I have actually got this case so it's good to see your review even after purchase. I bought the non-TG version for another build and it is completely silent - amazing.
Thank you very much, I'm glad you've found these videos useful. I'd fully recommend the Define Mini C TG, it's one of the best mATX cases I've worked with. But as you can imagine, I have my reservations about recommending the 301, but as long as you know its quirks you can figure if it's right for you or not. Let me know if you have any queries and I'll do my best to help out!
Holy shit i'm incredibly impressed of the quality of this video considering the number of subscribers you have! You're doing very interesting content with perfect image and sound 👏 👏
Nice video man. Great videography and you're easy to hear and understand. For me, I was looking at this case, the Irwin 301 (too small) and the Be Quiet! base 500 (gorgeous, but too big since it's not microATX). Thanks for all the info!
+Jae-won Chung Your comment sounded slightly sarcastic, but I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt. The Corsair Air 240 looks like a case that could support some decent water cooling, it's one that I've been looking into. But thanks for the suggestion and for checking out the video. I really appreciate the support!
Uh, no sarcasm at all. I like mATX form factor because ATX is unnecessarily big, and ITX is too small. But there are only few cases out there that is both practical and pretty. And I feel these cases are not being reviewed thoroughly enough.
Awesome, I'm right there with you. The mATX form factor is perfect for most people, with a few PCIE lanes for some growth, and they're generally smaller than ATX cases which is always good. Just finished building the air-cooled system in the Coolermaster Masterbox Lite 3.1 (not sure it's worth watercooling), after that we've got the Fractal Design Node 804 on the way which seems like the most versatile case. But I guess we'll find out. Anyway, if you have any cases you'd like to see covered on the channel I'm always open for suggestions. Thanks for the support, and thanks for checking out the video, really appreciate it!
Although it's ungodly old, you might get some solid hits on a Corsair 350D; I was looking heavily at that for a potential build until this came out, there's not too much content on the 350D on youtube anyways. $100 for a plastic side panel is grossly overpriced however.
Thanks for the suggestion, from what I've heard about that case it's a versatile product. You are right though, £/$100 is too much for a case these days without a tempered glass side panel. But checking out their website there is a sea of interesting cases available: www.corsair.com/en-gb/pc-computer-cases Thanks for the tip on the 350D, I'll check it out more a little later on. And it may have just sparked some interesting case videos of cases that I hadn't come across yet from Corsair (they don't seem to be very well advertised, at least in the stores that I mainly buy from). And thanks for checking out the video, I appreciate the view and the support!
Wow, this was a very well done case review, I'm going to subscribe. You should have more subscribers your camera work clear voice overs and good talking points should get you there.
Thank you very much, I really appreciate the subscription! There's still a substantial way to go before we're hitting the quality levels I want to be at. But obviously that's always going to be changing, and I need to evolve as a presenter which will come over time, and acquire different equipment, and a setup I don't have access to yet. But we'll get there! Thanks again for coming along on the journey, it should be a good one!
Another great vid dude! I'm now contemplating getting this over the Inwin 301 for the components I had. I do love how the 301 looks, but this upcoming build will be my first one and this case looks like it's much easier to build in! 👍
It certainly is an extremely simple case to build in with many more options and room for growth than the 301. It's the best case I've built in so far and is a silent runner. I think there was a substantial amount of thought that went into this cases design, I believe the price reflect the design as much as the material value. I didn't recommend this case to you before since I thought your heart was set on the 301, and the 301 would have been fine for you. But this case has the space and flexibility for plenty of growth and options while maintaining a sleek, clean design. Sorry for not mentioning this case to you before, thinking about it you could have bought a case that you may not have bought if I had mentioned it sooner, and that would have made me feel annoyed at myself. Anyway, thank you so much for sticking around to check out another video, really appreciate it!
I think I'm gonna get this instead of the Inwin 301. I have also seen your review for it. That case has bad thermal and cable management issues. Thanks for the reviews of the matx cases.
Got the regular windowed model of this case, love the look of it and layout. Honestly if they offered a version for 200$+ more with premium materials I'd but it in a heartbeat
I think a lot of people would agree with you, and I think they could make a couple of small changes not a significantly larger cost. I think the main problems I have with the case in terms of quality is the top magnetic ventilation panel, and the front panel with its low quality clips. They could probably save a few dollars but changing the HDD sleds from steel to plastic. I've personally never had an issue with a plastic sled. And I completely agree with you in terms of the look and layout. It has the best cable management solutions I've worked with so far, with plenty of space between the motherboard tray and the side panel. However I do have an issue with the way the TG panel is mounted and dismounted. There's just no shelf for it to be held by when there are no screws securing it. Anyway, overall it's a great case. But there will always be improvements. Thanks for adding your thought, and thanks for checking out the video. I appreciate the support!
You are the best! Very helpful and useful details. Smart! Debating between Define C and Meshfy C. I wonder how cool it can run without the front panel.
There are just a few good mtx cases on the market... I am from Brazil and here that stuff are even harder to find. The Q300L from coolermaster is the best matx case that can be find at a good price here. H400i is gorgeous but expensive. And Air 240 is not compatible with 120mm cpu fans and a bit expensive too. Unfortunately, fractal design cases can not be find here...
That's a shame.Hopefully the situation will change in Brazil soon. The Air 240 is a bit of an odd case on the market today since it doesn't really provide a lot considering how much it costs. On a side note, based on country, viewers of this channel from Brazil are the 3rd highest behind the USA and the UK. And there are just about more viewers from Brazil than Germany. Anyway, thought it was worth a mention, I hope you get some more great cases coming your way!
Bought the same case this week after trying to decide between Focus G mini and Thermaltake versa h15. Thanks to your videos I feel like I made the right choice!
This case really is worth the extra money over the Focus G Mini and Versa H15, considering that most people will have the same case for years adding another £40 to the budget won't usually make much of a difference overall. Plus a case isn't going to become incompatible with the latest games or CPUs, etc. so it in reality can last for 10+ years with good care. You definitely made the right choice, what I can tell from trying out the 'budget' and more 'premium' Fractal Design cases, you can't really go wrong with them. Thanks for checking out the video, really appreciate it!
I plan to have my power supply to pull air from the top from inside the case which I am hoping will draw some of the cool air from the front lower case fan helping to cool the GPU.
Good video but just a tip on the camera settings idk what you use and if you can set this manually but if I was you I’d either work on lighting or white balance the yellow brown kinda lighting gives everything a weird color it makes the black case look weird and not natural
Good question. From the testing I've carried out on a fair few cases with top fan slots, they don't provide much benefit at all. You'd probably spend £20 for two fans and gain perhaps a 3-5°C improvement. It'll be a little different from case to case, but it's a very cost ineffective way of lowering CPU temps. There may be some benefit to the CPU VRM. I'll have to look into top fans and do some all round system tests to see what will benefit from top fans. But the CPU and GPU don't get much out of it. Top fan slots are really good for radiator mounting positions, since heat from the CPU and GPU (and potentially RAM, MB, PSU, drives, etc.) is transferred up to those positions. Hopefully that's cleared that anomaly up, I'll do some testing and make a video on top fans in the future to see if/where the major benefits are to be had.
@@AVTechy Might as well have a quieter system. This case is 5cm shorter than Define C, so I'm thinking 2x14cm at front, 120 at back and leave it at that. One last question I have is.. Do you reckon an sff psu will have long enough cables for a case like this. It would give the hard disks more space at the bottom.
I thought I replied to this yesterday... Sounds like a good setup to me. 2x 140mm in the front should help to keep the noise down. I really want to get in a case like the Core V1 with the 200mm fan just see how quiet the system can be. The Enthoo Evolve's 180mm fan (I think) was really quiet under load. I think you'd really struggle to make a SFX PSU work here, but you could buy some PSU cable extenders and send back the ones you don't use. In all honest I really wouldn't worry about HDD temps. I've been backing up my system to a HDD for two days now and it's barely made it past 32°C (22°C ambient). Admittedly it is on a test bench, but there are no fans providing it with airflow. Go for a decent ATX PSU and you should be completely fine with HDD temps. Let me know if you have any more concerns or component specs you want to discuss.
So it looks like the tempered glass version is hotter for the GPU? Bit-tech did a review of the original version and it showed one of the best thermal performances for both CPU and GPU.
