Yeah, but it was only a matter of time before they changed it as it was really outdated early 2000's logo. That's not to say they could have renewed the beaver style.
@@SilentRito you are totally wrong. The meshify S2 is the mesh version of the define S2. The meshify c is a compact mid tower whereas the meshify S2 is a full tower.
I was asking Fractal all year in 2019 a Meshify C2 for my new build since they updated many in the S series, stopped trying and ended up buying the C, waddya gotta do, still the best minimalistic case under 100€ :P
GOD FREAKIN' DANGIT! I knew as soon as I built a full system with the Define R6, because EVERYONE said they wouldn't have a 7 out anytime soon, that THIS would happen!
This is actually a pretty damn good case. But I think what would really set it apart is if they made an optional mesh front panel door that you could swap the default sound dampened one out for. They already have that option with the top panel, so they might as well let people do the same for the front. It's called the Define after all, so let the user define how the case functions.
Height of the RAM. But honestly, that's very limiting and as an R6 owner (which has the same restriction), it's I think it's stupid. If they just made the case say 15mm wider and 15mm taller, it would improve radiator compatibility / clearance significantly.
I own the R6 and really like how they just improve small parts to make the case perfect. It is as you said a simple mainstream case, but that is all we need. Airflow is good, silence good, modular and the best case I ever worked in. What else so you need? For sure no reason to upgrade. But they made nearly perfect Case a bit netter. That's awesome for all future customers.
I liked that they added more holes for cables in the top of the motherboard tray, but my cable management always comes out messy so not sure how the new system would help me so its a good thing the R6 has good room behind the motherboard lol. There are some stuff I wish was on the R6 that I see in the R7......sorry, Define 7, you also get a XL version not just midi tower.
Great video. So I have this case and it's pretty awesome. Built my PC in December of 2020. Problem I had though is that I wasn't able to find a decent GPU and settled for an RX 5600 XT. I had a really hard time keeping the GPU under 80*. I tried several things, including keeping the side door off with an fan blowing on it. Steve with Gamers Nexus criticized the front door and filter as it didn't let a lot of air through... he's exactly right. HOWEVER - I fixed this by changing my Fans to run off of the System sensor on my MSI Unify MOBO, and I upgraded my 2 front 140mm and rear 140mm to Noctua a14s. Also, if you're not running a radiator, don't use the ventilated top cover. You need the airflow through it and you lose air pressure with the vented top panel. I can't get my GPU over 74* now with the door SHUT! Now it's super quiet and cools well.
What is most amazing is how they have stopped dust from accumulating in the vertically mounted ports. No other case manufacturer has achieved such sanitary perfection.
No, I say the complete opposite. I can't find a case I like. I've been looking for 10 years. Can't stand any of the new trends. Now, I'm looking for a modular or reverse ATX case that fits my needs so choices are fewer.
I Love this case: It's so simple and practical. I have 7 Sata-devices including a blu-ray drive. Easy to install all of them. I'm not good with my fingers and hands -> easy ro install everything and cable management is extremely easy. They also offer version with a closed side panel.. which helps me to hide parts with always on rgb components. If you like simple + efficient look.. Define 7 is perfect.
Also still using the R4, although it has received many changes on the inside, such as removing all fluff and changing to great fans. I am still debating whether I should build my 2020 PC in it or buy a new one. Hum hum
It better not went up in fking price again. R4 was $100 and can be found for $80 on Newegg typically, R5 was $110, R6 is whopping $150, R7 better not be $170.
Your review on the R5 is one of the videos that got me hooked on this channel. Still rocking the R5 today. Glad to see yourselves and Fractal Design doing well!
When I saw that the Define 7 had been announced, came straight here for a review. Didn't disappoint. I'll watch GN next for the crazy detailed thermal testing. The Define 7 and the 7 XL look like great cases. The 7 XL can fit a crazy amount of drives - 16 x 3.5" and 2 x 2.5". I love my Define R5 that I use for my UNRAID NAS.If I need more drives a 7 XL will definitely be on the short list.
So I really liked the look of the R6 before I even knew they had a Define 7, but after watching this and reading up on it, seems like it doesn't justify the extra money?
All of them are good. I got r4 and r5 on two pcs. These things are going to last forever. But if i ever need another case ill look into latest r series if they still have some noise dampening which does reduce noise by a few dB which is enough
I have this case and I love it. Super easy to build in, AIO installation is a breeze, cable management is soooo much better compared to previous cases I've had.
In case of adaptability? Maybe. Thermals? Nope. The (S)7 Meshify may fix that. My dream case would be a Meshify 7 XL. But with a clean and even mesh on the front instead of the weird crumpled style they use atm. Do it, Fractal!
for me ,fractal should have a case between the meshify c and this one, ( size) and i would like a define c / meshify but with a glass front panel.( like the H510 elite)
I have been building my own computers for more than 20 years. I come from a time where metallic rounded edges was considered a great new feature. I just upgraded my case to this new one, and holy cow... 98% of it is shockingly well designed. I absolutely love it. At every step of the building phase I was discovering something I had never seen before and wished I had all of these previous years. My only small complaint is about the not-so-great stock fans. So I replaced them with some Noctuas, and now it stays quiet and cool.
