Fractal Design Vector RS review - Product showcase – exterior

Product showcase – exterior

 
The left-side panel is made of tinted tempered glass. Photography is always a bit of a challenge with these things, and in reality, it looks much better, but you should get the idea.

The front panel is a mix of the plastic and tempered glass.

The opposite panel is made of the steel and it is covered with an insulating material, and both are secured with two thumbscrews per panel for transport (you can remove them after that). During normal use, it’s enough to use the “push-to-lock latching”, which serves its purpose very well.

Let me just quote the specs here again: the VECTOR RS weighs about 12.6 kg. The body is all black. At 552 x 233 x 498 mm (LxWxH)/21.7 x 9.17 x 19.6 inches, the size is above the average for this type of chassis. The following motherboard form factors are supported:

• E-ATX (up to 285 mm),
• ATX,
• M-ATX,
• Mini-ITX

The VECTOR RS is not a heavy-weight contender, but it is still very stable, even without all the hardware inside. Three tempered glass panels surely help in that matter. The front panel is partially made of tinted tempered glass as well (yes, surprise surprise).

There’s been no revolution at the back, and you can spot 7 horizontal and 2 vertical expansion slots, so in a traditional horizontal setup, it’s possible to have dual-slot cards in Crossfire or SLI mode. The PSU bracket is removable (and held in place by two thumbscrews), which makes it easier to install a unit. The rear fan mount has no pre-drilled holes, and luckily it is possible to adjust the 120/140 mm fan or 120 mm radiator mounting height.

When you look at the bottom section, you’ll find a fan filter that spans the full length of the chassis, and four feet with a silver finish.

They form about a 25 mm gap that allows the power supply unit to catch some air. The included dust filter is very big, and you can remove it by pulling it towards the front of the chassis (but first, you need to take off the front panel, which is not as easy as it was in Define S2).

You’ll find a standard front I/O panel on the right side of the top of the case. This is not a good solution for people who keep their cases on the desk, as reaching the ports might be difficult in a setup like that. While we’re at it, the selection is broad, with two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a single USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port (luckily), audio jacks, and two buttons for powering on/off and resetting your system.

There are no vents in the top section in the standard set-up, and the standard top panel is made (again) of tinted tempered glass.