Review of the Fractal Design Define S case. Everything ingenious is simple. Review and testing of the Fractal Design Define C case Fractal design define S case black

Fractal Design is one of the few companies where I love everything they do. We can say with confidence that from the moment we first became acquainted with their products in 2013 until the present moment, this manufacturer has constantly raised the quality bar and modified its chassis taking into account the wishes and comments of customers. And the most important thing that has not changed over time is the basic concept of practicality and functionality of these cases. In this review, we will look at their latest chassis from the flagship series - Define R6, which has eight modifications, differing in color and the presence or absence of side glass.

Characteristics

Model
Product page	fractal-design.com
Type of shell	Midi-Tower
Dimensions, mm	465(H) x 233(W) x 543(D)
Material	Steel, plastic, glass, aluminum
Weight, kg	12,4
Color	Black
Form factor	ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
5.25″ devices	1
3.5″ external devices	–
3.5″ / 2.5″ internal devices	6 / 2 (2.5″ drives can be installed instead of 3.5″)
Supported number of expansion slots	7+2
Fans	front - 3 x 120 / 2 x 140 mm (2 x 140 mm installed) top - 3 x 120 / 140 mm (optional) rear - 1 x 120 / 140 mm (1 x 140 mm installed) lower - 2 x 120 / 140 mm (optional)
Interface connectors	2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, microphone input and headphone output
Other	Tempered glass side window, dust filters at the bottom, front and top, built-in hub for six three-pin and three four-pin fans with PWM control. Sound insulation on the front, top and side panels, easily removable top panel, front door with changing opening direction. Modular drive bay design
Recommended price, $	150

Packaging and delivery

The case box looks quite utilitarian and informative. Monochrome printing on the sides of the package contains all the information necessary for the buyer, which includes schematic images of the product in assembled and disassembled form, a listing of its advantages and specifications. Internal damage protection consists of two foam dampers, one polyurethane foam pad, a plastic bag and two side window films. There are handles on the sides of the box for carrying.

Assembly instructions and documentation are right in the box in the package. The set of parts is contained in a separate box placed in a 3.5″ drive tray. On one side it shows a list and purpose of parts, and on the second it shows what and how to connect the built-in fan controller. The package includes:

• PC assembly instructions and a red sheet with warranty information;
• six disposable plastic cable ties;
• a soft microfiber cloth for wiping glass;
• one brass stand motherboard;
• adapter for a Phillips screwdriver for motherboard racks;
• four hexagonal screws for the power supply;
• 32 small screws for mounting 2.5″ drives;
• 15 screws for the motherboard and fixing the 3.5″ drive trays;
• four metal thumbscrews for mounting 5.25″ devices;
• 24 flat head screws for 3.5″ mounting hard drives;
• four spare metal thumbscrews for the side panels.

Appearance

The appearance of the Fractal Design Define R6 at first glance has not changed in comparison with the R4 and R5 versions - it is still the same classic rectangular black box. But, already taking it out of the packaging, you can literally feel the differences with your own hands. The case has noticeably added weight and strength to its structure. For the first time in the history of the series, the front panel is coated with brushed aluminum, which only adds solidity to this product. In its place, in the cutout in the center near the top edge, the drive activity indicator remains.

The front panel, as before, is a thick plastic door, glued on the back with a layer of sound insulation. The door is held on by latches, which simultaneously serve as hinges. The hinges themselves can be hung on both sides, which will allow you to adjust the opening of the front panel both to the left and to the right. Behind it at the top there is an easily removable plug for the only 5.25″ compartment, and the rest of the space is occupied by the ventilation grille of the input dust filter, which has inclined deflectors. The filter is held in place by a simple latch at the top and can be easily removed for cleaning. In this case, the outside air is taken in through the holes on the sides of the front panel. Recesses for opening the panel are made in the upper half of the side edges.

From below, just as easily, the dust filter slides out, covering the entire bottom panel of the case. Thus, protecting and cleaning the case from dust is simplified as much as possible.

Both filters, front and bottom, are made of high-quality fine mesh glued to a plastic frame.

External ports are traditionally located on the top edge of the front panel. There are two 3.5 mm audio jacks, a recessed system reset key, a beautiful round start button, two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 connectors, all of which are painted black. The system power indicator is built under the bezel, around the perimeter of the PC start button.

Since our version of the case is called Black TG (Tempered Glass), it has a solid, fairly transparent (more precisely, 33% tinted) window in place of the left panel. Interestingly, it is not attached to the usual screws in the corners, but is glued to a metal frame, which opens guillotine-style, turning to the side.

The quality of the glass is impressive. As well as the fit of the parts of this case. By the way, the ventilation holes on the sides of the front panel have also increased significantly in size by reducing the profile of the grille partitions and turning them into transverse deflectors.

Due to the use of a metal frame and stiffening ribs, the transparent panel turned out to be very reliable. In addition, this made it possible to reduce the thickness of the glass to 2.5 mm and reduce its weight. The panel is held on by two thumbscrews and has two stamped handles on the back. They are needed to unlatch the door to the side. The fact is that it holds perfectly without screws. There are round headed metal pins at the top and bottom of the back.

When the door is closed, the pins snap into plastic clips on the body, and the panel is completely fixed. It can only be opened by applying force to the side. It is recommended to use regular screws only when transporting the chassis.

The right panel of the case is solid and metal. It also has two stamped handles and two metal thumbscrews.

The inside of the right door is sealed with a thick layer of sound insulation. It is very durable and also has pins at the back for quick locking in the closed position.

The top panel is metal. Most of it is occupied by a removable cover, which snaps off if you press the round plastic button in the upper left corner of the rear panel of the chassis. This decision came to replace the ModuVent collapsible plastic segments that were used in previous versions of the case.

It looks like this. To insert it back, you need to press the edge of the lifting cover along its entire length, from the side of the lock button.

After dismantling the cover, access to the inside opens. The metal grille at the bottom is also removable and is held on by four small screws. And it even has a slot for the SVO filler hole with a diameter of 25 mm. The mounting holes here are shifted towards the left panel, away from conflicts with the components of the motherboard. As a result, you can hang three 120 or 140 mm fans or radiators of the appropriate size here, 360 or even 420 mm long and of arbitrary thickness.

But that's not all. From the metal cover of the top panel you can remove a filter similar to the one installed below and in the front. This is difficult to do; I had to use a screwdriver as a lever to disconnect these parts. This point was either not thought through or not fully described in the instructions. A layer of noise-insulating material is glued to the back of the cover.

Then the metal cover can be put aside and the filter can be placed on top of the ventilation hole, thereby significantly improving the cooling of the case. Or put it back and increase noise suppression from internal components.