It's very difficult to compare system results when there are two different systems being tested. For instance the R9 390X is a naturally very hot card (very inefficient), compare it to pretty much any Nvidia card from its generation onward and the Nvidia cards will naturally be substantially cooler. It's basically impossible to compare two systems when there is more than one variable (the fair test rule). So to avoid this being an issue I put up a comparison chart at the end to compare the identical system in different cases. And that shows the result of a fair test when it comes to the cases cooling performance. I wouldn't recommend comparing different peoples test results. If a reviewer has done testing on more than one component with an identical test system you should compare those results. Likewise, only compare my test results with other results I've gathered. That way you'll likely get the information you're really after which should be as truthful and honest as possible. I really hope that's cleared everything up, I wouldn't want you to leave this video thinking I was hating on the case or making up results because someone else's results were different, when it's likely down to the difference in choice of components. And finally, I commend the question and comment. You managed to query the video and provide some sort of evidence to help ask it, which is a far cry from so many that hurl aggressive comments when they have a potentially contradictory question. I appreciate the question and your view, thanks for checking the video out! And of course let me know if you have any other questions.
Despite the different systems being used for the tests, I think it should be possible to make a valid comparison, since both you and Bit-tech posted comprehensive results. Both tests posted results for: standard air cooled, ventilated air cooled and also open air test bench. Like you, Bit-tech also tested Inwin 301 and Focus G Mini. In theory, a valid comparison should be possible. But when I compare the results, it's just all over the place. Against an open air test bench, in standard air-cooled set-up, Bit-tech showed Focus G Mini to be much cooler than InWin 301; whereas your results are the same for both cases. I don't understand.
Although we have both done comprehensive tests, unless Bit-tech is using a 6700K with a Hyper 212 Evo and an R9 390X they cannot be compared, that would not be a "fair test" comparison which demands that there is only 1 variable. The thermal outputs of the components used will be so different between the individual components and the systems as a whole. So in reality a comparison cannot be validated (it would go completely against basic fair test rules), the difference is likely down to the coolers being used. The Hyper 212 Evo I am using isn't fantastic but it's alright. Bit-tech are likely using a better cooler which will being the thermals down by default, and the improvement will only be noticed more with higher thermals. And I just checked out the review from bit-tech. They are using a 84W TDP processor compared to the 91W TDP processor I am using. And they are also using a cooler with 5 heatpipes compared to the 4 heatpipes on the one I am using. These systems are by no means comparable... Please also notice they use Delta T graphs rather than the straight temperature graphs I use. Plus they have a completely different cooling method, they use hardware to control their fan speeds whereas I lock the fans to 100%. They also don't use the same GPU testing method, and the CPU testing method is just "Prime 95", Prime 95 has like 4 different tests. There are so many differences here... If you understand how fair tests work, you surely should understand how these two different tests cannot be compared. It just doesn't work on so many levels, and it only takes one thing to make the comparison questionable. If the systems were on a similar level then they would be better to compare. But they really aren't and I would only compare their results with the context of their complete system and testing method, and my results with the context of my complete system and my testing methods.
Nice review! I just boght this case, but didn't received it yet. Do you think a 302mm GPU will fit without having to move up or remove the fan? The GPU in this video has 277 mm but I cannot firure it our how much space is left between the gpu anbd the fan.
I now have this case. It is amazingly bulit. Very classy, very good quality materials, very good airflow, very good looking, extremely silent. I love it. The 302mm length GPU fits perfectly.
This is a great case (and good review) - couple of things though: the front can easily pull away when you remove the filter by putting your fingers under and pulling it off. I feel your GPU temps were affected but the size of the CPU cooler - I use a 240mm AIO and the RX480 dropped around 10-15 degrees because there was smoother airflow from the front to the rear fan. I am aware this is an air-only setup too. I also settle rear exhaust fan as low as possible to draw air away from the top plate of the GPU. Going to find the water-cooled version and see what you have done with this case :)
It's an 1 to 8 fan hub. Not the best I've come across, but it does the job well enough if you've got a load of fans. The only issue I have with it is the difficulty to remover the fans connectors once they've been plugged in. You have to resort to pulling in the wires rather than the connector itself which can cause the wired of the fan to be pulled out of the connector.
I'd tend to agree with you, not being biased or anything haha. It's just the state of UA-cam at the moment, this channel is not getting recommended by the algorithm since all of the videos are getting false flagged as inappropriate for some reason. We'll get past this issue eventually and then the channel will grow, and we can do even more interesting things with it! Thanks for checking out this one, and of course I really appreciate the support!
+ThatWalrusInUrPiano Awesome, thanks so much for the subscription! There'll be a watercooling video in this case coming out on Sunday if I can keep the pace up, should be a good one. And just as a heads up, I'll be posting a link in its video description for voting on which cases to get for future videos. Should be a good way for subscribers like you to get more of what you want out of these videos. Anyway, thanks again for the subscription. I really hope you enjoy many videos to come, and of course thanks for checking the videos out so far, and let me know if you have any questions about the cases!
Front panel clips do not need to be fiddled around with like you did here, unless there is a change in the tempered glass version. Ive seen most people just pull on the panel from the front, think its designed that way.
Just read this and thought have I've been doing it wrong the whole time. Then I tried to pull on the front panel to remove it and it wouldn't budge. Then my brain kicked in and I removed the bottom filter, and then when I pulled on it and it came off. Thanks for the heads up, I'll be sure to point it out in the future! And finally, thanks for checking out the video!
Very true, however I think I've been burned a few times in the past with a few cheap cases where it felt like the panels were going to give way before the clips. I suppose I should probably have more faith in designed from a company such as Fractal Design. Anyway, thanks for the heads up, much appreciated.
I felt exactly the same when I had the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv mATX, I bought the original with the small plastic side panel (which was way too small). And when the Tempered Glass version came out I was pretty gutted. I actually went about seeing how much it would cost for a custom glass panel that would fit the case, but it would be £100+ which was pretty much the lowest price I could find. So if you really really want to upgrade, definitely sell your current one and but the new one. Either way you have yourself an amazing case. It would be amazing if a glass side panel upgrade could be purchased, even it it costed £30-40 I think plenty of people would go for it. Anyway, thank you so much for checking out the video, and I really appreciate the comment!
I ended up going with the Define Mini C, I think it looks a lot nicer and temps are still manageable if you take off the top cover and use the included dust filter. Never seen my RTX 2070 go over 60C.
Top tip, although I can answer the query, and I will in a second, these questions are best and quickest answered by the spec of the case. A quick search for this case on the Fractal Design website provides the motherboard compatibility which is maximum of Micro ATX.
Great video. You tested also In-Win 301. What will be better choice for I7-8700K for non-OC use. There wasn't big diffrence between those two (3 degree on CPU as I remember).
Oh the Define Mini C TG is by far the better case. It has more room to work with, there's plenty of cable management space, and there's more options for ventilation. It's worth noting that the Define Mini C also comes with a some sound insulation, and is in my opinion has a better build quality. If it was my money, I'd hands down go for the Define Mini C TG. Let me know if you have any more questions about either of the two for you to make your own mind up about it. The 301 is an interesting case, but I feel the Define Mini C TG has just got so much more to offer.
For now I have i5-3570 + Fortis 3 HE1425 v2 + GTX970 mounted in Cooltek Jonsbo C3. Temperatures and noise are on acceptable level. But I'm looking for something better ventilated for my new processor. Fractal Design Define Mini C TG is very good casing, but it has some disadvanteges: It's a little to big as for a uATX standard (400 x 400 x 200 mm), and front panel isn't made from real aluminium. In-Win 301C looks like an oven ;-) Maybe it's work in the same way :-D But has USB-C port at the front, it's very small (365 x 208 x 370 mm). Also has panel with RGB backlight. But as I wrote earlier, I don't want to change one hot casing for another good looking but hot casing. So is 60 to 40 that I'll choose Fractal Design Mini C.
