Working on this video format was really fun! What did you think of this review style? One note: For RGB colors, if you set it into color cycle mode and long hold on the button while it's rotating, you can freeze it on a color. This is kind of annoying and unintuitive (hence why it got by us), but Fractal notes that, if you cycle this way, it is possible to freeze on the desired solid color.
I enjoy the livelier shots, especially during the setup, and it's nice to feel like we're seeing more of the new workspace. I have to be honest, I'm not a fan of free-camming things when you're trying to point out details and explain features. It's shaky at the best of times, and aside from making details hard to spot, I just can't watch it for long. It makes me motion sick in the same way found-footage movies do. Love the work you guys do regardless.
I was legit going to comment "If you long-press the button while it's cycling, would it maybe stop on that color?" So maybe not _that_ unintuitive if one has tinkered with some basic controllers already. But I agree, that's not overly evident.
I used to trust gamers nexus for accurate and unbiased reviews, but after I heard Steve say having a blue case doesn’t make your PC cooler, I knew they were wrong.
I really appreciate this implementation of 5.25 bays. They did a good job of giving you the option, without having to see it and be mocked by everyone you show your PC too, all without an ugly door or interfering too much with the power supply cables... same for the hard drive mounting. I just mount my optical drive externally, to the bottom of my desk.
Well an optical drive door can be useful in cases where you're only occasionally using the bays (like for, well, optical drives, fan controllers, small displays, etc) but this implementation of putting them on the bottom is interesting as well. Although for hard drive mounting, that's pretty much always on the bottom inside of the case, unless I'm mistaken? Same for interfering with PSU cables, there's usually ample room in between.
My plan is to eventually use one of those two 5.25 bays for installing a 5.25 USB 80/Gbps Thunderbolt 5 hub. When that eventually comes out, and I'm ready to make my next build in this case, I will be able to use that option. I really don't want those USB ports on the back of the case.
My favorite use of the 5.25" slot is a hot swap/mobile rack bay for one main reason: platter hiss. SSD storage is still about four times more expensive than HDD for larger volumes, but you don't always need your heavy media online, nor may not have enough of it to warrant a NAS. Putting it on a switchable bay lets you do all the daily stuff in proper silence even with an aiflow case, and still use a reliable stationary 3.5" drive for when you need HDD volumes of data.
I like that hidden drawer. If you like the aesthetics of the case, you'll probably want it on top of your desk, and that drawer is kind of neat for hiding USB drives, bluetooth adapters, HDMI/DisplayPort fillers, small cables, or whatever other random PC bits you'd keep in a drawer somewhere else.
The 5.25" slot is useful for front panels too, or reservoir. My 5 slots (Hydra Desk casedesk) are occupied with: 2 slot reservoir (+pump a few years ago, last year I moved it) 1 blu ray drive 1 front panel IO 1 Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 Pro (for fan/pump/profile control) I find 2 very good for a normal case, if I were interested again in one. Not counting that 2 5.25" can always be adapted for two more 3.5" for HDD.
Oh wow, a case with optical support? Yes, please! I work with emulated games a lot and often I want to dump a disc based game; be it for myself or helping a friend. My anime collection is also mostly on Blu-ray as I am not a huge fan of using streaming services (plus, most often, buying a Blu-ray actually supports the creators; not always though). So this is really awesome. Also, colors! Woohoo, always prefer a splash of color over a monotone box with a grill/vent holes on it.
The technical statistics and points sometimes go over my head but its honestly brilliant to have a channel that gives such technical info on products us viewers are looking to buy because seeing these graphs and charts genuinely helps us decide what we are going to buy and use
I'm thrilled to see 5.25" bays still showing up in modern cases. I dislike that in this case it comes at the cost of severely limiting hard drive storage, but it's still great to see. The review argues that this case gets less competitive if it creeps up to $100, but consider that an external 5.25" optical drive enclosure is $50 by itself. If you're set on having an optical drive, then this case is still very worth considering even if the price does climb.
I'm so happy these have space for 5.25" drives! Backing up my media has become really important to me, and I will absolutely be considering one of these for my next build.
The 5.25 bays is why I bought this, along with the generally positive review. I still watch movies on my computer and I archive files to dvds. I really don't understand why 5.25 bays were phased out. How are you supposed to watch movies when internet is down and you don't have streaming and no, I don't have a separate TV/DVD. I have the computer and that's it.
Storage tray tip 6:25: You can keep your screws in there and safely transport, just make sure to use an oversized ZipLok or similar so it cant really go anywhere when not vertical.
I like the lower 5 1/4 bay inclusion . I can't get away from my Blu-ray dvd drive and hot swap 2.5-3.5 bay . Very useful for back-ups and servicing other systems .