Whoa, I had not expected that 5 degree temperature difference in CPU thermals between "front panel open" and "front panel removed", kudos for testing that!
I think this case looks really cool. I would say the only issue is the fan hub having six 3-pin fan headers and only three 4-pin PWM headers. They should be all 4-pin headers.
So yeah, it's everything I love about my R6. Like, almost exactly. And, I prefer the all black interior. So as much as I love Fractal cases, I really see zero reason to "upgrade" to the 7.
I am now 100% Convinced that Fractal does this on purpose. They first put out a case without a front mesh, to get people talking and then later on, put out the same case with a mesh. It's annoying.
with the define 7 and the meshify c sizes what more can you really ask for? they are the exact size they need to be and has the exact features they need to have. as long as personal computing keep the standards they have not much is going to change.
I'm pretty sure we are at peak case status, at least for ATX. Even those that came out at least 3 years ago are still perfectly viable today. What companies need to focus more on from 2020 onwards are the smaller enclosures and make them as widely available and as competitively priced.
I really love my Lian Li 011-Dynamic XL case! Easiest case I ever worked with, it looks incredible and cable management is trivial. It was the perfect home for my water cooled Ryzen 9 3900X + Asus Crosshair VIII Hero and Asus RTX 2080 Super. I ended up using the new Corsair iCUE QL120 fans just to make it more of a show piece. I also really like that the Lian Li 011-D XL doesn't look like every other case (well until Phanteks blatantly ripped it off anyway). I think it turned out completely brilliant.
Interesting concept here Dmitry. I like what you are saying about case designs and I will agree with you. There's no cases out there that have called my attention to the point that I feel like upgrading from my old Corsair case.
So, after realesing the excellent, well-priced and good performing Meshify C, Fractal has made it their mision to not innovate whatsoever, just rehashing the same old Define chassis ir case over and over, while increasing the price with every new case without any reason either, WTF is going on with them???!!
I don't have this case but I have the r5 and the sound insolation is amazing and wouldn't change it for the world. After I think 4 years I am thinking to go air-cooled and close the too completely to enjoy true silence. As long the temps can be maintain at acceptable low levels it shouldn't matter
john smith I’ve got an R5 as well. No glass panel and top closed, using a Noctua NH-D15 to cool my 6700K. Apart from my HDD making some noise it’s virtually silent. Couldn’t be happier with it.
Use use mesh versions! I like the Door and can suffer the small heat increase it prings, but if you need airflow Fractal design mesh cases Are perfect to you!
@@nicoper yes the good thing about closed cases, like even the BeQuiet for example, is less noise from hdd and coil wine. But I wouldn't sleep peacefully knowing that my cpu runs 8 or 10 degrees hotter than it would run in a more airflow focused case. Yeah maybe I've got a proplem :D
This is what happens when there is too much too fast. Computing is peaking out and the next generation of PC's may be very different than what it has been for the last 50 odd years. Not that it has to be, but it probably will be.
I understand most people use usbs now...but i mean it wouldnt hurt for more cases to feature these 5in bays because what driver came in A usb for you guys? Exactly why make life harder...
I’ve had the Define R6 ever since watching your review of it. I love this case and even though the Define 7 isn’t really much of an upgrade, I like what they added with cable management and the new color scheme so I’ll definitely be purchasing this as well!
I love my R6, too. I'm not sure what I'll do with my R6 if I get an R7 or if I should even get one. I do like the small changes and this one comes with Type-C rather than just an option.
the Define R series was an outdated looking case 3 years ago... they need to revamp the whole thing, they did well with the Meshify and Define S, why not make a hybrid? Define R is just bland these days
1:48 where do you buy the optical drive mount? does Fractal sell it on their website? Also ...what is the point of putting fans at the bottom of this case? how does the air get up from down there since it's closed off?
For a home server weather its a media server or a nas or even both then this case is absolutely a beast... And if u ask me made for such purpose (is why I guess the door is there also to make the assumed noise a bit less like from exos enterprise drives less noisy though not crazy bad either) .. my point is I don't know why you didn't talk more about this when clearly os what it is made for it is ofc not a dedicated gamer pc case..... I have one in same color as you and love it .. got it on sale for a good price so had to get one.. am not finished making my server but its coming to an end... and yeah that's what I'm gonna mainly use this case for.... Its been a looong long time since I've fiddled with anything pc build but am a tech head (software development) so I take I could learn a bit and I did... might even make video myself about it .... not so much the parts and discussion about parts ... more about the general knowledge to build a diy NAS.... but good presentation still you made 👍
I don't think this represents "peak case." I think that was reached with the Define R5. It remains the absolute perfect case (don't mess with my optical drive bays; the Define 7's doesn't count). The R5 handles everything just perfectly. I prefer its handling of drive bays to the sleds with moving a wall of the 7. I wish they'd have redone the R5 with front USB-C, the improved power & reset switches, implement the optional air filter / mesh top panel, and do away with the "lip" for the rubber grommets along the side of the M/B tray, but even with these areas where the 7 is a bit improved, I still think that the R5 is the superior case all-in-all. The 7 isn't bad by any means, but for my needs, the R5 clearly edges it out.