It's actually interesting how few options are available for mATX cases with a tempered glass side panel, and reasonable ventilation under £100. Some company needs to come out and make a solid all rounder affordable case with a tempered glass side panel, and good ventilation to compete against the Define Mini C TG and the Inwin 301. And like you say, the Define Mini C TG isn't exactly a small case, it's comparable with many ATX cases. So there needs to be more around that takes advantage of the smaller mATX size, that also has good ventilation, and a tempered glass side panel. It's actually quite a tall order, but it's certainly possible, and tempered glass is becoming more common all the time. Let me know what you end up going for once you've worked it out, they are both nice cases, but the Define Mini C TG is much nicer to build in, and the brushed plastic front isn't exactly an outright negative compared to brushed aluminium. Brushed Aluminium is very fragile, if you were to lightly scuff with a screw driver while you're moving things around, or brush a zipper past it as you walk by then it is liable to cause a noticeable mark. And the marks on Brushed Aluminum panels are noticeable since the scratch will scrape away the anodized coloured coating on the surface, exposing the silver colour of the aluminium below. Whereas a brushed plastic panel doesn't scratch anywhere near as easily as brushed aluminium, and if it does get scratched, then it's far less noticeable since the colour of the plastic panel is the same all the way through. It certainly sounds worse than it actually is, plus they have fixed acoustic insulation to the inside of the front panel (as well as the top and side panel) to reduce the noise of the system, which is always nice to have.
Top notch review. Can you tell me if the feet are removable, please? I want to buy the case, but I'm restricted to a max height of 402mm. Minus the feet the case should just about fit.
Thank you very much! I'm pushing to improve these videos constantly, so if you found anything you didn't like please let me know and I'll do what I can to improve those aspects in future videos. Thanks for checking this one out, and I hope you enjoy many videos to come. Speaking of which if there's anything you'd like to see covered on this channel let em know, and if it suits the direction of the channel I'll do my best to cover it.
6 років тому
Can the preinstalled post be a problem with an ITX build?
Not at all, they have the same spacing as ITX boards, just sometimes there are more of them that don't get used. They can be problems with any motherboard though if you accidentally strip the threads. Just be careful and you'll be completely fine. I recommend counter turning, then when you feel the thread of the screw drop into the thread of the standoff you can then screw it in clockwise.
6 років тому+1
Thank you! This is a sting contender to be my next case
Only in so far as recording a video, since tempered glass can be very reflective (which can be affected by the tint of the glass). It's great in person, but since it's so reflective, it means the entire room needs to be tidy so the shots don't look like a mess.
I really like your builds i can here from watching your cooler master masterbox lite 3.1 tg air build im waiting till the pc store had a sale at the end of the month, should i get the masterbox lite 3.1 with a silverstone td03 lite or just some good set of quiet fans and a mic and phone clip do i can make better videos
I think I came across this question a week ago but ti was lost in the Spam folder... the amount of space gained from the difference from the smaller PSU isn't enough to be able to fit an ATX motherboard in. Difference between ATX and mATX is 61mm. And the difference between an ATX and SFX PSU is 22mm, so it would be about 39mm out. That's without mentioning the lack of standoff support for the motherboard which I really wouldn't recommend since accidents happen all the time, and that thing could get bent the wrong way at some point. Let me know if you have any other questions, you seem to have plenty of interesting ones :)
It's been on the list for a while. Definitely looks like an interesting case and it seems to be quite highly requested. I'll have a look into it a little more and all things well I'll try and get a video of next month. Thanks for checking out the video, and I hope you enjoy the video on the Corsair Air 240 soon!
Heads up, the Corsair Air 240 is on the way! We'll have the Thermaltake Core P3 build out by the end of Monday with everything going well. Then there will be the first CPU cooler review and testing out the following Sunday. And then we'll be doing an Air cool build in the Corsair Air 240 which should be out by December 3rd. Let me know if you have any specific areas you want the video to cover, but apart from that I hope you enjoy it!
Nice video dude! Liked and subbed. I've ordered this case and I was looking at some AIO coolers. Do you think it is possible to fit in the radiator in the front panel cage that can be removed? I don't like the colour of the radiator in the aio loop and I want to hide it somehow. Thanks a bunch :)
Thank you very much, seriously appreciate the support! Now to sort out your query. Do you mean you want to fix the AIO radiator to the outside of the chassis at the front. And then fix the front panel over the radiator? If so, then unfortunately there is nowhere near enough room. Let me know if I didn't understand your question properly. And just out of curiosity, which AIO cooler are you looking to get? They are generally very hard to completely conceal. I'd recommend checking out the water-cooled video in this case. It might clear up a few other questions you have about the case: ua-cam.com/video/czUA822xk7E/v-deo.html Anyway, let me know if I got the wrong end of the stick about your question. And let me know if you have any more questions. I'll do my best to help you out. Thanks again for checking out the video, and I really appreciate the subscription!
AV Techy You've got it spot on! I was thinking of getting the Deepcool Captain 240 EX but the white radiator is overpowering and I want to "wedge" it between the fan slots and the removable front panel cage and then have the fans inside the main case. I'm okay if the ModuVent filter has to be removed haha If that radiator is too big to fit do you think any aio radiators are thin enough to fit? I'll check out your water cooler video and thanks for replying! Keep up the good work
Hmm, I would say your more likely to be able to fit the fans in that region rather than the radiator. Unfortunately I haven't got the case in my hands at the moment to be able to measure the front panel for you. Is there any chance you could go for a black radiator instead. From what I can tell so far the AIO you've specified does have a black equivalent. But its 27mm radiator is pretty thin already so if the plan could work it's probably not a bad one to go for. Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer, but I don't think there is enough room (although the clip at 7:00 makes me wonder). My best advice is to go for the black version, or any AIO you like the look of that matches your build theme. On a side note, I can imagine that trying to secure a radiator on the outside of the chassis with fans inside the chassis would be a nightmare. If you do go for it, make sure it's the first thing you put inside the case to give you the most room to screw it in from the inside. Again, sorry I can't be of much more use (if the case wasn't damaged on arrival I would still have it now and I could give you a solid answer...), it's a cool idea though and let me know what you decide to go for. Thanks again for checking out the video, and best of luck with your build. Let me know if you have anything else you want to talk over. Oh, and thanks for the subscription again, seriously appreciate it!
AV Techy yeah it's the part at 7:00 that got me thinking too! Ahhh I think I'll leave my stock wraith spire RGB on and see if I want to upgrade my cooking. Thanks for the fast replies!
I'm going to get myself this case. If you remember, I went with the 301 because it was cheaper and available, but I've personally experienced various issues with it (zero cable space/management, less than ideal thermals, did I mention no cable space?). The 301 is pretty when set up, though. :v
+Applejack That's an interesting turn out, on the note of the thermals just out of interest what CPU and Graphics Card were you using again? This case certainly has an issue with the mala, and it would be interesting to know more of the extents. The 301 is certainly a great looking case, and it would be great to see a performance oriented version in the future. The Define Mini C is of course not perfect, but the cable management space and the improved thermals is desirable, so I commend your decision to make the change. Best of luck with the upcoming build, not that you're going to need it, but it's always a nice to have haha!
A little luck is always good, haha. I have a Gryphon Z87 motherboard with a 4770K at 4GHz, and the video card is a Gigabyte GTX 1080 OC with a blower-style fan. It's cooled by a Cryorig C1, but I replaced the fan with a Noctua Industrial PPC 2000RPM. In fact, all of its chassis fans are of the same model (2 exhausts, 3 intakes). Its baseline temps for light use are 42 C for the CPU and 41 for the GPU (room ambient temperature 23 C). I'm suspecting that since the cabling is so crowded at the back, the exhausts (located at the front) aren't able to push the hot air out effectively. I think a move to the Define Mini C will help with overall temps. What do you think?
Oh, and when loaded (like Black Desert Online SEA, a game that I'm playing now that's nearly maxing out both GPU and CPU), it's in the low seventies for both.
Man, sorry I haven't got back to you for so long. Sometimes I get a little swamped with work and I try to keep messages in mind for later. But clearly my mind had other ideas this time haha. Those baseline temps are a little higher than I'd expect from an average case, I'd want to be seeing something around the 30-35°C mark. From the testing on each of the cases it would appear the Define Mini C TG has the better cooling, and it's a much nicer building experience. When you get this case, feel the weight of the steel side panel, it's got some fair heft to it! I think you'll end up with a cooler system overall, but I wouldn't expect the CPU and GPU to get much lower than your temps in Black Desert Online SEA if you're pushing them both at full load.