The rear panel of the case looks generally standard, but has a number of its own features. In the upper left corner there is a large plastic button, pressing which releases the lock on the top metal panel. The seat behind the ventilation grille on the right can accept propellers of 120 or 140 mm format and their vertical position is adjustable within 20 mm. In addition to seven regular PCI slots, covered with white ventilated reusable plugs, there are two more expansion slots on the right, into which you can install the video adapter vertically using a special extension cable (not included). These slots also have standard white plugs, held in place by regular screws and a decorative cover on top of them. The power supply seat is equipped with a separate frame, which is held on by two metal thumbscrews. The power supply is screwed to this frame with regular screws, after which it can be attached to the case in either the fan-down or fan-up orientation.

The entire base of the case is covered by one continuous dust filter, which is removed towards the front and held in four separate plastic slides. What’s especially nice is that on the left side of the base of the case there is now a metal plate with the model code and serial number products.

At the bottom we see two arrays of ventilation grilles with large cells. You can install two 120- or 140-mm fans or even a CBO radiator on the front ones. At the back there is ventilation for the power supply.

The legs are metal, with a rubber base, 17 mm high to the body and approximately 11 mm to the level of the dust filter. They hold onto the table surface very tenaciously.

Now let's evaluate the interior of the chassis.

Internal organization

The Fractal Design Define R6 supports vertical installation of ATX, MicroATX and Mini-ITX motherboards. The permissible height of the processor cooler is 185 mm. The possible length of expansion cards in all slots is 300 mm to the side rack. If the video card width does not exceed 150 mm, or the stand is removed, the allowable length increases to an insane 440 mm along with standard 25 mm thick front-mounted fans. The case accommodates a power supply up to 190 mm long with fans mounted on the bottom panel. If they are not there, then the amount of space under the power supply close to the hard drive cages increases to 310 mm.

The amount of space from above to the edge of the motherboard does not exceed 25 mm, so when installing the SVO radiator here, you need to take into account the height random access memory, with which there may be a conflict. Ideally, the height of memory and other components on the board should not be more than 36 mm. With the front stand, you can attach two 120 or 140 mm fans or a similar radiator here. If you remove the drive baskets and the side stand, you can place three 120 or 140 mm fans, or CBO radiators 360 and even 420 mm long. Naturally, in the latter case, installing a 5.25″ device from the front will become impossible.

A 140mm fan is pre-installed on the rear panel for the hood. All covers for the seven main expansion slots are held in place by metal thumbscrews. The vertical plugs are secured with ordinary screws. To remove them, you will have to unscrew another screw from the top, which presses the decorative sliding strip.

All three 140mm fans installed in this case belong to the new Dynamic X2 GP-14 series. They have a standard frame configuration and a seven-blade impeller. The bearing used here is a mechanism called LLS. Unfortunately, one can only guess about the principle of its structure, since even this abbreviation is not deciphered anywhere. Judging by the MTBF of 100 thousand hours, and the characteristics from the official website, it is likely that this is some kind of variation on the theme of a hydrodynamic bearing with magnetic stabilization of the axial bushing. The maximum propeller speed is 1000 rpm, the minimum starting voltage is 4 V. The performance is normal (stated within 116 m3/h), the static pressure is low (only 0.71 mm H2O), but the noise level is quite acceptable, and from a closed The case of this fan is almost inaudible. The black three-pin ribbon power cord is 500 mm long. These fans leave a good impression and do not make you want to replace them immediately after purchasing the case.

The power supply casing is perforated with small diagonal holes, from which we can conclude that its function is largely decorative. For pulling wires, there is one small hole in the back and one large hole in the front, covered with a rubber curtain. If desired, you can attach a proprietary extension cord here PCI slot(Fractal Design Flex VRC-25), or two carriages for 2.5″ drives, holes with screw threads are provided for this.

At the front of the chassis there is a longitudinal metal strut, the distance to which from the rear panel is 300 mm. The rack supports hard drive cages, which are positioned so as not to interfere with the expansion slots. If desired, this part can be dismantled and moved to the side of the motherboard tray.

The longitudinal pillar has a removable door that is held in place by two thumbscrews. It has a decorative purpose and covers the mounting holes of the hard drive cages, which can be additionally screwed on this side for greater reliability.

There is a lot of interesting stuff on the motherboard tray. On the right there is a large cutout for the reinforcement plate of the processor cooler. Above it there are two rubberized holes for pulling wires. Two more large holes with rubber curtains are located in the center. Near them are attached two reusable Velcro strips, allowing you to quickly and easily assemble a bundle of wires. I counted 13 eyelets for attaching cable ties, including those on the bottom of the case. The space available from the tray to the side panel in width is 23 mm.

On the right, in the middle of the tray, two white carriages for 2.5″ drives are held on by thumb screws. If desired, they can be rearranged onto the power supply housing.

In the front of the case there is a compartment for hard drive cages, which are white carriages held on one side by the longitudinal stand, and the other by the motherboard tray. The fixing element is screws with knurled metal heads. There are four baskets at the top. To the right of them is the fan controller board. It can connect up to six three-pin propellers, which will operate at maximum speed, and three four-pin fans, the speed of which can be controlled using a PWM signal from the motherboard. To do this, you will need to include the supplied controller wire in any PWM connector on the board. This device is powered from the SATA Power connector.

There are two pre-installed 140mm fans in the front, the same model as the rear propeller. There are only six baskets for disks, but up to 12 baskets in any position can be installed along the entire height of the case.

At the bottom there are two more storage baskets. 3.5″ hard disks they are attached here through rubber gaskets with long screws, and 2.5″ disks are screwed directly with small screws. There is an eyelet in the lower right corner of each carriage that can be used to hook a cable tie if necessary.

The power supply seat has four rubber dampers at the bottom. The power supply slides in from the rear panel and is held on a special frame, which we already talked about earlier, so there are no problems with connecting the wires.

The front panel can be easily removed by pulling the notch on the bottom. It is held on by six plastic tulip-type fasteners. There are no wires connected to the panel.

This is what the front metal panel looks like without the plastic front:

As you can see, you can attach two 140mm or three 120mm fans here using regular screws. The 5.25″ bay mount is removable and held on by two screws. Unfortunately, there is no complete seal between it and the front panel, so there is a high probability that dust will pass there, bypassing the filter, as was the case in previous revisions of this chassis.

In order to expand the case's capabilities for installing large CBO radiators, you can move the side stand to the side of the motherboard. To do this, you will need to remove the front fans, the 5.25″ bay and unscrew two screws on the top, front and bottom of the chassis. Then move the panel and screw it back.

As a result, the case will be able to simultaneously accommodate CBO radiators of 420x140 mm format at the top, 360x120 mm or 280x140 mm at the front, and 240x120 mm or 280x140 mm at the bottom. IN this option chassis assembly becomes extremely similar to Fractal Design Define S in internal structure. The length of the cutout in the front of the power supply casing is 175 mm, which should be enough for the thickest radiators.

