I got mixed results when I tried to google this, so how good is the cooling on the R3 with stock fans? I'd be using a D14 as my cpu cooler, and a Twin Frozr III 570. The video card wouldn't be OCed. Will I have to add another intake? (I'd rather not have to open up one of the top fan spaces to exhaust) Would I be better off just getting the Arc Midi?
NZXT has behaved like a 5 year old child throwing a tantrum when not getting it's own way. It's refreshing for a reviewer to give an open and honest opinion without being biased. Companies like NZXT need to learn that they can't get a good review just because they offer endorsements for advertising...
I think both cases are awesome, but I am kind of leaning towards the H2. The touch-powered fan of the H2 is a really nice feature. I find the front fan door of the R3 kind of restrict the air flow though. I agree that the top of the H2 and having no side vents on the front bezel sucks, I'd still choose the H2. But hey, everyone has their own opinion. For the money though..i think i'd go for NZXT phantom 410 instead.
Bought it after looking at this review. Got black one (white wasnt anywhere on the market ATM when i wanted to buy it), but it looks perfect with my desk. And with hiding the fan controller cables behind the mobo and when they go thru the socket space its not that much problem. Anyway thanks TTL for making my decision easier...
im not really a fan of either of these case BUT i have to totally agree with you on this TTL, the R3 is built better looks better and well just plan chepaer and is better.
also im with you on the ripping NZXT back, if they cant cope with the bad reviews and take it on the chin they they really shouldnt be in this PC business since you either love it or hate it.
Awesome that you're standing up to big company bullying! I am a fan now! Great reviews and comparisons. I thought the NZXT H2 (in store) was solid as a quiet case, but thanks to you, I am aware of Fractal R3. R3 weighs 8 lbs more, which is good at 27.5 lbs! Your points are spot on, although most will never notice. H2 is $10 cheaper, for $100 cases these days, it's a TOUGH market segment! I'm a fan of Corsair, but too expensive. I just bought Thermaltake V9 Blackx for $43. It's cheap!
I brought a NZXT Lexa S mid tower for my girl friends build an there was absolutely no room for cabling around the back, an for a case with the acrylic side panel you'd expect it to have room behind the back, I tried my best to make it look clean but it was just so tight.. with most of the cables squashed behind the board with the side panel pretty much bulging out where the cables were placed, there was no way of fitting the ATX 24 pin behind there.. Just such a poor quality case.
Nice thorough valid review..... Never owned any of those 2 but I was curious about the Fractal Design R3 and it lead me here. My next build will be with the R3.
I have the NZXT H2 Classic Black One thing I have noticed it doesn't scratch as easy as other cases I have had over the years. So far it isn't showing any.
Sorry for asking another question on the same video, but these 2 cases looked like they were inspired by the antec p180. Do you have plans for making an antec p280 review? I'm also considering that case.
for the record, I have a maxed out HDD bay, and large graphics cards, two actually, oh, and by the way, i also have five opticals(2 PATA 3 SATA-including a blueray) why you ask? because my pc IS my entertainment center, who the hell wants to halve to choose between gaming and media,
also, NZXT is more than a little goofy, I have the phantom, and I do like it more than most other cases, but even that case has a lot of issues.
@JoshuaZiesmer ok so you are 1 in thousands of people that actually maxes out the HDD bay for whatever reason i cannot comprehend. I mean do you have like 8 300gb HDDs or how much shit can you possibly accumulate to fill up 8 HDDs that are normal sized (1-2 TB (besides bootdrive which would obviously be smaller)).
I agree with your conclusion. Much of the R3 case appears to be better quality & front airflow of the H2 would be a show stopper.
However I'd debate some of your assumptions.
1. The need for a big Video card. Rarely to I hear of a need for both massive disk capacity & high end graphics. Gamers go with few disks. Those with larger storage needs tend to run as a home server.
2. Once the case is closed who cares about the cables.
I personally like both case, but leaning towards the H2 more (just a personal preference), both cost the same in where I live. I'm not a huge fan of side window grill, and that is the ONLY reason why I don't like the R3. My ideal case would be: The looks of H2 with the front door vent from the R3, plain side panel and the removable HDD cage from the Fractual Arc Midi since I only have 1 hard drive. Either way, both cases are awesome, much better than my CM elite 430 which i regretted buying
@MrTRISTANCOOL The blue cables are standard with Gigabyte motherboards I think, I got 2 right-angled to straight adapters and 2 straight to straight cables. :)
Who the hell uses 8 hard drives? You keep pointing out that big gfx cards dont fit in the H2 case but that is an extremely non realistic situation. Sacrificing 2 HDDs (so you can still have 6, which is also crazy) you will fit any gfx card on the market.
@god2many I think it is kind of obvious but ok: the reason for it is probably that not everyone uses the longest gfx cards on the market, especially in combination with 8 hard drives. So there is a choice, either you use 8 HDDs with a shorter card or <7 with a longer card.
Is the Fractal Design R3 still the best bang for your buck mid tower case on the market? I'm thinking of getting a new case. I want something quiet and not littered with LED's and fans all over the place. This case looks very slick and has a very nice appearance.
@MrMG191919 Certainly in the UK, the 550D looks like it'll be £30 or so more expensive. That could go towards an extra fan or two, fan controllers or some RAM.
@MrMG191919 Certainly in the UK, the 550D looks like it'll be £30 or so more expensive. That could go towards an extra fan or two, fan controllers or some RAM.
Check out the fractal desing arc, thats a lovely case. I love that you can fit any type of videocard in a midi tower case. Its wonderful, used it myself and its the best! Check it out...
