Fractal Designs Define XL Review

[xRuFFZx]

does it fit an ek 360 radiator on top ?

[hoofhearted44]

i do like this case. but i wish it had a window. still though, debating between this and the NZXT Switch 810. any suggestions anyone?

[iConorHD]

Hi, where did you get your power supply and whats it called, btw nice vid

[Alexthe34]

2 of the 3 fans are extractors, so the airflow is really good?

thanks

[TheExprima]

Hey, TTL! I was just wondering if you could tell me... can the side panels be switched sides? I really don't like that ugly fan mesh ruining the side that I see.

[4thNebula]

I like all the storage. I like the white apparently sturdy HDD trays (so many are wimpy nowdays). Not sure where I would put my H100.

[999archenemy]

Very nice. What is it?

[iMacMiniBookPro]

I really like this case but I HATE HATE HATE cases with doors.

[ashleylewisms]

I used to build custom made fractal minis, fractals and XL's, used to love the white cases in comparison to the titanium or black pearl

[jessehalloween]

I'm thinking about getting this case, but I was wondering how easy it is to remove the front dust filters for the 140mm fans. Do you have to use a screwdriver or do they easily come out without disassembling things? I have a Lian Li PC-9F right now and the dust filters are very easy to remove, I just have to clean mine 1-2 times a week so I prefer tooless and simple dust filter designs haha.. Thanks!

[mrcharm69]

@jessehalloween Removal of the front dust filter on the Define XL is easy. Convenience, not so much. You will have to turn off your PC or shut the fans off via a fan controller in order to remove the fans. Not to mention slack in your fan cables. The only bright side is that the fans clip into the dust filter cage (with the option to screw them in) so it is "tool-less" in terms of removal. Just press a tab on the left hand side and it swings out and disengages from the chassis.

[jessehalloween]

@mrcharm69 Doesn't sound too bad at all, thanks for the answer!

[MAXPLOSIVE]

Tihihihi Nipples

[birthepimp]

Epic truck backing up!!!

[sheek1982]

thats what i call cable management!

[brdpit]

Fractal is an AMAZING company that cares and listen's to their customers. I mentioned to Fractal on their Facebook page that I'd like to see Toms opinion and review on this case. Two days later they said they had just talked to Tom and he will be reviewing it soon. About two months later, here he is with the review! That defiantly says something about the company. That has most defiantly won me over as a customer. Thank you Tom for reviewing this case, your the best reviewer ever!

[duluxdoggy]

having just built a system in a shinobi using noctua's nhd-14, that fractal define case must be huge,

[ulftnightwolf]

I would like to see you do some reviews on gamepanels and gaming mice

[junitono1]

I seriously want this case. It's just so simple and clean!

[F4H33M97]

Hi Tom , Could you please tell me which would be better? , a 3930k with nzxt havik cooling and a 6950 2gb , and 16gb ram... or a 2600k with 8gb ram and a gtx 570 and a h100 cooler?i am just a normal gamer and would like gta to run on high fps , or maybe some other games like need for speed, i do some cinema 4d stuff

[XxD3MONULxX]

Hey, great review. But i have a question,why my case got an external sata between the audio, mic jack and power button ? We got the same case, but mine is Black pearl.

[lepetitaugustin]

I've just ordered this case with the Corsair AX 850, do i need to buy extension cables?

thx

[zero604]

@lepetitaugustin Yes, you will need an extension for your EPS12V (8pin) power if you want to route it behind the mobo. I have the AX850 and XL. The 24pin cable reaches just fine.

[SanDaniL]

@lepetitaugustin

I didn't need one for my AX 650 but the reach of the atx +12v cable was barely long enough and if the cable would have been 5mm shorter it wouldn't have made it.

