Final Words & Conclusion
Final Words & Conclusion
The Fractal Design Define S2 is a well thought-through chassis. The looks maybe are a bit on the traditional side, but the white-color variant refreshes the visual aspect a bit. Fractal Design really put a lot of effort into making the Define S even better than the previous model. Of course, we needn’t mention a 5.25” drive bay, as it was not present even in the predecessor. Still, there have been some changes, with the full-length PSU shroud and seamless tempered glass panel worth mentioning first. You’ll find that dust filtering has been improved, with a double-airflow nylon mesh used instead of plastic filters. The Nexus+ PWM Fan Hub can manage up to three PWM fans and six 3-pin fans. You can mount the GPU vertically if you like, using an additional PCI-Express riser, and there is also a new system of storage brackets in place. The front panel has been refined, with a brushed aluminum cover, an additional sound dampening system, and 15% wider clearance that allows better airflow. Let’s not forget the third-generation ModuVent cover, which dampens sound when installed, and reveals a filtered exhaust vent when removed. Liquid cooling fans will be happy with the dedicated fill-port, removable top cooling bracket, and support for radiators up to 420 mm. The last feature that I would like to mention is the USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port included on the front I/O panel, which supports fast charging and transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps.
Aesthetics
Looks are always a subjective matter. The design of the Define S2 is traditional and should fit the needs of many customers. Four color variants are available, with the reviewed white one looking quite exceptional, and not at all dull. There is no RGB lighting here (like in all other Fractal Design cases), but that is not an issue for most people.
Features
The Define S2 provides enough space for even high-end components. The side panels are secured using thumbscrews on the back of the case. The PSU shroud is the standard in many cases nowadays, and it allows to hide cables coming out of the power supply unit more conveniently. The PSU installation process is nothing revolutionary, with a bracket inserted from the rear of the chassis used for this purpose. The maximum PSU length is 300 mm. The Define S2 will house air coolers of up to 185 mm in height (which is 5 mm more than in the Define S). If you want to install liquid cooling, you can fit a combo of radiators of up to 420 (top) + 360 mm (front) + 280 (bottom), and 120 mm unit at the back. Graphics cards can measure up to 440 mm if the front fan is used, which amounts to 465 mm in total. Dust filters are located at the bottom (spanning the entire length of the chassis), on the front, and on the top exhaust. They’re easily removable. Even E-ATX form factor motherboards(up to 285 mm) will fit, and the cut-out for the cooler’s backplate is huge, so there shouldn’t be any interference during installation.
The Verdict
The Fractal Design Define S2 receives a “Guru3D Recommended” award, same as the predecessor. This new revision upgraded the chassis to today’s standards. It’s a relatively small case for the features it offers. You can use E-ATX motherboards up to 285 mm wide, 420 + 360 + 280 mm radiators (that’s a wow), or 185 mm air coolers. If you’re a liquid cooling user, you’ll surely love the removable top cooling bracket, dedicated fill-port, adjustable reservoir brackets, and pre-drilled pump mount. As for mass storage, there are three universal 2.5”/3.5” drive bays (which are fully enclosed with vibration dampening rubber grommets) and two dedicated 2.5” drive mounts. In times when SSDs are becoming really affordable, and users can actually rely on them without using HDDs, this should be more than enough. A good thing about the Define S2 is the number of USB ports on the I/O panel. There are two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, and one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, which is still not the industry standard in this segment of the market. As for the features, we can’t forget about the Nexus+ PWM Fan Hub that manages up to three PWM fans plus six 3-pin fans. Three Dynamic X2 140 mm fans are preinstalled in the case. You’ll be surprised to find that even SATA power extension cables have been included in the package. The GPU can be mounted vertically, but to do that you need to buy a Flex VRC-25 PCI-e riser (not included). The Define S2 delivers truly great thermals and acoustic performance with liquid cooling (AIO), and it still managed to make it into the upper part of the charts with air cooling, which was surprising. Unfortunately, the front I/O panel is located on the top, so this is not a convenient solution for users who keep their chassis on their desk. 23 mm of clearance for cables behind the motherboard is quite modest. Furthermore, some users might consider the lack of RGB lighting a drawback, but you shouldn’t really expect anything like that if you choose a Fractal Design product (at least that’s the way it has been so far). A price of 149.99 USD/136.99 GBP/154.99 EUR is fair considering what the Define S2 brings to the table.
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