The H2 does look awsome in a small picture, I was pretty much going for it on my next rig (in april with ivy bridge) but after seing this video i don't think so enymore...
Why the re upload? On topic. I have been thinking about getting the R3 for a while now. I just love a simple looking clean chassis. I have a Shinobi at the moment.
Only thing that bugs the living daylight out of me with the Define R3 is the poor way the panels attach. I can live with the grommets being flimsy, and all the other stuff, but seriously, those panels are a pain.
right then guys i got a quick question, i got a question about my 1090t it seems like turbocore never kicks in ever not even for games and i was wondering if theres a way to turn turbocore on from the os. only wondering because when i overclock the entire cpu to 4ghz my fps goes up and id like that but only using three cores thanks guys
Just built my first PC tower and purchased the H2. Thank you sincerely for your extensive review and comparison of these two products. I will be returning the H2 and looking into something better, If you have any other reccomendations similar to these designs, Id appreciate the feedback. Thank you for your very informative post. VERY HELPFUL!!
@matcat1975 Check out the Antec P280. Personally I think better then both of these cases. I was going to get an H-2 but I seen this review and it totally changed my mind.
@DreDrizzah Well I'm changing away from a 2nd hand p180 and i don't like it at all: poor quality plastic door hinges broken, some plastique structural parts also broken, cheap plastic top air exaust cover broken, sidepanel plastic clips broken, no cable management at all, power buttons and connectors that require the front panel to be open to operate, awfuly bad acces to the cooling speed controle. I say this because its likely very similar to the p280 and so not adviseable.
I got Define R3 for Christmas and its really nice case! Only problem is front USB 2.0 is not working :< and Rubber grommets are not fixed to case they pop off quickly!
that was a perfect dressing down, this is why i trust you as a reviewer - You dont take no shit, and i love it, you did it with some class they should be paying you for this lol, quality assurance
From viewing your videos, it's obvious you care as much about your viewers as you do the hardware - quite a rare quality! It's refreshing to see someone that won't sell their integrity for a few measly (or perhaps not so measly...) advertising dollars. Keep up the great work!
My friend buys a new computer next week and he has no idea what he should pick, the Fractal Core 3000 or the R3 White. What is your opinion? (By the way, if he buys the Core 3000 he buys 1600 MHZ RAM which will work in the overclock that he does with the Mugen 3 and the 2500K)
got paid by fractal after this? haha, i always wanted to see how good the R3 was. I knew it was a good case but no one recommends and i just ignore them. I'm def getting it £75 on amazon and £10 for usb 3.0 upgrade kit :)
You did a great review explaining the obvious if NZXT dont like it they should blame themselves for it.
They have designed and allowed production of H2, Phantom was a step forward we know almost like they have set a new standard for themselves, then go and f*ck it all up and suddenly go act all upset with you over your review with H2?
..C'mon Son!
Its people like you that us buyers need for reviews unlike some that lie trough their teeth just to be in good books with b*tch companies like NZXT
Oy mate. I've been thinking about buying the R3 for my new rig. It looks great, and is somewhat silent too. But, I'm getting a gtx590, will it fit? This is my one and only concern, really :S
The R3 DEFINITELY has a fan controller. It can control up to three fans. Of course you can't switch it at front, but you could use it as a kind of "summer/winter" setting.
@TimeToLiveCustoms Cracking video Tom, bought the R3 because of the high praise given on this video. Now then, I'm kinda curious what your opinion would be for a cooler that would work best with this case and a 2500K? In a perfect world I'd snap up the Noctua straight away but with New Years coming up my budget on coolers has slightly decreased, something up to £50-£55 would be my maximum limit, would appreciate any feed back. Hope you have a cracking New Year!
@TimeToLiveCustoms Cheers for the advice with the NH-D14 mate! That beast coupled with this case, fantastic! Can't thank you enough, keep up the good work!..
@MrPcbuilder23 Look at the H2 on NewEgg... See what NZXT has as one of the H2's biggest selling points? 'SUPPORTS 8 HARDDRIVES'. Go to NZXT's website...'H2 has 8 hard drive support!', etc. He even said, it wouldn't be a problem, but NZXT is marketing this like some ingenious design when in actuality they just randomly threw 8 slots on there and called it a day. He's just calling them out on it.
NZXT makes cheap chassis. Don't know why anyone likes them. When companies like Corsair, CM, Silverstone and Lian-Li exist (and do put out cheap cases) why would you go for NZXT's cheap hardware covered in flimsy plastic?
I literally just got a white Corsair Carbide 500r for the exact same price as the NZXT H2...
Tom, thanks for not just stamping NZXT's chassis "kick ass" and sticking your nose up their butt for more review units.
41 NZXT employees didnt like this video :D i do love the honesty Tom uses in his videos. So many other youtube reviewers just show the good points to a product and never the bad bits. Which ends up not being a review but an advertisment instead. Good job Tom keep up the good work chap.
don't see why they made up such a fuss. what exactly does a company expect when they send out review units? to only get positive reviews? no. you get honest opinions (which not all reviewers do and i thank TTL for doing it) so you can take all of the opinions and try to make a better product in the future.
companies who try to skew reviews is what really frustrates me as a consumer and it doesn't give a good impression of the company!
hard drive slots are give and take thing. having them mounted facing forwards means you can add longer graphics cards with better airflow, but having them facing sideways allows for more hard drives to be added that doesn't get in the way but airflow is hindered and maximum graphics card length is fixed. This is a case by case thing.