No problem dude, we all have sorta-busy schedules, reply only when you can! :D Yeah, I thought the temps were higher than average. I'll let you know when I get the Fractal case!
Not at all, the card used in this system is a 275W card, and is naturally pretty hot. Whereas the 1060 is a 120W card, and is generally a pretty cool card. You should be absolutely fine with a 1060, I'd certainly recommend it. Let me know if you have any other questions, best of luck with your build, and of course thanks for checking out the video!
I'd choose the Define Mini C TG, mostly down ease of building in it and the cable management support. It also optionally supports more fans, and generally seems like a more well though tout case. The Inwin 301 looks nice and would suite a small build, but it was a pain to build in with limited room for options such as PSU length (160mm max), drive support (2x 2.5" and 1x 3.5"), and official radiator support (officially only 1x 240mm and 1x 120mm, but I managed to squeeze in 2 x 240mm - not recommended) if you wanted to go down the water-cooling route in the future. So this case would be my personal choice, and I would happily throw down the extra £10-£15 over the Inwin 301's cost to get it. Keep the questions coming if you have more, and thanks for the subscription, I really appreciate the support!
Hey, sorry that last message didn't tell me it came through. I use two different models of the same monitor essentially. One of them is an LG 23EA63, and the other is an LG 23MP65. They are a little dated compared to today's standards. Within the next year they will likely need replacing due to performance issues. If I were to get new ones now I would look for two 1440p 144Hz 23-6" monitors. I definitely think the higher refresh rate is worth the upgrade for games, but I think 4K as well is a little too expensive for me, so an upgrade to 1440p would be great. Sorry for the later response, I'll keep an eye out for more messages.
Nice! The Define Mini C TG should have the upper hand on quality, however I can't 100% say that it's better since I haven't yet built in the Corsair Air 240 (but I have it right next to me ready for a build in a week or so). This case is very nice, and I think purely based on its layout it's definitely a case that will look better than the 240 since it has the basement and a Tempered Glass side panel, which always looks better than a plastic side panel. It also has a well thought out cable management system which so it shouldn't be too much a downgrade in cable management space compared to the Air 240. It will serve you well and I hope you have a great build in it, I certainly did! And just in case, if you haven't seen it already, I have a Water-cooled video with this case that might help you out for an AIO or custom loop in the future: ua-cam.com/video/czUA822xk7E/v-deo.html Let me know if you have any more questions, I'm more than happy to help out where I can!
Just watched your water cooled video to,nice job. I have 2x14 Bequiet 1.000rpm fans 1x12 Bequiet 1.500 RPM fan and 2x12 Noctua NFL 800-1200 rpm fans (with low noice adaptors) So ... I would like to take your advice about the placement on this Fractal Case . I was thinking 1x12 Bequiet on the back as exhaust 2x14 Bequiet UP as exhaust , All these are blacks , And Noctua 2x12 in Front As Intake what do you think ?
+Bagus Triwinarko Definitely this, but it does cost over twice as much. Just objectively this case was one of the best I've used in terms of cable management. It has a basement section which is great for a tidy looking build. And it has a tempered glass side panel which is so much better than plastic in every respect, it's so much less prone to microscratches which is all to easy to cause on a plastic side panel. Let me know if you have any more questions. And thanks for checking out the video!
Probably because the system being used in this video isn't setup the same as other people's. When looking at comparative data you shouldn't be comparing it with other data sets outside of that data set. That introduces a pile of variables like hardware, LLC settings, target voltage settings, test methodology differences, thermal paste, airflow, etc. That's too many variables to compensate for and make a direct comparison. Only look at each data set individually. The data set in this video compares cases against each other, and that's all you should take from it. Otherwise we're comparing systems and system setting against each other which will generate differences dependant on the settings used.
@@AVTechy forums.tomshardware.com/threads/define-c-mini-thermals.3154018/ I saw this but i guess its mostly cuz the 390 u have makes it an oven with its power draw
@@TheJakedasnake88 Yeah from memory the power draw of the R9 390x is up to 300W which is a fair bit higher than the more efficient GTX 980. The testing on the channel has been tightened up through several revisions of methodology changes since this review. I'm using the GTX 1070 which is more reasonable than the R9 390X, and the i7-6700K has had a few more settings locked down to bring it in line with a more realistic power draw.
The music is referenced in the video description, it's from a website called incompetech.com and the music is made by a well known composer to most UA-cam video creators called Kevin Macleod. F7GOS actually references incompetech in his videos video description. I'm glad to see that he has referenced the music, many people don'e give due credit. So it's not his music just to clarify. Regardless of that, thanks for checking out the video and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
i noticed immediatly in the beginning of the video that the case had damage.. at the end of your video, i learned why ;) NOT cool from the seller! You have great reviews
AnyOne can screw in items that were made in a factory and designed to fit in the allotted space. Now - If You busted out a Dremel, some Spray Paint - Then THAT would make it Your Own. Otherwise - Eh... At least do a Liquid Cooled Mod. - Which is what these Windowed Cases were Designed to Display. What are You showing off? I didn't dislike however. Good Thorough Review. Thanks
Those are completely fair and justified comments. At the moment I have nowhere near the income to be able to mod cases and continue to review products as this channel is trying to. The current setup is that for this channel to be able to continue making review videos I have to sell everything I buy for a video, and most people probably wouldn't want to buy a modded case over a clean case (since they are generally pretty personal customised builds). On the note of water-cooling, here is a link to the water-cool build: ua-cam.com/video/czUA822xk7E/v-deo.html It's not a mod, it's just a build. But you already know why modding isn't a thing on this channel at the moment. In terms of what was being shown off in this video, it's purely showing what the case is like for a simple build as well as how the thermals of this case compare to others. Most people won't be putting a custom water-cooled build in their systems, they'll generally go as far as an AIO. But that's what the water-cool build is for. I appreciate you didn't dislike the video, in the future (who knows when) I will be doing some modding, purely because it's good fun to mess around with tech and push beyond standard. Thanks for the constructive comment, and for checking out the video! :)
tried to write a google review and funny enough, there's no option to, so i will leave one on every youtube review i would give it a 1/5 stars, extremely poor QA/QC, just google their issue with front MIC and front USB connections and you will see quite a few examples on mine (purchased 2018), it's both those issues, front MIC is not soldered/connected correctly as such, sound connection is not 100%. As for the front left USB, nothing at all, not registering any USB devices plugged in, nor is power available even for charging
I have actually got this case so it's good to see your review even after purchase. I bought the non-TG version for another build and it is completely silent - amazing.
Nice job dude! I'm shopping for mATX cases, so this and your 301C reviews have been very helpful.
Thank you very much, I'm glad you've found these videos useful. I'd fully recommend the Define Mini C TG, it's one of the best mATX cases I've worked with. But as you can imagine, I have my reservations about recommending the 301, but as long as you know its quirks you can figure if it's right for you or not.
Let me know if you have any queries and I'll do my best to help out!
Holy shit i'm incredibly impressed of the quality of this video considering the number of subscribers you have! You're doing very interesting content with perfect image and sound 👏 👏
Nice video man. Great videography and you're easy to hear and understand. For me, I was looking at this case, the Irwin 301 (too small) and the Be Quiet! base 500 (gorgeous, but too big since it's not microATX). Thanks for all the info!
I love how you are going over the popular mATX cases out there. You should do Corsair Air 240 too.
+Jae-won Chung Your comment sounded slightly sarcastic, but I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt.
The Corsair Air 240 looks like a case that could support some decent water cooling, it's one that I've been looking into.
But thanks for the suggestion and for checking out the video. I really appreciate the support!
Uh, no sarcasm at all. I like mATX form factor because ATX is unnecessarily big, and ITX is too small. But there are only few cases out there that is both practical and pretty. And I feel these cases are not being reviewed thoroughly enough.
Awesome, I'm right there with you. The mATX form factor is perfect for most people, with a few PCIE lanes for some growth, and they're generally smaller than ATX cases which is always good.
Just finished building the air-cooled system in the Coolermaster Masterbox Lite 3.1 (not sure it's worth watercooling), after that we've got the Fractal Design Node 804 on the way which seems like the most versatile case. But I guess we'll find out.
Anyway, if you have any cases you'd like to see covered on the channel I'm always open for suggestions. Thanks for the support, and thanks for checking out the video, really appreciate it!
