Fractal Design Core 3500W Review

Up Close:  Exterior Overview and Front

Fractal-design have long been protagonists of the less is more approach to design, with their entire range exhibiting clean simple lines and elegant aesthetics, and it’s apparent from the images below that the 3500W which forms part of the new Core X3 range does not represent an exception to this rule  Measuring  233x465x517mm (WxHxD) the 3500W is actually quite wide for it’s proportionate height and depth, engendering a very square and robust stance on the desk top.  Although available as a non-window version the case we have for review is, we’re pleased to say, the windowed version and, it has to be said looks a hell of a lot more expensive than the £65 being asked for it by Specialtech. 

The roof of the case sports considerable ventilation, with room for up to a pair of 120mm or 140mm fans.  The ventilation is off-set away from the motherboard which should improve water cooling compatibility, more of which later.  On the negative side, the roof vents are not filtered and with no additional form to the flat roof it does become quite flexible.

At the very front edge of the roof we find the front I/O area.  this consists of separate short travel power and reset buttons, as well as a brace of HD audio connections and a set of USB3.0 sockets.  The 5.25″ bay blanks are finished in the same plastic brushed Aluminium finish effect as the main front panel , giving the Core 3500W that trademark fractal look.

Ventilation comes by means of the two parallel mesh strips which run the full length of the front case edge, with a small fractal design logo being positioned at the very bottom of the panel.