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From: TimeToLiveCustoms
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  • hey tom !! wold a 240 rad afit in the front of the case ??

  • Just wondering how the lower hardrive cage is attached to the case and if it's possible to get another 240mm rad in the front when the hdd cage is removed. Hard to see in the video with all the black on black.

  • I have the Arc Midi and absolutely love it. I am planning to upgrade from air to a water cooling loop. Do you think a dual 140mm rad would work on the top? Thanks in advance for your response!

  • Hi, could you be so kind and do a review of the Fractal Design Arc MINI as well?

  • Just bought this case because of this review , best midi tower i've ever bought

  • this or 400r?

  • Ugly teeth.

  • I have pretty much narrowed my case choice down to this and the R3. I do not want to do a watercooling loop (still considering an h80/h100 though), so there goes one of the main benefits of this case. The silence of the R3 isn't a big deal, just an added bonus. Which would you recommend? I will be using a single gtx 570, so I'm not really worried about either case being hot.

  • @Roland0314 H100 does not fit in the R3.....

  • @TimeToLiveCustoms The h1100 is only an option in midi, but i'd most likely just do air.

  • @Roland0314 h100*

  • @TimeToLiveCustoms Never mind that question, I'm going with the R3. Maybe you could give your opinion on this? The four motherboards I have narrowed it down to are the UD4 P67, UD4 Z68, and the P8P67 Deluxe. I'm only going to be taking my 2500k to 4.5ghz, so does it really matter between them? (they pretty similarly priced)

  • i love this case it's gna be in my new build! :D

  • seriously this case has everything, lots of space, im gonna get one

  • Hey Tom, thinking of getting this case and using a push/pull config on a H100. By the looks of your video there should be enough clearance. Have you tried using your H100 w/push&pull cfg on this case? PS - Thanks for all the awesome video reviews!

  • @alkaholikc loads of room for that mate

  • How about pairing it with a 2700k and rx240 kit combo

  • THIS case or Corsair 400R?

  • Bro your case reviews are awesome.

    And your scruff is working well for you. You look like an Austrailian Jake Gyllenhaal

    (BTW I am indeed heterosexual, just saying).

  • @mpalm887 Except you are in fact from the UK aren't you? haha

  • Tom i have watched so many reviews on this case and i have to agree with you about this being the best mid tower water cooling case. I currently just bought this case and am running a water cooling loop with 3 radiators in this case, the XSPC RX240 Radiator in the top with push pull configuration, a XSPC RX140 Radiator on the bottom and a Black Ice SR1 280 Radiator in the front with a little modding. You say this case is the "best mid tower water cooling option chassis" and your spot on.

  • @lowrider649 XSPC RX120 not XSPC RX140 lol... All fans push pull as well :)

  • Tom, would you recommend the Arc Midi over the Cooler Master 690II for water cooling. I leaning toward the 690 because of the support for two 240 rads, but I would like to know your opinion.

    Thanks!

  • @AlchemistRyu the 690II is very specific about what rad you can use where dude so you will have to do your homework on that one

  • Comment removed

  • Just a question to you. I've got a big tower, but considering to purchasing a midi. Out of all your experience. What would be the best midi-tower(no budget) for a larger graphics card, mid-large CPU fan and access to cable management?

  • @snaicli BIG GPU Id say 600T. Plain looking and quiet Id say Fractal R3, that will fit upto and including a GTX580 sized GPU

  • Great review man, really descriptive, lots of attention to the major points that all DIY builders want reviewers to pay attention to. You'd make even a bad case look good. :D

  • Why didn't they make those third fan holes in line with the rest? Then you could mount a triple rad very easily. You would have to sacrifice those two drive bays but its well worth it.

  • Ahh nvm, you meassured the top and it was 180 :)

  • Would really much appreciate an answer to this, Tom :)

    Are you 100% certain that it is a 200mm fan mount in the top, not 180/220mm? my friend wants me to build a PC for him and I chose this case which he liked. and I plan on putting the stock 140mm in the front and buy a 140+filter for the side and a large fan (200?) for the top.