Although it's ungodly old, you might get some solid hits on a Corsair 350D; I was looking heavily at that for a potential build until this came out, there's not too much content on the 350D on youtube anyways. $100 for a plastic side panel is grossly overpriced however.
Thanks for the suggestion, from what I've heard about that case it's a versatile product.
You are right though, £/$100 is too much for a case these days without a tempered glass side panel. But checking out their website there is a sea of interesting cases available:
www.corsair.com/en-gb/pc-computer-cases
Thanks for the tip on the 350D, I'll check it out more a little later on. And it may have just sparked some interesting case videos of cases that I hadn't come across yet from Corsair (they don't seem to be very well advertised, at least in the stores that I mainly buy from). And thanks for checking out the video, I appreciate the view and the support!
I’m soon going to be building a rig with a Ryzen 5 2600, GTX 1660 TI, and this case. Thanks for the review
Wow, this was a very well done case review, I'm going to subscribe. You should have more subscribers your camera work clear voice overs and good talking points should get you there.
Thank you very much, I really appreciate the subscription!
There's still a substantial way to go before we're hitting the quality levels I want to be at. But obviously that's always going to be changing, and I need to evolve as a presenter which will come over time, and acquire different equipment, and a setup I don't have access to yet. But we'll get there!
Thanks again for coming along on the journey, it should be a good one!
Another great vid dude! I'm now contemplating getting this over the Inwin 301 for the components I had. I do love how the 301 looks, but this upcoming build will be my first one and this case looks like it's much easier to build in! 👍
It certainly is an extremely simple case to build in with many more options and room for growth than the 301. It's the best case I've built in so far and is a silent runner.
I think there was a substantial amount of thought that went into this cases design, I believe the price reflect the design as much as the material value.
I didn't recommend this case to you before since I thought your heart was set on the 301, and the 301 would have been fine for you. But this case has the space and flexibility for plenty of growth and options while maintaining a sleek, clean design.
Sorry for not mentioning this case to you before, thinking about it you could have bought a case that you may not have bought if I had mentioned it sooner, and that would have made me feel annoyed at myself.
Anyway, thank you so much for sticking around to check out another video, really appreciate it!
I think I'm gonna get this instead of the Inwin 301. I have also seen your review for it. That case has bad thermal and cable management issues. Thanks for the reviews of the matx cases.
Got the regular windowed model of this case, love the look of it and layout. Honestly if they offered a version for 200$+ more with premium materials I'd but it in a heartbeat
I think a lot of people would agree with you, and I think they could make a couple of small changes not a significantly larger cost.
I think the main problems I have with the case in terms of quality is the top magnetic ventilation panel, and the front panel with its low quality clips.
They could probably save a few dollars but changing the HDD sleds from steel to plastic. I've personally never had an issue with a plastic sled.
And I completely agree with you in terms of the look and layout. It has the best cable management solutions I've worked with so far, with plenty of space between the motherboard tray and the side panel. However I do have an issue with the way the TG panel is mounted and dismounted. There's just no shelf for it to be held by when there are no screws securing it.
Anyway, overall it's a great case. But there will always be improvements. Thanks for adding your thought, and thanks for checking out the video. I appreciate the support!
Excellent review of the case, good job!
Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
You are the best! Very helpful and useful details. Smart! Debating between Define C and Meshfy C. I wonder how cool it can run without the front panel.
There are just a few good mtx cases on the market... I am from Brazil and here that stuff are even harder to find. The Q300L from coolermaster is the best matx case that can be find at a good price here. H400i is gorgeous but expensive. And Air 240 is not compatible with 120mm cpu fans and a bit expensive too. Unfortunately, fractal design cases can not be find here...
That's a shame.Hopefully the situation will change in Brazil soon. The Air 240 is a bit of an odd case on the market today since it doesn't really provide a lot considering how much it costs.
On a side note, based on country, viewers of this channel from Brazil are the 3rd highest behind the USA and the UK. And there are just about more viewers from Brazil than Germany. Anyway, thought it was worth a mention, I hope you get some more great cases coming your way!
Bought the same case this week after trying to decide between Focus G mini and Thermaltake versa h15. Thanks to your videos I feel like I made the right choice!
This case really is worth the extra money over the Focus G Mini and Versa H15, considering that most people will have the same case for years adding another £40 to the budget won't usually make much of a difference overall. Plus a case isn't going to become incompatible with the latest games or CPUs, etc. so it in reality can last for 10+ years with good care.
You definitely made the right choice, what I can tell from trying out the 'budget' and more 'premium' Fractal Design cases, you can't really go wrong with them.
Thanks for checking out the video, really appreciate it!
I plan to have my power supply to pull air from the top from inside the case which I am hoping will draw some of the cool air from the front lower case fan helping to cool the GPU.
Like the channel and the detail in the case review. Good stuff
Disappointed that I can't find the InWin 301 review you referred to in the video
How do you not have more subs?! You are a great reviewer. Keep up the great work.
Good video but just a tip on the camera settings idk what you use and if you can set this manually but if I was you I’d either work on lighting or white balance the yellow brown kinda lighting gives everything a weird color it makes the black case look weird and not natural
So if we're going air cooling only, does having top fans make enough impact to justify cost?
Good question. From the testing I've carried out on a fair few cases with top fan slots, they don't provide much benefit at all.
You'd probably spend £20 for two fans and gain perhaps a 3-5°C improvement. It'll be a little different from case to case, but it's a very cost ineffective way of lowering CPU temps.
There may be some benefit to the CPU VRM. I'll have to look into top fans and do some all round system tests to see what will benefit from top fans. But the CPU and GPU don't get much out of it.
Top fan slots are really good for radiator mounting positions, since heat from the CPU and GPU (and potentially RAM, MB, PSU, drives, etc.) is transferred up to those positions.
Hopefully that's cleared that anomaly up, I'll do some testing and make a video on top fans in the future to see if/where the major benefits are to be had.
@@AVTechy Might as well have a quieter system. This case is 5cm shorter than Define C, so I'm thinking 2x14cm at front, 120 at back and leave it at that.
One last question I have is.. Do you reckon an sff psu will have long enough cables for a case like this. It would give the hard disks more space at the bottom.
I thought I replied to this yesterday...
Sounds like a good setup to me. 2x 140mm in the front should help to keep the noise down. I really want to get in a case like the Core V1 with the 200mm fan just see how quiet the system can be. The Enthoo Evolve's 180mm fan (I think) was really quiet under load.
I think you'd really struggle to make a SFX PSU work here, but you could buy some PSU cable extenders and send back the ones you don't use. In all honest I really wouldn't worry about HDD temps. I've been backing up my system to a HDD for two days now and it's barely made it past 32°C (22°C ambient). Admittedly it is on a test bench, but there are no fans providing it with airflow. Go for a decent ATX PSU and you should be completely fine with HDD temps.
Let me know if you have any more concerns or component specs you want to discuss.
@@AVTechy thanks for reply.
In a case like this I would be tempted to add Noctua 140mm at the front.
Respect from Croatia ! ;)
Hey there, thanks for checking this one out. Appreciate the support!
Best review on this case. Great job.
What's about the power cord for the Smsung SSD?
6:35 You can just pull it hard and it will pop off like in most cases
So it looks like the tempered glass version is hotter for the GPU? Bit-tech did a review of the original version and it showed one of the best thermal performances for both CPU and GPU.
It's very difficult to compare system results when there are two different systems being tested. For instance the R9 390X is a naturally very hot card (very inefficient), compare it to pretty much any Nvidia card from its generation onward and the Nvidia cards will naturally be substantially cooler.
It's basically impossible to compare two systems when there is more than one variable (the fair test rule).
So to avoid this being an issue I put up a comparison chart at the end to compare the identical system in different cases. And that shows the result of a fair test when it comes to the cases cooling performance.
I wouldn't recommend comparing different peoples test results. If a reviewer has done testing on more than one component with an identical test system you should compare those results. Likewise, only compare my test results with other results I've gathered. That way you'll likely get the information you're really after which should be as truthful and honest as possible.
I really hope that's cleared everything up, I wouldn't want you to leave this video thinking I was hating on the case or making up results because someone else's results were different, when it's likely down to the difference in choice of components.
