Fractal Design Define S review

trentbg

2015-04-20 16:19

Finally! Someone with enough cojones to remove the ugly drive cages from the front and re-allocate them in the back, they don't need to be visible and obstruct the air flow, great job FD and very good pricing too!!!

#5054391

fantaskarsef

2015-04-20 17:01

I always liked their way of building cases. I bet it's one of the most silent cases in it's respective size division. Certainly it could house a nice small gaming rig, an office PC or small workstation, and if you can go without the optical drive it certainly could house a nice HTPC due to it's low noise. The only downside: the price tag that not exactly says 'I'm a small case' 😀

#5054417

James Frazer

2015-04-20 17:39

I am just glad that they have gone back to clear windows. I bought the Arc Midi R2 with the tinted window and I have to say that as good as the case is, I do regret the purchase.

#5054430

Haftarun8

2015-04-20 18:12

Wake me up when Fractal releases a microATX case that's as small/light/aesthetically pleasing as the still unbeatable "Silverstone Temjin TJ08-e", but retains Fractal Design noise reduction and advanced air and liquid cooling options in a modular case config. Will pay whatever it takes for that. Will not pay for anything less.

#5054468

tsunami231

2015-04-20 19:09

Wow i like this, only thing that i not fond of is there is no ODD bay then again i barely use my ODD so maybe i might break down and get external Bluray burner, love the fact all the HDD/SSD have been moved to behind the motherboard plate. nothing is restricting the fans now no HDD cages, just components on the motherboard This or the Define S or R5 Black. will be used in my next build.

I always liked their way of building cases. I bet it's one of the most silent cases in it's respective size division. Certainly it could house a nice small gaming rig, an office PC or small workstation, and if you can go without the optical drive it certainly could house a nice HTPC due to it's low noise. The only downside: the price tag that not exactly says 'I'm a small case' 😀

Define S (WxHxD): 233 x 451 x 520mm 79-89$ R5 (WxHxD): 232 x 451 x 521mm 110-120$ The R5 is pretty much same dimensions and it costs alot more neither are small cases i dont even see them as mid size either.

#5054519

Denial

2015-04-20 20:07

I haven't had a optical drive in my computer since 2007. I don't miss it. I like how clean this case is. Might start using it for my midrange builds.

#5054521

BarryB

2015-04-20 20:10

These make a nice tower case for the Amiga A1200, provided you machine your own backplate!

#5054575

maize1951

2015-04-20 22:16

I haven't had a optical drive in my computer since 2007. I don't miss it. I like how clean this case is. Might start using it for my midrange builds.

And if you do need an optical drive you can always buy an external USB drive for it.

#5054614

Kaarme

2015-04-20 23:26

I'm happy my Define R4 has no window. I don't need to see my PC's guts all the time. A person with a transparent skin/muscles would be disgusting, with all the internal organs visible, and so is a PC with a transparent side window.

#5054631

Noisiv

2015-04-20 23:55

1x 140mm heavily obscured front fan, 1x 140mm rear fan means an additional (front) intake fan should be installed to ensure positive pressure.

I haven't had a optical drive in my computer since 2007. I don't miss it.

LOL same here CD/DVD has been terrible media for me, matched only by their god awful drives themselves

#5054674

tsunami231

2015-04-21 01:36

Only time use my ODD now is when I need to burn an iso of one of my ps2 games. not sure why it still installed on my pc. But i got say i like the Define s and it HDD/SSD location

#5054716

Darksword

2015-04-21 03:45

How come there were no pictures of a full build inside the case? Why were there no temperature benchmarks? Was there some need to rush this review out or something? Why not actually show us how the case works with any actual system inside it? I don't get it. It's a nice overview, but not really a "review".

#5054844

FranciscoCL

2015-04-21 11:42

Just what I need, nothing more. Well, maybe a similar case with better upper radiator support (noise cancelling). --- Small typo (page 6):

As stated before, the chassis comes with a good 9 expansion slots.

#5054849

mitzi76

2015-04-21 12:05

I do want a new case to upgrade from a Hafx but am missing something. I have a dual res and pump (ocool repack) and also have a fan controller and I still use a dvd/cd drive (although yeah dont need this perhaps anymore although I still burn a cd from time to time). I like the idea of something more stylish that I can fit my 360 rad but where would the pump/res combo go?

#5054865

fantaskarsef

2015-04-21 12:49

Wow i like this, only thing that i not fond of is there is no ODD bay then again i barely use my ODD so maybe i might break down and get external Bluray burner, love the fact all the HDD/SSD have been moved to behind the motherboard plate. nothing is restricting the fans now no HDD cages, just components on the motherboard This or the Define S or R5 Black. will be used in my next build. Define S (WxHxD): 233 x 451 x 520mm 79-89$ R5 (WxHxD): 232 x 451 x 521mm 110-120$ The R5 is pretty much same dimensions and it costs alot more neither are small cases i dont even see them as mid size either.

Oh, I didn't notice they were almost the same size! But, tbh, if the decision comes down to a size dependent one, I'd still go with the R5 due it's advanced options. I personally don't mind the OD cage that much, but I understand that people might find the additional space useful.

I haven't had a optical drive in my computer since 2007. I don't miss it. I like how clean this case is. Might start using it for my midrange builds.

I hear you. I'll be dropping my OD for the first time with my next gaming rig, since I haven't used the one in my current one in a couple of years, and I still got my HTPC to brun my CDs/DVDs/BRs.