Disturbing quality control problems w/ Fractal Design Define R3

Tazzfalcon

Tazzfalcon

Tazzfalcon

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Joined
8 Mar 2011
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812
Location
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Hi all, (edit - sorry for the long post)

Anyone who's read any of my posts here in the last week will know I've been planning to transfer my current build into a Fractal Design Define R3 today. I'd ummed and ahhed extensively over the purchase but almost all of the dozen or so reviews I've read on the R3 have been universally positive and so I took the plunge.

I got the case Friday and decided to unbox it last night ahead of time just to give it the once over. So far though, I've been extremely disappointed by what I've seen. Especially considering build quality has been so highly praised in the reviews.

The first thing I immediately noticed was that one of the front inner click clasp 'fan door's' plastic clasp was completely snapped allowing the door to flap open.

This was gutting and completely ruined the case in my mind and I was looking for the guide to returning the case when I found the snapped clasp pinging around the bottom of the case fortunately in one piece. Short version - I've managed to superglue it back into position, and it now works just like the other door. I fully expect it to break off again at some point in its life because it is just so tiny and plasticy.

Secondly and slightly less importantly (and a problem I can confirm that has been highlighted in reviews) is the rubber cable and water cooling loop management hole grommets are EXTREMELY flimsy and will pop out during the build. It is possible to get them back in position but fiddly.

Thirdly some of the hard drive metal caddies were 'bent' and not able to properly clasp into the case allowing them to slide freely- I've since used force to bend the clasps into position so this isn't happening anymore.

Fourthly and by far the most damning thing I've found so far is the rear right leg post of the case is about 1.5-2mm too short creating a worrying instability and rocking motion on a perfectly flat kitchen work surface!

Actually that isn't strictly true as I've removed the leg posts from both sides and measured them and the holding screws against each other and they DO match. Which makes the fact that there is a clear 1.5-2mm gap puzzling and all the more worrying as it has to be something to do with the steel frame and general case alignment!

I've had to bodge a fix in the form of cutting three cardboard 'washers' from an amazon packet and using them between the leg post and the case underside with the screw threaded through the middle. It is now stable... but for how long? :mad:

Take all that with the various marks on the case, and the frayed edges to the sound dampening material on the side panels and I am pretty peeved to say the least!

I'll report back on any other problems I find during the build. :(
 
Sounds to me like the case has come off worst during packing/delivery - not necessarily at the retailer.

I worked previously in the dispatch dept. of a big UK company and while most people were fairly considerate you'd always get the odd tool - usually a temp - who'd think it funny to kick/throw parcels around.
 
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Hi Rroff thanks for the reply - I certainly think something like that as you describe must have happened with the fan door's clasp being broken but the issue with the foot must be quality control at the manufacturer imo.

fyi - the packaging of the thing overall seemed pretty strong and robust.
 
Just finished the build. Took about 4.5-5 hours. A few silly mistakes but I wasn't rushing and I was also installing my new Titan Fenrir Evo (got a few cuts on me fingers to prove it) so not too bad.

Found a few more negatives along the way:
- Power button not 100% dead centre (i.e. slightly off angle not central as in top of the front of the case)
- Small smudge on the door but you can only see it from extreme angles in bright light.
- Thumbscrew holes for side panel not totally flush with mounts.

Positives:
- It DOES look awesome
- Excellent cable management
- It is extremely quiet and the included fan controller works a treat.

All in all I'd give the case 4/5 but Fractal Design and whoever operates their factory in the far east (I assume) 1/5
 
It sounds to me like it's been kicked, hence the case being slightly buckled and damaged parts.

Take photos of all the faulty things, email the retailer (I'm guessing OcUK?) and await their response. With any luck you'll get a fund, or just a replacement case. :)
 
I've built the thing now so its going to be hard to return, I can just about live with it. I will email pics of the problem areas to the retailer and Fractal themselves and see if they at least apologies.
 
I think my OCD would have gotten the better of me in this instance, I couldn't stand a wonky case.

But on the other hand if you can live with the negatives and you can't be bothered to remove all the parts again and arrange the RMA then that's your choice. :)

At least I know now not to buy from Fractal. I was originally recommending the Fractal XL for my dads new build but now I think the other option of a Corsair 600T looks a little better.
 
I imagine I was unlucky but some googling has shown I'm not quite the only one but I'm sure it's the same for most things in life. I opened it late at night and after the first 'fix' I made I just kept on making them. My bodges are surviving at the moment so there aren't really any issues so to speak it is just a niggle in my mind and yes I definitely SHOULD have RMA'd it. Oh well!
 
SouthEastBlue said:
I think my OCD would have gotten the better of me in this instance, I couldn't stand a wonky case.

But on the other hand if you can live with the negatives and you can't be bothered to remove all the parts again and arrange the RMA then that's your choice. :)

At least I know now not to buy from Fractal. I was originally recommending the Fractal XL for my dads new build but now I think the other option of a Corsair 600T looks a little better.
Click to expand...

I have a R3 and it's perfect. You really only see the horror stories when you google.
 
I bought this case last week - got the case on Friday, prefect timing for me to build my new machine.

Unfortunately I'd similar issues, the feet were wonky which was annoying but wouldn't have been a show stopper. The area where the hinge of one of the bottom inner fan door was broken and missing, leading me to discover that the whole left side of the front section of the case was broken - the plastic pins(?) holding the front of the case on where snapped.

Am going to RMA - rather annoying it costs so much to return from Ireland :-(
 
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