I have the H2 and found for my needs it was better then the R3, all I did was ripped out the front foam that is over the fans.
@metaleater9 Personally I think they thought that the only people who would use all of the hard drive bays were going to use it as a home server, and USUALLY all of those gripes with the hard drive bays wouldn't matter then.
When you say Fractal Design R3, is that the same chassis as the Fractal Design Define R3? It also seems to be a newer model with USB3. If I want to buy the case you review in this video, will the Fractal Design Define R3 with USB2 be of similar design? I don't have any USB 3 stuff anyway so I thought I'd go with the USB2 version.
Amazing review! Glad I found it, watch a lot of other reviews before and they all said this case was amazing for it's price...well
@ericohman all the same case matey, remember that usb3 will still work with usb2 products so it might be worth getting the newer one just incase you get some usb3 toys in the future :)
Just had a quick go with the NZXT case in a clients rig.
The magnets on the top panel were plenty strong enough for it to stay put, but at least one of the thumb screws for the PCI slots was cross threaded FROM THE FACTORY.
@Zitoc the fans in this system even at 12v are very quiet the loudest thing in my system is my power supply and the rampage III will fit as long as it is ATX or below :)
I'm not a very big fan of going head-to-head with 2 products ... but give the fact that the NZXD ppl got pissed of by users get a hint their product is crap ... they asked for it.
And looking at the Fractal: i don't have a R3, i have a "Cheap" Core 300, but the build quality is absolutely awesome!
This might seem like a silly question but is it ok to turn my PSU upside down in the case?, since my case has the PSU mount on the bottom and i don't want to have a shiny LED fan facing the floor.
@TimeToLiveCustoms This has probably been asked before, but is there any reason to favour a bottom mounted PSU fan facing up instead of down? I would love to hear your opinion.
@TimeToLiveCustoms Thanks for your reply! By the way, what RAM are you using? I've heard of RAM clearance issues with the Noctua NH-D14, especially those with in-built heat spreaders.
Kind of arogant.. about plastic. but hey. I work as an IT Consultant. I have built a few case in my time. and now I for one do often need to pop a disk in and out. for repairs. and fiks disks that have crashed. So I like the disk docking in a case, but I have an external one as well. But people have different needs.. So you liked the phantom alot.. Now that was plastic.. no padding on the inside.. ??
Well I would love th H2 to be full Alu boddy. as the old stuff they made..
can the r3 fit the corsair h100 in push pull configuration (i 'm hoping it will cause i really like the noise dampening material off the r3 ) ?? or is it just better to buy the 650d for that ?
@theskateboard98 i don 't i was just considering the option i know its not really as good as a real water cooling system but it does match the performance of the best air coolers (and doing better in push pull config so thats why i asked )
Is the colour any different on the titanium grey version from the black version? I mean everything except from the front panel. I didn´t know where to post this so....
He obviously took what NZXT said about his review very personal and now he is getting his revenge. I have actually never heard of this guy so I dont see how he can think that NZXT would take his opinion seriously.
Yes, the mesh cutout in the bottom beneath the PSU is there to let the PSU get air directly from the outside of the case and then instantly exhaust it out the back. As the case has feet, the PSU will get sufficient air flow, plus the bottom mounted fan filter will prevent any unwanted dust particles to enter your system.
@twessels you need to stop posting and do more reading. its a preference not a requirement to put the fan facing down. they may have designed it that way but some people don't like it that way.
I built a pc recently with the R3 and i'd say its a very nice case. I have always preferred lian li but i have to say for the money its very good indeed.
But its not as well built, as you'd expect, and the door on the top fan at the front kept sticking and it still does!
I have to stop you at 08.10 . I assumed you work in IT? Whilst yes a normal person may not want to have a hard drive dock in the top of their case a person who fixes peoples pc's and has to recover data would find that very useful.
@CyleoPJ The Arc Midi Tower has better cooling options (2x140 in the front versus 2x120 fans of the R3, 3x120/140 (or 1x 180 + 1x120/140) in the top versus 2x120 of the R3, a 140/180 in the side versus a 120/140 of the R3. The Arc comes with 3 140mm fans, and the R3 comes with 2 120mm. The R3 have noise absorbing material and dust filters in the front. Both have dust filters for the PSU. Both have 2 optic bays, 8 HDD/SDD bays, and 7 expansion slots. Its extra air cooling vs silence.
I lol'd when you smashed the dust cover to show how crappy it is. TBH, I get all your points and therefore didn't buy this case. I really hate what they did with the roof part of the case, it just completely ruined it for me!
love white one !
aombarbor 17 hours ago
I got mixed results when I tried to google this, so how good is the cooling on the R3 with stock fans? I'd be using a D14 as my cpu cooler, and a Twin Frozr III 570. The video card wouldn't be OCed. Will I have to add another intake? (I'd rather not have to open up one of the top fan spaces to exhaust) Would I be better off just getting the Arc Midi?
Roland0314 21 hours ago
NZXT has behaved like a 5 year old child throwing a tantrum when not getting it's own way. It's refreshing for a reviewer to give an open and honest opinion without being biased. Companies like NZXT need to learn that they can't get a good review just because they offer endorsements for advertising...
SamboHaggerty 22 hours ago
My Fractal 3 has a USB 3 in the front instead of an eSATA and I had a fan controller, although this vid is over 7 months old.
Sp1derBen 23 hours ago
Also the haf 922 is nicer then either but the same price
thereddog223 23 hours ago
cases are the same price in the US
thereddog223 23 hours ago
Frankly feature for feature the nzxt is better
thereddog223 23 hours ago
AMD 7970 or wait for Nvidia GTX 780??
