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And it can be mounted in three different locations (bottom, middle, or top) to best suit the needs of your build. Behind the wood are two pre-installed Fractal Design Aspect 140mm fans, which can be replaced with fans or radiators up to 360mm. And, finally, the rear fan mount can fit a 120mm spinner, although the case only comes with the two fans up front.
Fan Help! - Fractal North 4090 build
It’s a strange time for PC cases, especially if, like me, you’re not a big fan of so-called “fishbowl” chassis with glass on as many sides as possible. Sure, on the better models, airflow has improved to the point where, with some smartly placed fans, you don’t usually have to worry about cooking your high-end components. Now Fractal Design is back with the North XL, aimed at beefier builds, with E-ATX motherboard support, and room for larger coolers and GPUs. The latter is particularly welcome because the Colorful RTX 4090 Vulcan OC just barely fit when we used the North to update our How to Build a PC article. Fractal was also able to keep the price of the North XL pretty reasonable. At $180, it’s not exactly budget, but it’s surprisingly affordable given its internal space and stunning external design.
Power4Pc BVBA
Available in either chalk white or charcoal black, can the North XL land Fractal another notch on our Best PC cases list? We’ll have to test it to find out, but first, let’s take a look at its specs. Like its smaller, older Fractal North brother, the North XL is available in charcoal black and chalk white, with a choice of a mesh or tempered glass side panel. Because we reviewed the white mesh version the first time, it only made sense to check out the tempered glass black variant this time around. Behind the motherboard tray, you’ll find the usual cable tie points, a dual 2.5-inch drive bracket and two 3.5 or 2.5-inch drive trays.
PC GARAGE
Ultimately, the Fractal Design North can support four 2.5 and two 3.5-inch drives simultaneously, which is very respectable in 2022. If you need more than that you'll generally have to look to a bigger case. A PWM fan hub is also included, mounted behind the motherboard tray by default.
Joule Performance
Another gripe I had with the original North was its lack of E-ATX support. Fractal Design's cases generally aren't all that quiet, and that's true here as well. During our full-speed test, we got an average of 53 decibels, which is, bluntly, quite loud. Even though the case is loud, let’s not forget that the side panel is mesh. So it's likely the tempered glass version of the North is at least a little quieter. Case companies often take an existing design and mostly (or sometimes only) change the front panel.
But it's great to have attractive and well-performing alternatives like the North, that blend into a living room in a living room instead of standing out like an alien artifact. The Fractal Design North looks attractive and would make a fine addition (even) to your living room. The use of natural materials for the front was a great choice because it stands out from the other chassis in the market. Also – you’ll find all the necessary features here, convenient storage options, or ample space for the installed components.
Fractal Design North XL Review - KitGuru
Fractal Design North XL Review.
Posted: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The maximum CPU cooler height varies, depending on whether you install the fan bracket on the side. Without the bracket, the North supports coolers up to 6.7 inches (170mm), but 5.7 inches (145mm) with the bracket and fans installed. Enter Fractal Design, a case manufacturer that often finds itself on our Best PC Cases, and its latest (and hopefully trend-setting) North case. The North is an ATX mid-tower chassis that features wood slats on the front panel (backed by mesh) and the option for a mesh or tempered-glass side panel.
Instead of boring black or silver accents, the charcoal black version features brass-colored IO ports and feet. I don’t think I have ever been impressed by the feet on a case before, but there’s a first time for everything, I suppose. Speaking of the IO, the top panel features separate audio in and out jacks, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports and one USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 2 port. North reimagines the gaming PC, introducing natural materials and bespoke details to make gaming a stylish addition to your living space. Leveraging design to give you a better experience, its airflow functionality and intuitive layout make building and gaming both smooth and enjoyable. As long as the performance is decent, there's nothing wrong with more traditional basic black PC case boxes or aggressive RGB-and-glass gamer chassis.
PC Specialist
Overall, the North XL looks just as stunning as the original, but I would still personally still opt for the mesh side panel, as I feel like it fits the case’s aesthetic better than the tempered glass does. But if you do want to show off your internals, the vertical GPU kit certainly makes more sense with the glass panel. One of the few gripes I had with the original North was the thumb screws needed to remove the side panels, and that carries over to this larger model. I suppose it’s more secure than the pop-off pegs that have become increasingly common. But it’s also worth mentioning that the thumbscrews here are very stiff and require a screwdriver to remove. With the Fractal North, PC builders have access to something that is simple, modern and relatively affordable.
This isn’t the case (no pun intended) with the North, which is available in either white or black and with a mesh or tempered glass side panel. North XL combines a transformative take on the gaming PC case with a generous form factor. It fuses design materials with airflow engineering, to make performance gaming a stylish addition to the living space. Inside, it boasts a spacious, flexible, and intuitive interior layout so you can make the most of your building and gaming experience. For storage beyond M.2, there are a pair of 2.5-inch brackets behind the motherboard plate.
It's airflow design is enough to meet the needs of almost all PC builders and its premium feel makes the case an ideal chassis for those who want a modern Scandinavian-styled PC without breaking the bank. The top of the North features a removable panel with a leather tab and the back for easier removal. The side panels are removed via two thumb screws, which is a bit disappointing for a case of this price, and it’s almost ironic when you consider the otherwise excellent aesthetics of this chassis. My preferred fans are going to be black Noctuas as I've used them in the past and like how quiet they can be. It's been many years since I built a PC and I don't remember the slightest thing about how to do an optimal fan setup for a case like this. A fine chassis for PC builders itching to forego RGB glitz in favour of genteel elegance.
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