Oh man, 5.25” bays!! I love it. Particularly making better use of unused space at the front of a full-length power supply shroud. I feel like the whole benefit of moving the optical drives down to the bottom is to allow the potential of a full-length rad at the top, though, where it would otherwise conflict with a top-mounted optical drive, so I’m surprised they didn’t leave enough room for that here.
These literally just popped up on Memory Express today in their New Arrivals. I was thinking, "Hmmmm wonder how long it will be before Steve and team review this?". I guess that question didn't have to wait too long for an answer, maybe 15 minutes. I actually like the idea of adding back a 5.25" drive bay. There are people out there that want an optical drive,,,, YES THEY ARE OUT THERE... HONEST. I also like that it's hidden, so you don't have an ugly exposed drawer that might not work with your color and/or aesthetic.
Nice one Steve, As others pointed out love the customization options, 5.25 Drive bay at bottom, You can buy a 5.25 device with Type C port, Card readers & normal USB ports for under 30 to slot in.
Starting about 9:35. I think making the front portion of the top of the case solid helps to direct air _through_ the case, rather than possibly having air brought in from the front immediately escape, there at the top.
im actually very happy that they now have optical drive options! its why i went with phanteks originally. if these are smaller then i may switch up cases!
Greetings. I am the 1% who needs a 5in bay. I can actually shop for a new PC now because of this case without the depressing reality of that case doing nothing for me other than look pretty. I can finally get rid of all the external crap all over my desk. I have never been this undepressed in the last decade over only eyecandy PC case offerings. Thank you.
Steve is a grandmaster of praising stuff. Like here: 'this overall we'd say is sort of in that group of cases where (adds so-so gesture) we recommend it right now'. How flattering :D
Cooler Master NR400 still has the 5.25 mount option at the top. Having the 5.25 optical at the bottom is odd, although aesthetically it would look better, no visible cabling, unlike the NR400.
after watching this I went back to watch GN's Fractal Torrent reviews and was kinda shocked that I forgot that it even initially had a problem, I guess that attests to the power of getting ahead and fixing potential product killer problems
That comment about the 5.25" bays was towards Wendell of L1Tech. You're not wrong, he LOVES it, and may be building another server for you IN one of these cases.
Companies like XSPC and Koolance still sell a combination pump/reservoir that will fit in a 5.25 inch bay, so this case would be pretty good for a clean water cooling setup
YES!!! FInally a modern case with 5,25" slots! Might actually consider it to replace my Corsair Obsidian 450D. But... - the XL version comes only with RGB crap - I'd rather have a reset button than an RGB button, thank you - front fans are 120mm while it could have 140mm ones... why? - in Italy the whole Pop line retails for 190-200€!!!
Those 5.25" bays could actually be nice for an Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 XT or Pro. The top rad support is disappointing. A 280mm rad in front wouldn't be a bad trade for a 360mm since the surface area isn't too much smaller (~10%?). The bottom the shroud should have a panel to allow you to install a 360mm rad and pump. Unfortunate choice Fractal. I wish they had made the 5.25" bays look ok without the cover. This way the aforementioned Aquaero 6 XT/Pro could be presented if wanted without it looking poor. I like that they turned the top IO to the side. All on the front made it block setting things on top of the case like I do (headphones).
I like Fractal's approach to the design of this case. That's some tasteful use of an accent color and the number of variants are appreciated. Almost makes me wish I put my desktop on the desk instead of hidden away in a cupboard under it.
With a 6x2.5 SATA 5.25 Backplane , 4x2.5 SATA and 1xSlim ODD 5.25 Backplane, and a LSI 9207-8i card, you could make a 10 drive storage server for backing up optical media in a standard case with 2x5.25" bays.
Aside from making the USB C port an extra cost accessory (Really?), I'm very impressed by this case. I'm currently thinking about the Phanteks Enthoo Pro for my build, but the smaller form factor of this, as well as the optical drive bays at the front (an absolute requirement for me) make this a very attractive alternative.
27:32 I found Fractal fans to be very quiet. Not sure how they compete with e.g. Noctua for airflow or cooling, but I like Fractal fans. Had my case since 2014 and only one fan needed changing, when it developed a bit of noise. Fractal sent me a free replacement, three years after the case purchase which had a two-year warranty.
Looks interesting. Unfortunately, despite being listed on Fractal's web site, the case doesn't appear to be available for sale yet at any of the U.S. retailers. Maybe I'll remember to check in another couple of weeks.
I just built a system with i5 12600k and got the green pop air. I replaced the 120 mm in the front with the Fractal 140 mm and put the 120 mm in the top. Near end of the video you said you could try and use them as intakes on the top so I put both the 120mm from the front in the top as intake. You can really feel lots of air coming out the back of the case and temperatures are great inside the case with that fan setup. Thanks for the idea.
I still have a completely unused Stadia Pro kit. I did pull the controller out to see if it was any good when I got it. It wasn't. The gave those Stadia Pro kits out for free to UA-cam Premium members a while back because nobody bought them. I've been using mine to prop my router up a bit so it doesn't overheat.
