Fractal Design North

[wheresmycar]

Why wasn't the version with tempered glass side panel tested as well?

Yes I'd like to see the TG performance review too (if possible)

@Darksaber

 

[mechtech]

I'm curious I we'll see smaller versions of this design. North is a subcategory of North, so a North Nano is probably not impossible.
View attachment 273412

Yeah, if you don't have the gulf stream nearby..

Spoiler

Sweden moved west:
View attachment 273410

https://www.smhi.se/en/weather/observations/snow-depth/

Lol. Meanwhile 1200km south of Stockholm

 

[KrazyT]

Nice, Fractal Design makes some good cases design, Pop, Torrent, and this North, simple but stylish !
Would be great on any office desk

 

[SL2]

So is this a real monitor?

Edit: It's the same one here.

 

[wheresmycar]

So is this a real monitor?

Edit: It's the same one here.
View attachment 273450

yep i have 2, only £12 a piece.. Both are 8k 1fps, wireless and require 0 watts.

I didn't get the legs though... done a VISA mount to the wall with command velcro strips. Coolest feature of all, it doesn't require a GPU to launch an ultra realistic visual feast. I'm still trying to work out how to unpause it and unlock the stuck 1fps limit hehe

 

[gffermari]

Ok, make it mini and I'm sold to Fractal.

 

[trsttte]

Why wasn't the version with tempered glass side panel tested as well?

Fractal didn't send one

 

[theglaze]

LOL it was designed for vertically mounted gpu they tested with standard layout ...

The chassis only supports 'standard' GPU mount. Here's the page from the manual:

 

[wheresmycar]

The chassis only supports 'standard' GPU mount. Here's the page from the manual:
View attachment 273467

That sucks... i thought a vertical mount bracket was supplied. Looked again and its a fan bracket to intake/exhaust air through the side mesh panel. Personally i prefer the horizontal load up hence the fan bracket is a plus-1 for me. None of it matters though i'm still bagging a TG side panel variant for a mid-performance secondary or general use/work build. Love the case!!

Ok, make it mini and I'm sold to Fractal.

yessss! i was "also" picturing something like a Mini North NR200P sort of thing with the front NORTH WOOD effect for show only. Unless fractal can come up with a miracle to shift the SFX PSU elsewhere without compromising on performance/aesthetics or going too big. Although i'd settle with a Mini/Micro tower too... i'd settle with anything at this point, this case is BOOTIFUL and reasonably priced (providing build quality is as good as some of the previous Fractal cases)

 

[tomaaron]

Which one performance better for lower GPU temps? My asus tuf Rtx 3090 is too hot in my Corsair r100 silent. Really good looking case!

 

[theglaze]

Which one performance better for lower GPU temps? My asus tuf Rtx 3090 is too hot in my Corsair r100 silent. Really good looking case!

Either window or mesh will be A LOT better for GPU cooling than Corsair R100, which only has 1 exhaust and 1 intake (!!)

 

[wheresmycar]

Which one performance better for lower GPU temps? My asus tuf Rtx 3090 is too hot in my Corsair r100 silent. Really good looking case!

The fractal North should be good enough providing you grab the mesh side panel variant and mount 2 fans on the side fan bracket (intake/exhaust). At stock even without the side bracket fans the temps look pretty decent although this reviews tests a 3060 TI and we're a long way from the power craved 3090.

If you simply want the best of the bunch from the TPU reviewed cases:

Another good option on the above list is Lian Li's Lancool 216 if you prefer tampered glass side panels. The bottom panel is meshed and if you add 2 additional fans above the fan shroud you should see better results compared to the stock test (showing 76.5c, again 3060 TI tested).

The AP201 from ASUS looks the most appealing if its all about GPU load thermal performance

 

[Camm]

I'm not frothing, but I appreciate the risk in mixing up materials & such.

The mesh side gives an interesting option, ventilated sides like that are awesome for air GPU's as they exhaust sideward, but without bottom fan intake, they struggle for air, not to mention any air cooler will take air in through the mesh rather than your front dust panels. The two side fans can help bring air to the GPU's though, so not all is lost in this case however. Pity about the tight wc clearances though, an aio in the roof with the mesh side set to intake is almost mandatory with how terrible those front fans are with the mesh.

 

[Mussels]

First thoughts:

The wood is nice. Different to usual, but personally not something i'd go for. Very "Office" but totally out of place as a HTPC or gaming system, unless you've also got old-style furniture or devices near it.

The open-rear design for pure intake on fans is smart in this form factor. Let the heat passively vent out, minimise dust and noise.
I can however see this going badly with a top mounted AIO as it's going to simply suck air in from the rear, and fill with dust in no time at all.