    So just curious if you are certain since it doesnt mention it on the official Fractal design website

  • @pangeltveit not a scooby now mate sorry, I did this 6 months ago.

  • @pangeltveit He says it supports a 200mm fan at 3:35, hope this helps.

  • @pangeltveit No 200mm mount. 2x 120mm or 2x 140mm only. I know because I have one.

  • @pangeltveit in the review while he's looking at the side panel he measures it and then goes back to check the roof - says they're both 180s. But probably best to double check if you're building it for a friend. The bit you want is from about 7:15 to 7:55

  • yeah great case ive recently bought this in Australia, receiving water-cooling parts soon, cant wait to start this build

  • Quick question: Do the HDD cages have holes to mount more fans on the inside to blow across the motherboard/graphics card?

  • whata bout a disk drive!

  • Nice review. My only concern is the durability of the clips for the front fans. Specifically, if they allow any fan vibration, or are prone to breaking.

  • First of all. Greetings from Finland. Secondary thing, thanks millions times for you, since I watched your review of this case I was confirmed that it is one I have to get. Now when I have it, cant complain, cant say much else, but I like it alot!!

    Thanks again, got to check your reviews in future also. Would be awesome if you could give me an tip how to fit an 280 radiator with pushpull conf in case for cpu. I am using an optical DVD-RW. But yeah, thanks again!

  • "As for a revision of the case; we are always looking for ways to improve and update our cases. Currently we are working on designing a windowed side panel for the Arc Midi, although we are still in the development stage of this project so it's very difficult to predict when it will be ready." -- Fractal Support

  • @EvanJackPenn why not make a window fore the define r3?

  • Silverstone has a great 180mm fan, the AP181 from their Air Penetrator series that are great for pushing air into the case. Although, not so much for removing it. I also, like their 140mm AP's for intake and they are actually very quiet. I'm definitely going to replace my old CM Stacker 832 with this one. Lots of cooling, and doesn't light up like I"m walkin' through New Vegas at night.

  • could I fit a 240mm radiator on the top and a 120mm on the back at the same time?

  • Also, would you recommend this case or the Corsair 500R?

  • I agree about the side panel window!

  • Noob question here. If you mount the radiator on the top like that are the fans pulling air through the core into the case or pushing it up out?

  • @nmarkus666 I would have them pushing/pulling the air out of the case

  • I heard this case has a problem with a bubble on the mesh on top. Is this true, or was it fixed? I agree with the window! Also, 180mm fans are a pain to find, and I wish there were more 140mm fans with the white blade look. You can't get Fractal fans in the US unless you order from NCIX in Canada. There is an NZXT fan that looks similar to the Fractal fans.

  • best case ever and cheap Wow

  • Could I also fit a 280mm Rad under the top?

  • Comment removed

  • Newegg has them now for us in the US

  • how good would this be if I wasnt using water cooling?

  • @AndrewHume1 Search Google for "bit-tech fractal design arc". They've got a good review on the Arc's air cooling capabilities with a comparison between a good number of other cases. For a mid-tower case, the Arc seems to do very well with air cooling. There are more fan slots available as well, so installing a few more fans could reduce temps a little more.

  • @LawngCat cheers, I'm currently deciding between this and a 690 II

  • Don't most of the round-framed 200mm fans use 180mm mounting holes anyways?

  • Bought this case and love it. Thanks for an awesome review!

  • i want him to say 'this one goes to eleven'.

  • what's the best air cooling mid tower you've seen in a while?

  • @Timetolivecustoms When is this case being released? (UK)

  • this must jhave very good air cooling 3 4 exhausts and 2 140mm intakes sounds good

  • is this in stock anywhere in the US? anyone please answer if you know

  • If we don't get windows we cut them out ourselves. save us some time!

