Fractal North, case of the year contender
- Thread starter Grim5
- Start date
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Are any of you North owners/future owners planning to run the GPU vertically so as to benefit from the side mounting fan bracket? I'm trying to work out what thickness of card would realistically fit!
Only for the version with the side mesh.
Haven’t seen many people doing it. Side intake should help but that will affect how thick the GPU can be.
Using the 4080 here and idling at less than 30C and haven’t crossed low 60s while playing (Elden Ring and a bit of Assassins Creed).
Was able to fit 3 Phanteks T30 at the front, which will be almost touching the front mesh but haven’t just yet.
Cooling the CPU with the Thermalright Peerless Assassin and the only thing I can hear while playing is the GPU (some minor coil I’m afraid).
Nice to see other people are going no/minimal RGB. Tried some RGB fans with the case and they won’t make justice to the front panel. Maybe a very fainted solid gold for the charcoal version, but love the lack of RGB now.
To be honest I was surprised the hub was only available for the side mesh version. The fans included have splitter included, so no reason to have the hub in one version and not in another.
Particularly I never use those included hubs, as I use the Aquacomputer Octo, but for most people that would be handy to have.
Particularly I never use those included hubs, as I use the Aquacomputer Octo, but for most people that would be handy to have.
Associate
I would be pretty happy with those temps alright. What model 4080 do you have, out of interest. And which CPU?
Using the TUF 4080, non-OC version. The 4000 series are huge cards, but as most 4080s use the same heatsink, or at least very close to the ones from the 4090s, if the airflow is good, they run very "cool".
CPU, 7600 non-X. It is a miss match, I'm aware, but I'll explain about that: as I was moving back to AMD, and already have the DDR5 from my previous Intel 1700, went with AM5. Decided to go "entry" level CPU as it doesn't bottleneck my GPU for what I play, and will most likely upgrade later when needed, either one of those 3D cache CPUs or even the next gen when it comes out. It have been a solid CPU, running cool and its low power allows to have my CPU cooler's fans at 40%: inaudible.
Associate
Appreciate your reply! Enough clearance between the card and side panel for the 12VHPWR cable I guess then? That is, no flex or anything?
Sounds like a good plan WRT your CPU upgrade.
I’m using the TUF 850W power supply, which have the new PCI-E cable and the cables are nice and flexible. Mine is close to the side panel but isn’t touching it. I guess the adapter supplied with the GPU would touch it but still allow to be used safely.
CableMod got their 90 degree adapter out but at £40 pounds (price I was quoted) is quite expensive.
Do we know if this case even exists in the uk? Particularly looking for the white windowed version. Been trying to find one for a couple of months with no joy. OCUK doesn't list a lead time, I've seen one place saying due on 31st May... still says due 31st May, and I've seen the black variant pop up for scalper prices elsewhere and obviously nuts to that.
Planning a 7800X3D build when those cpus launch, but at this rate it'll be all the bits sitting on my desk with no case to put them in
I'd be prepared to pre-order, but not without an ETA of some sort.
Problem at this point is that I feel like going for any other case will just make me sad because everything looks inferior and juvenile next to the North...
Planning a 7800X3D build when those cpus launch, but at this rate it'll be all the bits sitting on my desk with no case to put them in
I'd be prepared to pre-order, but not without an ETA of some sort.Problem at this point is that I feel like going for any other case will just make me sad because everything looks inferior and juvenile next to the North...
Soldato
I think everyone is still struggling for stock of this at the min. If I were you, I'd be pre-ordering from somewhere even without an ETA just to get myself in the queue and if I found it in stock elsewhere, ordering that and cancelling my pre-order. Otherwise you could be waiting a long time for more consistent stock.
Soldato
Do we know if this case even exists in the uk? Particularly looking for the white windowed version. Been trying to find one for a couple of months with no joy. OCUK doesn't list a lead time, I've seen one place saying due on 31st May... still says due 31st May, and I've seen the black variant pop up for scalper prices elsewhere and obviously nuts to that.
Planning a 7800X3D build when those cpus launch, but at this rate it'll be all the bits sitting on my desk with no case to put them in
Problem at this point is that I feel like going for any other case will just make me sad because everything looks inferior and juvenile next to the North...
To give you an idea on availability I’ve had the white mesh one on order from OCUK since January 2nd and still not had it….
Ouch. Guess I'll have to pick something else... maybe one of the Corsairs that have an optional wooden panel now. Or go with the original plan of an mATX board and a Pop Air Mini... but none of them look as good as the North
I ordered a white glass version from OcUK on 2nd Feb and received it last week.
Got it built now and coming from an ancient Coolermaster, there were so many little quality of life improvements to make the build so much easier. Think it looks fantastic.
Got it built now and coming from an ancient Coolermaster, there were so many little quality of life improvements to make the build so much easier. Think it looks fantastic.
I always order from OCUK, but currently seems to be a bit random, some retailers get stock of something and other don't, even when the box comes with an OCUK sticker to it.
I was trying to get this case since launch. Managed to get one few moons ago through another retailer. Can't help if not enough stock is available for OCUK. Not the retailers fault, but I really wanted this case.
Match my Edifier speaker set nicely.
Despite upgrading cases quite often, I'm really happy with it too.
The case feels very solid, love the design, and despite no bottom intake for the GPU, everything is cool.
The only thing I could ever hope was for an extra 5mm between the front filter and the fans, as the T30 are quite close to it.
Other things are just minor and don't really ruin it for me, as an extra cut-out over the motherboard and a blanking plate when using dual 120mm on the top.