Well I like the fact you have a hiddden 5.25 bay to aceess for the once in a blue moon Disc. I was planning on just getting an external and ditching my old case. but I like this better in the XL format of course.
So its been almost a month, and the only place I can find this case below $100 is at newegg, where it has $16 shipping, so it's really not under $100 anymore. I really like the look of this case. I think the color choices are amazing and given it has pretty decent results, it'd be miles better than my system right now. I just have no need for a 5.25 bay anymore, which is certainly a major selling point. Maybe by the time I'm ready to upgrade there will be another case aesthetically like this without the extra bays.
My ancient but still kickass NZXT Phantom full tower case has five yes FIVE 5.25 drive bays. Plus a stack of 3.5 internal bays. I own just one working 5.25 optical and it has tons of room. This thing is gigantic and so heavy, it deforms spacetime. I know this because every speck of dust in nearspace has flung itself all over what was once a shiny black paint job. It cannot be cleaned. The dust is eternal. This case will last the rest of my life. My back will no longer be able to handle lifting it but the case will still exist. Mocking me.
It be nice if some of these companies would make towers like the old days with the ability to have optical drives. I got a rosewill thor v2 case because it had 9 bays so i can put a 5 bay hot swap hard drive kit on the front, and there is room for another if i want.
I really wish optical drives would come back to PC cases because I still have a trusty ol' DVD reader/burner in my 2012 Cooler Master K281. I need to replace my case, but the lack of support from modern cases puts me off.
I can appreciate an $80 designer case with some features cut for price savings. The optical drive bays are a nice touch as well; there aren't many options for those these days.
I have to say, I wish this case would sell well, to prove to the case manufacturer industry that 5.25" bays were useful for a LOT more than just optical drives and that PAYING CUSTOMERS want 5.25" bays back!!! But the Fractal Pop Air has so many many many poorly executed design elements that I don't really want to support / condone the bad design that went into the Fractal Pop Air...
I'm thinking this would make a good case for a retro pc build. Have the convenience of a modern case but still support retro requirements such as space for optical drives.
Thanks that was a very helpful review and very well presented. I like this case, seems to have been a lot of thought put into it. I also have reservations about shrouds - they block the air flow, and reduce the volume for the air to flow. Instead of a full shroud surface they should just put in mounting 'spars' at certain positions to provide support for anything that needs it underneath, such as the hard drive brackets, but that will not affect air flow so adversely.
The PSU shroud should have a fan mount on it, that basically turns the GPU cooling issue on its head and gives you some of the best GPU thermals you can achieve in a conventional layout case.
On my last build, I finally ditched my optical drive. Honestly, I'd like to have one built in because I do need one occasionally, but i decided to go for air flow and I will simply add an external. So while this case isn't for me, I really like it for the price if it fits the need.
I think the 5.25 bay being so easy to fall off is in case the user opens the CD tray in os it won't damage anything, just fall off easily. The draw is a neat idea
The mini version seems to be the best for my i5 non gaming machine build!! Since my gpu will be T400, the silent variant will do the job w/o problem at all. In fact I'm planning this build for my parents who are not definitely gamers. This will work out really well. If the mini variant can also hold the ODD, it will be just perfect.
Lots of choices for a next gen AMD or INTEL builds. While the Corsair 5000D looks tempting, I still like the looks of my Corsair Carbide Air 540. That it also has 2 optical drive bays (a requirement for me), 2 HDD trays and a cage for 4 SSDs are all pluses. And it is easy to work in. Downside: only 2 fans and $150. Not suitable for custom loop as a 2-compartment design. I've built 5 PCs for friends and family all using the 540 and so far, I've replaced the 2 stock fans with 4 Noctua fans. Semi downside: 280 AIO and the ARCTIC LFII does fit on top, but really close fit. With GPU size increasing, a front mounted 240/280/360 AIO might not fit. You mentioned this case several years ago, but I did not see the type of review on it you do now. Any chance of a revisit if Corsair sends you one?
My wife and I just bought 2 of the Pop XL Air Black Cases... One arrived today One comes next week, Next weekend we will have a PC building Marathon, assembling 2 new PC's whos only difference is the GPU inside. (That is if the last components have arrived by then as we're still waiting on her GPU)
We bought it specifically for the 5.25 Support. and I Like how the XL comes with 3 HDD trays so I can mount my 3 HDDs in the new build. I will have to move one of the HDD Holders up to fit the Optical drive I want to have, I am excited for our build marathon once all the parts come.
I hate the direction all cases have gone, i run 5 storage drives - SSD O.S and 4 hard drives running as two mirrors and i had to 3D print a cage for two of them to make them fit in my current case. I also want an optical drive which luckily my case supports but they made the whole case satin black then put the optical drive on hangers right where it will be seen through the side panel so ended up wrapping the body of the drive in black vinyl to make it blend in but it worked out ok in the end as the drive is in the perfect place for a 3d printed GPU support to use the DVD drive as a mount :) I need a CD/DVD drive as i have a decent 6 cam CCTV system on my home and the police visit me fairly regularly for footage dumps when something has happened in my area and i burn disks for them.