I had an R5 too for my first build from about 5 years ago, but starting a new build and can't decide if I get the 7 or stick with the R5 and get the tempered glass panel. I do like the look of the PSU shroud though it would definitely help with my OCD cable management
Long time viewer, first time comment: You guys really do have some of the best case reviews out there. I appreciate all the info~pretty in depth but not too long.
u forgot to show what the bottom looks like. and, from what it looks like, the feet are different. is that so? did they improve feet design, so they don't fall off over time?
certainly no "peak"...1) their metal sheets are still thinner than optimal to reduce vibrations (just too many shitty cases, even expensive ones, out there), 2) leaving thei HDD trays unsupported from one side is far from perfect, 3) manufacturing can still fail in a frustrating way (e.g. that bottom filter hanging lower on one side, this means bottom dust finding its way inside), 4) decisions are still suboptimal (bottom filter should be removable from the side, to avoid grabbing the filter when picking up the case) You SHOULD take a look at Antec P110 Silent & Antec P101 Silent...first one sells at around 70-80 EUR, the second at 100-110 EUR
Nice review! Thanks!!! I have the grey case. It's like a fine metallic grey, and looks great. Like you pointed out, the 3 different mesh patterns on the top 3 panels does make the top look messy, like 3 different designers created their own pattern for their respective panel without consulting each other. I'll bet they fix it in rev B.
Nope. When they update the Define Nano S to support the fanless Seasonic Titanium PSUs (that stupid non-structural bump on the case floor makes them 10mm too long), include a PSU shroud with drive mounting options on top, improve the mounts on the back of the big panel to be both 1x3.5" AND 2x2.5" compatible, and update the front panel I/O to be USB C, THEN we'll be at peak case. That spec is natively capable of being a 10-drive NAS plus an M.2 boot drive.
To be fair, A PC case is essentially a square box. there aren't many things you can do with it other than throwing away everything and start from scratch. Meanwhile, I'm looking or a Micro ATX form factor case that fits an ATX motherboard while looking decent. The RIotoro C1088 *I think it was) is a no go due to the bump in the clear side panel. and the other case I saw that fits would be the O11D Mini, which isn't released yet. I do realize that what I'm looking for is a bit odd, but I got a sound card I want to keep using! I ask for a lot, don't I?
Not a huge fan of the weird cross-hatch design, but still pretty appealing for the price. I bought a Define S ($130 USD) a few years ago, and swapped out the acrylic window for tg panel ($35), cut out a square hole on the front cover with a cheap rotary tool ($20) and epoxied a metal screen cover (I paid $7 at a local hobby shop), and just recently got a vertical gpu mount ($45) and had to cut up the case to get it to fit. All that, and I still don't even have a PSU cover! Im kinda thinking about just buying this new one lol
wow... now every PC youtuber is all about the Define 7... why not be different and review some other cool cases that are being released... In Win Alice? Metallic Gear has a whole line of PC just begging for Dimitry to run the exhaust out the intake and complain about lack of filtration... Please stop force-feeding us whatever your sponsors send you, please help builders find good PC cases on a budget... they're out there to be found... but not shipped to you buy your sponsors :(
The XL version of this case was future proof. It works flawlessly with Arctic liquid freezer ii 420mm radiator on top. Quiet monster rig with extreme overclock under heavy load. That's as spoiled as you can get in gaming without a headphone...
Any improvements to building and cable management are going to be up to the mobo and graphic card manufacturers. I think all power connections should be opposite of their current location. That way you see zero cables what so ever. When I say opposite I don't me location. I mean flipped around so you can plug the gpu, cpu and 24 pin from that back side of the motherboard. Case manufacturers can move the holes directly behind the mobo for easy access. That would be epic. Better airflow, and less dust. Over all a better looking system without having to shell out extra money for cable mods that never seem to look all that great. It woukd also allow the ability to make cases a little smaller or just have extra room for water cooling or ssd trays. I jusg ordered the lan cool 2. Im finally stepping into ddr4!
They say support for 420mm in the top and 360mm in the front.. They say that. I have the old Meshify version, 1. You either have to use low profile RAM oooor mod your RAM's coolers (which I did) and 2. you have the sort of mount the front fans externally and modify the front panel to make space... You have to lose the dust filter and cut out, more or the less, the entire plastic reinforcements. After a few months I can report the metal mesh front panel works fine on it's own as a dust filter. All of this barely fits, but it fits.
Hey HC this was an excellent review and gave a fantastic overview of the case. However, one thing really confused me and that's where you talk about companies needing to "take risks" when developing new cases... yet you don't elaborate and say exactly what you are expecting or looking for? It just seemed like a throwaway statement.