The top panel in this case is removable and usually requires only four screws to remove it. However, if the frame is attached to the side of the motherboard tray, you will need to remove two more screws from it to completely remove the frame.

Even with this assembly option, there is still room in the case for two 3.5″ hard drives. They can be hung vertically, on the side stand at the back, after screwing flat-head screws into them through rubber gaskets.

The set of cables includes a USB 3.0, HDAudio, USB 2.0 connector, standard cables from the system start and reset buttons, power and drive operation indicators, a four-pin connector for a PWM signal and a SATA Power connector from the fan controller. All cords are black and are long enough for normal connection to the motherboard.

Let's move on to assembling and testing the system.

Assembly

Assembly of the system in the Fractal Design Define R6 case is simple. The chassis is ideal for those who like to frequently change components in their system, since everything has direct and unobstructed access. The wires are distributed behind the tray without any problems.

Through the transparent side window, all the insides of the case are clearly visible. At the same time, excess cables are hidden from view.

Additional illumination of the components will most likely not be needed, although when assembling a massive CBO circuit, many certainly cannot resist the temptation to add a couple of LED strips here.

The blue system operation indicator is hidden under the start button and is almost invisible. The drive activity indicator LED has become less bright and unobtrusively blinks blue when accessed operating system to the disks.

Test stand

To test the cooling efficiency of components in the Fractal Design Define R6 case, the following configuration was used:

• processor: Core i5-6600K ([email protected] GHz, 1,300 V);
• cooler: Zalman CNPS10X Performa;
• motherboard: ASUS STRIX Z270G GAMING (Intel Z270);
• video card: MSI N770 TF 2GD5/OC ( Nvidia GeForce GTX 770);
• memory: HyperX Savage HX424C12SBK2/16 (2×4 GB, DDR4-2133, 15-15-15-36-2T, 1.20 V);
• SSD: Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 (64 GB, SATA 6Gb/s);
• HDD: Western Digital WD2000JS-00MHB0 (200 GB, SATA 3Gb/s, 7200 rpm);
• power supply: Aerocool P7-650W Platinum (650 W);
• thermal interface: Noctua NT-H1.

Testing methodology

The thermal load was created by simultaneously running LinX 0.6.5 stress tests with 2048 MB of dedicated memory and MSI Combustor 3.5.1.0 for 10 minutes after temperature stabilization. The hard drive was loaded with Crystal Disk Mark 5.2.2 x64. At the end of the test cycle, the system was idle for 10 minutes to determine minimum thermal performance. Temperature environment was equal to 25 degrees Celsius. The fan speeds of the processor cooler and video card are fixed at maximum speed. Peak system power consumption was 404 watts. Testing was carried out in a single comparison mode with an open stand. All case fans operated at maximum speed during the test.

Test results

Although this case could have benefited from adding significantly more propellers and opening the top panel to improve ventilation, we decided to test it in stock condition, as it is out of the box. Thus, the thermal test was completed with three stock turntables and the top panel closed. And I must say that it turned out quite well. The noise level was quite low, despite the fact that the processor and video card fans were running at full speed and roaring with all their might. In terms of processor temperature, there was a loss of 7 degrees, and for the video card - 9 degrees. The difference in other components was from two to four degrees, and the hard drive never got hot under load, maintaining the same temperature as when idle. In general, even in stock condition, the case copes with cooling an overclocked system with an average level of thermal power without any problems. And there are enormous opportunities to improve the cooling system. It all depends only on the desires and current needs of the user.

conclusions

Fractal Design Define R6 is another masterpiece from the Swedish company, which is the result of painstaking work on the mistakes of previous series. It’s also nice that the company’s engineers took into account the feedback and wishes of the IT community and ordinary customers. The result is a beautiful and very practical case, which is heavy, highly durable, spacious and well thought out in design.

Among the external improvements, it is worth noting the aluminum front panel overlay, a modular top panel with opening via a button, and side panels that are fastened with latches, which ensures their quick dismantling. The side glass no longer requires separate screws and can be installed like a regular panel with a minimum of effort. The front door can be reversed to open in any direction, all dust filters have a quick and easy access for service. The front panel can now be removed separately from the external ports; there is no need to first disconnect the cables.

Inside, the case has a modular design that makes it equally easy to implement massive air or liquid cooling, integrate a large number of drives, place components of any size, and choose the desired balance between the level of ventilation and noise insulation. And the built-in hub makes it easy to connect all the fans that can be installed in the case, without worrying about whether there are enough connectors on the motherboard.

Only two shortcomings were found, and they are not particularly significant. The first is that the top metal cover is difficult to separate from the filter grille, causing both parts to get scratches. The second point is a long-standing disease of the series, which consists in the fact that dust, as before, can penetrate inside through the uncovered 5.25″ compartment.

Fractal Design Define R6 is recommended for purchase by anyone who is looking for a solid and well-thought-out case made in a strict design. It has everything you need to assemble a system of any thermal power with air or liquid cooling.

The Swedish company Fractal Design is known in Russian market quite a long time ago. Its product range includes computer power supplies, various cooling systems and, of course, cases that differ good design and excellent workmanship.

This time, a rather interesting specimen from the Define line, which has six different models, intended not only for fans of modding, but also for all those who care about what a new personal computer will look like.

The Define S case format is Midi Tower, which means you can install an ATX form factor motherboard, as well as a video card and a full-size power supply.

Model name
Form factor
Case dimensions (W × H × D), mm	233 × 451 × 520
Body weight (net), kg
Housing material	Steel ~1 mm / Plastic
Color Variation	Black
External 5.25-inch bays, pcs.
External 3.5-inch bays, pcs.
Internal 3.5-/2.5-inch bays, pcs.
Expansion slots, pcs.
External ports	2 × USB 3.0, HD Audio
Motherboard support	ATX / Micro-ATX / Mini-ITX
Standard cooling system	Front fan: 1 × 140 mm Rear fan: 1 × 140 mm (~1000 rpm)
Possible cooling system	Front fan: 3 × 140 mm Top fan: 2 × 140 mm Rear fan: 1 × 140 mm Bottom fan 1 × 140 mm
Maximum video card length, mm
Maximum height of CPU cooler, mm
Maximum length of power supply, mm

⇡ Packaging and equipment

The case is packed in a nondescript cardboard box, on both sides of which you can see a schematic drawing of the product itself and a list of its advantages. It’s nice that among the variety of languages ​​you can also find Russian, although you will have to try hard to do this - all the inscriptions are in very small font. Another plus is that the box is equipped with two holes designed to make it easier to carry. A trifle, but nice.

In addition, Define S is equipped as standard with two 140 mm Dynamic GP-14 fans.