There is ZERO chance that's getting air from anywhere but that unfiltered rear, since the side panel fans will feed the GPU and exhaust straight out (if they even fit, with modern GPU sizes)

I Tried using my rear 140mm to feed fresh air into my custom loop and despite being 1.5 meters off the ground on it's own shelf with an air purifier in the room, it was clogged to the point the fan had no airflow in under a month - and the dust was then bypassing it to clog the 360mm EK radiator i had installed up there.
(I cant find photos but I had it installed Nov '21, and by Jan '22 all photos of my PC were lacking a rear case fan, by feb a new exhaust was installed)



Mesh side panel is a good option for heat, but it's going to let any and all noise out and make that air situation even worse -the front intakes wont even reach anywhere


It's like they finally had great ideas for what they want a case to be, but then had to modify it to fit the common trends of a 240mm AIO at the top and dual radiator support because 'marketing says we need it' and therefore it's trashed their vision for it

Fractal mentions a 35 mm clearance limit for components like heatsinks or memory.

Considering my (quite common) corsair ram is 51mm tall, that 35mm height limit for the AIO isn't going to work


Damnit i love fractal, but I don't love or even like the choices they're making for their modern cases. Fractals whole deal was cases that were great for low noise, control over the exhaust locations and great dust filtering setups


The open rear and mesh die panel will help keep temps down, but only until the AIO clogs with dust. they'll be out of the return period for the case by then, so who cares?

I'd be okay with this case for an office PC or a low wattage (by todays standards) gaming PC with just front fans or a front mounted AIO, but honestly it just seems like a total failure on design for airflow and dust filtration

What's that side fan accessory from? Can't say i've seen that before

 

[Pumper]

What's that side fan accessory from? Can't say i've seen that before

Probably the review version was an early build and did not include all the accessories. From Fractal's homepage:

"The mesh version also ships with a fanhub and a fan bracket, providing an additional two fan positions"

 

[Leshy]

Probably the review version was an early build and did not include all the accessories. From Fractal's homepage:

"The mesh version also ships with a fanhub and a fan bracket, providing an additional two fan positions"

The chassis only supports 'standard' GPU mount. Here's the page from the manual:
View attachment 273467

LOL so mesh side is for downdraft cooler cmn

 

[Chomiq]

Probably the review version was an early build and did not include all the accessories. From Fractal's homepage:

"The mesh version also ships with a fanhub and a fan bracket, providing an additional two fan positions"

Wendell had them:

Fractal North is Beautiful

 

[metalslaw]

I feel like case reviews need to start using the latest ultra large graphics cards, to check for compatibility. I'm not sure this case would be able to use a 4080/4090 or the new 7900xtx cards.

 

[..0]

I have to admit that the front of this case is attractive.
It makes all the dreadful judgments that limit airflow and space while raising costs, noise levels, and heat.

 

[aktpu]

I feel like case reviews need to start using the latest ultra large graphics cards, to check for compatibility. I'm not sure this case would be able to use a 4080/4090 or the new 7900xtx cards.

In the level1techs video above Wendell test fits Zotac 4090 into this case

 

[TechLurker]

I wish the test included with side-panel fans. That would probably have helped a lot with cooling and give it a bit more positive pressure; pulling in through the filters and exhausting out the top or back.

I am glad to that some casemakers are bringing back side-panel fan mount options; especially given how hot the newest GPUs and CPUs are. It'd be even better if the non-tempered glass variants have fan mounts again.

 

[metalslaw]

I am glad to that some casemakers are bringing back side-panel fan mount options; especially given how hot the newest GPUs and CPUs are. It'd be even better if the non-tempered glass variants have fan mounts again.

Agreed.

I still have a few Fractal Design Core 2500 case that I use for my builds. The side fan definitely helps.

It's a shame that this current gen of graphics cards are so big now, as I will no longer being able to use side fan, as even if a 4080/4090/7900xtx fits in there (haven't tested it yet), I don't know if I will still be able to close the case, once I've connected the 12pin or 3x 8pin's power cables...

 

[tomaaron]

The fractal North should be good enough providing you grab the mesh side panel variant and mount 2 fans on the side fan bracket (intake/exhaust). At stock even without the side bracket fans the temps look pretty decent although this reviews tests a 3060 TI and we're a long way from the power craved 3090.

If you simply want the best of the bunch from the TPU reviewed cases:

View attachment 273474

Another good option on the above list is Lian Li's Lancool 216 if you prefer tampered glass side panels. The bottom panel is meshed and if you add 2 additional fans above the fan shroud you should see better results compared to the stock test (showing 76.5c, again 3060 TI tested).

The AP201 from ASUS looks the most appealing if its all about GPU load thermal performance

Thanks buddy. I ordered the Fractal Design North Mesh Looks to damn good. I'm really looking forward to see how it performs against the Corsair 100R.

 

[jesdals]

I love the mesh side panel, it would be better to be able to fit the fans directly

I have two 80mm underneath my GPU in my Meshify today and a 120mm at the cpu hight

 

[wheresmycar]

ANNOYING!!!

Been keeping an eye on these regularly. Saw 3/4 retailers finally listing-up in the UK with available stock around 11am this morning - just returned from work 5 mins ago (around 5pm) and lo and behold "OUT OF STOCK". Nowadays everything i fancy picking up is either out of stock, overpriced or unavailable in our region of the world - BORING!! Maybe its time to pick up a different type of enthusiasm, maybe a plastic carrier bag collection hobby so we can bag our dreams of consumerism