[iErxr]

PRO-TIP: If you plan on buying this case look into longer power supply cables, Try some BitFenix Alchemy cables if you can't find any you like. :)

[Kantrishikrar]

ok i've tried 2 of the other uploaders here on youtube and no response in over a week...figure i'll try TTLC :). I was wanting to know if crossfired hd5770's would be better than a single 6950? and also would a phenom II x4 955BE @ 3.4ghz bottleneck a 6990? if so what would be a better pair with a 6990? thanks to everyone in advance

[TimeToLiveCustoms]

@Kantrishikrar I wouldnt run 2 5770's no fella, once you start upping the AA and the details the 5770s will not play the games smoothly even if they FPS looks good. (2x 560s are the same when compaired to a 580) I hate the word bottle neck but you would get more from a 6990 with a better CPU yes dude.

[Kantrishikrar]

@TimeToLiveCustoms ok thank you for the quick response :) i'll keep this in mind

[nilbud]

@TimeToLiveCustoms Bottleneck is a perfectly cromulent term.

[evofreak1304]

looks like a fridge :s

[tecinfolucas]

dude i cant see anything u gotta work buying some lights bro

[RHossall]

@tecinfolucas strange because i could see anything, you might want to turn the brightness up on your monitor or something

[OCNXenthos]

Al-u-mi-ni-um, not alumilium. Just messing with you :)

[wheytomuchforher]

"we'll start at the top and work our way down and around" 1:20

[1nothingspecial]

White R3 coming back out of the magic cupboard wouldn't have anything to do with Gadget Show Live perchance? ;)

[temporalparadox]

Maybe that square plate in the base is for the PSU, so it can draw in cool air from inside the main section of the case, rather than hot air flowing over the lower hard drive bays. Just a thought.

[I5ZQ8]

hehee he said nipples 

[Mediafrenzzy]

Caressing his woman!! 

[jookur]

@xXH3ll5xB3llXx

British.

[steggs69]

@xXH3ll5xB3llXx What do you call them?

[Mediafrenzzy]

@xXH3ll5xB3llXx are you a retard? of course he's not.

[Blackspur100]

@xXH3ll5xB3llXx Really? Your an idiot.

(If you didn't get it, no he isn't, he is British, clearly)

[xXH3ll5xB3llXx]

@Blackspur100 How is he clearly British?

[WinterXL]

@xXH3ll5xB3llXx a guy with a thick british accent with a british-seeming face... isn't clearly british to you?

[xXH3ll5xB3llXx]

@WinterXL Ever heard of Immigration or Emigration?

[Blackspur100]

@xXH3ll5xB3llXx Emigrating to America, doesn't make you American dipshit.

[xXH3ll5xB3llXx]

@Blackspur100 Let me paint you a picture.

A young man's American family move over to Britain.

As he is exposed to the accent from early childhood he picks it up and by adulthood is indiscernible from a born British person.

[Blackspur100]

@xXH3ll5xB3llXx Because of the Accent, Jesus Christ.

[Astrtrick]

will oc3d be having reviews of the new 80+(it should be 90+) platinum psu's

[jonnylaris]

Interior looks great..... Pity you can't see it.

Needs a window.

[dominox64]

@jonnylaris It's more of elegance case, and that other people could see your GPU and CPU cooler don't make you UK's queen

[Roland0314]

@jonnylaris The idea is to be quiet, that's why it has no window.

[17tumba]

I feel like a boss now...

Linus is using the Corsair SP2500 speakers, and so are you!!! And so am I!!!!!!!

[MERCENARYVII]

@17tumba so am i

[NLRoadKill]

The big downside of a double compartment is that the components will lack breathing room due the small space. Ever since i switched from the Antec P193 to the Antec P280 my GTX580 is 8-10C Cooler.

[NLRoadKill]

Was gonna buy this case to replace my Antec P193, instead i made a wise move and bought the Antec P280.

[jackgalloway256]

@NLRoadKill I think they look very similar anyway lol

[MrSoskok]

Why not just do exactly the same case but larger? they do smaller once that are the same essentially

[gerardbiteme]

Ha, TTL said Nipples!

[crayzeeduude]

white vengeance? xD



[holmpet]

I'm amazed at the silver award. The XL only does the same things as the R3, just not as good. I think the only good thing there is to say about it is the ability to fit longer graphics cards.

[EudaimoniaArete]

I had this case for about 5 months now. I got an MSI big bang x-power x58 board in it that goes well with the blue led theme. I modded the case and fitted a 360 rad in the roof. With the rad at 45 mm thickness + a set of fans there is just enough room for it.