Gherhard458 1 day ago
wait for 680 cause either way they should cut prices
thereddog223 23 hours ago
I think both cases are awesome, but I am kind of leaning towards the H2. The touch-powered fan of the H2 is a really nice feature. I find the front fan door of the R3 kind of restrict the air flow though. I agree that the top of the H2 and having no side vents on the front bezel sucks, I'd still choose the H2. But hey, everyone has their own opinion. For the money though..i think i'd go for NZXT phantom 410 instead.
hoven0 1 day ago
Bought it after looking at this review. Got black one (white wasnt anywhere on the market ATM when i wanted to buy it), but it looks perfect with my desk. And with hiding the fan controller cables behind the mobo and when they go thru the socket space its not that much problem. Anyway thanks TTL for making my decision easier...
theWylenialy 1 day ago
im not really a fan of either of these case BUT i have to totally agree with you on this TTL, the R3 is built better looks better and well just plan chepaer and is better.
also im with you on the ripping NZXT back, if they cant cope with the bad reviews and take it on the chin they they really shouldnt be in this PC business since you either love it or hate it.
its that simple
SRSpoony 1 day ago
Hey, do you know if the R3 would be able to fit a 280 mm rad and 140x25mm fans?? Total of 5cm of clearance required for what I am planning.
gundam0051 1 day ago
@gundam0051 you can tell by the video theres not enough room if you watch it.......
TimeToLiveCustoms 1 day ago
Awesome that you're standing up to big company bullying! I am a fan now! Great reviews and comparisons. I thought the NZXT H2 (in store) was solid as a quiet case, but thanks to you, I am aware of Fractal R3. R3 weighs 8 lbs more, which is good at 27.5 lbs! Your points are spot on, although most will never notice. H2 is $10 cheaper, for $100 cases these days, it's a TOUGH market segment! I'm a fan of Corsair, but too expensive. I just bought Thermaltake V9 Blackx for $43. It's cheap!
shawnspeed3 6 days ago
hmm.. maybe this is the reason why tom can't review the NZXT Switch 810!
esy928 1 week ago
This is the reason I watch your vids! I'm now ordering a Fractal Design R3 case, thanks! :D
deanpcmad 1 week ago
tom, what would be good replacement for the enermax hoplite.
it should be a mid tower under £90.
IamTheJesusGuy 1 week ago
Best NZXT is tempest !
msgol1 2 weeks ago
Bought R3 yesterday ;) going to buy some new stuff in it later, and it will replace my loud and ugly HAF 922 ;)
Qcn0xa 2 weeks ago
will you say the Antec p280 Stacks up against the Fractal Design R3
Killer101Twin 3 weeks ago
@Killer101Twin have owned an R3 an do own a Antec P280, i have to say i prefer the P280
but sinse they are completly different pirceclasses, in it class the R3 is still king in my opinion
pumbakung 2 weeks ago
And my fractial comes with usb 3.0 instead of sata, strange
RyanJWN 3 weeks ago
I love my r3 so much, its not annoying and fiddly than other cases
RyanJWN 3 weeks ago
I brought a NZXT Lexa S mid tower for my girl friends build an there was absolutely no room for cabling around the back, an for a case with the acrylic side panel you'd expect it to have room behind the back, I tried my best to make it look clean but it was just so tight.. with most of the cables squashed behind the board with the side panel pretty much bulging out where the cables were placed, there was no way of fitting the ATX 24 pin behind there.. Just such a poor quality case.
showrider99 3 weeks ago
Just got an r3 and was blown away with the quality, thanks for the recommendation TTL
shedendpussys 3 weeks ago
This guy just fell in love with that case. :S
BTW I'm going to buy it :D
off: don't be that...gay/off
MenthX 1 month ago
Fractal = swedish raw power!!!! :D
AeroFix94 1 month ago
Nice thorough valid review..... Never owned any of those 2 but I was curious about the Fractal Design R3 and it lead me here. My next build will be with the R3.
x1zz1x 1 month ago
Perhaps TTL's all time best review! *Gold Award* for hardcore comeback.
momhubbard 1 month ago
so meny hard drives!!!
ThePewis 1 month ago
I have the NZXT H2 Classic Black One thing I have noticed it doesn't scratch as easy as other cases I have had over the years. So far it isn't showing any.
mixsetup 1 month ago
Sorry for asking another question on the same video, but these 2 cases looked like they were inspired by the antec p180. Do you have plans for making an antec p280 review? I'm also considering that case.
DemonFlame4 1 month ago
for the record, I have a maxed out HDD bay, and large graphics cards, two actually, oh, and by the way, i also have five opticals(2 PATA 3 SATA-including a blueray) why you ask? because my pc IS my entertainment center, who the hell wants to halve to choose between gaming and media,
also, NZXT is more than a little goofy, I have the phantom, and I do like it more than most other cases, but even that case has a lot of issues.
JoshuaZiesmer 1 month ago
@JoshuaZiesmer ok so you are 1 in thousands of people that actually maxes out the HDD bay for whatever reason i cannot comprehend. I mean do you have like 8 300gb HDDs or how much shit can you possibly accumulate to fill up 8 HDDs that are normal sized (1-2 TB (besides bootdrive which would obviously be smaller)).
robinp91 1 month ago
Hey Tom, Love your reviews.
I agree with your conclusion. Much of the R3 case appears to be better quality & front airflow of the H2 would be a show stopper.
However I'd debate some of your assumptions.