Have we reached peak case? NO. Absolutely not. Not when the top manufacturers still think that closing off the front intake panel for aesthetic is a good idea. It was never a good idea, and it should have never stuck around for THIS LONG.
why are cases all going the glass side panel route, I'm looking to build a PC I have all my parts picked and have the Fractical meshify C picked out. however if it wasn't glass it would probably be cheaper which would be nice. but I looks nice, and has good front air flow so that's why im going for it
Dimitri, you talk as if not taking risks is a bad thing, when the case does soooooo much right... Just felt like the way you presented as such that not taking risks was valued equally negative to how many positive things this case has brings to the table. To my point, it sounded like you gave this case a review score of 5/10...
Fractal cases are a pointless novelty where i live. For example the R5,R6 were always above 300 USD. And yes, that is without factoring in the extra 10-20 USD for shipping.
Not even close to 'peak case' considering that design aside theirs simply better out there and everybody who builds PC's already knows that a well designed case should be able to not only provide the mounting points but actually have the space to use them fully which also results in a system that is silent anyway without the need to sound dampening materials which are, funnily enough, needed by the case your looking at due to how much extra fan pressure you'll need to overcome the lack of airflow in it's default setup. Sorry for the rant.
Where the hell is the Beaver? i am offended, and i will unsubscribe, no seriously bring the beaver back, i mean you can redesign it if you want it to fit into a more modern image for the channel, completely removing it hurts your identity, specially among the people who have been following you since you were reviewing the Define R4 in that white background.
I dont understand some Fractal design decisions. They made the top panel swappaple, but the fan mount underneath it that was already removable only comes in one version that is quite restrictive if you want to use 140 mm radiators & fans. I also wish the front fan mounts would mimic the Torrent where there are Fan adapters and not that clutteres mess that increases fan noise because the blades fly past those reinforcements and fan holes at close distance.
![[UA] NAVI проти G2 Esports | Blast Premier Fall Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QWlIm4FGESQ/mqdefault.jpg)
You've seen it in a subtle way for the last few weeks....and now the new logo has a place on our profile. And no, THE BEAVER ISN'T DEAD! 👀
HardwareCanucks the awesome slider link is going to a 3.5mm cable.
Dmitry ( in italian, my brothers name is Dimitri, lmao ), what do you think about the Sharkoon Pure Steel ?
the new logo looks better than the beaver the new one looks more professional
the new logo is loss
New logo is really bland, I simply couldn't scroll past without noticing the beaver. Bring the beaver back.
WHAAAT HAPPENED TO THE BEAVER?!!! how dare you
🤣 Over reacted a little...
Beaver lifespan is 10-15 years, this channel has been around for 11.
R.I.P
Ya, the new Logo sucks donkey... Bring back the Beaver!
Yeah, but it was only a matter of time before they changed it as it was really outdated early 2000's logo. That's not to say they could have renewed the beaver style.
No logo? Oh yeah, they needed it years ago! Lack of a Beaver? Big nono.
0:16 RIP Plant.
It's called Fred.
It wasn't alive from the beginning.
@@airixxxx Shhh 🤐 Nobody can know. LOL
@airlxxxx r/whoosh
*Global warming intensifies*
i'm waiting for Fractal Design to update the Meshify C.
Same here bud
they did.. its called Meshify S2 now xD, im now waiting for an updated Meshify S2 of this chassis
@@SilentRito you are totally wrong. The meshify S2 is the mesh version of the define S2.
The meshify c is a compact mid tower whereas the meshify S2 is a full tower.
I was asking Fractal all year in 2019 a Meshify C2 for my new build since they updated many in the S series, stopped trying and ended up buying the C, waddya gotta do, still the best minimalistic case under 100€ :P
They need to get together with Glorious and make a rgb Meshify D
BRING BACK THE BEAVER, you now just have a generic logo like any other tech channel
I'm not even Canadian, and I agree the beaver needs a comeback
I appreciate keeping the optical bay and the way they integrated the filter.
@J M uh ok but,who asked?
Moment of silence for the beaver.
The new Logo sucks... Beaver all the way.
I wish you they brought it back
out of all youtubers. i go to you for my case reviews and that being since 2013.
Amazing 😉 thank you! But let’s not discount amazing case content from Optimum Tech and GN 🤟
-D.
@@HardwareCanucks of course not. i watch them too. but this channel has and will be my go to.
Me too. GN are just as good. More in depth. But we love the footage HC produces.
Did u guys just change ur YT Logo???
Yes
Not exactly. They changed their logo.
New Logo SUCKS.... Bring back the Beaver!
GOD FREAKIN' DANGIT! I knew as soon as I built a full system with the Define R6, because EVERYONE said they wouldn't have a 7 out anytime soon, that THIS would happen!
define r6 is perfect enough :)
I have that case with a custom loop. It's awesome.
R6 still good bro. I have one right now and i love it
return it if you want to
I've a r6 and until my system dies I'll be keeping it as it's a fantastic case. I do like the new top panel of the define 7 though.
R5 was good enough.
This is actually a pretty damn good case. But I think what would really set it apart is if they made an optional mesh front panel door that you could swap the default sound dampened one out for. They already have that option with the top panel, so they might as well let people do the same for the front. It's called the Define after all, so let the user define how the case functions.