The main accessories are folded into a small box, which is placed in a special niche on a foam pad. Inside it you can find many bags with screws and other important “bells and whistles”, and to make it clear to the user what is where, a list of all applications is placed on the back of the package.

It is worth recognizing that the kit contains everything an assembler might need, including a special adapter for installing mounting posts.

I also liked the manual - it is quite voluminous and contains many illustrations, so you don’t have to read the text - the process of assembling a computer is intuitive.

⇡ Appearance and Design

Fractal Design Define S cases are available in two versions. They differ only in the presence of a special window designed for modding systems, so that the user has the opportunity to choose the most suitable option for him. We got just a case with a window that made it easy to see its contents.

The product is made in the Midi Tower form factor (“middle tower”), while its weight is about 9 kg. It is worth recognizing that the device has a fairly large width (233 mm), which allows not only to simplify the placement of components, but also to improve heat dissipation from them.

The design can be called not just quite nice, but even brutal - strict lines, there are no rounded corners or other “trinkets”. Everything is done quite modestly and tastefully, and the case looks good - most users now prefer this design.

Most of the components of the case under study are made of cold-rolled steel, the measured thickness of which (including coating) is 1 mm, which is a very good indicator (that's where this mass comes from). Naturally, there is also plastic: it is present on the front and top panels, and it is worth saying that the quality of processing is high - at least, we did not find any traces of casting.

The front panel is secured with eight latches. Removing it is quite easy, and the user gets access to a 140 mm fan covered with a nylon mesh. There are no wires suitable for the panel, since there are no connectors or controls on it - they are all located on a separate block located in the upper part.

In principle, there is nothing unusual there - a pair of connectors for connecting a microphone and headphones, two USB port 3.0 (and black), power and reset buttons, as well as an indicator light.

Right side panel is equipped with a noise insulation plate, whereas this is not provided on the left one. However, in the modification without an acrylic window, sound insulation is present on both panels.

The rear panel layout is typical for modern computers. Bottom position of the power supply, one 140 mm fan (there is no room for additional ones), seven plugs (secured with screws) for expansion slots and a standard stamping for the panel motherboard. It's funny that there are no holes for liquid cooling, although the manufacturer clearly indicates the preference for this particular method of heat removal.

The upper part of the case is equipped with three ModuVent plugs, under which ventilation holes are hidden. There is noise insulation here too, although of a different type.

The bottom panel contains two air intakes covered with a removable nylon mesh. One of them is shifted towards the power supply, while the second is located almost in the center.

There are four rubber feet on the bottom that raise the body by 15 mm. In principle, nothing unusual.

⇡ Internal structure, assembly features

In this case, the layout is typical for cases with a bottom-mounted power supply. However, if you pay attention to the front part, you will immediately notice the complete absence of compartments for installing hard drives and DVD drives. This is done in order to place liquid cooling components in this place, so that the drives will have to be mounted on the reverse side, for which there are five places there to accommodate three devices in the 3.5-inch form factor and two SSD drives. Alas, in this case you will have to forget about installing 5.25-inch devices - this is simply not provided for by the manufacturer.

The hidden wiring system is built quite competently - all the holes are in the right places, and they are equipped with rubber inserts to prevent contact of the braid with the metal. There are also four Velcro ties, pre-installed in the designated places. In general, everything has been thought out to the smallest detail.

The included brass bushings are used to secure the computer motherboard; there are no special stampings on the panel. The length of the video accelerator can reach 450 mm (425 mm in the presence of front fans), while the maximum height of the processor radiator is limited to 190 mm, which will allow you to easily install almost any coolers.

The power supply is located at the rear bottom of the device. To reduce vibrations, there is a soft polyurethane insert in the place where the screws are attached, as well as four rubber feet that prevent direct contact with the bottom surface of the case.

⇡ Cooling system

The consumer receives a case equipped with two 140 mm fans on hydrodynamic bearings, the rotation speed of which is 100 rpm. The first of them is located on the front panel and works as a blower, providing cooling for the video adapter, while the second is located on the rear panel and serves to remove hot air. If this is not enough for the user, it is possible to install six more fans (for a model with an acrylic window) - for this purpose, mounting spaces are provided on the bottom, front and top panels.

There are no reo basses, as well as backlighting, although all this can be installed if desired. In addition, the manufacturer has provided special devices for securing liquid reservoirs and DDC pumps.

Continuing Study interesting models cases, the new Fractal Design Define S came to our attention. It was presented in the first half of this year and is now available on the Russian market in two versions: with and without a side window. The difference in price between them is minimal, the version without a window is suitable for those who are looking for maximum silence, and the version with a window is for those who like to be surprised and enjoy the hardware. At the time of testing, the average cost, according to the Yandex.Market service, is 7,000 rubles.

We have already tested the Define series; we liked the cases for their balance between minimalism and silence. In this series, users now have a choice of both dimensions and characteristics, as well as cost. You can choose a solution to suit your wallet and components. It entered the market after the Define R5, offering a new layout and orientation for water cooling.

Video review of Fractal Design Define S

Equipment

Fractal Design Define S is supplied in a package made of unpainted cardboard, there are no handles for transportation, there are only cutouts on the sides. The technical characteristics and features of the model are described in detail on the reverse side. The design of the housing is also illustrated here.

The inside of the case is fixed in foam, protecting it from damage during transportation. For ease of assembly, an illustrated booklet is provided; it will be useful for studying the supported cooling systems.

The package includes: a set of screw fasteners, stands for the motherboard, fasteners for the liquid cooling system reservoir, an adapter for a screwdriver, cable ties, and an advertising booklet.

Appearance

Fractal Design Define S is a classic representative of its series. Calm Swedish design with a minimal amount of decorative elements. This is its highlight.

Characteristic right angles and lines.

It belongs to the Midi-Tower form factor. Dimensions are 233x451x520 mm with a weight of 9.1 kg. Low height and increased width. There should be no problems with installing monstrous processor cooling systems. Plus, the motherboard tray space is effectively used. The baskets for installing hard drives are hidden here.

The body is based on cold-rolled steel with a thickness of 0.8 mm. External surfaces are painted with matte black paint. There are no problems with fingerprints.

There is plastic here only in a small area in the connector area and on the front panel. But even here it is stylized as metal with a polished surface, and does not look cheap. Both covers in the Fractal Design Define S version without a side window have an anti-vibration coating applied. A similar coating is used for soundproofing cars. On one of the covers there is a seat for a 120/140mm fan with a plug.

The covers are attached using thumbscrews, the screws are held in the connector. There are no 5.25-inch bays on the front. This was done to install massive radiators for liquid cooling systems.

There are cutouts along the edges of the front side for air circulation. If necessary, the panel can be removed; it will be useful for easy installation of radiators and cleaning the dust filter. There is also access to the fan here.

Another fan with a white impeller is located on the rear panel. There is no filter provided here; it works by blowing. The power supply is located at the bottom. Seven expansion slots.