I think Leo from KLitGuru said it best, the case is targeted towards SIs for customers that have budget concern and aesthetics as the main selling points. Performance takes a back seat. By making the add on as chargeable options, they could make the entry price low. The Torrent would cater to those who has performance in mind.
$159 here in Australia. Plus the extras you might want. So over $200 ultimately. I just like the colour, and Im not running frame crushing system. Interesting.
it's a nice case for a younger audience. i can see teens liking the flashy colours. seeing as it's a more budget oriented case i doubt anyone's gonna try to put a big watercooler in there anyways. a 240 in the front or 120 in the rear would be plenty for any CPU you'd realistically put in there. it looks like a nice clean case, easy to build in
I really think you guys should do a review of an aerocool case. They've got €50 cases I've built in which don't seem that much worse than the p400a (also built in it), but much less. The Graphite seems good from them
9:12 "So this could barely fit a 360..." I never heard of anyone putting an XBox into a PC before. A PC inside an XBox yes but not a XBox inside a PC. :)
Theres a LOT of similarity in the build with the bequiet 500dx. The top, the feet, a few more details. wouldnt be surprised if this is basically a retooling from the same manufacturer
I'm really surprised it's taken this long to innovate PC case designs. I don't like everything about that Hyte Y60, but it's definitely different yet mostly practical from the look of it. I'll have to find that case review in your video library. Fractal seems like they've got a good idea how to design and build a decent case. Not a fan of their Pop Air case. I kinda want to get the Torrent but I'm worried I'll buy it and then Fractal will make one I want more soon after. I've currently got a Corsair Carbide SPEC-6 and it's an okay case but leaves much to be desired in a couple areas. Dying of laughter after Steve's comment; "Whenever I need RGB wired up, I go to Patrick. Not because he likes it but because I hate it and I can ask him." 🤣
Working on this video format was really fun! What did you think of this review style?
One note: For RGB colors, if you set it into color cycle mode and long hold on the button while it's rotating, you can freeze it on a color. This is kind of annoying and unintuitive (hence why it got by us), but Fractal notes that, if you cycle this way, it is possible to freeze on the desired solid color.
Love it! It makes really interesting and funny the review. IMO you can keep it like this.
It seemed to be a bit more free speaking/"we do it live!", but to be blunt, apart from that I didn't notice a big difference to other case reviews😅.
Keeps it engaging, I enjoyed the style. I’m excited to see where the creative freedom takes the channel for these types of reviews!
I enjoy the livelier shots, especially during the setup, and it's nice to feel like we're seeing more of the new workspace. I have to be honest, I'm not a fan of free-camming things when you're trying to point out details and explain features. It's shaky at the best of times, and aside from making details hard to spot, I just can't watch it for long. It makes me motion sick in the same way found-footage movies do. Love the work you guys do regardless.
I was legit going to comment "If you long-press the button while it's cycling, would it maybe stop on that color?" So maybe not _that_ unintuitive if one has tinkered with some basic controllers already. But I agree, that's not overly evident.
I used to trust gamers nexus for accurate and unbiased reviews, but after I heard Steve say having a blue case doesn’t make your PC cooler, I knew they were wrong.
He really said that?! That's it, I'm unsubscribing.
Smh
Cooler or cooler...?
@@princealexi25 both preferable
i prefer red, it makes your cpu/gpu go faster.
Edit: Sad... nobody got the reference
I really appreciate this implementation of 5.25 bays. They did a good job of giving you the option, without having to see it and be mocked by everyone you show your PC too, all without an ugly door or interfering too much with the power supply cables... same for the hard drive mounting. I just mount my optical drive externally, to the bottom of my desk.
Well an optical drive door can be useful in cases where you're only occasionally using the bays (like for, well, optical drives, fan controllers, small displays, etc) but this implementation of putting them on the bottom is interesting as well. Although for hard drive mounting, that's pretty much always on the bottom inside of the case, unless I'm mistaken? Same for interfering with PSU cables, there's usually ample room in between.
I love my quick swap HDD bay.
My plan is to eventually use one of those two 5.25 bays for installing a 5.25 USB 80/Gbps Thunderbolt 5 hub. When that eventually comes out, and I'm ready to make my next build in this case, I will be able to use that option. I really don't want those USB ports on the back of the case.
They'd mock you until they realise that there are 8 U.3 drives in them.
Those 5.25 bays could hold hot swap 2.5" bays like the ones from icy dock for example. This could add value in a NAS build.
Yes someone needs to tell Wendell.