3:55 "As long as the height of the MB doesn't exceed 36mm"
Wow this must be the new Nano-ATX format, i'm so hyped
Motor_Storm wrong height I think
Height of the RAM. But honestly, that's very limiting and as an R6 owner (which has the same restriction), it's I think it's stupid. If they just made the case say 15mm wider and 15mm taller, it would improve radiator compatibility / clearance significantly.
I own the R6 and really like how they just improve small parts to make the case perfect. It is as you said a simple mainstream case, but that is all we need. Airflow is good, silence good, modular and the best case I ever worked in. What else so you need? For sure no reason to upgrade. But they made nearly perfect Case a bit netter. That's awesome for all future customers.
I liked that they added more holes for cables in the top of the motherboard tray, but my cable management always comes out messy so not sure how the new system would help me so its a good thing the R6 has good room behind the motherboard lol.
There are some stuff I wish was on the R6 that I see in the R7......sorry, Define 7, you also get a XL version not just midi tower.
Great video. So I have this case and it's pretty awesome. Built my PC in December of 2020. Problem I had though is that I wasn't able to find a decent GPU and settled for an RX 5600 XT. I had a really hard time keeping the GPU under 80*. I tried several things, including keeping the side door off with an fan blowing on it. Steve with Gamers Nexus criticized the front door and filter as it didn't let a lot of air through... he's exactly right. HOWEVER - I fixed this by changing my Fans to run off of the System sensor on my MSI Unify MOBO, and I upgraded my 2 front 140mm and rear 140mm to Noctua a14s. Also, if you're not running a radiator, don't use the ventilated top cover. You need the airflow through it and you lose air pressure with the vented top panel. I can't get my GPU over 74* now with the door SHUT! Now it's super quiet and cools well.
let’s hope we get a new meshify c now
And its Mini counterpart
Exactly.
YES Please!, i would like it to have a finer mesh front (like the phanteks p400A) instead of the regular mesh and foam.
The end of times. The beaver is has been slain, ladies and gentlemen
What is most amazing is how they have stopped dust from accumulating in the vertically mounted ports. No other case manufacturer has achieved such sanitary perfection.
can u do rewiev of Artic 3 please
like if u want the rewiev too
can´t wait for the mesh version if they bring one to the market
No, I say the complete opposite. I can't find a case I like. I've been looking for 10 years. Can't stand any of the new trends. Now, I'm looking for a modular or reverse ATX case that fits my needs so choices are fewer.
I Love this case: It's so simple and practical. I have 7 Sata-devices including a blu-ray drive. Easy to install all of them. I'm not good with my fingers and hands -> easy ro install everything and cable management is extremely easy.
They also offer version with a closed side panel.. which helps me to hide parts with always on rgb components. If you like simple + efficient look.. Define 7 is perfect.
Please add thermal and noise level testing to your reviews because as you said, the “best” layout is now to be expected
"Have we reached (insert object)?"
That statement always ends up in companies making silly if not ridiculous things.
Logo change?
Goodbye Beaver mascot.
RIP Beaver
Still Rocking a Define R4, Heavy AF but still there after 8 Years even tho I Moved it quite a lot.
That's why it's worth getting a good case. Last multiple builds.
Same here man, you plan on keeping it for the considerable future? I'm debating if I want to get a new case or not.
Also still using the R4, although it has received many changes on the inside, such as removing all fluff and changing to great fans. I am still debating whether I should build my 2020 PC in it or buy a new one. Hum hum
While I like the looks and options to me Lian Li delivers WAY better value with the Lancool II.
It better not went up in fking price again. R4 was $100 and can be found for $80 on Newegg typically, R5 was $110, R6 is whopping $150, R7 better not be $170.
Your review on the R5 is one of the videos that got me hooked on this channel. Still rocking the R5 today. Glad to see yourselves and Fractal Design doing well!
When I saw that the Define 7 had been announced, came straight here for a review. Didn't disappoint. I'll watch GN next for the crazy detailed thermal testing. The Define 7 and the 7 XL look like great cases. The 7 XL can fit a crazy amount of drives - 16 x 3.5" and 2 x 2.5". I love my Define R5 that I use for my UNRAID NAS.If I need more drives a 7 XL will definitely be on the short list.
So I really liked the look of the R6 before I even knew they had a Define 7, but after watching this and reading up on it, seems like it doesn't justify the extra money?
All of them are good. I got r4 and r5 on two pcs. These things are going to last forever. But if i ever need another case ill look into latest r series if they still have some noise dampening which does reduce noise by a few dB which is enough
I miss the old logo :(
It felt more Canadian
They made it look worse! WTF is with the random hole patterns. They couldn't decide if they wanted to go full minimalism or sporty gamer look.
Very few people need a case like this big anymore since we have m.2. SLI/crossfire aint even a thing anymore. We can save more space
The new logo looks terrible. Bring Back The BEAVER! I want big brown beaver all in my face.
Mmmm, I bet you got a big white beaver, girl! Yeahhhh!
I really want to see a successor to the Define Nano S...
I have this case and I love it. Super easy to build in, AIO installation is a breeze, cable management is soooo much better compared to previous cases I've had.
Soooooo......... Good case.