You forgot to mention that the middle HD cage can be flipped sideways. Removing the wall between the lower HD cage and the power supply is not recommended. It supports the floor between the middle and lower compartments.

[thefuzz1669]

Great videos man you always have been the most in depth reviewer!

[SylentCommando]

lots of room in there. style of the inside reminds me of the 800D, the 2 levels. alot of case manufacturers are starting to do this now. Did you go to CES Tom?

[TheEGGtech]

@SylentCommando antec p180 is far older than the 800D. Not that the p180 is better than the 800D but just saying that the compartmented design in computer cases was around before the 800D.

[doasindefinitely]

I bet you're bringing the R3 out again to battle against the new Corsair 550D that will be release soon right? Just my guess :P

[TheBigCheezeHipster]

I really wanted to get this case a while back but the lack of space water cooling was a bummer. I went with an Arc MIDI instead ;

[Ragnar1003]

Really nice review. Been following TTL for about a year now. Like your work, keep it up.

Best reg. Form Iceland Ragnar1003

Ps. I'm gonna buy this case :)

[ThunderJunkOC]

I guess it's hard to be impressed by a case after you have seen the CM Cosmos 2 >.>

[TheAmgarbay]

16:34 Nipples on the D14 :D

[duffmanw]

TTL + 1080p + Coffee = great start to the day xD

[zalmanusa]

@duffmanw True that my friend.

[233kosta]

@duffmanw God bless my insane internet connection! No time to get coffee for 1080p buffering though.

[MaximumMT]

I do like the Fractal cases... except for one major problem in my opinion. The front door opens in the wrong direction. It makes it impossible to work with if you have it on the right side of your desk so you can access the internals through the side panel. Why do they do that?

[1nothingspecial]

Personally I don't think they've monopolised enough on that extra space. Gap above the power supply is a bit pointless, as you could pop out the plate to have it fan up, and no space for fans/rads in the roof is a fail. Can't see much benefit over the R3.

[Ruiso7]

review the corsair 550D or the cooler master HAF-XM please

[Mickkazzie]

Review the following please: Aerocool Strike-X ST Black Edition Full Tower Case or the Aerocool Strike-X GT Black Edition Mid Tower Case.

[eggysz]

Taking the bitumen off is quite simple actually...just use a heat gun or hair dryer and attempt to melt the glue than just peel off. It should come off clean, but after taking the bitumen off then thats the hardest part done. Cleaning residue if any is really simple.

[Paddy8D]

It comes with a 3xpwm fan controller

[saffron99]

any chance of doing a review of the Arc Midi from fractal design ?

personally i think its a great mid tower case

[doomtomb3]

Seems like every case that gets reviewed gets a silver or better.

[almighty151986]

This case was so close to being perfect, Needed the ability to roof mount atleast a 360mm Rad and a side Window.

[daralinn]

@almighty151986 it would be awesome if Fractal released side panels with windows you could buy from them.

[adsahar]

Anyone knows how to handle the usb3 cable? It's just impossible to flex it :(

[1nfoJunkie]

Dear Tom, your voice is like butter to our ears. Could you please find a way to get that audible chocolate on the airwaves?

[Peanutsreveng3]

@1nfoJunkie Use WiFi or 2/3/4G to stream the video.

Hey presto, he's on the air waves!

[Supracharge]

@1nfoJunkie Nice South Park reference

[bunglewick]

Ive had this case for about 12 months for my sandy bridge rig and it has done a sterling job. Good, solid case and mine came with fan controller aswell. If you need a case that can handle lots of drives(which i needed) and big graphics cards(again i needed) then you cant go wrong with it. Also got it very nice a silent as i sleep in the same room while its on :D

[robthatguyx]

after seeing the haf x and cases of that sort these cases are garbage lol

[scottwcoleman]

i really should wait till the end till i comment

[IIGaMeSlaVe540II]

How do you put the fans on 12V?

[PhatboyHD88]

@barinit thanks bud !!

[PhatboyHD88]

@timetolive you didn't state weather or not you can fit ATX XL boards in there can you ?