And finally, I commend the question and comment. You managed to query the video and provide some sort of evidence to help ask it, which is a far cry from so many that hurl aggressive comments when they have a potentially contradictory question. I appreciate the question and your view, thanks for checking the video out! And of course let me know if you have any other questions.
Despite the different systems being used for the tests, I think it should be possible to make a valid comparison, since both you and Bit-tech posted comprehensive results. Both tests posted results for: standard air cooled, ventilated air cooled and also open air test bench. Like you, Bit-tech also tested Inwin 301 and Focus G Mini.
In theory, a valid comparison should be possible. But when I compare the results, it's just all over the place. Against an open air test bench, in standard air-cooled set-up, Bit-tech showed Focus G Mini to be much cooler than InWin 301; whereas your results are the same for both cases. I don't understand.
Although we have both done comprehensive tests, unless Bit-tech is using a 6700K with a Hyper 212 Evo and an R9 390X they cannot be compared, that would not be a "fair test" comparison which demands that there is only 1 variable. The thermal outputs of the components used will be so different between the individual components and the systems as a whole.
So in reality a comparison cannot be validated (it would go completely against basic fair test rules), the difference is likely down to the coolers being used. The Hyper 212 Evo I am using isn't fantastic but it's alright. Bit-tech are likely using a better cooler which will being the thermals down by default, and the improvement will only be noticed more with higher thermals.
And I just checked out the review from bit-tech. They are using a 84W TDP processor compared to the 91W TDP processor I am using. And they are also using a cooler with 5 heatpipes compared to the 4 heatpipes on the one I am using. These systems are by no means comparable... Please also notice they use Delta T graphs rather than the straight temperature graphs I use. Plus they have a completely different cooling method, they use hardware to control their fan speeds whereas I lock the fans to 100%. They also don't use the same GPU testing method, and the CPU testing method is just "Prime 95", Prime 95 has like 4 different tests. There are so many differences here...
If you understand how fair tests work, you surely should understand how these two different tests cannot be compared. It just doesn't work on so many levels, and it only takes one thing to make the comparison questionable. If the systems were on a similar level then they would be better to compare. But they really aren't and I would only compare their results with the context of their complete system and testing method, and my results with the context of my complete system and my testing methods.
THANK you for showing me how to pop open the front. THANK you :D
Nice review! I just boght this case, but didn't received it yet. Do you think a 302mm GPU will fit without having to move up or remove the fan? The GPU in this video has 277 mm but I cannot firure it our how much space is left between the gpu anbd the fan.
Thanks very much, judging by the thickness of the front fans (25mm), there looks like there plenty of room for a 25mm longer graphics card.
I now have this case. It is amazingly bulit. Very classy, very good quality materials, very good airflow, very good looking, extremely silent. I love it. The 302mm length GPU fits perfectly.
@@V.D.22 Nicely done! It's a very stylish case, and a dream to build in. I can imagine you'll never want a plastic windowed case ever again :D
This is a great case (and good review) - couple of things though: the front can easily pull away when you remove the filter by putting your fingers under and pulling it off. I feel your GPU temps were affected but the size of the CPU cooler - I use a 240mm AIO and the RX480 dropped around 10-15 degrees because there was smoother airflow from the front to the rear fan. I am aware this is an air-only setup too. I also settle rear exhaust fan as low as possible to draw air away from the top plate of the GPU. Going to find the water-cooled version and see what you have done with this case :)
Review more compact matx cases.
What's that silverstone thingy at the back?
It's an 1 to 8 fan hub. Not the best I've come across, but it does the job well enough if you've got a load of fans.
The only issue I have with it is the difficulty to remover the fans connectors once they've been plugged in. You have to resort to pulling in the wires rather than the connector itself which can cause the wired of the fan to be pulled out of the connector.
you deserve more subs
I'd tend to agree with you, not being biased or anything haha.
It's just the state of UA-cam at the moment, this channel is not getting recommended by the algorithm since all of the videos are getting false flagged as inappropriate for some reason.
We'll get past this issue eventually and then the channel will grow, and we can do even more interesting things with it! Thanks for checking out this one, and of course I really appreciate the support!
i really like your videos hom1e keep up the good work
+ThatWalrusInUrPiano Awesome, thanks so much for the subscription!
There'll be a watercooling video in this case coming out on Sunday if I can keep the pace up, should be a good one.
And just as a heads up, I'll be posting a link in its video description for voting on which cases to get for future videos. Should be a good way for subscribers like you to get more of what you want out of these videos.
Anyway, thanks again for the subscription. I really hope you enjoy many videos to come, and of course thanks for checking the videos out so far, and let me know if you have any questions about the cases!
Front panel clips do not need to be fiddled around with like you did here, unless there is a change in the tempered glass version. Ive seen most people just pull on the panel from the front, think its designed that way.
Just read this and thought have I've been doing it wrong the whole time. Then I tried to pull on the front panel to remove it and it wouldn't budge. Then my brain kicked in and I removed the bottom filter, and then when I pulled on it and it came off. Thanks for the heads up, I'll be sure to point it out in the future!
And finally, thanks for checking out the video!
You can remove the front cover from below the case. There's a slit where you can pull it off. Just remove the bottom dust filther
Very true, however I think I've been burned a few times in the past with a few cheap cases where it felt like the panels were going to give way before the clips.
I suppose I should probably have more faith in designed from a company such as Fractal Design.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up, much appreciated.
I love my define mini C, I wish i could upgrade to the tempered glass panel
I felt exactly the same when I had the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv mATX, I bought the original with the small plastic side panel (which was way too small). And when the Tempered Glass version came out I was pretty gutted.
I actually went about seeing how much it would cost for a custom glass panel that would fit the case, but it would be £100+ which was pretty much the lowest price I could find. So if you really really want to upgrade, definitely sell your current one and but the new one.
Either way you have yourself an amazing case. It would be amazing if a glass side panel upgrade could be purchased, even it it costed £30-40 I think plenty of people would go for it.
Anyway, thank you so much for checking out the video, and I really appreciate the comment!
Better this or q300l
This, the Q300L isn't even on the same quality scale.
Cant choose between this and the meshify mini temps shouldnt be a problem i got a strix 1060 6gb and a xeon e3 v1231 v3 with a brocken eco
I ended up going with the Define Mini C, I think it looks a lot nicer and temps are still manageable if you take off the top cover and use the included dust filter. Never seen my RTX 2070 go over 60C.
I will go with the define mini c too .
Doesnt need that much airflow.
will this fit ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi)? its a atx motherboard
Top tip, although I can answer the query, and I will in a second, these questions are best and quickest answered by the spec of the case.
A quick search for this case on the Fractal Design website provides the motherboard compatibility which is maximum of Micro ATX.
Great video. You tested also In-Win 301. What will be better choice for I7-8700K for non-OC use. There wasn't big diffrence between those two (3 degree on CPU as I remember).
Oh the Define Mini C TG is by far the better case. It has more room to work with, there's plenty of cable management space, and there's more options for ventilation.
It's worth noting that the Define Mini C also comes with a some sound insulation, and is in my opinion has a better build quality.
If it was my money, I'd hands down go for the Define Mini C TG.
Let me know if you have any more questions about either of the two for you to make your own mind up about it. The 301 is an interesting case, but I feel the Define Mini C TG has just got so much more to offer.
For now I have i5-3570 + Fortis 3 HE1425 v2 + GTX970 mounted in Cooltek Jonsbo C3. Temperatures and noise are on acceptable level. But I'm looking for something better ventilated for my new processor.
Fractal Design Define Mini C TG is very good casing, but it has some disadvanteges: It's a little to big as for a uATX standard (400 x 400 x 200 mm), and front panel isn't made from real aluminium.
In-Win 301C looks like an oven ;-) Maybe it's work in the same way :-D But has USB-C port at the front, it's very small (365 x 208 x 370 mm). Also has panel with RGB backlight.
But as I wrote earlier, I don't want to change one hot casing for another good looking but hot casing. So is 60 to 40 that I'll choose Fractal Design Mini C.
It's actually interesting how few options are available for mATX cases with a tempered glass side panel, and reasonable ventilation under £100. Some company needs to come out and make a solid all rounder affordable case with a tempered glass side panel, and good ventilation to compete against the Define Mini C TG and the Inwin 301.