In case of adaptability? Maybe. Thermals? Nope. The (S)7 Meshify may fix that. My dream case would be a Meshify 7 XL. But with a clean and even mesh on the front instead of the weird crumpled style they use atm. Do it, Fractal!
No! The beaver! Dam sad!
Wait, this is worse than the R6 which had a ton of hard drive slots. Why would they ditch that?
Wow. I thought I wasn't going to find the perfect case then this video popped up in my recommendations.
This the one.
for me ,fractal should have a case between the meshify c and this one, ( size) and i would like a define c / meshify but with a glass front panel.( like the H510 elite)
I have been building my own computers for more than 20 years. I come from a time where metallic rounded edges was considered a great new feature.
I just upgraded my case to this new one, and holy cow... 98% of it is shockingly well designed. I absolutely love it. At every step of the building phase I was discovering something I had never seen before and wished I had all of these previous years.
My only small complaint is about the not-so-great stock fans. So I replaced them with some Noctuas, and now it stays quiet and cool.
Thanks for the comment! I'm more confident to purchase this case now
I just bought this case a few weeks ago for my unraid server build. Friggan love this case.
@@ZedFiles did you end up buying it ?
@@travelingmaniac Not yet, but I will once the Samsung 990 SSD comes out in the 4TB variant
Does anyone else want the big names to make more mini itx and micro atx options?
HC has gone Fifth Gear. Miss the beaver. It was such a perfect logo.
GIVE US MESHIFY NANO OR WE RIOT, FRACTAL.
Whoa, I had not expected that 5 degree temperature difference in CPU thermals between "front panel open" and "front panel removed", kudos for testing that!
I think this case looks really cool. I would say the only issue is the fan hub having six 3-pin fan headers and only three 4-pin PWM headers. They should be all 4-pin headers.
So yeah, it's everything I love about my R6. Like, almost exactly. And, I prefer the all black interior. So as much as I love Fractal cases, I really see zero reason to "upgrade" to the 7.
If you already have an R6, you won't be needing a new case for a very long time. Like the Duracell battery, it keeps going, and going, and going......
@Bastardz Alley Thanks for the correction!
Okay, now please take the IO and the basic frame and make an airflow-optimized Define S3 with a mesh-front out of it.
Meshify S3?
@@privatepengu Sure, why not.
Meshify exists. The front panel goes along way to reduce noise. Can't go back.
@@brumby92 Meshify doesn't exist with that kind of IO. And with the right fan-configuration a mesh case is silent as well.
I am now 100% Convinced that Fractal does this on purpose. They first put out a case without a front mesh, to get people talking and then later on, put out the same case with a mesh. It's annoying.
with the define 7 and the meshify c sizes what more can you really ask for? they are the exact size they need to be and has the exact features they need to have. as long as personal computing keep the standards they have not much is going to change.
I'm pretty sure we are at peak case status, at least for ATX. Even those that came out at least 3 years ago are still perfectly viable today. What companies need to focus more on from 2020 onwards are the smaller enclosures and make them as widely available and as competitively priced.
Did I spot ggplot2? Nice
I really love my Lian Li 011-Dynamic XL case! Easiest case I ever worked with, it looks incredible and cable management is trivial. It was the perfect home for my water cooled Ryzen 9 3900X + Asus Crosshair VIII Hero and Asus RTX 2080 Super. I ended up using the new Corsair iCUE QL120 fans just to make it more of a show piece. I also really like that the Lian Li 011-D XL doesn't look like every other case (well until Phanteks blatantly ripped it off anyway). I think it turned out completely brilliant.
Interesting concept here Dmitry. I like what you are saying about case designs and I will agree with you. There's no cases out there that have called my attention to the point that I feel like upgrading from my old Corsair case.
I am NOT a fan of the front door panel... especially since it restricts the HELL out of airflow. I hope Fractal updates the Meshify S2 to S3...
im waiting for the moment when dimitry say this is the best case of 2020, and i'll simply buy that
Only 1 front panel 5.25" slot is disappointing
So, after realesing the excellent, well-priced and good performing Meshify C, Fractal has made it their mision to not innovate whatsoever, just rehashing the same old Define chassis ir case over and over, while increasing the price with every new case without any reason either, WTF is going on with them???!!
Exactly, can't wait for Gamers Nexus to call them on their bullshit again.
Come on Fractal. I need a TG Define Nano, is that too much to ask ???
2:02 Please Fractal Define risk for once..and give us some airflow.
8°C DELTA IS TOO MUCH.
I don't have this case but I have the r5 and the sound insolation is amazing and wouldn't change it for the world. After I think 4 years I am thinking to go air-cooled and close the too completely to enjoy true silence. As long the temps can be maintain at acceptable low levels it shouldn't matter
john smith I’ve got an R5 as well. No glass panel and top closed, using a Noctua NH-D15 to cool my 6700K. Apart from my HDD making some noise it’s virtually silent.
Couldn’t be happier with it.
Use use mesh versions!
I like the Door and can suffer the small heat increase it prings, but if you need airflow Fractal design mesh cases Are perfect to you!
@@nicoper yes the good thing about closed cases, like even the BeQuiet for example, is less noise from hdd and coil wine.