  • I was hoping to put a radiator in the front, but it looks like I can't because they put a stupid bar in the way. Do you think I could make it work if I do a bit of cutting?

  • Any chance you sell your clothing? Obviously not the same your wearing but like a store?

  • Any hope of the Fractal Design Define Mini to be reviewed?

  • I appreciate your technical/details reviews, but...You said you don't like optical drives/bays? what an ill conceived thing to say. You also said you use USB sticks to install an OS and you use steam for your games. How did you get the OS on the stick? And a lot of people still prefer to own a physical copy of their game and also aren't willing to endure valves slipshod customer service.

  • 8 hdds is nice

  • comfortable and drink 20 cups of coffee

  • Best reviews I've ever seen.

    Critical and well-informed, good job mate.

  • You CAN put 360 rad on top and 240 rad in the front and one 120 rad in the bottom ;)

  • This case is very nearly perfect, if it had four 5.25" bays, i would buy one tomorrow, two just isnt enough in my view. Fractal, please do a full tower version of this.

  • @mrmactknife why so many 5.25"?

  • @Luger718A1 Look at from a logical point of view. Mr Logan mentioned 5.25" bay resovioirs in the video, from what i've seen the pump/res combo ones are normally double slot, then you've nowhere for a fan controller, or heaven forbid an optical drive lol

    For me I wouldnt buy a case with at least four 5.25" bays. Fan controller; optical drive; memory card reader; sound card front panel head unit; extra USB3 front panel conectors, where's all that stuff guna go with only two drive bays????

  • @mrmactknife buy noctua fans, scythe typhs, fractals fans and fan controller is obsolete, optical drive IS obsolete, memory card reader very very few people use, sound card front panel head unit I've never even heard of, extra usb3 front panel is stupid because you have a front usb3 and are you gonna transfer files on multiple usb3 usbs at the same time? One is nuf, mouse and keyboard dont need usb3, I use zero 5.25" drives and so does all my friends so i don't know where you're coming from.

  • @zalmanusa You say optical drive is obsolete, well I still use my mine every now again, also you say that "memory card reader very very few people use", well I also use mine quite a bit, pulling pictures from my camera etc, so why would i remove those things from a computer that I am building myself to used by only myself???? Doesn't make any sense.

  • @zalmanusa In my opinion an extra two 5.25" bays in this case, would be benfical to everyone, there are people like me who want to use more than the average amount 5.25 devices, and for those like yourself who dont use any 5.25" stuff, then you'll have extra room in the case to mount extra hard drives, or watercooling resovoirs/pumps etc

    To quote the old saying, "It's better to have something, and not need it, than need something and not have it"

  • I'm definitely getting this case. After using the Raven RV01 for almost 3 years, I think its time I get something a little more low key. Great review.

  • @TimeToLiveCustoms What about a 280mm rad in the roof.. would it fit or would it depend on the ram?

  • 4 me i still burn quit a bit for back ups etc so using the2 bays for a res/pump would be a no go 2) why so many HDD cages with 1,2,3 Tb hdds and a ssd theirs no need /whats up with the bottom set of cages? can i remove those as well? and last but not least is that foam/filter mesh on the front removable?we all know foam disintegrates over time.... Otherwise That case is Bitchin Dude

  • Comment removed

  • I'm debating between a CM 690 II nvidia edition (I like the looks of it) and this Fractal case.

    I'm not sure if I want to go custom watercooling just yet, so for air cooling (or maybe a corsair hydro series) Would you say the Fractal is significantly better than the 692?

  • @Vejelz Corsair units that are available atm should be missed tbh they aint all that. The CM is a great case Ive used that one and the white version, but the Fractal allows a thicker single radiator if you do want to go proper water later on...... Chice is yours not mine ;)

  • haf 922

  • @thereddog223

    No.

  • 690 is nice too 

  • @Vejelz i would go with the fractal

  • @Vejelz , GOT this case now for sale on EBay.co.uk , get it before its too late

  • oO 990fxa-ud7 ! ! ! can't w8 for the review...sadly bulldozer isn't here yet!