Just watching Wendel's video and he talked about this very thing just a couple minutes into his coverage on the case
I didn't know he posted a video on it (I'm a little behind this morning) but I shouldn't be surprised.
My favorite use of the 5.25" slot is a hot swap/mobile rack bay for one main reason: platter hiss.
SSD storage is still about four times more expensive than HDD for larger volumes, but you don't always need your heavy media online, nor may not have enough of it to warrant a NAS. Putting it on a switchable bay lets you do all the daily stuff in proper silence even with an aiflow case, and still use a reliable stationary 3.5" drive for when you need HDD volumes of data.
I have a hot swappable internal combo that has a 2.5 and a 3.5 Bay. I find it extremely useful.
I like that hidden drawer. If you like the aesthetics of the case, you'll probably want it on top of your desk, and that drawer is kind of neat for hiding USB drives, bluetooth adapters, HDMI/DisplayPort fillers, small cables, or whatever other random PC bits you'd keep in a drawer somewhere else.
YES! This! I need a neat space for my USB sticks, dongles, adapters etc. that are usually not in use.
Found the kid trying to hide weed from their parents.
@@pirojfmifhghek566 Got me. Those fuckers smoked up my whole stash! Never again.
@@pirojfmifhghek566 yeah that's absolutely a weed drawer lmao
@@afino61_ it’s dual purpose, adding even more value!
The 5.25" slot is useful for front panels too, or reservoir.
My 5 slots (Hydra Desk casedesk) are occupied with:
2 slot reservoir (+pump a few years ago, last year I moved it)
1 blu ray drive
1 front panel IO
1 Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 Pro (for fan/pump/profile control)
I find 2 very good for a normal case, if I were interested again in one.
Not counting that 2 5.25" can always be adapted for two more 3.5" for HDD.
Oh wow, a case with optical support? Yes, please! I work with emulated games a lot and often I want to dump a disc based game; be it for myself or helping a friend. My anime collection is also mostly on Blu-ray as I am not a huge fan of using streaming services (plus, most often, buying a Blu-ray actually supports the creators; not always though). So this is really awesome. Also, colors! Woohoo, always prefer a splash of color over a monotone box with a grill/vent holes on it.
The technical statistics and points sometimes go over my head but its honestly brilliant to have a channel that gives such technical info on products us viewers are looking to buy because seeing these graphs and charts genuinely helps us decide what we are going to buy and use
You'll get used to understanding it after watching for a while.
You'll get used to understanding it after watching for a while.
I'm thrilled to see 5.25" bays still showing up in modern cases. I dislike that in this case it comes at the cost of severely limiting hard drive storage, but it's still great to see.
The review argues that this case gets less competitive if it creeps up to $100, but consider that an external 5.25" optical drive enclosure is $50 by itself. If you're set on having an optical drive, then this case is still very worth considering even if the price does climb.
I'm so happy these have space for 5.25" drives! Backing up my media has become really important to me, and I will absolutely be considering one of these for my next build.
The 5.25 bays is why I bought this, along with the generally positive review. I still watch movies on my computer and I archive files to dvds. I really don't understand why 5.25 bays were phased out. How are you supposed to watch movies when internet is down and you don't have streaming and no, I don't have a separate TV/DVD. I have the computer and that's it.
Storage tray tip 6:25: You can keep your screws in there and safely transport, just make sure to use an oversized ZipLok or similar so it cant really go anywhere when not vertical.
As someone who still uses 5.25 drives on a regular basis I do like the look of this even over my Define 6. Thanks Steve!
Yep I have a define R6 right now and I'm strongly considering this case because of how massive the R6 is! lol
I love the 5.25" bay !
I like the lower 5 1/4 bay inclusion . I can't get away from my Blu-ray dvd drive and hot swap 2.5-3.5 bay . Very useful for back-ups and servicing other systems .
Oh man, 5.25” bays!! I love it. Particularly making better use of unused space at the front of a full-length power supply shroud. I feel like the whole benefit of moving the optical drives down to the bottom is to allow the potential of a full-length rad at the top, though, where it would otherwise conflict with a top-mounted optical drive, so I’m surprised they didn’t leave enough room for that here.
Finally GN reviews a case that has support for 5 1/4" drives!
Define R6 and R7 both have Optical drives
These literally just popped up on Memory Express today in their New Arrivals. I was thinking, "Hmmmm wonder how long it will be before Steve and team review this?". I guess that question didn't have to wait too long for an answer, maybe 15 minutes.
I actually like the idea of adding back a 5.25" drive bay. There are people out there that want an optical drive,,,, YES THEY ARE OUT THERE... HONEST. I also like that it's hidden, so you don't have an ugly exposed drawer that might not work with your color and/or aesthetic.
I feel personally attacked how dare you say that 😂😂 loved it bro
This was my first case for my first gaming PC I made this year. It's fantastic.