But I wouldn't sleep peacefully knowing that my cpu runs 8 or 10 degrees hotter than it would run in a more airflow focused case.
Yeah maybe I've got a proplem :D
I’m liking that profile pic
This is what happens when there is too much too fast. Computing is peaking out and the next generation of PC's may be very different than what it has been for the last 50 odd years. Not that it has to be, but it probably will be.
I understand most people use usbs now...but i mean it wouldnt hurt for more cases to feature these 5in bays because what driver came in A usb for you guys? Exactly why make life harder...
I’ve had the Define R6 ever since watching your review of it. I love this case and even though the Define 7 isn’t really much of an upgrade, I like what they added with cable management and the new color scheme so I’ll definitely be purchasing this as well!
I love my R6, too. I'm not sure what I'll do with my R6 if I get an R7 or if I should even get one. I do like the small changes and this one comes with Type-C rather than just an option.
the Define R series was an outdated looking case 3 years ago... they need to revamp the whole thing, they did well with the Meshify and Define S, why not make a hybrid? Define R is just bland these days
I've chosen this case for my new PC build, I think overall it is pretty good, very flexible and I like the white on black colour scheme too
1:48 where do you buy the optical drive mount? does Fractal sell it on their website? Also ...what is the point of putting fans at the bottom of this case? how does the air get up from down there since it's closed off?
For a home server weather its a media server or a nas or even both then this case is absolutely a beast... And if u ask me made for such purpose (is why I guess the door is there also to make the assumed noise a bit less like from exos enterprise drives less noisy though not crazy bad either) .. my point is I don't know why you didn't talk more about this when clearly os what it is made for it is ofc not a dedicated gamer pc case..... I have one in same color as you and love it .. got it on sale for a good price so had to get one.. am not finished making my server but its coming to an end... and yeah that's what I'm gonna mainly use this case for.... Its been a looong long time since I've fiddled with anything pc build but am a tech head (software development) so I take I could learn a bit and I did... might even make video myself about it .... not so much the parts and discussion about parts ... more about the general knowledge to build a diy NAS.... but good presentation still you made 👍
I think it's a great evolution from the R6. Add the fact that they still allow for an optical drive. I love it.
wtf 170 usd ? my case cost only 45usd - kolink citadel .. looks same with tempered glass
I don't think this represents "peak case." I think that was reached with the Define R5. It remains the absolute perfect case (don't mess with my optical drive bays; the Define 7's doesn't count). The R5 handles everything just perfectly. I prefer its handling of drive bays to the sleds with moving a wall of the 7. I wish they'd have redone the R5 with front USB-C, the improved power & reset switches, implement the optional air filter / mesh top panel, and do away with the "lip" for the rubber grommets along the side of the M/B tray, but even with these areas where the 7 is a bit improved, I still think that the R5 is the superior case all-in-all.
The 7 isn't bad by any means, but for my needs, the R5 clearly edges it out.
I like it. Still rocking my beloved Define R5 with a newly installed tempered glass panel. Love love it!
I built with the R5 too, but solid panel. I prefer it to the successors i.e. no psu shroud, more drive caddies, more metal/ less plastic, lower price.
I had an R5 too for my first build from about 5 years ago, but starting a new build and can't decide if I get the 7 or stick with the R5 and get the tempered glass panel. I do like the look of the PSU shroud though it would definitely help with my OCD cable management
Long time viewer, first time comment: You guys really do have some of the best case reviews out there. I appreciate all the info~pretty in depth but not too long.
u forgot to show what the bottom looks like. and, from what it looks like, the feet are different. is that so? did they improve feet design, so they don't fall off over time?
certainly no "peak"...1) their metal sheets are still thinner than optimal to reduce vibrations (just too many shitty cases, even expensive ones, out there), 2) leaving thei HDD trays unsupported from one side is far from perfect, 3) manufacturing can still fail in a frustrating way (e.g. that bottom filter hanging lower on one side, this means bottom dust finding its way inside), 4) decisions are still suboptimal (bottom filter should be removable from the side, to avoid grabbing the filter when picking up the case)
You SHOULD take a look at Antec P110 Silent & Antec P101 Silent...first one sells at around 70-80 EUR, the second at 100-110 EUR
Nice review! Thanks!!!
I have the grey case. It's like a fine metallic grey, and looks great.
Like you pointed out, the 3 different mesh patterns on the top 3 panels does
make the top look messy, like 3 different designers created their own pattern
for their respective panel without consulting each other. I'll bet they fix it in rev B.
Nope. When they update the Define Nano S to support the fanless Seasonic Titanium PSUs (that stupid non-structural bump on the case floor makes them 10mm too long), include a PSU shroud with drive mounting options on top, improve the mounts on the back of the big panel to be both 1x3.5" AND 2x2.5" compatible, and update the front panel I/O to be USB C, THEN we'll be at peak case. That spec is natively capable of being a 10-drive NAS plus an M.2 boot drive.
To be fair, A PC case is essentially a square box. there aren't many things you can do with it other than throwing away everything and start from scratch. Meanwhile, I'm looking or a Micro ATX form factor case that fits an ATX motherboard while looking decent. The RIotoro C1088 *I think it was) is a no go due to the bump in the clear side panel. and the other case I saw that fits would be the O11D Mini, which isn't released yet.