A pair of control buttons (power on and reset), two audio jacks and a pair of USB 3.0 are located on the top cover.

There are three caps on the top panel of Fractal Design Define S. There is also a sticker of soundproofing material.

Ventilation holes are provided at the bottom of the case. Here you can fix two additional fans. There is a removable dust filter.

The case stands on four plastic legs with a rubber pad. The quality of workmanship is top notch, attention to detail and scrupulous attention to detail - all that is why the Define series is loved.

Filling

The first thing that catches your eye when you remove the side cover is the complete absence of baskets and stands in the main chamber. There is scope for installing complex liquid cooling systems.

A system of neat organization of wires has been thought out; it is possible to achieve almost complete absence of wiring in the main chamber.

There are three holes in the wall with rubber inserts for routing power and data wires.

There are four logoed Velcro strips on the back, plus the kit includes plastic zip ties.

I liked the large cutout area of ​​the Fractal Design Define S in the area of ​​the processor socket. Installing the reinforcement plate does not require removing the system board.

The depth of the main chamber allows you to install a radiator up to 18 cm high. The length will not create difficulties for installing a video card up to 42.5 cm long (if you remove the fans on the case up to 45 cm).

Installation of boards of the following formats is supported: ATX, micro ATX and Mini-ITX. The pallet has a stand for centering the board. The power supply is located at the bottom, there are legs with soft pads. The cutout on the wall has a rubber coating. Fractal Design Define S has space for five drives (three 3.5 inches and two 2.5 inches). They are mounted on the back of the pallet in a vertical position. Anti-vibration pads are provided for 3.5-inch disks.

Nine 140/120mm fans can be installed inside the case (three on top, three on front, one on rear, one on bottom, one on side). Installation of two radiators of a liquid cooling system (top up to 420mm, front up to 360mm).

Testing Fractal Design Define S

The load on all main elements is applied using AIDA 64 (stress test) and Prime 95. Data is taken 30 minutes after the start of the load. I was pleasantly pleased with the noise level, standard systems no cooling is heard. Ideally during assembly new system It is worth paying attention to the water cooling system.

Summary of Fractal Design Define S

Fractal Design Define S will be an excellent choice when building a system on ATX motherboards. There is enough space inside for comfortable installation of an air-cooling radiator, massive video cards, and radiators for liquid cooling systems. I was pleased with the organization of the internal space and the lack of racks for hard drives. It is worth considering that there are no 5.25-inch bays here, if optical discs gone into history, then installing a fan control panel would not be superfluous. Sound insulation on a bitumen basis, anti-dust filters, quality of workmanship and assembly will play in favor of the purchase.

Fractal Design Define S receives the well-deserved award "Gold...

Good afternoon, dear participants and guests of the CSN Experts Club!

Today we will look at the Define C computer case, made in the midi-Tower form factor, developed by the company Fractal Design, which is quite well known in certain circles. Surely you will be interested to know that the homeland of the company is harsh Sweden. A country with a similar climate and magnificent natural beauty as in Russia. The company cannot boast of a century-old history, however, a great journey into the world of elegant, stylish and functional cases began in 2007. On this moment Scandinavian design has become recognizable, which is quite important for any company - an example is Samsung, which adjusts the design of smartphones from year to year, but does not carry out a global redesign. Thanks to this, any new model companies will be correctly identified almost immediately. Helps you remain yourself Feedback. Company Fractal Design listens to the company's partners and product users, responding to market demands. All products Fractal Design carefully designed and tested at our head office in Sweden.

New product development begins with understanding what system unit is an element of the interior rather than a technological product made in high-tech style. In understanding the brand Fractal Design Computers don't just make life easier, they determine the functionality and design of our home, workspace and our mood. Ideally, it should fit into the interior of the room and become almost invisible, bringing harmony to the surrounding space.

In addition to branded cases Fractal Design case fans, power supplies (rated power from 450 W to 750 W), water cooling are produced central processor, as well as some accessories, represented by side walls with a window for some case models. However, I suggest moving on to the review of the case Define C, and as always, let's talk about technical characteristics.

SPECIFICATIONS

# Common parameters
# Model: Fractal Design Define C
# Main Color: Black

# Form factor and dimensions
# Form factor of compatible boards: Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, ATX
# Case size: Midi-Tower
# HTPC Case: No

# power unit
# Built-in power supply: No
# PSU placement: Bottom
# Limit height of power supply unit: No more than 175 mm

# Design
# Docking station for HDD/SSD: No
# Case material: Steel
# Number of 5.25" bays: No
# Number internal compartments 3.5": 2 + 2 (optional, instead of top fans)
# Position of 3.5" drive baskets: Bottom, across the body
# Number of internal 2.5" bays: 3
# Number of expansion slots: 7 pcs.
# Maximum video card length: 420 mm
# Maximum CPU cooler height: 168 mm

# Cooling
# Fans included: 2 x 120 mm
# Front fan support: 3 x 120 mm or 3 x 140 mm
# Rear fan support: 1x 120mm
# Top fan support: 2 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm
# Bottom fan support: 1 x 120mm
# #Side Fan Support: No
# Possibility of installing liquid cooling: Yes
# Fan control unit: No
# Dust filters: bottom, top, front

# Front panel connectors and interfaces
# Quantity and USB type Ports: 2 x USB 3.0
# Audio connectors: headphone output 3.5, microphone input 3.5
# eSATA Interfaces: No
# Built-in card reader: No

# Ease of assembly
#
# Screwless mounting in 3.5" bays: No
# Cable routing behind the rear wall: Yes
# Cutout in the CPU cooler mounting area: Yes

# Modding
# Presence of a window on the side wall: Yes
# Backlight: No

# Additional Information
# Contents: 2 x Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP12 fan, documentation, set of accessories, dust filter
# Side lock: No

# Dimensions, weight
# Length: 413 mm
# Width: 210 mm
# Height: 440 mm
# Weight: 6.8 kg

Currently the line of cases Fractal Design has four model range: ARC, CORE, DEFINE and NODE. Each of them is focused on a specific application, but we will turn our attention to DEFINE- according to the manufacturer, this line is focused on quiet computing. Working space of the case Define C optimized for high airflow, allowing air to flow freely around key components. TO key features The case includes dense sound-absorbing material, which is glued to the side panels, front panel, and also to the top panel with ModuVent plugs.

This model is offered with both a blind side panel and a window. The case comes complete with an additional magnetic nylon dust filter, which can be installed instead of the top panel with ModuVent plugs. The special structure of the case allows you to place up to 7 fans of various sizes (120 or 140 mm), as well as up to 7 drives. However, this will be discussed below; it will not be possible to place 7 drives and 7 fans at the same time; this point will be discussed in more detail below. The power supply and 3.5 drive bay are hidden behind a shroud for excellent appearance the inner surface of the case, and also allows you to hide the wires.