1. The need for a big Video card. Rarely to I hear of a need for both massive disk capacity & high end graphics. Gamers go with few disks. Those with larger storage needs tend to run as a home server.
2. Once the case is closed who cares about the cables.
That said, other cases are better
registerme2 1 month ago
Fractal Design Define R3 Arctic White
tubehiki 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I personally like both case, but leaning towards the H2 more (just a personal preference), both cost the same in where I live. I'm not a huge fan of side window grill, and that is the ONLY reason why I don't like the R3. My ideal case would be: The looks of H2 with the front door vent from the R3, plain side panel and the removable HDD cage from the Fractual Arc Midi since I only have 1 hard drive. Either way, both cases are awesome, much better than my CM elite 430 which i regretted buying
hoven0 1 month ago
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hoven0 1 month ago
great review!
god2many 1 month ago
@MrTRISTANCOOL The blue cables are standard with Gigabyte motherboards I think, I got 2 right-angled to straight adapters and 2 straight to straight cables. :)
epiccat12 1 month ago
Who the hell uses 8 hard drives? You keep pointing out that big gfx cards dont fit in the H2 case but that is an extremely non realistic situation. Sacrificing 2 HDDs (so you can still have 6, which is also crazy) you will fit any gfx card on the market.
robinp91 1 month ago
@robinp91 If you need to remove two drives then what is the point of including 8 drive bays?
god2many 1 month ago
@god2many I think it is kind of obvious but ok: the reason for it is probably that not everyone uses the longest gfx cards on the market, especially in combination with 8 hard drives. So there is a choice, either you use 8 HDDs with a shorter card or <7 with a longer card.
robinp91 1 month ago
Is the Fractal Design R3 still the best bang for your buck mid tower case on the market? I'm thinking of getting a new case. I want something quiet and not littered with LED's and fans all over the place. This case looks very slick and has a very nice appearance.
DemonFlame4 1 month ago 7
@DemonFlame4 well I still love it and it comes highly recomended from me.
TimeToLiveCustoms 1 month ago
@DemonFlame4 If you wait until April 2012 you may be able to purchase the Corsair Obsidian 550D which is better than the fractal design R3.
Why?
1. Has 2 side panel fan mounts with easily removable filters, R3 has 1 and no filter.
2. It comes with 2 front fans and an easily removable air filter for them, unlike the R3 which comes with 1 fan and a difficult to remove air filter.
3. It has 5 5.25 drive bays while the R3 only has 2.
4. After shipping and tax R3 is only $8 cheaper.
MrMG191919 1 week ago
@MrMG191919 Certainly in the UK, the 550D looks like it'll be £30 or so more expensive. That could go towards an extra fan or two, fan controllers or some RAM.
casiblake 5 days ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@MrMG191919 Certainly in the UK, the 550D looks like it'll be £30 or so more expensive. That could go towards an extra fan or two, fan controllers or some RAM.
casiblake 5 days ago
@DemonFlame4
Check out the fractal desing arc, thats a lovely case. I love that you can fit any type of videocard in a midi tower case. Its wonderful, used it myself and its the best! Check it out...
ilusjon 4 days ago
@DemonFlame4 I'd also consider Bitfenix Raider
kendu10 4 days ago
The H2 does look awsome in a small picture, I was pretty much going for it on my next rig (in april with ivy bridge) but after seing this video i don't think so enymore...
SirShizuka 1 month ago
Will i be able to use a HX850 in the R3 without breaking those clips off?
hjorthpresents 1 month ago
The new Fractal R3 has USB 3.0
MadeInMinecraft 2 months ago
@MadeInMinecraft yeh you can buy upgrade kits for around $10 if you still have an old one like myself.
TheEGGtech 1 month ago
Why the re upload? On topic. I have been thinking about getting the R3 for a while now. I just love a simple looking clean chassis. I have a Shinobi at the moment.
BitfeNicks 2 months ago
Only thing that bugs the living daylight out of me with the Define R3 is the poor way the panels attach. I can live with the grommets being flimsy, and all the other stuff, but seriously, those panels are a pain.
Drunkenvalley 2 months ago
right then guys i got a quick question, i got a question about my 1090t it seems like turbocore never kicks in ever not even for games and i was wondering if theres a way to turn turbocore on from the os. only wondering because when i overclock the entire cpu to 4ghz my fps goes up and id like that but only using three cores thanks guys
daveyboytellem 2 months ago
ftw dude keep it UP!
darkfinch99 2 months ago
NZXT are noobs ill listen to tiny tom more than them anyday of the week, NZXT why dont you bogoff.
DAVERUKY 2 months ago
those sex HDDs lol
yalman32 2 months ago
Just built my first PC tower and purchased the H2. Thank you sincerely for your extensive review and comparison of these two products. I will be returning the H2 and looking into something better, If you have any other reccomendations similar to these designs, Id appreciate the feedback. Thank you for your very informative post. VERY HELPFUL!!
matcat1975 2 months ago
@matcat1975 Deffo grab the R3 fella. If you liked the H2 then the R3 will deffo be a wicked purchase for you :)
TimeToLiveCustoms 2 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms lol i search for R3 fella in google and all i get is horses xD
andrew21slash 2 months ago
@andrew21slash Fractal Designs R3 is what you need to search for :p
TimeToLiveCustoms 2 months ago 10
@TimeToLiveCustoms lol i searched fella xD
andrew21slash 2 months ago
@andrew21slash sorry i need to practice more british english
andrew21slash 2 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms what data cables are these?:D i really like the blu color:D
MrTRISTANCOOL 1 month ago
@matcat1975 Check out the Antec P280. Personally I think better then both of these cases. I was going to get an H-2 but I seen this review and it totally changed my mind.
