Fractal Design Define 7 Black & White Brushed Aluminum/Steel E-ATX Silent Modular Tempered Glass Window Mid Tower Computer Case

Product Information

The case is incredibly versatile, with a removable ODD cage and repositionable HDD slots. This allows you to rearrange the case to your preference. You can also adjust the top cover vent to enhance the cooling and mounting options. Customers praised the amount of room available within the case for a range of fans and other components. I should have mentioned I'll be moving over another 1TB SSD and a 1TB HDD from my old PC, so hopefully that gives me enough storage. The case is made of thin aluminum to provide a lightweight feel to the case. Great, should you need to move the PC around? However, some customers noted that the aluminum felt quite thin, and when screwing or moving the case, it does not appear overly sturdy. This issue was not widely reported but is one to consider when purchasing your quiet PC case.

Load testing is conducted using Prime95 LFFTs and Kombustor “FurMark” stress testing simultaneously. Testing is completely automated using in-house scripting, and executes with perfect accuracy on every run. Thermal TestingLook out for cases that come with built-in fans or have enhanced airflow that will allow for a smoother and quieter operation. If you are purchasing your fans, look out for ones labeled as a quiet operation to help keep the noise levels down. To glass or not to glass? Silence-optimized construction with industrial sound-damping bitumen on the front, top, and side panels I deleted the irrelevant lines to save space. I will be using my current system home 1TB Samsung m.2 SSD so there's no windows and only 1 drive in the spec.

The PC case features a solid construction of brushed aluminum to deliver durability without any excess weight! The refined front door features dual-handed reversible hinges and a magnetic latch for excellent access. For GPU thermals with Blender, the Define 7 does OK and is in the middle of the results. At 25.8 delta T over ambient, we don’t really have anything to complain about or to praise. The CPU thermals ar ehigh, though, at 31 degrees versus neighboring results of 27, 22, and 28 degrees over ambient. Standardized Fans Fractal’s Define 7 shows itself again underwhelming for CPU performance, ranking toward the lower third of results. The Define 7 is near the S2 Vision, which is one of the worst cases we’ve tested recently, and the C700P. That said, none of these are particularly bad in CPU thermals, and Blender doesn’t establish much of a top-to-bottom difference to begin with. It’s a lightweight load, and goes to show that only the truly terrible designs -- like the DTW case -- are able to deviate in big ways from the mean.There is also a range of USB ports, including a USB-C for faster charging, mic and audio slots, and seven slots! You also get space for additional fans too; you can tailor the PC to your specific needs! I question, however, the mix you have between CPU and GPU. The 10-core 12600KF is something equivalent to a 5800X in AMD terms and seems overkill. The GPU is pretty much low end now for 1080p and not really up to scratch for VR.

Cooling fitment has grown quite a lot compared to previous Define series chassis. Define 7 can fit up to nine 120 or 140mm fans. The XL version can fit up to eleven 120mm fans or nine 140mm fans. Radiator fitment for the Define 7 can fit up to a 360mm or 280mm up front; the top can fit up to 360mm or 420mm, the rear is up to 120mm, and the bottom even offers up to 240 or 280mm. The XL version offers up to 480mm or 420mm in the front and top, while the rear and bottom provide the same 120 and 240 or 280mm mix. The CPU air cooler limit should you opt for a tower that would be 185mm on both the standard and XL models. Both the standard Define 7 and the XL version come with three 140mm based DC chassis fans, two in the front intake and one rear as exhaust. Standardized thermal testing puts the Define 7 at a natural disadvantage, because it’s one of the only cases we’ve worked with that runs as quietly as it does; in fact, the Define 7 is below our 36dBA normalized threshold for noise testing, plotting instead at 34.6dBA, and that’s with its included fans at maximum speed. Even still, with this noted, the case is doing better in CPU thermals than a few others on the chart. An extra 1dBA worth of fan RPMs honestly wouldn’t change much in this setup, anyway, but might propel it more toward the O11 XL or Helios. The GPU thermals put the Define 7 actually very near the top of the chart. This, we think, is again because of the GPU intake through the rear of the case as a result of the pressure system being created. Conclusion: Fractal Define 7 ReviewYou wouldn’t have to wait for AMD’s new processors, even their current ones will trounce Intel’s for your requirements. The XL model comes standard with eight 3.5" and 2.5" mounts and can expand up to eighteen. 2.5" fitment for the XL is the same two included but can be expanded up to five total with extra trays. PSU fitment for both models is virtually unlimited with the preinstalled single HDD cage. The PSU area reaches up to 353mm with one cage in the Define 7 while the XL reaches up to 386mm. Installing two HDD cages drops PSU length to 227mm and 260mm for the XL version. This is more than enough for any current-gen PSU, even the insane long 1600W units. We can get ourselves a quiet PC case; that’s what we can do! The market has exploded with more of us craving a silent operation; quiet PC cases will use many technologies to keep the noise to a minimum. Unfortunately, they can’t do anything about the shouting when you get shot mid-heist! Corsair has fitted two 120mm fans to ensure airflow in the closed-faced design. There is also a 3-speed fan controller that powers on overdrive when required to maintain an excellent machine. The controller also helps to keep the PC as quiet as possible while you are using it. Being in control of the fan allows you to control the noise in a way that we don’t usually see in the PC world! Especially at this low price! Available as a solid case, with a window, or with a tempered glass panel, the PC case features easy installation and upgradability. Thanks to the tool-free side door, you can easily access the interior components and get to work on any upgrades or repairs!