[barinit]

@PhatboyHD88 7 pci slots, ATX

[nex999]

gimme dat GPU :(

[Denstoradiskmaskinen]

How can you expect something groundbreaking on a old model? This case is as old as the R3.. Like you say, its the brother of the Define R3.. I find your conclussion pretty much based on your taste.. i rate this review to be a user review rather then a professional review..

You make it look like a model of 2012, im sad!

[IsaacDeanMusic]

@Denstoradiskmaskinen He didn't mean groundbreaking in that context. Right after that he explained what he meant. It didn't have anything particularly special. No matter when it was released.

[JDTang]

After having this case for almost a year, i can honestly say that its a realy good case, the fans that come with it is way too weak (including the 180) but else a realy good case, the "old" version i have also came with a fan speed controller that can be mounted in one of the free pci blanks, no clue if this one did since tom didnt mention it, but its always a plus.

[IggyB3]

hehe... he said nipples

[aabbccxxyyandzz]

TJ11 trolololol

[DubstepPromoter]

I have this case :)

[Dfoulds28]

What card you using mate

[3HACKRZ]

lol at 01.58 the fingerprints. looks like the memory foam

[PMGaming101]

this is of topic but i have a problem i have the ASUS Sabertooth P67 1155 ,and it looks like it will be better for me to get the Noctua NH-C14 seeing as it will push air down on to the motherboard or do you think i will be fine with a small assist fan that fits on the motherboard and the king of kings Noctua NH-D14?

thanks man your the BEST!

[zilkoify]

@PMGaming101

You dont need any assists fans in p67 sabertooth, i have one and nh-d14 is very fine with it.

[IsaacDeanMusic]

New home server ;)

[pleite567]

nice review, i had to mod this case, i would get rid of the top 180 mm fan and the middle plate and than mod a mountainmods Motherboard Tray 10 PCI (XL-ATX) tray in there and a radiator in top and bottom xd

[qalih]

I have the define. Early reviews had said the define had 'bad' airflow but I feel its fine. Considering the amount of room inside, you'd need a good amount of fans for suffient air flow. I have 3 in front and the 2 exhaust. Temps arent the best but perfectly acceptable.

I plan to cut the roof to allow for a 360 rad for my next build.

[pbHepitonic]

The question is...WHO USES 10 HARDDRIVES?

[qalih]

@pbHepitonic I'm using 6 as that all my mobo can handle, I have another connected to esata on top of my case, plus in my new build i plan on getting a couple of ssds and 2 3TB when the prices go down. Thats 11. Though i'll probably remove 2-3 of them, but still.

[CrossTechTips]

@pbHepitonic lol i always thought this i use 5 and i thought that was well enough lol

[IsaacDeanMusic]

@pbHepitonic Storage

[gatorhighlights4]

I have to say after building a rig in a full-sized Antec Skeleton and doing the wire management I will never go back to an enclosed case ever again. These things just look offensive to me now, haha. And they can't breathe.

[DeanProudlock]

wtf you on drugs tom you never give out silvers :o lol 

[Denstoradiskmaskinen]

Wow i made a comment about this a few months back.. Really appreciate it being tested!

[Luger718A1]

:( mine doesnt have USB 3.0

[Chainzaw1447]

@Luger718A1 You can buy it for your chassi.

[Luger718A1]

@Chainzaw1447 yea i googled it lol only 10 bucks if i ever need it ill get it unless i change my chassis

[adsahar]

@Luger718A1 only newer cases from few months come with the usb3 kit already installed. I bought a define r3 and it came with it. :P

[Luger718A1]

watching this video on a computer built in this case FTW lol

[joshakatitch]

This is a very nice case

Well built aswell

[BigH3017]

bit late but ok

[ekobmx]

Might be what i put my next build, like that sleek design like a blank canvas

[IsaacDeanMusic]

Yes Tom, you legend!

[noblewordz]

Is your hair supposed to look like that :D

[jessekrynen]

woohoo



[AndrewHume1]

woooo.

fractal is definately going to become a big player in the case industry as they develop

[crazypearce]

yay! such a cool case