Fractal North, case of the year contender

kidloco · 6 Jan 2023 at 00:18

Shame this won't fit a 280 rad in the top and front (I know it will up front) or id have one on order. Looks a really nice case.

Ayahuasca · 11 Jan 2023 at 16:20

I wish this was out last year when I did my build. My 4000D airflow is pretty subtle but this is next level, to the point I'm really tempted to move my build over to one!

fryups · 11 Jan 2023 at 16:29

Ayahuasca said:
I wish this was out last year when I did my build. My 4000D airflow is pretty subtle but this is next level, to the point I'm really tempted to move my build over to one!

I bought the last one in stock from a competitor end of Dec, but they lost the package so had to replace with a Meshify 2, slightly gutted.

wiill · 13 Jan 2023 at 17:45

Drumroll said:
Owned a 6800XT Nitro for a while. Mine was solved without even removing the heatsink. Most of the screws were almost loose. Doing so, mine was cured. The only issue was that, from day one, the card would crash with anything using Ray Tracing, not that I even use it, but clearly the card was faulty. Tried RMA and was denied because the screws had marks because I did what the manufacturer should done in the first place.
Quick question regarding the case: do you know if using thicker (Phanteks T30) will fit in place of the supplied fans? Not sure if they would be too close to the front panel. TIA.

Well my 6800xt has gone back for an RMA, and have the Nitro 7900xtx in there now instead. Fits nice and snug

To be honest, having a quick look at the front, I think they would protude too much and interfere with the front panel - but I havent measured or anything

Drumroll · 13 Jan 2023 at 20:56

wiill said:
Well my 6800xt has gone back for an RMA, and have the Nitro 7900xtx in there now instead. Fits nice and snug

To be honest, having a quick look at the front, I think they would protude too much and interfere with the front panel - but I havent measured or anything

Thank you for the reply. You’re correct. Contacted Fractal and they confirmed few minutes ago that only standard 25mm fans will fit where the supplied ones are installed. Other option would be to install them “inside” the case, but then lose some GPU clearance.
About spare panels, for the time being, they’re planing on stock spare for the odd RMA, but no plan to sell panels (TG, mesh or front) at the moment.

rare · 13 Jan 2023 at 21:00

Some updated pics of my build in the North:

imgur.com

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Mr G · 13 Jan 2023 at 22:47

rare said:
Some updated pics of my build in the North:

imgur.com

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Very nice looking case! How's the build quality, paint work and wood? Very tempted but I have the Torrent Compact and it'll be hard to prize me away from such a quality chassis.

Rroff · 16 Jan 2023 at 01:37

Stumbled over this video by accident:

Pretty awesome build around the theme of the case - tempted to buy one to play with, even though I don't need it and it isn't the ideal case for my next build layout wise, as I'm a sucker for the aesthetic.

rare · 16 Jan 2023 at 01:46

Mr G said:
Very nice looking case! How's the build quality, paint work and wood? Very tempted but I have the Torrent Compact and it'll be hard to prize me away from such a quality chassis.

It’s excellent, wood is beautiful, paint seems nice. This particular model has the grey interior, and I think the contrast with the white and grey is spot on. My only criticism is the single small cable cutout at the top of the motherboard. Otherwise, I love it.

rare · 16 Jan 2023 at 01:47

Rroff said:
Stumbled over this video by accident:

Pretty awesome build around the theme of the case - tempted to buy one to play with, even though I don't need it and it isn't the ideal case for my next build layout wise, as I'm a sucker for the aesthetic.

I’m tempted to get a black one to go alongside my white one haha! Stock seems almost nonexistent at the moment in the UK though!

Rroff · 16 Jan 2023 at 01:48

rare said:
I’m tempted to get a black one to go alongside my white one haha! Stock seems almost nonexistent at the moment in the UK though!

Restock at the end of the month apparently.

jack.mitchell · 16 Jan 2023 at 18:45

Rroff said:
Restock at the end of the month apparently.

Where did you hear this, I've been told it's not looking likely till mid to late April.

Rroff · 18 Jan 2023 at 04:18

jack.mitchell said:
Where did you hear this, I've been told it's not looking likely till mid to late April.

Friend is a system builder - their next available date for Fractal stuff is 30th Jan which should include the North, contacted and/or from retailers online ETA at a few places varies from end of Jan to end of March - no one told me April yet.

(Haven't actually checked with OcUK).

I'm a sucker for the vintage/reclaimed wood on black metal style, but it might be over the top with my room already furnished in that style.

Steeps · 20 Jan 2023 at 11:41

My last case is around 10 years old, this is probably the first case I've looked at which could possibly replace it. Mainly because I've just bought a load of walnut/black acoustic panels for the room and the case would match the walls

rare · 20 Jan 2023 at 11:57

Really hope we see a mATX version of this

Zizilia · 20 Jan 2023 at 14:55

Whelp, i have pre-ordered one which should be a similar size to the NZXT H510 it would be replacing, not that that case was that bad, it is just though a little bit limiting...

rexehuk · 25 Feb 2023 at 10:29

Pre-ordered one of these elsewhere, was due 28th Feb, now 28th March.

Ended up ordering from overseas for £260!

Zizilia · 1 Mar 2023 at 09:03

rexehuk said:
Pre-ordered one of these elsewhere, was due 28th Feb, now 28th March.

Ended up ordering from overseas for £260!

Yeah, i foolishly pre-ordered this from another company in January... It was supposed to arrive at the end of January, then end of February... Now end of March. What is annoying is that i chose that company based on their estimated delivery date. I should have known and am now wondering whether i will see this case this side of 2023!

rexehuk · 1 Mar 2023 at 10:19

Zizilia said:
Yeah, i foolishly pre-ordered this from another company in January... It was supposed to arrive at the end of January, then end of February... Now end of March. What is annoying is that i chose that company based on their estimated delivery date. I should have known and am now wondering whether i will see this case this side of 2023!

Mine comes Friday from states. Only cause I'm in a rush to get things sorted.

Rroff · 1 Mar 2023 at 10:32

Zizilia said:
Yeah, i foolishly pre-ordered this from another company in January... It was supposed to arrive at the end of January, then end of February... Now end of March. What is annoying is that i chose that company based on their estimated delivery date. I should have known and am now wondering whether i will see this case this side of 2023!

Seems to be Fractal rather than the retailer - they keep saying end of the month, then gets pushed back to end of next month, etc.

Personally given up on it.