IMPORTANT! Case Feature Define C is the lack of installation options external devices 3.5" and 5.25". You need to remember this - you won’t be able to install a fan speed controller, card reader or disk drive!

PACKING, DELIVERY SET

The packaging is made exclusively for this model. The case is supplied in a corrugated cardboard box, decorated in black and white. On the front side there is a schematic image of the case with a transparent side wall, the name of the manufacturer and model is indicated. The main technical characteristics are indicated on the side. The reverse side pleases the eye with a spaced-out image of the components of the case, which allows you to get a general impression of the functionality of this model.

The housing, placed inside the box, is wrapped in plastic film and placed between two foam inserts that act as dampers. For safety reasons, the delivery kit is placed inside the case, which reduces the risk of damage to a minimum. The placement is tricky, it was not possible to find everything right away.

Complete case fans are supplied installed on the inner surface of the front and rear panels. In addition to these, the package includes:

A set of hardware intended for fastening components and a multilingual instruction manual.

Dust filter.

Box with hardware:

 

GENERAL VIEW OF THE CASE

Minimalism in the design of the case, a front panel made of polished aluminum, and a laconic design - all this is present in the case Fractal Design Define C . The appearance is really modest, but at the same time elegant. The eye simply glides over it and does not cause irritation, unlike many cases with a clutter of all kinds of design elements and lighting.

This is neither good nor bad [we are talking about cases overloaded with details], people are different and everyone chooses the appearance to their liking. Often, the downside of choosing only based on appearance is reduced functionality and ineffective cooling of installed components. Therefore, when choosing a case, never forget about its main purpose - effective cooling.

Personally, I am close to “Scandinavian design” in execution Fractal Design and I wouldn’t want anything more... however, perhaps it’s age and if I were younger my choice would be different.

FRONT PANEL

The front panel is a solid plate made of semi-matte plastic and stylized as polished aluminum. In the upper part there is a U-shaped rectangular cutout combined with a PC activity indicator (the indicator is built into the control panel of the case).

There are horizontal rectangular slots on the sides of the front panel. In addition to their design function, these slots act as air ducts and are intended for air intake.

A fairly dense soundproofing material is glued to the reverse side of the panel. The absence of any connections to the panel on the chassis side allows it to be removed without the risk of damaging the chassis components.

To remove the front panel, you must remove the side panels of the case. The photo above clearly shows that fasteners are located along the long sides of the panel. Two elements on each side are used as guides, four are the actual latches that secure the panel to the chassis. In the next photo on the left are the guides, on the right are the latches. For ease of perception, these elements are highlighted.

In addition, instead of fans, it is possible to install a water cooling system. More details about this are provided in the operating instructions. The dust filter completely covers the front panel of the chassis, eliminating the possibility of dust penetration. On the left is a view with the front panel removed (+), on the right is the front panel with the filter removed. At the top of the chassis there is a control unit with a built-in drive operation indicator. In addition, the included fan is clearly visible in the right photo. The front panel configuration shown in the photo allows you to place two fans with a diameter of 120 mm or 140 mm. To install the third fan, designed to ventilate the 3.5" drive bay, you must remove the decorative cover (highlighted in an orange rectangle).

The dust filter located behind the front panel is made of nylon. The filter design allows for quick removal, but to do this you will have to remove both side and front panels. The photo clearly shows two latches, i.e. The filter can be installed in only one position. It's difficult to confuse.

REAR PANEL

The back side is a solid panel cut from a sheet of metal with perforations. In the upper part there is a seat for a 120 mm fan, let me remind you that it is supplied in the kit. Vertical grooves allow adjustment of the fan position in the vertical plane. In the middle part there are seven plugs for expansion slots, each of them is perforated. In my opinion, perforation is not frequent enough. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that almost the entire body is assembled with rivets.

Each plug is secured with a thumbscrew. To provide greater clamping force, each screw can be tightened with a PH2 screwdriver.

At the bottom there is a compartment for the power supply. The compartment is equipped with a removable frame, facilitating the installation and subsequent removal of the power supply.

SIDE PANELS

The left side panel (when viewed from the “face”) is equipped with a viewing window, covered on both sides with shipping film to prevent accidental damage. It should be noted that this model is available without a window, in which case the model code will not have the W symbol at the end.

Left side panel without protective film.

The window is attached quite simply; in principle, it can be removed a couple of times before the fasteners break off.

The panel is fixed with wing screws, preventing it from falling out of the hole.

The right side panel is blank.

Sound-absorbing material is glued to the inner surface of the panel.

The thickness of the material commands respect. The panel is fixed with wing screws, preventing it from falling out of the hole.

The stamping, which plays the role of a “handle,” helps to facilitate the removal of the panel.

TOP PANEL

The top panel allows you to:

If there is no need for additional cooling, leave the top panel blank. In this case, the plug remains in place;
- install a case cooling fan, size 120 mm or 140 mm;
- install a water cooling unit;
- install one or two HDDs; naturally, the installed drive will take the place of one of the fans.

As you can see in the photo, the top panel structurally consists of three elements - the panel body itself, inserts with ModuVent plugs and the housing control unit.

Under the plug there is a standard perforation with grooves that allow you to install fans and adjust their position.

Perforation is made over the entire surface.

Sound-absorbing material is glued to the inside of the insert with ModuVent plugs.

The dust filter, installed in the case of fans, is equipped on the inside with a rubber-like insert with magnetic properties that ensures fixation.

CONTROL BLOCK

The PC control unit is located in the same plane as the top panel. On it are located (from bottom to top) a headphone and microphone jack, a reset button, a power button and two USB 3.0 ports (despite the lack of blue color). In addition, an operation indicator is built into the power button. Under the work button there is an activity indicator for PC drives.

Despite the vertical arrangement of the USB ports relative to each other, they are spaced far enough apart, which allows you to avoid problems when connecting wide drives.

THE BOTTOM PANEL

The bottom panel doubles as the base of the case; the legs are attached to it. The method of attachment to the chassis is rivets. The photo shows the bottom panel with a dust filter installed.

The height of the legs is 20 mm. Framed with a chrome-plated plastic ring. Structurally made of rubber, which eliminates slipping and reduces the likelihood of extraneous sounds caused by vibration of housing elements.

View of the bottom panel without the dust filter. The perforation on the right side is a place for installing a control unit. The perforation on the left side is a place for installing a basket with storage devices. Instead of a cage with drives, you can install a case cooling fan. The slots are designed for installation of a 120 mm fan.

The design of the dust filter slide ensures free exit of the filter from under the housing and does not require dismantling any parts.

View of the sled, close-up.

INTERNAL ORGANIZATION

The hull chassis in all its glory. Virtually no hanging elements. The fans in the photo are included in the package. Diagonal double slots - for fastening plastic ties.