I do realize that what I'm looking for is a bit odd, but I got a sound card I want to keep using! I ask for a lot, don't I?
The Meshify 7 should be amazing! And for what it's worth, if you plan to use the top as exhaust you should remove the dust filter anyways.
gr82bAnAUTiger Best not to do that if you’re not planning on letting it run 24/7. Dust will fall in while the PC is off.
Not a huge fan of the weird cross-hatch design, but still pretty appealing for the price. I bought a Define S ($130 USD) a few years ago, and swapped out the acrylic window for tg panel ($35), cut out a square hole on the front cover with a cheap rotary tool ($20) and epoxied a metal screen cover (I paid $7 at a local hobby shop), and just recently got a vertical gpu mount ($45) and had to cut up the case to get it to fit. All that, and I still don't even have a PSU cover! Im kinda thinking about just buying this new one lol
The "maximum" case is a dual chamber type like an o11 dynamic
wow... now every PC youtuber is all about the Define 7... why not be different and review some other cool cases that are being released... In Win Alice? Metallic Gear has a whole line of PC just begging for Dimitry to run the exhaust out the intake and complain about lack of filtration... Please stop force-feeding us whatever your sponsors send you, please help builders find good PC cases on a budget... they're out there to be found... but not shipped to you buy your sponsors :(
The XL version of this case was future proof. It works flawlessly with Arctic liquid freezer ii 420mm radiator on top.
Quiet monster rig with extreme overclock under heavy load. That's as spoiled as you can get in gaming without a headphone...
Any improvements to building and cable management are going to be up to the mobo and graphic card manufacturers.
I think all power connections should be opposite of their current location. That way you see zero cables what so ever.
When I say opposite I don't me location. I mean flipped around so you can plug the gpu, cpu and 24 pin from that back side of the motherboard. Case manufacturers can move the holes directly behind the mobo for easy access.
That would be epic. Better airflow, and less dust. Over all a better looking system without having to shell out extra money for cable mods that never seem to look all that great.
It woukd also allow the ability to make cases a little smaller or just have extra room for water cooling or ssd trays.
I jusg ordered the lan cool 2. Im finally stepping into ddr4!
I've got to ask what is the name of the song playing as the background music? :D
They made it look worse! WTF is with the random hole patterns.
They say support for 420mm in the top and 360mm in the front.. They say that. I have the old Meshify version, 1. You either have to use low profile RAM oooor mod your RAM's coolers (which I did) and 2. you have the sort of mount the front fans externally and modify the front panel to make space... You have to lose the dust filter and cut out, more or the less, the entire plastic reinforcements. After a few months I can report the metal mesh front panel works fine on it's own as a dust filter. All of this barely fits, but it fits.
Hey HC this was an excellent review and gave a fantastic overview of the case. However, one thing really confused me and that's where you talk about companies needing to "take risks" when developing new cases... yet you don't elaborate and say exactly what you are expecting or looking for? It just seemed like a throwaway statement.
Have we reached peak case? NO. Absolutely not. Not when the top manufacturers still think that closing off the front intake panel for aesthetic is a good idea. It was never a good idea, and it should have never stuck around for THIS LONG.
why are cases all going the glass side panel route, I'm looking to build a PC I have all my parts picked and have the Fractical meshify C picked out. however if it wasn't glass it would probably be cheaper which would be nice. but I looks nice, and has good front air flow so that's why im going for it
Dimitri, you talk as if not taking risks is a bad thing, when the case does soooooo much right... Just felt like the way you presented as such that not taking risks was valued equally negative to how many positive things this case has brings to the table. To my point, it sounded like you gave this case a review score of 5/10...
Fractal cases are a pointless novelty where i live. For example the R5,R6 were always above 300 USD. And yes, that is without factoring in the extra 10-20 USD for shipping.
Not even close to 'peak case' considering that design aside theirs simply better out there and everybody who builds PC's already knows that a well designed case should be able to not only provide the mounting points but actually have the space to use them fully which also results in a system that is silent anyway without the need to sound dampening materials which are, funnily enough, needed by the case your looking at due to how much extra fan pressure you'll need to overcome the lack of airflow in it's default setup. Sorry for the rant.
I've watched about 20 reviews on the Define 7 and this video by far is the most informative. Thank you 👌
Where the hell is the Beaver? i am offended, and i will unsubscribe, no seriously bring the beaver back, i mean you can redesign it if you want it to fit into a more modern image for the channel, completely removing it hurts your identity, specially among the people who have been following you since you were reviewing the Define R4 in that white background.
If only I had excess money to buy this! Always loved Fractal cases
S2 Meshify still is the best FD case.
I dont understand some Fractal design decisions. They made the top panel swappaple, but the fan mount underneath it that was already removable only comes in one version that is quite restrictive if you want to use 140 mm radiators & fans. I also wish the front fan mounts would mimic the Torrent where there are Fan adapters and not that clutteres mess that increases fan noise because the blades fly past those reinforcements and fan holes at close distance.