Fractal Define 7/Define 7 XL Review
Fractal Define 7/Define 7 XL Review
If imitation is a form of flattery, then Fractal Design is one of the most flattered case manufacturers in the entire business. When it comes to storage-oriented or silence-optimised cases, most have design similarities to Fractal’s Define series. Even now, it’s hard to beat Fractal’s Define R-series if you want a solid case for a home-built storage server, despite years of attempted catch-up from competitors.Â
Fractal Define 7
Now, Fractal has released its Define 7, a successor to its already brilliant Define R6. With this generation, Fractal has decided to drop its R-series brand name, instead favouring a simpler numbered naming scheme.Â
Unlike previous iterations, Fractal’s Define 7 will receive an XL variant, allowing Fractal to replace its ageing Define R2 XL. This change has arrived thanks to the increased adoption of EATX motherboards in consumer-grade systems, and to offer users enough room for up to 14 storage drives. Â
Fractal’s Define R6 was already a great case. The question for this review is whether or not the Define 7 will live up to its brand name, and whether or not Fractal’s latest features and upgrades are worth it. Â
Fractal’s Define series has always been about giving PC builders a sleek aesthetic and a solid building experience, and that doesn’t change with the Define 7. Â
Like the Define R6 before it, The Define 7 is designed with water cooling and copious amounts of HDD storage in mind. This case can support up to 14 total 3.5-inch HDDs, though this will require the purchase of additional HDD brackets. The case also supports 360mm radiators at the front and top of the case, though this will interfere with your HDD mounts. That said, most users of this chassis won’t be building with both water cooling and HDD storage space in mind.Â
The Define 7 offers PC builders the same iconic aesthetic which the company has always excelled in delivering, offering a premium look that’s well suited to any gaming room or office environment.Â
Below are the specifications of Fractal’s Define 7, which are compared to the company’s existing Define R6. Notice the case’s support for a larger selection of fans, more total HDDs and the case’s additional room for cable management.Â
Define 7 XL
Right, if you liked Fractal’s Define series and thought, “I like it, but I want something bigger”, then the Define 7 XL is the case for you. This case will fit your EATX or server-grade motherboards, your insane configuration of 18 hard drives, and it will support radiators that are up to 480mm in size.Â
If you need something big, Fractal’s Define 7 XL has you covered, and then some. If this case doesn’t have enough space for you, then nothing on the consumer market will.
It has been a long time since Fractal release an XL series case, with their Define XL R2 being the company’s last entry into this niche market. Now that EATX motherboards are growing in popularity, Fractal has now seen the need to update this series for the new decade. A lot has changed since the release of the Define XL R2, which means that PC builders can expect a lot of quality of life improvements. Â