Nice one Steve, As others pointed out love the customization options, 5.25 Drive bay at bottom, You can buy a 5.25 device with Type C port, Card readers & normal USB ports for under 30 to slot in.
Starting about 9:35.
I think making the front portion of the top of the case solid helps to direct air _through_ the case, rather than possibly having air brought in from the front immediately escape, there at the top.
im actually very happy that they now have optical drive options! its why i went with phanteks originally. if these are smaller then i may switch up cases!
Greetings.
I am the 1% who needs a 5in bay.
I can actually shop for a new PC now because of this case without the depressing reality of that case doing nothing for me other than look pretty. I can finally get rid of all the external crap all over my desk.
I have never been this undepressed in the last decade over only eyecandy PC case offerings.
Thank you.
I like the new camerawork/editing style you've been using these last few videos. Back to you, Steve.
No beige colour scheme is a shame, I've been waiting for a case that would match noctua fans for a while
Maybe Fractal is hard at work making a modern but fully 90's-looking beige case: The Fractal Design Jazz
@@soupwizard TAKE MY MONEY
I got an older model low end corsair case for my dad when I built him a new computer in 2019, because it had space for optical drives.
Steve is a grandmaster of praising stuff.
Like here: 'this overall we'd say is sort of in that group of cases where (adds so-so gesture) we recommend it right now'.
How flattering :D
Cooler Master NR400 still has the 5.25 mount option at the top.
Having the 5.25 optical at the bottom is odd, although aesthetically it would look better, no visible cabling, unlike the NR400.
Finally, a case with a snack compartment!
Patrick wires the RGB cables because he is YOUR MINION!!!!! Don't be scared to say it.
after watching this I went back to watch GN's Fractal Torrent reviews and was kinda shocked that I forgot that it even initially had a problem, I guess that attests to the power of getting ahead and fixing potential product killer problems
That comment about the 5.25" bays was towards Wendell of L1Tech. You're not wrong, he LOVES it, and may be building another server for you IN one of these cases.
I bought this for $68 in amazon. Feeling great :)
Companies like XSPC and Koolance still sell a combination pump/reservoir that will fit in a 5.25 inch bay, so this case would be pretty good for a clean water cooling setup
YES!!! FInally a modern case with 5,25" slots! Might actually consider it to replace my Corsair Obsidian 450D.
But...
- the XL version comes only with RGB crap
- I'd rather have a reset button than an RGB button, thank you
- front fans are 120mm while it could have 140mm ones... why?
- in Italy the whole Pop line retails for 190-200€!!!
Those 5.25" bays could actually be nice for an Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 XT or Pro.
The top rad support is disappointing. A 280mm rad in front wouldn't be a bad trade for a 360mm since the surface area isn't too much smaller (~10%?).
The bottom the shroud should have a panel to allow you to install a 360mm rad and pump. Unfortunate choice Fractal.
I wish they had made the 5.25" bays look ok without the cover. This way the aforementioned Aquaero 6 XT/Pro could be presented if wanted without it looking poor.
I like that they turned the top IO to the side. All on the front made it block setting things on top of the case like I do (headphones).
I like Fractal's approach to the design of this case. That's some tasteful use of an accent color and the number of variants are appreciated. Almost makes me wish I put my desktop on the desk instead of hidden away in a cupboard under it.
14:41 the moment Steve noticed, he is the type of boss everyone complains about. :D
I'm really intrigued with the 5.25" bays ... thinking would be awesome to put something like an IcyDock hot swap setup in there.
With a 6x2.5 SATA 5.25 Backplane , 4x2.5 SATA and 1xSlim ODD 5.25 Backplane, and a LSI 9207-8i card, you could make a 10 drive storage server for backing up optical media in a standard case with 2x5.25" bays.
The optical drive slot(s) is perfect for including an aquaero controller.
Aside from making the USB C port an extra cost accessory (Really?), I'm very impressed by this case. I'm currently thinking about the Phanteks Enthoo Pro for my build, but the smaller form factor of this, as well as the optical drive bays at the front (an absolute requirement for me) make this a very attractive alternative.
27:32 I found Fractal fans to be very quiet. Not sure how they compete with e.g. Noctua for airflow or cooling, but I like Fractal fans. Had my case since 2014 and only one fan needed changing, when it developed a bit of noise. Fractal sent me a free replacement, three years after the case purchase which had a two-year warranty.
Fractal and Phanteks are my favorite case brands :) Loved all the cases i've had from them.
Looks interesting. Unfortunately, despite being listed on Fractal's web site, the case doesn't appear to be available for sale yet at any of the U.S. retailers. Maybe I'll remember to check in another couple of weeks.
I just built a system with i5 12600k and got the green pop air. I replaced the 120 mm in the front with the Fractal 140 mm and put the 120 mm in the top. Near end of the video you said you could try and use them as intakes on the top so I put both the 120mm from the front in the top as intake. You can really feel lots of air coming out the back of the case and temperatures are great inside the case with that fan setup. Thanks for the idea.
