criticism. Otherwise, the review was great as always.

 

[Alexandrus]

The conclusion, at the Cons, there is "No reset button", yet I see in all the pictures of the front I/O a reset button.
Does anyone actually proof reads these, ever ?

 

[Darksaber]

The conclusion, at the Cons, there is "No reset button", yet I see in all the pictures of the front I/O a reset button.
Does anyone actually proof reads these, ever ?

Oh no, we actually never proofread any of these reviews. In fact, we just throw a monkey at it, hoping the pictures turn out, pull random data out of a hat to put in our graphs and put in mistakes to look like we are fallible human beings - because we don't want the poor human civilization to know: we are actually fully digital AI beings that are actually perfect in every way and here to take over the world.


But all jokes aside: Everyone makes mistakes - I bet that includes you, so: thanks for noticing that. It should read: No HDD activity LED.

Damn that's a sexy case! Maybe time to finally replace my Define S...

One suggestion for the review is on the Case Temperature Over Time graphs, I feel they should both have the same scale. Right now, the first goes from 20° to 90° while the second goes from 20° to 80°. This makes it look like there is more of a difference than there really is. Neither went over 80° but both came close, so I don't know why 80 was just the top end of the scale for both of them. Just trying to give some constructive criticism. Otherwise, the review was great as always.

Good feedback! I appreciate it. I will look into if we can easily set a good min./max. when processing the roughly 4000 data points that go into each of these So automation is key.

 

[Alexandrus]

I know what it SHOULD read, and that perhaps time was limited and this had to be published sooner rather later.
And no, I do not make mistakes, I once thought I made one, but I was mistaken

 

[Xzibit]

But all jokes aside: Everyone makes mistakes - I bet that includes you, so: thanks for noticing that. It should read: No HDD activity LED.

Define 7 Manual (Page 19) says it has one.

 

[Alexandrus]

Where does it say that ? Either you are seeing things that are not there, or reading things wrong here or in the manual, or I am NOT seeing things.

 

[Xzibit]

Page 19 says these are Power SW, Power LED & HDD LED unless its the reset instead.

 

[Alexandrus]

LOL, wut ? No dude, it says that one can use the LED as whatever one wants, Power LED or HDD LED. But it's just one LED. Plus, they probably did copy&paste that from the R6.

 

[Xzibit]

If you used a Fractal case before when the HDD is active it blinks the power led. Secondary Led.

 

[newtekie1]

Page 19 says these are Power SW, Power LED & HDD LED unless its the reset instead.

It seems like in the manual, the Power SW, Power LED & HDD LED are all sleeved together but the reset button is a separate cable. All the Fractal cases I've seen have a dual duty LED for the Power and HDD. It's dim when powered on, but flashes brighter when the HDD is active(or maybe one LED for power and the HDD is a second LED that makes the same area brighter).

LOL, wut ? No dude, it says that one can use the LED as whatever one wants, Power LED or HDD LED. But it's just one LED. Plus, they probably did copy&paste that from the R6.

The R6 has both as well. I read the manual as saying it has both Power and HDD LEDs just like all their other cases.

 

[Alexandrus]

You are both technically wrong.
The previous Fractal cases actually have 2 LED, not only because there are 2 sets of cables, and a dual power LED uses 3 cables, but also because...I took them apart to look.
Now there is only one LED, with the Define 7.

 

[newtekie1]

You are both technically wrong.
The previous Fractal cases actually have 2 LED, not only because there are 2 sets of cables, and a dual power LED uses 3 cables, but also because...I took them apart to look.

Isn't that exactly what I said...

 

[Alexandrus]

The R6 definitely has 2 LEDs, two sets of cables for each LED, just the HDD one is placed in such a way that is looks way brighter. Plus, Power Button, HDD LED and Power LED are all part of the same assembly, basically the power button assembly.
I played a lot with them as I wanted to change them to a different color.
I don't know if that is "exactly" what you said, but close enough.

 

[rtwjunkie]

LOL, wut ? No dude, it says that one can use the LED as whatever one wants, Power LED or HDD LED. But it's just one LED. Plus, they probably did copy&paste that from the R6.View attachment 145561

Fractal has been this way for many model years. Either a solid on power light, or the light strobes with drive activity.

 

[Raendor]

Another boring giant atx case to take up your space.

 

[Tsukiyomi91]

looks nice.

 

[ShurikN]

Another boring giant atx case to take up your space.

Well, no one is stopping you to put your MoBo on top of a shoe box, hang it on a wall, put it in the desk drawer, under your armpit...

 

[Assimilator]

This is a great case but the front door makes the thermals atrocious. There are a lot of cases that come pretty close to this one's featureset at a much lower price, e.g. Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic.

 

[Joss]

I still find the Define R5 as the PC tower. Classic as they come and yet so versatile.
btw, It's good to see proper case testing at TPU, finally.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I still find the Define R5 as the PC tower. Classic as they come and yet so versatile.
btw, It's good to see proper case testing at TPU, finally.

I would have to double down on that and bote for R4 since it still swallowed anything you put in there, quietly and cool as expected, but was overall a little more stiff and strong than the R5. But no argument at all on the R5 being great.

 

[Octopuss]

I have Define R6 and can't see much of anything different with the newer one, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. The case is pretty damn good.

 

[EarthDog]

I’ve always been happy with Fractal cases for they're built like a tank and acoustical properties while swallowing any PC components I can throw at them. Build quality has always been extremely high.

This though, seems like they managed somehow to take a step forward!

ftfy and agreed.