DreDrizzah 1 month ago
@DreDrizzah Well I'm changing away from a 2nd hand p180 and i don't like it at all: poor quality plastic door hinges broken, some plastique structural parts also broken, cheap plastic top air exaust cover broken, sidepanel plastic clips broken, no cable management at all, power buttons and connectors that require the front panel to be open to operate, awfuly bad acces to the cooling speed controle. I say this because its likely very similar to the p280 and so not adviseable.
SirShizuka 1 month ago
I got Define R3 for Christmas and its really nice case! Only problem is front USB 2.0 is not working :< and Rubber grommets are not fixed to case they pop off quickly!
Wolf3nStein 2 months ago
@Wolf3nStein yeh my rubber grommets fall off too whenever i stick a cable through it.
TheEGGtech 1 month ago
why is there so many hard drives? o_0
xXxbwelitexXx 2 months ago
Instead of correcting the issues, they complain and bitch and whine. Great business practice right there >_>
All hail mighty TTL!
DJKahuna 2 months ago
I do think there's a squatch in these woods...
Paranundrum 2 months ago
damn i love TTL!!! truth only the truth that's how we like it! thank you! my fav reviewer :)
GnuMovies 2 months ago
that was a perfect dressing down, this is why i trust you as a reviewer - You dont take no shit, and i love it, you did it with some class they should be paying you for this lol, quality assurance
TheGonzaPoker 2 months ago
Why do you need that many hard drives ?
Mad2k5 2 months ago
it was a bit marmite... how english of you :)
MegaLeedsfan1 2 months ago
I apologize for my English.
Tell me plz. In this case accommodate a cooler thermalright hr-02 macho
mityasav55 2 months ago
@mityasav55 Neither of these cases support that cooler no.
TimeToLiveCustoms 2 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms some cases you will be able to advise. analogue NZXT H2 vs Fractal Designs R3 of a cooler thermalright hr-02 macho
mityasav55 2 months ago
Comment removed
TheRottenWelshman 2 months ago
i had the same clear blue ruler when i was in 5th grade =D
eyesz 2 months ago
From viewing your videos, it's obvious you care as much about your viewers as you do the hardware - quite a rare quality! It's refreshing to see someone that won't sell their integrity for a few measly (or perhaps not so measly...) advertising dollars. Keep up the great work!
1nfoJunkie 2 months ago
lol "its just absolute sex"
TheOrtizme 2 months ago 11
is it possible to fit a CoolerMaster HYPER 612S cooler in the R3?
Gallardo95 2 months ago
My friend buys a new computer next week and he has no idea what he should pick, the Fractal Core 3000 or the R3 White. What is your opinion? (By the way, if he buys the Core 3000 he buys 1600 MHZ RAM which will work in the overclock that he does with the Mugen 3 and the 2500K)
dominox64 2 months ago
Is it possible to get a replacement removable side panel for the R3? One that doesn't have the vent in the side?
AXes28481 2 months ago
got paid by fractal after this? haha, i always wanted to see how good the R3 was. I knew it was a good case but no one recommends and i just ignore them. I'm def getting it £75 on amazon and £10 for usb 3.0 upgrade kit :)
white8ass8kika 2 months ago
You did a great review explaining the obvious if NZXT dont like it they should blame themselves for it.
They have designed and allowed production of H2, Phantom was a step forward we know almost like they have set a new standard for themselves, then go and f*ck it all up and suddenly go act all upset with you over your review with H2?
..C'mon Son!
Its people like you that us buyers need for reviews unlike some that lie trough their teeth just to be in good books with b*tch companies like NZXT
orky87 2 months ago
how did you get the other fan if it only came with one? they look the same.
Glaciereight 2 months ago
NZXT: Don´t mess with the Logan xD
tsmz6 2 months ago
Oy mate. I've been thinking about buying the R3 for my new rig. It looks great, and is somewhat silent too. But, I'm getting a gtx590, will it fit? This is my one and only concern, really :S
jensi18 2 months ago
The R3 DEFINITELY has a fan controller. It can control up to three fans. Of course you can't switch it at front, but you could use it as a kind of "summer/winter" setting.
nordemoniac 2 months ago
Hey Tom, would two GTX 580's fit in this or the Define XL, also is 2xGTX 580's a good idea? :p
potatocats 2 months ago
Mjellow,
Will I be able to fit a NH-U9B SE2 in it?
Sch0sler 2 months ago
@Sch0sler easily fits dude
TimeToLiveCustoms 2 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms Cracking video Tom, bought the R3 because of the high praise given on this video. Now then, I'm kinda curious what your opinion would be for a cooler that would work best with this case and a 2500K? In a perfect world I'd snap up the Noctua straight away but with New Years coming up my budget on coolers has slightly decreased, something up to £50-£55 would be my maximum limit, would appreciate any feed back. Hope you have a cracking New Year!
TheRottenWelshman 2 months ago
@TheRottenWelshman I honestly think its worth waiting it out till you can get the D14 dude
TimeToLiveCustoms 2 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms Cheers for the advice with the NH-D14 mate! That beast coupled with this case, fantastic! Can't thank you enough, keep up the good work!..