Gigabyte is scrambling to come up with a new name for their next power supply now that Fractal stole their name.
Corporate case with air filter and some bright esthetics. That's the real definition of this case.
I still have a completely unused Stadia Pro kit. I did pull the controller out to see if it was any good when I got it. It wasn't.
The gave those Stadia Pro kits out for free to UA-cam Premium members a while back because nobody bought them. I've been using mine to prop my router up a bit so it doesn't overheat.
Double pump res water cooling combo would go in there nicely
Well I like the fact you have a hiddden 5.25 bay to aceess for the once in a blue moon Disc. I was planning on just getting an external and ditching my old case. but I like this better in the XL format of course.
So its been almost a month, and the only place I can find this case below $100 is at newegg, where it has $16 shipping, so it's really not under $100 anymore. I really like the look of this case. I think the color choices are amazing and given it has pretty decent results, it'd be miles better than my system right now. I just have no need for a 5.25 bay anymore, which is certainly a major selling point. Maybe by the time I'm ready to upgrade there will be another case aesthetically like this without the extra bays.
Very nice of Fractal to give you a spot to store your weed now that we've all finally thrown out that Halo 2 helmet.
My ancient but still kickass NZXT Phantom full tower case has five yes FIVE 5.25 drive bays. Plus a stack of 3.5 internal bays. I own just one working 5.25 optical and it has tons of room. This thing is gigantic and so heavy, it deforms spacetime. I know this because every speck of dust in nearspace has flung itself all over what was once a shiny black paint job. It cannot be cleaned. The dust is eternal. This case will last the rest of my life. My back will no longer be able to handle lifting it but the case will still exist. Mocking me.
It be nice if some of these companies would make towers like the old days with the ability to have optical drives. I got a rosewill thor v2 case because it had 9 bays so i can put a 5 bay hot swap hard drive kit on the front, and there is room for another if i want.
I really wish optical drives would come back to PC cases because I still have a trusty ol' DVD reader/burner in my 2012 Cooler Master K281. I need to replace my case, but the lack of support from modern cases puts me off.
I can appreciate an $80 designer case with some features cut for price savings. The optical drive bays are a nice touch as well; there aren't many options for those these days.
love to see a new, modern case with 5.25" bays!
Love the ashtray 😍
I have to say, I wish this case would sell well, to prove to the case manufacturer industry that 5.25" bays were useful for a LOT more than just optical drives and that PAYING CUSTOMERS want 5.25" bays back!!!
But the Fractal Pop Air has so many many many poorly executed design elements that I don't really want to support / condone the bad design that went into the Fractal Pop Air...
Fuck, I wish this video came out like a week ago, I just picked up a new case but I like what I'm seeing here
lol, I got a drawer for knickknacks on my 5 1/4 bay I got from aliexpress, glad to see a comeback
The pop really pop when Steve pulling it out from the shelf lul
I really like the look of this case. I wish the Torrent had more "POP".
I have a Blu-Ray drive I'd like to use so the 5.25" bays are a welcome feature.
I'm thinking this would make a good case for a retro pc build. Have the convenience of a modern case but still support retro requirements such as space for optical drives.
Let me introduce you to external USB enclosures for optical drives. Now a 5.25" bay should no longer be a requirement.
@@markokuosmanen Not if you are building a retro pc from before USB.
@@baroncalamityplus I see.
I like the color options! Makes using Noctuas anti vibration pads in different colors actually useful besides black or white for example
Thanks that was a very helpful review and very well presented. I like this case, seems to have been a lot of thought put into it. I also have reservations about shrouds - they block the air flow, and reduce the volume for the air to flow. Instead of a full shroud surface they should just put in mounting 'spars' at certain positions to provide support for anything that needs it underneath, such as the hard drive brackets, but that will not affect air flow so adversely.
The PSU shroud should have a fan mount on it, that basically turns the GPU cooling issue on its head and gives you some of the best GPU thermals you can achieve in a conventional layout case.
1 view, 1 minute ago. 🤔
Same here
On my last build, I finally ditched my optical drive. Honestly, I'd like to have one built in because I do need one occasionally, but i decided to go for air flow and I will simply add an external. So while this case isn't for me, I really like it for the price if it fits the need.
I think the 5.25 bay being so easy to fall off is in case the user opens the CD tray in os it won't damage anything, just fall off easily. The draw is a neat idea
Didn't expect to run into DLC on computer cases.
The mini version seems to be the best for my i5 non gaming machine build!!
Since my gpu will be T400, the silent variant will do the job w/o problem at all.
In fact I'm planning this build for my parents who are not definitely gamers. This will work out really well.
If the mini variant can also hold the ODD, it will be just perfect.
I sure wish they made the mini with the colored interiors too
A shame the ODD bays are low like they are, I'd have totally used that for a bay pump and res combo for an old-school watercooled build.