And like you say, the Define Mini C TG isn't exactly a small case, it's comparable with many ATX cases. So there needs to be more around that takes advantage of the smaller mATX size, that also has good ventilation, and a tempered glass side panel. It's actually quite a tall order, but it's certainly possible, and tempered glass is becoming more common all the time.
Let me know what you end up going for once you've worked it out, they are both nice cases, but the Define Mini C TG is much nicer to build in, and the brushed plastic front isn't exactly an outright negative compared to brushed aluminium.
Brushed Aluminium is very fragile, if you were to lightly scuff with a screw driver while you're moving things around, or brush a zipper past it as you walk by then it is liable to cause a noticeable mark. And the marks on Brushed Aluminum panels are noticeable since the scratch will scrape away the anodized coloured coating on the surface, exposing the silver colour of the aluminium below. Whereas a brushed plastic panel doesn't scratch anywhere near as easily as brushed aluminium, and if it does get scratched, then it's far less noticeable since the colour of the plastic panel is the same all the way through.
It certainly sounds worse than it actually is, plus they have fixed acoustic insulation to the inside of the front panel (as well as the top and side panel) to reduce the noise of the system, which is always nice to have.
Top notch review. Can you tell me if the feet are removable, please? I want to buy the case, but I'm restricted to a max height of 402mm. Minus the feet the case should just about fit.
Cheers. I can't remember the mechanism, but they'll definitely be removable.
@@AVTechy Thanks Techy. You've been a big help to an old boomer.
I can't decide if I like the look of TG cases
Wow fantastic video!
Thank you very much!
I'm pushing to improve these videos constantly, so if you found anything you didn't like please let me know and I'll do what I can to improve those aspects in future videos.
Thanks for checking this one out, and I hope you enjoy many videos to come. Speaking of which if there's anything you'd like to see covered on this channel let em know, and if it suits the direction of the channel I'll do my best to cover it.
Can the preinstalled post be a problem with an ITX build?
Not at all, they have the same spacing as ITX boards, just sometimes there are more of them that don't get used.
They can be problems with any motherboard though if you accidentally strip the threads. Just be careful and you'll be completely fine. I recommend counter turning, then when you feel the thread of the screw drop into the thread of the standoff you can then screw it in clockwise.
Thank you!
This is a sting contender to be my next case
does the reflection from the tempered glass bother you?
Only in so far as recording a video, since tempered glass can be very reflective (which can be affected by the tint of the glass). It's great in person, but since it's so reflective, it means the entire room needs to be tidy so the shots don't look like a mess.
I really like your builds i can here from watching your cooler master masterbox lite 3.1 tg air build im waiting till the pc store had a sale at the end of the month, should i get the masterbox lite 3.1 with a silverstone td03 lite or just some good set of quiet fans and a mic and phone clip do i can make better videos
is it a 4pin fan?
Can it fit an atx mobo by removing the psu shroud and using an sfx psu? Thank you
I think I came across this question a week ago but ti was lost in the Spam folder... the amount of space gained from the difference from the smaller PSU isn't enough to be able to fit an ATX motherboard in.
Difference between ATX and mATX is 61mm. And the difference between an ATX and SFX PSU is 22mm, so it would be about 39mm out.
That's without mentioning the lack of standoff support for the motherboard which I really wouldn't recommend since accidents happen all the time, and that thing could get bent the wrong way at some point.
Let me know if you have any other questions, you seem to have plenty of interesting ones :)
Nice video... so detail...👍
Thank you very much!
Thanks for checking out the video and showing support, really appreciate it!
G602! Best mouse I've ever had.
Can you do the Corsair air 240
It's been on the list for a while. Definitely looks like an interesting case and it seems to be quite highly requested.
I'll have a look into it a little more and all things well I'll try and get a video of next month.
Thanks for checking out the video, and I hope you enjoy the video on the Corsair Air 240 soon!
Heads up, the Corsair Air 240 is on the way!
We'll have the Thermaltake Core P3 build out by the end of Monday with everything going well. Then there will be the first CPU cooler review and testing out the following Sunday. And then we'll be doing an Air cool build in the Corsair Air 240 which should be out by December 3rd.
Let me know if you have any specific areas you want the video to cover, but apart from that I hope you enjoy it!
Nice video dude! Liked and subbed.
I've ordered this case and I was looking at some AIO coolers. Do you think it is possible to fit in the radiator in the front panel cage that can be removed? I don't like the colour of the radiator in the aio loop and I want to hide it somehow.
Thanks a bunch :)
Thank you very much, seriously appreciate the support!
Now to sort out your query. Do you mean you want to fix the AIO radiator to the outside of the chassis at the front. And then fix the front panel over the radiator?
If so, then unfortunately there is nowhere near enough room. Let me know if I didn't understand your question properly.
And just out of curiosity, which AIO cooler are you looking to get? They are generally very hard to completely conceal. I'd recommend checking out the water-cooled video in this case. It might clear up a few other questions you have about the case: ua-cam.com/video/czUA822xk7E/v-deo.html
Anyway, let me know if I got the wrong end of the stick about your question. And let me know if you have any more questions. I'll do my best to help you out. Thanks again for checking out the video, and I really appreciate the subscription!
AV Techy You've got it spot on!
I was thinking of getting the Deepcool Captain 240 EX but the white radiator is overpowering and I want to "wedge" it between the fan slots and the removable front panel cage and then have the fans inside the main case. I'm okay if the ModuVent filter has to be removed haha
If that radiator is too big to fit do you think any aio radiators are thin enough to fit?
I'll check out your water cooler video and thanks for replying! Keep up the good work
Hmm, I would say your more likely to be able to fit the fans in that region rather than the radiator.
Unfortunately I haven't got the case in my hands at the moment to be able to measure the front panel for you.
Is there any chance you could go for a black radiator instead. From what I can tell so far the AIO you've specified does have a black equivalent. But its 27mm radiator is pretty thin already so if the plan could work it's probably not a bad one to go for.
Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer, but I don't think there is enough room (although the clip at 7:00 makes me wonder). My best advice is to go for the black version, or any AIO you like the look of that matches your build theme.
On a side note, I can imagine that trying to secure a radiator on the outside of the chassis with fans inside the chassis would be a nightmare. If you do go for it, make sure it's the first thing you put inside the case to give you the most room to screw it in from the inside.
Again, sorry I can't be of much more use (if the case wasn't damaged on arrival I would still have it now and I could give you a solid answer...), it's a cool idea though and let me know what you decide to go for. Thanks again for checking out the video, and best of luck with your build. Let me know if you have anything else you want to talk over.
Oh, and thanks for the subscription again, seriously appreciate it!
AV Techy yeah it's the part at 7:00 that got me thinking too! Ahhh I think I'll leave my stock wraith spire RGB on and see if I want to upgrade my cooking. Thanks for the fast replies!
*cooling
I'm going to get myself this case. If you remember, I went with the 301 because it was cheaper and available, but I've personally experienced various issues with it (zero cable space/management, less than ideal thermals, did I mention no cable space?). The 301 is pretty when set up, though. :v
+Applejack That's an interesting turn out, on the note of the thermals just out of interest what CPU and Graphics Card were you using again? This case certainly has an issue with the mala, and it would be interesting to know more of the extents.
The 301 is certainly a great looking case, and it would be great to see a performance oriented version in the future. The Define Mini C is of course not perfect, but the cable management space and the improved thermals is desirable, so I commend your decision to make the change.
Best of luck with the upcoming build, not that you're going to need it, but it's always a nice to have haha!
A little luck is always good, haha. I have a Gryphon Z87 motherboard with a 4770K at 4GHz, and the video card is a Gigabyte GTX 1080 OC with a blower-style fan. It's cooled by a Cryorig C1, but I replaced the fan with a Noctua Industrial PPC 2000RPM. In fact, all of its chassis fans are of the same model (2 exhausts, 3 intakes). Its baseline temps for light use are 42 C for the CPU and 41 for the GPU (room ambient temperature 23 C).
I'm suspecting that since the cabling is so crowded at the back, the exhausts (located at the front) aren't able to push the hot air out effectively. I think a move to the Define Mini C will help with overall temps. What do you think?
Oh, and when loaded (like Black Desert Online SEA, a game that I'm playing now that's nearly maxing out both GPU and CPU), it's in the low seventies for both.
