*** NEW Fractal Design Case - Coming Soon ***
- Thread starter Ace Modder
- Start date
Associate
- Joined
- 19 Jan 2009
- Posts
- 720
Preordered mine on 12 Jan 2010 and can't wait to get building.
Stock here, all pre-orders are shipping!
Associate
Your wallet gets a good airing, maybe your wallet secretly likes it.
I've decided to hold back until April, but who knows what I'll buy then.
This site just makes me wanna spend more and more money on computers and things lol
Soldato
- Joined
- 22 Mar 2009
- Posts
- 5,752
I have a 1366 board, will this pose an alignment problem with the underside access to the CPU area of the motherboard on the Fractal Case?
Because I have noticed a problem, please see picture below:
Can OCUK check this for me please to see if 1366 backplate is not out of the line on this case ?
I hold back of this case until a full review from all ocuk customers to see how good is the airflow in this case, I think it not a good airflow as my antec 1200 is.
I have already spoken to Fractal about the backplate cut out. The case was designed prior to Socket 1366 being launched.
Fractal are aware that some motherboards may have the problem. They are looking to sort a new revision out in the future. Currently around 80% of motherboards on the market are fine for the backplate cut out. Various motherboards have various postions on the CPU socket, there is no set standard so cannot confirm that all moptherboard backplates are compatible.
However, this can be said with most cases with a hole in the back plate.
Fractal are aware that some motherboards may have the problem. They are looking to sort a new revision out in the future. Currently around 80% of motherboards on the market are fine for the backplate cut out. Various motherboards have various postions on the CPU socket, there is no set standard so cannot confirm that all moptherboard backplates are compatible.
However, this can be said with most cases with a hole in the back plate.
Associate
I can't get to the lower bolts on my Socket 1156 board (using a Noctua NH-D14) (see the first pic in this post). Still, I'm not planning on changing the cooler anytime soon. 
You do know that the Antec 902 doesn't even have a motherboard cut out for easy CPU cooler removal. So you will also have the same issue of needing to remove the motherboard on the Antec case too.
Associate
My friend has the Antec 902. If I had to choose that or the Fractal, I'd choose the Fractal for sure. Well, I did! The Fractal is quieter and much sleeker looking. 
The Fractal is quieter and much sleeker looking. Didn't know that - swinging between options again then!
Associate
- Joined
- 17 Jan 2010
- Posts
- 37
But is this a problem.. Im thinking of building my first ever system using this case..
Does it matter that you cant get to it, or is it just a cut out for convenience?
Associate
It's just a convenience thing. Tbh, it's only really a concern if your job is CPU cooler testing or something! If you're not planning on changing your cooler once you've built your PC, you won't care whether or not it has a cutout.
it's purely for convenience, so you don't have to remove the MB to replace the CPU HSF if it needs it's own backplate. doesn't affect performance 1 bit