  • @SepSama I have one but so far it has not impressed me. Haven't actually pushed it but details are disappointing and making me seriously question whether a Crosshair wouldn't have been a better buy

  • I also think that the fan mesh on the side panel looks ugly, either a plane side panel, or a large elegant square window.

  • Not white available in white and plastic front are my main concerns, not that bothered about there not being a windowed option. Would be nice if you could fit a pair of rad pull fans between the roof and chassis sections.

  • First impressions tell me this is going to be super sexy... now to grab a cuppa

  • TTL, I just want to thank you agian, you videos are both honest and fair. you give a personal, and professional opinion which makes the videos that more interesting, i can go to any website to see benchmarks, but i feel your reviews are the BOMB.... just keep up the good work... i hope to see more vids very soon...

    also, are you still doing a water cooling loop in the corsair 650d?

    thanks agian.

  • I take it your relationship with NZXT has gone really bad now?

  • wow, Fractal is really taking the market by storm. They just need better availability and selection in the US.

  • @billdcat4 we Swedes know how to take over the market =)

  • @JeemOfRunescape There are 3 good things in Sweden: Women, music and Fractal Design.

    with best regards, Finland.

  • @blizlake haha nice one =P

  • @blizlake And Koenigsegg.

  • @blizlake But in the end, Finland is the better country :)

  • its like an r3 but more for air flow/ water cooling then quietness basically :D i want one

  • yep yep i subscribed

    want 2 say that i like your vids and no BS opinions on hardware.

    keep it up please...

    i'm looking 2 replace my CM690II whit this new fractal case and build my first watercooling rig. i blame you for that. :-):-)

  • Would it be any problem removing the dust filter from the top panel?

    Dont like having dust filter on the exhaust.

  • Well someone has got Fractal in their good books now, never saw the air testing you promised though...

  • Great video I have been wanting to get the regular Fractal ARC great case and review.

  • Hmm, just a though... If they put the optical drives at the bottom of the case, and bumped the harddrives up, that top removable harddrive cage would be able to slide out and make room for that 360mm radiator.

  • lmao at the beginning when his face shows up :DD:D that smile Ps. nice vid as always

  • awesome case - width is always better (ask any woman)

  • I WANT THAT HOODIE!

  • i want the white hoody, when do us forum members get to buy them?

  • Can you show us how to put Windows on a USB-stick?

  • Are the feet on that thing sand paper? Sounds horrid when it moves over the table. Im liking the black and white offset though, nice that theyve gone to some length to just make it a bit more dynamic.

  • yesssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!

  • if you want to put a wndow inther yourself "timetolivecustom"

  • That depth is one thing my elite 430 dosent have and i would like it to, i would watercool it but dont have the space for a 240 rad and dont want to spend money for just a 120

  • "Dropping some hints" *fidgets hoodie*

  • Do you recommend these over Lancool/Lian Li cases?

  • Can u give us a hint about new noctuas? r u waiting for them to arrive to u? the updated nhd14 and that sexy new one that supposedly is even more efficient?

  • love the fractal cases, they reaylly seem to put alot of thought into the design.

  • Are you from the IOW?

  • @ryanstewart86 are you?

  • @TimeToLiveCustoms close enough,southampton

  • @TimeToLiveCustoms is it a better watercooling choice then the 690 II? you said best, so it must. I mean the 690 II can have a 30mm and a 60mm? 240mm both

  • your mad to say to bin burner drive I use mine a lot to back up data or burn movies.

  • I wish they released an XL with 2 x 140MM in the top instead of that 180MM : /

  • its really unbelievable that its taken so long to make cases like this, why dont they just make this whit a standard option in all case series..!???

    Because the user´s have had this need for long time now.

  • If my case doesn't have a window, I'll throw away the side panel!

  • Love the White OC3D Hoodie!!! :D

  • I don't suppose the capability is there for a 360mm radiator or anything up top, if you don't use the 5.25" drive bays, is there?