Man, sorry I haven't got back to you for so long. Sometimes I get a little swamped with work and I try to keep messages in mind for later. But clearly my mind had other ideas this time haha.
Those baseline temps are a little higher than I'd expect from an average case, I'd want to be seeing something around the 30-35°C mark.
From the testing on each of the cases it would appear the Define Mini C TG has the better cooling, and it's a much nicer building experience. When you get this case, feel the weight of the steel side panel, it's got some fair heft to it!
I think you'll end up with a cooler system overall, but I wouldn't expect the CPU and GPU to get much lower than your temps in Black Desert Online SEA if you're pushing them both at full load.
No problem dude, we all have sorta-busy schedules, reply only when you can! :D Yeah, I thought the temps were higher than average. I'll let you know when I get the Fractal case!
So what do you think if i use a 1060 will it be really hot?
Not at all, the card used in this system is a 275W card, and is naturally pretty hot. Whereas the 1060 is a 120W card, and is generally a pretty cool card. You should be absolutely fine with a 1060, I'd certainly recommend it.
Let me know if you have any other questions, best of luck with your build, and of course thanks for checking out the video!
Between This and InWin 301 which one will you recommend?
I'd choose the Define Mini C TG, mostly down ease of building in it and the cable management support. It also optionally supports more fans, and generally seems like a more well though tout case.
The Inwin 301 looks nice and would suite a small build, but it was a pain to build in with limited room for options such as PSU length (160mm max), drive support (2x 2.5" and 1x 3.5"), and official radiator support (officially only 1x 240mm and 1x 120mm, but I managed to squeeze in 2 x 240mm - not recommended) if you wanted to go down the water-cooling route in the future.
So this case would be my personal choice, and I would happily throw down the extra £10-£15 over the Inwin 301's cost to get it.
Keep the questions coming if you have more, and thanks for the subscription, I really appreciate the support!
What Monitor do you use?
Hey, sorry that last message didn't tell me it came through.
I use two different models of the same monitor essentially. One of them is an LG 23EA63, and the other is an LG 23MP65.
They are a little dated compared to today's standards. Within the next year they will likely need replacing due to performance issues.
If I were to get new ones now I would look for two 1440p 144Hz 23-6" monitors. I definitely think the higher refresh rate is worth the upgrade for games, but I think 4K as well is a little too expensive for me, so an upgrade to 1440p would be great.
Sorry for the later response, I'll keep an eye out for more messages.
Woohoo beautiful elegant case
It certainly is elegant. Thanks for checking out the video, I hope you found it useful.
AV Techy very because of u just pre-order it
AV Techy for now I use corsair air 240. On i7 7700k and 1080ti asus strix. Is this case better what u think ?
Nice!
The Define Mini C TG should have the upper hand on quality, however I can't 100% say that it's better since I haven't yet built in the Corsair Air 240 (but I have it right next to me ready for a build in a week or so).
This case is very nice, and I think purely based on its layout it's definitely a case that will look better than the 240 since it has the basement and a Tempered Glass side panel, which always looks better than a plastic side panel. It also has a well thought out cable management system which so it shouldn't be too much a downgrade in cable management space compared to the Air 240.
It will serve you well and I hope you have a great build in it, I certainly did!
And just in case, if you haven't seen it already, I have a Water-cooled video with this case that might help you out for an AIO or custom loop in the future: ua-cam.com/video/czUA822xk7E/v-deo.html
Let me know if you have any more questions, I'm more than happy to help out where I can!
Just watched your water cooled video to,nice job. I have 2x14 Bequiet 1.000rpm fans 1x12 Bequiet 1.500 RPM fan and 2x12 Noctua NFL 800-1200 rpm fans (with low noice adaptors) So ... I would like to take your advice about the placement on this Fractal Case . I was thinking 1x12 Bequiet on the back as exhaust 2x14 Bequiet UP as exhaust , All these are blacks , And Noctua 2x12 in Front As Intake what do you think ?
Just bought this case
this or mastercase pro 3?
+Bagus Triwinarko Definitely this, but it does cost over twice as much.
Just objectively this case was one of the best I've used in terms of cable management. It has a basement section which is great for a tidy looking build. And it has a tempered glass side panel which is so much better than plastic in every respect, it's so much less prone to microscratches which is all to easy to cause on a plastic side panel.
Let me know if you have any more questions. And thanks for checking out the video!
AV Techy alright man that's cool. I'm going with this case. Thank's for the reply. Great channel btw, keep it up dude ;)
No problem, hope you enjoy the case. Let me know if you have any more queries, and thanks for the support!
Y does it seem like everything you test gets way hotter than it should/does for most other people
Probably because the system being used in this video isn't setup the same as other people's.
When looking at comparative data you shouldn't be comparing it with other data sets outside of that data set. That introduces a pile of variables like hardware, LLC settings, target voltage settings, test methodology differences, thermal paste, airflow, etc.
That's too many variables to compensate for and make a direct comparison. Only look at each data set individually. The data set in this video compares cases against each other, and that's all you should take from it.
Otherwise we're comparing systems and system setting against each other which will generate differences dependant on the settings used.
@@AVTechy forums.tomshardware.com/threads/define-c-mini-thermals.3154018/
I saw this but i guess its mostly cuz the 390 u have makes it an oven with its power draw
@@TheJakedasnake88 Yeah from memory the power draw of the R9 390x is up to 300W which is a fair bit higher than the more efficient GTX 980.
The testing on the channel has been tightened up through several revisions of methodology changes since this review. I'm using the GTX 1070 which is more reasonable than the R9 390X, and the i7-6700K has had a few more settings locked down to bring it in line with a more realistic power draw.
i like this case it is very complete
Excellent videos
Thanks you very much, I really appreciate the support!
very nice
Thank you very much, and thanks for checking out the video!
put a strix in it
Bruh that music is from F7GOS otherwise it's a good vid
The music is referenced in the video description, it's from a website called incompetech.com and the music is made by a well known composer to most UA-cam video creators called Kevin Macleod.
F7GOS actually references incompetech in his videos video description. I'm glad to see that he has referenced the music, many people don'e give due credit. So it's not his music just to clarify.
Regardless of that, thanks for checking out the video and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
i noticed immediatly in the beginning of the video that the case had damage.. at the end of your video, i learned why ;) NOT cool from the seller! You have great reviews
making assumptions on a 1C degree difference is nonsense. It's basically in range of measuring errors.
AnyOne can screw in items that were made in a factory and designed to fit in the allotted space. Now - If You busted out a Dremel, some Spray Paint - Then THAT would make it Your Own. Otherwise - Eh... At least do a Liquid Cooled Mod. - Which is what these Windowed Cases were Designed to Display. What are You showing off? I didn't dislike however. Good Thorough Review. Thanks
Those are completely fair and justified comments. At the moment I have nowhere near the income to be able to mod cases and continue to review products as this channel is trying to. The current setup is that for this channel to be able to continue making review videos I have to sell everything I buy for a video, and most people probably wouldn't want to buy a modded case over a clean case (since they are generally pretty personal customised builds).
On the note of water-cooling, here is a link to the water-cool build: ua-cam.com/video/czUA822xk7E/v-deo.html
It's not a mod, it's just a build. But you already know why modding isn't a thing on this channel at the moment.
In terms of what was being shown off in this video, it's purely showing what the case is like for a simple build as well as how the thermals of this case compare to others. Most people won't be putting a custom water-cooled build in their systems, they'll generally go as far as an AIO. But that's what the water-cool build is for.
I appreciate you didn't dislike the video, in the future (who knows when) I will be doing some modding, purely because it's good fun to mess around with tech and push beyond standard. Thanks for the constructive comment, and for checking out the video! :)
What a hater. This is a build, guy did a great job
In a case like this air cooling is about all I would do. Who wants to spend 100+ or a decent AIO with the Ram and Gpu prices as they are.
Too much fans, just open the case or remove some of the filters out, I would recommend to check the airflow too
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tried to write a google review and funny enough, there's no option to, so i will leave one on every youtube review
i would give it a 1/5 stars, extremely poor QA/QC, just google their issue with front MIC and front USB connections and you will see quite a few examples
on mine (purchased 2018), it's both those issues, front MIC is not soldered/connected correctly as such, sound connection is not 100%. As for the front left USB, nothing at all, not registering any USB devices plugged in, nor is power available even for charging