Fractal Design ARC Mini R2 Review

Up Close:  Exterior Overview and Roof

Cases with decent sized windows are always appreciated here at OC3D.  There are a few exceptions of course.  If a case is designed to have a low sonic footprint then then a window would be detrimental.  Thankfully Fractal design also produce the Define series of silent cases leaving the coast clear for the ARC series to have a nice piece of slightly smoked acrylic occupying the greater part of the left side panel.  The presence of a window, more oft associated with balls out gaming cases does not however detract from the overall elegance of the Mini.  With only simple mesh panels, a pair of 5,25″ bay covers and a front I/O  breaking up the otherwise clean lines. 

Practically the whole roof of the Mini is given over to a large mesh panel.  The panel is removable for cleaning as we’ll see when we get to the stripped section .

The front I/O is situated on the front edge of the roof and consists of the usual pair of USB3.0, audio, power and reset.  There’s also a 3 speed fan controller up here which rather than being marked “High, Med and Low” is actually marked with the relevant voltages having 5v, 7v, and 12v embossed on it