  • You forgot tea and biscuits, but it's alright I came prepared. Cadbury chocolate fingers + tea = win! :)

  • I've emailed fractal concerning side panel windows, and they are coming. You can buy them separately when they are released, so Tom, you're pleas are heard XD

  • 12:38 That sounded like a shopping cart! xDD

  • Love your reviews coz its uk so I know whats available in the uk (tired of american reviews). Live in Birmingham and wanted to come to Gadget Show live to meet you then broke my leg (even had the tickets 2 months b4

  • FRACTAL FANBOY! Any word on a white one? Another excellent video btw.

  • i set a new personal record. a dozen pizza rolls and two cups of cereal during one TTL video :D

  • all good PC reviewers know how to finger rubber grommets well :P

  • I just found my HTPC's new home...  :D

  • i had to cut 3 fins off the top of each vengance memory to fit a radiator and fans on the top of my NZXT Lexa s :/ wish they made cases wider like this one.

  • Whoa, I like that hoody. Yet again, all white looks good~

  • If they put a window on this case it will sell like hotcakes.

  • seems poorly built, if you try and pull off the front the whole case comes undone :P

  • ;_; But tom I thought my Raven 03 review would be the next case review?

  • Xigmatek elysium. I don't think it's fair that this got the gold award and the Xigmatek elysium didn't, even though they had the same little issue/improvements :P

  • Yeah i agree a window panel would look fucken amazing

  • @bozzza69 dremel + acrylic + double sided tape = window :)

  • @nicktheodorou9 Yeah good point, this is a pretty good beginner modding case come to think of it paint the grills and make a window.

  • The audio is off at the end. Haha

  • I dont think i have heard you refer to a case owning its competition before, this one must be special :)

    I might order that white hoodie =]

    Top review once again

  • I dont think i have heard you refer to a case owning its competition before, this one must be special :)

    I might order that white hoodie =]

  • Great review, as always.

  • Thumbs up if you second the motion for a window side panel...

  • Tom like to finger those grommets!!

  • If I hadn't already got my 690II White Advanced for my next rig, I'd be all over this case! Still happy with my choice though.

  • Ocd has the sweetest apparel

  • Great Tan!

  • He doesn't like the NZXT H2 does he?

    It is a crap case though.

  • Knock it for socks? think you mean Six dude...unless you actually meant to say Socks

  • Thanks Tom. This is a great case, Shame about the side though. I'm really starting to enjoy your vids as I'm becoming more interested in watercooling.

    I've also chosen not to get an optical drive in my first rig, which I'll be building tomorrow or friday (depending on when the rest of the parts arrive). I'll just Slipstream my Windows 7 disc onto a USB. I never use discs other than OS installs too.

    I think my 650d will look much better for it as well.

  • Your hoodie is awesome!

  • Great review as always mate. Only thing I would like is 2 120's in the front and 1 extra drive bay, so I could have a double res' and my blu ray player in. But I'm thinking the new Raven 3 atm for my next build.

  • is there any place i can pick one of these up?

  • i'd still have the R3 dont know why... nice review :)

  • When are these being released? I can't find any for sale on ebay/amazon/newegg/etc.

  • one thing i think could have made it better, adjust the fan slot above the optical bay for the use of a 3x120 or 3x140 rad instead of limiting it to a 2x140

  • @TimeToLiveCustoms You should do a mod video and put an awesome window in this case, in addition to a 360 rad and or an awesome white paint job.

  • The sun is shining out of Fractal's arse at the moment! 2 gold awards in a row, pretty good going. If the quality of this is as good as (my) R3 then this is another absolute bargain case. What are their PSU's like? Get one in TT. :)

  • Im ready for LGA 2011

  • fractal is thinking the same as me when it comes to case look...

    I don't want it to stick out I want it to be a discrete part of the room...

  • i knew this was a golden award ! just make a window and this would sold out !