Fractal Define R6 Review

In the Nip (Stripped down)

Most review sites don't take the time to totally strip down the case and see what's going on under the pretty external trim, but then OC3D isn't "Most review sites".  So, the first thing we've done is push that little button in the rear top corner of the case and released the smooth top panel.  In doing so we can see that the're quite a hefty bit of sound deadened, mesh covered goodness underneath.

Removal of the top panel reveals to us the inner workings of the top of the case.  This set up was hard to see when we peered up at it from inside, but with the roof off, all becomes clear.  What we have here folks is a roof that will take a 360mm rad, or for that matter a 420 rad, should you desire.  there are though few caveats to the 420, as we guess you supposed there might be.  as always, RAM clearance is an issue, so provided you haven't got anything over 36mm in height on your motherboard in the area of the rads and fans, then any 140mm based solution is good to go.  Oh, and that little hole?  Well that's just a handy dandy fill port bracket.  We see them all the time don't we???  Yeah, and that's kinda the point.

How good is it that the whole of the roof panel unscrews easily and lifts off!  This sure makes mounting rads much easier as we're sure you can appreciate.

With everything removed we can peer down into the case interior.  God we love the way Fractal cases are like Meccano sets for grown ups. 

With the top dismantled we now turn our attention to the side and front.  Remember we said Fractal see this as two cases in one?  well here's why.  If you don't like the big baffle hiding your ample storage then you don't have to have it, you can whip it out and re design the interior the way you want it.  First step, as seen below is to remove the baffle, a few screws and it's gone.

Having removed the baffle, it's now time to dig down into the various layers of the front of the case.  The first thing we doe then, aside from opening the door and removing the filter, is to give a firm tug on the whole assembly.  Doing so reveals that we have one hefty bugger of a front case assembly.  Seriously, this chap weighs at least a Kilo on its own, and there's no wonder when you think about the mesh and anti vibration and noise dampening there is in here.

With everything stripped off, we finally see the case "in the nip" as it were.  The basic chassis isn't too dissimilar to many OEM examples we have seem but it's where Fractal have made their mark that counts, and boy, does it count.