Fractal Define XL Niggles

[David_VI]

Such a sexy case all black. One of the reasons I like mine, even though I don't really see inside it often haha.

I may invest in some Bequiet fans, they seem to be good .

I'm using the fractals at the front with an old Xilence redwing in the top slot where other optical drives would go and have two apaches on my Antec Kuhler rad at the back.

 

[PatZ1989]

Yeah i'll grab some snaps of mine when i get in - i'm really happy with the build, the case is excellent on this front, very tidy and very open (less cables more airflow n all that)

Just hope these fans sort it

 

[Purgatory]

Okay, I need to run a monitoring utility to actually check the temps but i'm pretty sure it is over heating, as mentioned in the original post after a little while the computer just becomes very jerky, any video or sound plays all jittery etc.

DPC Latency Checker

http://www.thesycon.de/eng/latency_check.shtml

Check your latency when it jerks too, could be a bad driver or hardware problems causing the jerking.

But check your tempertures and make sure the cpu heatsink is sat on the cpu okay and the TIM has not gone bad.

 

[PatZ1989]

Yeah will check the latency, convinced its the case / heat though as the system was moved into the case as is, no hardware was changed etc so i dont think its a driver - maybe the heatsink needs re seating, i wanna check temps before i go down that path though

 

[Purgatory]

Currently it is just the stock fans, the 180 at the top the 140 at the back and the 140 at the front. They are plugged directly into motherboard as in not using the fan controller as i just wanted to see how noisy it was without it first.

Have just ordered 2 bequiet 140's and 1 bequiet 120 for the optional spaces, might see how that is and then replace the fractal's if there is still an issue? good plan?

Yes it's a good plan, you just have to remember the noise level will go up a touch with the bequiet fans, you will hear more of a whooshing sound of air with them, because they really do push air. The fractal fans are almost that quiet you don't realise they are on. Just depends how much noise annoys you really, to me the case is quiet enough for a case this large with all bequiet fans and the 1 fractal 180mm. The most noise I get is from my CPU cooler when it ramps up but it was never a quiet cpu cooler that one. If I replaced that CPU cooler for a corsair H50 or H70 the case will be very quiet I bet and only air wooshing sound then. Non of my case fans are on fan controllers, they are running at full all time and only the cpu and graphics card are adjusting their own speeds for their fans.


You may find you really like the bequiet fans and do what I did and remove all the fractal fans, i'm also thinking of replacing the 180mm fan now with a Silverstone Air Penetrator 180mm Fan : AP181 but this will probably go on the fractal included fan controller.. because this thing can move air at really crazy rates and will be noisy I bet 130 CFM @ 34dBA .. but it runs from 80 CFM @ 18dBA to 130 CFM @ 34dBA.. Also it's fan blades are black so go with the bequiet fans in the case.

Model
Manufacturer Silverstone
Model Number AP181
Specification
Dimension 180 x 180 x 25mm
Air Flow 80 to 130CFM
Noise 18 to 34dBA
Speed 700 to 1200RPM
Connector Type 3 Pin
Open or Closed Corners Open
Bearing Type Fluid Dynamic
Approx Cable Length 30cm
Package Contents 1 x Fan
1 x 700 to 1200RPM Switch


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m8fC809TK0

 

[PatZ1989]

I'll get the new bequiet ones in and see,the noise may bug me slightly as the cases real advertising point is its size and quietness - those side panels all plastered up with that absorbant material for it to be as loud as my old one wasn't amusing.

 

[Purgatory]

I can imagine, I had a Lian Li case before this one that use to make some funny high pitch whining sounds when it was on and drove me nuts (could never figure out where it came from it just resonated the whole case, I guess was the natural frequency it resonated at) This one is quieter for me and has no high pitch noises that become very annoying in time. Like I said all I hear with it really is the air whooshing and the CPU cooler as it ramps up.. Even my girlfriend noticed it's much quieter then the previous case I had which use to annoy her even in another room. It's as good as a case this large gets I guess with all this high end high temperture components.

 

[PatZ1989]

fans should turn up tomorrow so i'll do that then, FYI dont try and us "AMD Overdrive" to check temperatures - just blue screen my machine horrificly

 

[Purgatory]

How's it going pat with your case ?


Also to update regarding my issues contacting fractal design on the 1st Aug.. Regarding the worng sized standoffs and dead 180mm fan... No reply from them yet, I have resent the email to them and will see... Not impressed so far with their slow support and if I will ever get a reply to these problems.

 

[PatZ1989]

It's actually going fine, I havent put the new fans in yet and am starting to wonder if i need too, the system seems to be performing quite well now.