TheRottenWelshman 1 month ago
all of theme hdd's nessery!? lol
MrPcbuilder23 2 months ago
@MrPcbuilder23 Look at the H2 on NewEgg... See what NZXT has as one of the H2's biggest selling points? 'SUPPORTS 8 HARDDRIVES'. Go to NZXT's website...'H2 has 8 hard drive support!', etc. He even said, it wouldn't be a problem, but NZXT is marketing this like some ingenious design when in actuality they just randomly threw 8 slots on there and called it a day. He's just calling them out on it.
CavemanZX 2 months ago
Will I be able to fit my ASUS GTX 570 DirectCU II in it?
NotTheGun 2 months ago
@NotTheGun yes matey
TimeToLiveCustoms 2 months ago
Comment removed
NotTheGun 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@TimeToLiveCustoms Thanks, great review. Subscribed :)
NotTheGun 2 months ago
Great review... And I also bought the H2. Lol. Fractal Design R3 it is.
thyster408 2 months ago
NZXT makes cheap chassis. Don't know why anyone likes them. When companies like Corsair, CM, Silverstone and Lian-Li exist (and do put out cheap cases) why would you go for NZXT's cheap hardware covered in flimsy plastic?
I literally just got a white Corsair Carbide 500r for the exact same price as the NZXT H2...
Tom, thanks for not just stamping NZXT's chassis "kick ass" and sticking your nose up their butt for more review units.
TOBORtheMighty 3 months ago
41 NZXT employees didnt like this video :D i do love the honesty Tom uses in his videos. So many other youtube reviewers just show the good points to a product and never the bad bits. Which ends up not being a review but an advertisment instead. Good job Tom keep up the good work chap.
bunglewick 3 months ago
i want a boobie prize :(
stonecoldtrk 3 months ago
the funny thing is now that the fractal r3 is now $150 AUD while the nzxt h2 is about $118 AUD in Australia.
eddles777 3 months ago
don't see why they made up such a fuss. what exactly does a company expect when they send out review units? to only get positive reviews? no. you get honest opinions (which not all reviewers do and i thank TTL for doing it) so you can take all of the opinions and try to make a better product in the future.
companies who try to skew reviews is what really frustrates me as a consumer and it doesn't give a good impression of the company!
crazypearce 3 months ago 23
hard drive slots are give and take thing. having them mounted facing forwards means you can add longer graphics cards with better airflow, but having them facing sideways allows for more hard drives to be added that doesn't get in the way but airflow is hindered and maximum graphics card length is fixed. This is a case by case thing.
I have the H2 and found for my needs it was better then the R3, all I did was ripped out the front foam that is over the fans.
metaleater9 3 months ago
@metaleater9 Personally I think they thought that the only people who would use all of the hard drive bays were going to use it as a home server, and USUALLY all of those gripes with the hard drive bays wouldn't matter then.
metaleater9 3 months ago
yeah... im going with fractal design. used to be a nzxt fan a few days ago
WhackCheese 3 months ago
When you say Fractal Design R3, is that the same chassis as the Fractal Design Define R3? It also seems to be a newer model with USB3. If I want to buy the case you review in this video, will the Fractal Design Define R3 with USB2 be of similar design? I don't have any USB 3 stuff anyway so I thought I'd go with the USB2 version.
Amazing review! Glad I found it, watch a lot of other reviews before and they all said this case was amazing for it's price...well
ericohman 3 months ago
@ericohman all the same case matey, remember that usb3 will still work with usb2 products so it might be worth getting the newer one just incase you get some usb3 toys in the future :)
TimeToLiveCustoms 3 months ago
I wonder if this guy knows how nit picky and gay he sounds...
sunofnothin 3 months ago
super informative video, thanks for helping me choose
dBnCorey 3 months ago
Comment removed
dBnCorey 3 months ago
Just had a quick go with the NZXT case in a clients rig.
The magnets on the top panel were plenty strong enough for it to stay put, but at least one of the thumb screws for the PCI slots was cross threaded FROM THE FACTORY.
Very quiet, but that's inexcusable!
Peanutsreveng3 3 months ago
I wa wondering on R3 does the hdd case can be removed so I can have better airflow? tnx
fukkyy92 3 months ago
Anyone who has a R3.. is its loud ? or its a solid sound isolated? And has it room for a RAMPAGE III Motherboard?
Zitoc 4 months ago
@Zitoc the fans in this system even at 12v are very quiet the loudest thing in my system is my power supply and the rampage III will fit as long as it is ATX or below :)
blobeyso 3 months ago
Anyone who has a R3.. is its loud ? or its a solid sound isolated?
Zitoc 4 months ago
Hi,
I'm not a very big fan of going head-to-head with 2 products ... but give the fact that the NZXD ppl got pissed of by users get a hint their product is crap ... they asked for it.
And looking at the Fractal: i don't have a R3, i have a "Cheap" Core 300, but the build quality is absolutely awesome!
Good one!
hwizardbmf 4 months ago
Good on you not taking their BS!
damgudluken 4 months ago
This might seem like a silly question but is it ok to turn my PSU upside down in the case?, since my case has the PSU mount on the bottom and i don't want to have a shiny LED fan facing the floor.
Cristi7613 4 months ago
@Cristi7613 thats the way I ALWAYS do it ;)
TimeToLiveCustoms 4 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms Great! Thanks alot!
Cristi7613 4 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms This has probably been asked before, but is there any reason to favour a bottom mounted PSU fan facing up instead of down? I would love to hear your opinion.
shingenjitsu 2 months ago
@shingenjitsu aesthetics - just purely for looks dude. It makes no difference to the PSU or case performance what so ever.