One of the distinctive features of this case model is the lower casing that hides the power supply compartment and storage cage. I'm getting ahead of myself a little - in the photo below you can clearly see that the fan hangs over the casing. It is physically impossible to install three fans and close the drive cage cover. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a photo with the cover installed (in the photo, at the top, there is a place to install it), however, I managed to find something.

Naturally, a case of this level has windows for exiting cables from the compartment with the installed motherboard. In the center of the photo, windows are clearly visible, framed with rubber inserts that prevent damage to the wires when they are laid. Here and further it is clear - cable management is at the proper level. The safety of fastening the wires, the secrecy of the wiring and the places for attaching plastic ties have been thought out. The plate in the center is where 2.5" drives are installed. At the top of the photo there is a perforated top panel.

General view of the case, slots for cable exit.

The rear part of the chassis with free internal space is intended for laying cables and placing the power supply and storage basket.

On the left side there is a route with cables from the control unit; inside the chassis the cables are fixed with proprietary Velcro. There's nothing stopping you from using Velcro to secure your own cables.

Control unit cables with standard connectors.

In the upper part there is a horizontal plate designed for mounting three 2.5" drives. The plate is attached to the case and secured with a thumbscrew.

In the lower left part there is a basket with a compartment for two 3.5" drives.

Thanks to the grooves and to allow installation of a third fan on the front panel, the basket can be moved.

The drive holder, installed inside the basket, is equipped with rubber inserts for fastening hard drive. The inserts minimize possible vibrations of the HDD on the housing. Installing an HDD with a holder into the basket does not require additional tools.

To conclude our review of the housing design, I would like to note the excellent design of all three nylon dust filters. They are framed and have sufficient thickness and tension. There are no complaints about them. The design of the filters is quick-removable, which ensures quick cleaning of dust, including under running water. But don’t forget about subsequent drying; installing wet filters in the housing is strictly prohibited!

WATER COOLING

It should be noted that there is another possibility offered by the developers of the case - the possibility of installing a water cooling system. Due to the lack of a compatible system, testing was not carried out, but I would like to note that the water cooling unit, according to the instructions, can be installed on the front or top panel. Naturally, this eliminates the possibility of installing cooling fans in the same places.

INSTALLATION OF FANS

First of all, I would like to remind you that the case comes with two fans. Fractal Design DYNAMIC X2 GP-12, 120 mm, 1200 rpm, 12 V, 0.12 A. The fan blades are white, in the center there is a branding in the form of a part of a snowflake. Installed fans have been shown in photographs more than once.

In addition, in order to fully test the case, it was decided to install additional fans in standard places. The author was faced with a dilemma - install the maximum possible number of fans (let me remind you - 7 pieces) or “load” the case to the maximum by installing two 3.5" form factor HDDs and sacrificing one bottom panel fan. As a result, it was decided to assemble a cooling system without the seventh fan, but with the HDD cage loaded. In this case, it was not possible to close the drive cage plug, but it was possible to install a 120 mm fan to blow the cage.

Cooling fan kit.

Front panel - three fans. Fractal Design DYNAMIC X2 GP-12 (120 mm, 1200 rpm) - two units, Fractal Design Silent R3 (120 mm, 1200 rpm).
Top panel - two fans. Fractal Design VENTURI HF-14 (140 mm, 1200 rpm), Fractal Design VENTURI HP-14 (140 mm, 1500 rpm).
Rear panel - one fan. Fractal Design DYNAMIC X2 GP-12 (120 mm, 1200 rpm).

Let's briefly look at the above fan models.

Fractal Design VENTURI HP-14, 140 mm, 1500 rpm, 12 V, 0.2 A.

The fan kit includes a PWM Y-cable and rubber adapters that allow you to install this model into standard mounting slots for 120 mm fans.

Fractal Design VENTURI HF-14, 140 mm, 1200 rpm, 12 V, 0.3 A.

The fan kit includes a module that reduces the rotation speed and rubber adapters that allow you to install this model in standard mountings for 120 mm fans.

Fractal Design DYNAMIC X2 GP-12, 120 mm, 1200 rpm, 12 V, 0.12 A.

Contents of delivery.

Fractal Design Silent Series R3, 140 mm, 1000 rpm, 12 V, 0.2 A.

Contents of delivery.

Let's start the installation. The photo below shows the placement of the three front panel fans.

Top panel fans

INSTALLATION

Finally, we have come to the most important and, dare I say it, pleasant moment. To say that I spent a lot of time and effort is an understatement. Assembly and photography took at least three hours. Please note that all necessary hardware is supplied in the kit. Those. for attaching the motherboard, drives and power supply. Let's start with that. Installation is easy. Initially, the complete frame is screwed to the power supply. Next, the power supply unit with the frame is inserted into the compartment and secured with wing screws.

It looks like this.

Install on the panel SSD drive, fix it with screws on the reverse side.

Install the panel into the chassis.

After this, we install the motherboard, graphics card and carry out cable routing, striving for ideal cable management. The reverse side of the wiring performed by the author looks like this.

The front side, so to speak, looks like this.

View from a different angle. Pay attention to the drive bay cover on the right side of the case. She's gone. Installing a third fan on the front panel deprives us of the installation option. Fortunately, the upper surface of the drive bay is made in the same color scheme, like the rest of the body, and is not so noticeable.

- FurMark 1.18.2.0 - MSAA 8x, FullScreen, Dynamic background, Burn-in, Xtreme burn-in, Post-FX;
- LinX 0.6.5 - memory capacity 2048 MB, 8 threads;
- RealTemp 3.7;
- CrystalDiskInfo 6.2.1.

Description of testing methodology:

The HDD load simulation was performed by copying a large array of information from one logical drive to another.
The supplied fans are connected to the motherboard.
Additional fans are directly connected to the power supply.
Test programs were launched simultaneously. Before taking readings, warm-up was carried out for 10 minutes.
The processor temperature was recorded using the RealTemp 3.7 program, and the arithmetic mean temperature of the processor cores was calculated for the graph.
The temperature of the graphics card was recorded according to the readings of the FurMark software.
Registration hard temperature disk was carried out using CrystalDiskInfo.
The fan installation diagram is given in the FAN INSTALLATION section.
Room temperature - 25 °C.

I cannot help but draw your attention to:

1) The standard cooling of the GIGABYTE Radeon R9 390X GAMING graphics card is not efficient enough. Taking into account that the largest change in temperature of this graphics card was 5 ° C, we can conclude that any other card with more effective system cooling, the temperature drop will be more significant.

2) The cooling system of this video card creates a significant level of noise, the magnitude of which is almost impossible to reduce, even by installing it in a specialized case with sound-absorbing panels.