The problem with all these DLC options on cases is the shipping. What sounds like a 10 dollar add-on often becomes 20-30.
As a fan of cyan... I love it already
I'd like to see a review of one of Antec's cases that are selling for 100 dollars and including 5 fans.
I like that they included an 5.25 bay slot but having to remove a hard drive bay is a little disappointing.
Lots of choices for a next gen AMD or INTEL builds. While the Corsair 5000D looks tempting, I still like the looks of my Corsair Carbide Air 540. That it also has 2 optical drive bays (a requirement for me), 2 HDD trays and a cage for 4 SSDs are all pluses. And it is easy to work in. Downside: only 2 fans and $150. Not suitable for custom loop as a 2-compartment design. I've built 5 PCs for friends and family all using the 540 and so far, I've replaced the 2 stock fans with 4 Noctua fans. Semi downside: 280 AIO and the ARCTIC LFII does fit on top, but really close fit. With GPU size increasing, a front mounted 240/280/360 AIO might not fit.
You mentioned this case several years ago, but I did not see the type of review on it you do now. Any chance of a revisit if Corsair sends you one?
Hey Steve y'all never did review that Silverstone RL-08. An inverted design like that removes the downside of having a PSU shroud regarding GPU temps.
My wife and I just bought 2 of the Pop XL Air Black Cases... One arrived today One comes next week, Next weekend we will have a PC building Marathon, assembling 2 new PC's whos only difference is the GPU inside. (That is if the last components have arrived by then as we're still waiting on her GPU)
We bought it specifically for the 5.25 Support. and I Like how the XL comes with 3 HDD trays so I can mount my 3 HDDs in the new build.
I will have to move one of the HDD Holders up to fit the Optical drive I want to have, I am excited for our build marathon once all the parts come.
I hate the direction all cases have gone, i run 5 storage drives - SSD O.S and 4 hard drives running as two mirrors and i had to 3D print a cage for two of them to make them fit in my current case.
I also want an optical drive which luckily my case supports but they made the whole case satin black then put the optical drive on hangers right where it will be seen through the side panel so ended up wrapping the body of the drive in black vinyl to make it blend in but it worked out ok in the end as the drive is in the perfect place for a 3d printed GPU support to use the DVD drive as a mount :)
I need a CD/DVD drive as i have a decent 6 cam CCTV system on my home and the police visit me fairly regularly for footage dumps when something has happened in my area and i burn disks for them.
I think Leo from KLitGuru said it best, the case is targeted towards SIs for customers that have budget concern and aesthetics as the main selling points. Performance takes a back seat. By making the add on as chargeable options, they could make the entry price low. The Torrent would cater to those who has performance in mind.
$159 here in Australia. Plus the extras you might want. So over $200 ultimately. I just like the colour, and Im not running frame crushing system. Interesting.
I got my Stadia for freeeeee thank you very much. Google begged me to get one with my purchase years back.
The optical drive mounting is rather welcome.
i happen to have a Blueray drive, wich is completely useless with most modern cases.
it's a nice case for a younger audience. i can see teens liking the flashy colours. seeing as it's a more budget oriented case i doubt anyone's gonna try to put a big watercooler in there anyways. a 240 in the front or 120 in the rear would be plenty for any CPU you'd realistically put in there. it looks like a nice clean case, easy to build in
I really think you guys should do a review of an aerocool case. They've got €50 cases I've built in which don't seem that much worse than the p400a (also built in it), but much less. The Graphite seems good from them
Oh. I thought this was an NZXT case. But it's actually Fractal. Higher expectations now.
5:12 hexagons are the bestagons
9:12 "So this could barely fit a 360..."
I never heard of anyone putting an XBox into a PC before. A PC inside an XBox yes but not a XBox inside a PC. :)
- Its not as if its ash tray...
- Ohhh... but it IS...
(a bad Radagast reference)
would really like to see a review of the XL version, this case is too small for me
Theres a LOT of similarity in the build with the bequiet 500dx. The top, the feet, a few more details. wouldnt be surprised if this is basically a retooling from the same manufacturer
I'm really surprised it's taken this long to innovate PC case designs. I don't like everything about that Hyte Y60, but it's definitely different yet mostly practical from the look of it. I'll have to find that case review in your video library.
Fractal seems like they've got a good idea how to design and build a decent case. Not a fan of their Pop Air case. I kinda want to get the Torrent but I'm worried I'll buy it and then Fractal will make one I want more soon after. I've currently got a Corsair Carbide SPEC-6 and it's an okay case but leaves much to be desired in a couple areas.
Dying of laughter after Steve's comment; "Whenever I need RGB wired up, I go to Patrick. Not because he likes it but because I hate it and I can ask him." 🤣
That tray would be good for SD cards and USB sticks etc.
Looks great, for the price I might get it as my next case if it fits my chonky heatsink that I want to reuse