TimeToLiveCustoms 2 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms Thanks for your reply! By the way, what RAM are you using? I've heard of RAM clearance issues with the Noctua NH-D14, especially those with in-built heat spreaders.
shingenjitsu 2 months ago
Kind of arogant.. about plastic. but hey. I work as an IT Consultant. I have built a few case in my time. and now I for one do often need to pop a disk in and out. for repairs. and fiks disks that have crashed. So I like the disk docking in a case, but I have an external one as well. But people have different needs.. So you liked the phantom alot.. Now that was plastic.. no padding on the inside.. ??
Well I would love th H2 to be full Alu boddy. as the old stuff they made..
Axachi 4 months ago
NZXT get butt fucked!
GDettmer1 4 months ago
I fit my gtx 580 MSI twin frozr in my case no problem, ill upload a video soon, the NZXT case is perfect.
demon2645 4 months ago
hi tom got a question for you !!
can the r3 fit the corsair h100 in push pull configuration (i 'm hoping it will cause i really like the noise dampening material off the r3 ) ?? or is it just better to buy the 650d for that ?
Pr34ch 4 months ago
@Pr34ch sadly it doesnt have the room for that dude
TimeToLiveCustoms 4 months ago
@Pr34ch why do you need a h100
theskateboard98 4 months ago
@theskateboard98 i don 't i was just considering the option i know its not really as good as a real water cooling system but it does match the performance of the best air coolers (and doing better in push pull config so thats why i asked )
Pr34ch 4 months ago
The Fractal Design R3 also has a updated version which does include front panel usb 3. just fyi
Mriswith2k 4 months ago
I will never buy a NZXT product ever again now what schmucks.
whONeEDZNaDeZ 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Is the colour any different on the titanium grey version from the black version? I mean everything except from the front panel. I didn´t know where to post this so....
LovvenLoevkvist 4 months ago
Get off the fence... Just say which you prefer!
ThunderBoltLSD 4 months ago
A Very Good Review;D!
I will call you, Mister Rapture;O!!
Zerorenowner 4 months ago
Which GFX did you use for both casemods? Need the length for them :)
crashiedk 4 months ago
That spinning logo is extremely annoying and distracting... please do something about it in the future!
zeroqp 5 months ago
If you don't notice it's on you should get your hearing checked, it's not quiet at all.
torstenaan 5 months ago
He obviously took what NZXT said about his review very personal and now he is getting his revenge. I have actually never heard of this guy so I dont see how he can think that NZXT would take his opinion seriously.
SpacePenguin91 5 months ago
@SpacePenguin91 obviously NZXT tried and failed at copying the design and quality of the Fractal. He is just backing up what he said with evidence.
nmarkus666 5 months ago
by design the power supply has to be the other way round, so it sucks air from the bottom of the case as you can see here.
tomshardware.de/PC-Kuhlung-CPU-Grafikkarte,testberichte-240857-4.html (german)
twessels 5 months ago
@twessels fraid not mate
TimeToLiveCustoms 5 months ago 12
@TimeToLiveCustoms I'm afraid yes. Fractal Design support says:
Hi,
Yes, the mesh cutout in the bottom beneath the PSU is there to let the PSU get air directly from the outside of the case and then instantly exhaust it out the back. As the case has feet, the PSU will get sufficient air flow, plus the bottom mounted fan filter will prevent any unwanted dust particles to enter your system.
Best regards,
Fractal Design
twessels 5 months ago
@twessels you need to stop posting and do more reading. its a preference not a requirement to put the fan facing down. they may have designed it that way but some people don't like it that way.
nmarkus666 5 months ago
@twessels you can mount it either way its preference. Some cases do not have holes drilled for both however.
nmarkus666 5 months ago
I built a pc recently with the R3 and i'd say its a very nice case. I have always preferred lian li but i have to say for the money its very good indeed.
But its not as well built, as you'd expect, and the door on the top fan at the front kept sticking and it still does!
srspower 5 months ago
I have to stop you at 08.10 . I assumed you work in IT? Whilst yes a normal person may not want to have a hard drive dock in the top of their case a person who fixes peoples pc's and has to recover data would find that very useful.
srspower 5 months ago
What would be a better choise? R3 or Arc Midi Tower?
CyleoPJ 5 months ago
@CyleoPJ The Arc Midi Tower has better cooling options (2x140 in the front versus 2x120 fans of the R3, 3x120/140 (or 1x 180 + 1x120/140) in the top versus 2x120 of the R3, a 140/180 in the side versus a 120/140 of the R3. The Arc comes with 3 140mm fans, and the R3 comes with 2 120mm. The R3 have noise absorbing material and dust filters in the front. Both have dust filters for the PSU. Both have 2 optic bays, 8 HDD/SDD bays, and 7 expansion slots. Its extra air cooling vs silence.
madsmadser 5 months ago
if there is a dealer here of R3, ill get R3. :D but no R3 here, so ill maybe get H2(still searching,) any suggestion??
sani12care88 5 months ago
great review, helped a lot with my decisions
michaelchung604 5 months ago
this might be a stupid question but is there a difference between this r3 and a define r3
probscus 5 months ago
@probscus nothing - I just missed define out of the title as it was too long ;)
TimeToLiveCustoms 5 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms ahh ok I was asking because where i live and even on pcpartpicker the R3 is unfortunately more expensive than the H2.
probscus 5 months ago
@TimeToLiveCustoms What case do you think i should get the R3 Or 650d
IIHazeXx 4 months ago
I lol'd when you smashed the dust cover to show how crappy it is. TBH, I get all your points and therefore didn't buy this case. I really hate what they did with the roof part of the case, it just completely ruined it for me!
adsahar 6 months ago