Based on the test results, the following can be highlighted:

1. The most effective cooling mode is open side panel. At the same time, an ideal noise/temperature ratio is maintained.

2. Two fans, each installed respectively on the front (air intake) and rear (air exhaust) panels, are ineffective. And, in fact, they are not much different from a closed case with the fans turned off.

3. A quantum leap when it comes to temperature individual elements case, occurs when two top panel fans are turned on to remove air from the case. In this case, the hot air from the graphics card and processor, rising upward, is removed from the case. Those. we can say that this case model in the above composition test bench, shows the best results. In addition to the qualitative jump (speaking of temperature), there is a significant increase in noise generated by the system as a whole.

4. Further connection of additional front panel fans does not lead to a higher temperature value.

5. We can definitely say that turning off the third fan and closing the drive bay with a standard plug will lead to an inevitable increase in the temperature of the HDD. At the same time, replacing the lower basket with an additional fan may lead to a decrease in the temperature of individual components. But to do this, you need to leave the drive basket cover open.

SUMMARIZING

To summarize, I would like to say the following. What we have before us is an excellent, high-quality and well-thought-out case from an engineering point of view. It is impossible not to note the stylish appearance, as well as the presence of a power supply casing and a storage cage. The visual perception of the case greatly benefits from this. Obviously, the main audience is users aged 30+. It does not have the newfangled RGB lights, neon stripes, or opening panels - but it has an excellent, well-thought-out design that allows you to place the necessary elements effectively and exactly as you require.

The absence of a drive bay in its usual form allows you to install a graphics card with a length of at least 310 mm. At the same time, installing a water cooling unit on the front panel will reduce the allowable length of the graphics card. The maximum height of the CPU fan in the windowed version is limited to 165mm. Model without viewing window - 170 mm. Although the world is gradually moving away from laser discs, the inability to install a Blu-Ray drive makes us feel like we've been cheated somewhere. On the other hand, you need to remember this, the case is designed exactly this way and no other way, and focus attention when selecting a model. At the same time, we received a compact model, while saving on development/production/logistics (the body is smaller in size, it requires less materials and a standard pallet will fit more boxes), the same money was invested in functionality, materials and stylish appearance .

I recommend choosing a model without a window, because... in this case, and for less money, we get a second sound-absorbing panel of considerable area. A relative disadvantage is the increased noise level that occurs when additional fans operate, when the latter are powered with a voltage of 12 V. A further decrease in the voltage, in addition to reducing the noise level, also entails a decrease in cooling efficiency. This is probably the main disadvantage of the case - installing all the fans in additional places with a 12 V power supply entails an increased noise level, I would even say not comfortable during long-term work on a PC. Despite the fact that the two regular ones work almost silently. When purchasing this model with a view to retrofitting it with case fans, you should think about reducing the fan supply voltage. In this case, you will get a balanced system with efficient and quiet cooling.

A lot has been said, but I would like to convey the main idea - the case is worth the money and I honestly recommend it for purchase.

Pros of FD Define C :

Great design;
Convenient cable management;
Convenient location of additional interfaces;
Separate compartment for power supply and drives;
Excellent technical implementation of all body elements;
Ease of maintenance of dust filters;
Excellent package;
Compact body with excellent functionality.

Cons of FD Define C :

Despite the positioning - high level noise when installing additional fans;
The implementation of the drive bay casing plug has not been thought through;
In places there is insufficient chassis rigidity;
Despite the vibration-isolating inserts, the HDD holder has some play.

PS. Thank you to the readers for your attention, and to the CSN company for the platform for posting the review! See you again!

P.S.S. The introductory section, as well as the section “About the model”, was prepared using materials posted on the official Russian-language website of the company Fractal Design and may not coincide with the opinion of the author.

10.12.2015 17:18

The Swedish wizards from the Fractal Design company surprised us with many things: impressive modern design, innovative developments in terms of proper distribution of work space inside the case, successful ideas for orienting the air defense system inside the case, etc.

Getting acquainted with every new product from this company is not only an aesthetic pleasure and a kind of exchange of experience with people who know and experiment, it is also the generation of new ideas for organizing the workspace inside iron wilds.

Fractal Design Define S is essentially an uncompromising case when it comes to a powerful gaming system that plans to deploy a water cooling system or a tandem of several video cards.

The case will be of interest to fans of very large processor coolers, as well as collectors of various information, because a whole side on the back plate of the motherboard is reserved for drives, but first things first.

External features

From the outside, the Fractal Design Define S is a Scandinavian gentleman in black. Design covers extremely conservative. There is nothing for the eye to catch on at all, except for the connectors and buttons at the top of the case, as well as the dust filters at the bottom of the device.

High legs are also attached there for greater stability of the Fractal Design Define S; the elements are similar to the parts used in audio receivers.

Needless to say, the quality of the steel used in Fractal Design Define S is excellent? All fasteners, walls, screw blocks work flawlessly.

Internal Features

All the most interesting things in Fractal Design Define S are hidden under two side steel covers (you can also remove the front one, under which you will find a large dust filter and mounting points for 140 mm fans; By the way, a couple of these are already installed in the case - front and back), which are secured with screws.

The interior space of Fractal Design Define S is essentially one large rectangle of the correct shape and volume. Nothing extra inside.

Almost all planes and holes of the case are left to the user. He has the right to dispose of the available space as he pleases - place an SVO here or mount from two to four graphics adapters(length up to 450 mm each, without any restrictions). There is definitely enough space for everything.

It’s so spacious inside that you get the feeling that you can climb inside yourself, literally jump into this steel house.

Please note that there are no baskets for storage drives and drives inside the Fractal Design Define S, as in the classic Tower cases that we have long been accustomed to.

Hard drives and SSDs are mounted on the reverse side. There are seats for them with recesses and rubberized gaskets that protect them from vibrations.

Thus, the inside of the case, reserved for the power supply, motherboard and peripherals, is completely free from excess metal and frames. Brilliant.

Two independent The compartments are connected by numerous openings with membranes and Velcro latches to secure the wires and ensure proper air flow inside.

Fractal Design Define S was uniquely designed experienced craftsmen with the determination to implement the original idea-concept. The thought and technical message of the case are obvious at first glance.

Just look inside or at the photographs. On the one hand, everything is as simple as possible, on the other, it’s impossible to imagine anything better. Finally, innovative ideas have appeared in the field of Tower cases for E-ATX and ATX form factors.

Results

Let us repeat once again that Fractal Design Define S turned out to be essentially an uncompromising case for demanding, even somewhat ultimatum, users. This is probably why the price is 100 euro(in terms of the current ruble exchange rate, the price is no higher than the European one) does not seem exorbitant.

And how many similar solutions have you seen from competitors?

Fractal Design Define S can survive even the apocalypse; the body is built to last: thick steel, massive legs. Once assembled inside, your PC will be safe for decades.