I'll grab some snaps of it tonight and upload

 

[Purgatory]

What was the problem (the jittering ?) you had and how did you resolve it ? Cool would like to see some pics. Pat if you decide you don't want the bequiet fans and can't return them I will be interested in them mate and can even send you a new and unused Fractal design 140mm fan I removed from my case.


Ohh to update from fractal support, they sent me an email stating they sent me the correct sized standoffs yesterday and waiting for their europe warehouse to get some 180mm fans and they will send that too.

 

[masscrazy]

I also have some issues with my XL.

First one, my 520W Corsair wouldnt fit on the rubber feet, had to get some cardboard and boost it abit and the hole were not right, had to force it to the back of the case.

I bought 3 extra fans, keeps it pretty cool, as good as my previous 900 did.

I bought the largely due to its rear and no top facing exhaust fan. The dusty hot air would blow directly to the top of my desk right into my face and was giving me breathing problems.

This goes some way to solving that problem and so i'm happy wiht the case.

Some really good things, really big can fit any gfx card (important i plan to upgrade big end of the year). Hold upto 10HDDs, i have 6 inside and another sitting ontop using estata.

I put my pc to sleep when i'm doing the same but the case flashes bright blue which can be annoying. I also ending up spending another around £50 on case fans and i guess i could have bought a case for that with fans included, but i'll like the design of this. Ah i'd give 2.99/5.

 

[C64]

I also have some issues with my XL.

First one, my 520W Corsair wouldnt fit on the rubber feet, had to get some cardboard and boost it abit and the hole were not right, had to force it to the back of the case.

I bought 3 extra fans, keeps it pretty cool, as good as my previous 900 did.

I bought the largely due to its rear and no top facing exhaust fan. The dusty hot air would blow directly to the top of my desk right into my face and was giving me breathing problems.

This goes some way to solving that problem and so i'm happy wiht the case.

Some really good things, really big can fit any gfx card (important i plan to upgrade big end of the year). Hold upto 10HDDs, i have 6 inside and another sitting ontop using estata.

I put my pc to sleep when i'm doing the same but the case flashes bright blue which can be annoying. I also ending up spending another around £50 on case fans and i guess i could have bought a case for that with fans included, but i'll like the design of this. Ah i'd give 2.99/5.

Take a permanent marker pen to the LED bulb worked a treat dimming my old akasa eclipse led.

 

[masscrazy]

Take a permanent marker pen to the LED bulb worked a treat dimming my old akasa eclipse led.

Haha, i dont think so maybe some bluetac instead, a sock works just as well.

 

[Surveyor]

I bought one of these to transfer an old S775 system into I was giving to a friend.

The motherboard sat too low so that the expansion cards were pulled out of the sockets when they were screwed to the back of the case.

I ended up having to use some washers to lift the motherboard a few mm higher.

The case was either badly manufactured or the standoffs were too short. But once I got so far with the build is was easier to just find a solution.

I did buy another Fractal 140mm fan so that it now has two intake fans.

Once it was all sorted it works cool and quiet.

Early days yet though.

 

[Purgatory]

Yes the standoffs are too short, they are sending out right sized ones if you contact fractal support and explain the problem. Still waiting for mine in the post .

 

[Purgatory]

I put my pc to sleep when i'm doing the same but the case flashes bright blue which can be annoying. I also ending up spending another around £50 on case fans and i guess i could have bought a case for that with fans included, but i'll like the design of this. Ah i'd give 2.99/5.

I used the power LED on the case as a Hard disk activity light so only flashes when the hard drives are being accessed..

Yes I spent another £70+ on fans for this case too , but as you said it's a nice case with lots of room.. Ohh well, I didn't really like any of the other cases on the market apart from the Silverstone Temjin TJ11B-W Full Monster Tower Gaming Case in Black...but that was £475 ... Rather spend that on system hardware upgrades then a metal box to hold the bits in.

 

[Surveyor]

Yes the standoffs are too short, they are sending out right sized ones if you contact fractal support and explain the problem. Still waiting for mine in the post .

Never though of contacting Fractal but waiting for new standoffs isn't much use when you need a fix straigh away.

 

[Purgatory]

Ohh to update from fractal support, they sent me an email stating they sent me the correct sized standoffs yesterday and waiting for their europe warehouse to get some 180mm fans and they will send that too.

The standoffs came to me today and are the correct size now after fitting them Just waiting now for the replacement 180mm fan .

 

[masscrazy]

I used the power LED on the case as a Hard disk activity light so only flashes when the hard drives are being accessed..

LOL What, good thing you dont have have epilepsy! That bright blue led constantly flashing would wind up like anything.

Was that intentional or a mistake?