Review Fractal Design Define 7 Chassis Review: Versatility and Refinement

[Admin]

Fractal Design’s latest Define 7 combines a striking aesthetic design with a bevy of convenient build features and impressive performance.

Fractal Design Define 7 Chassis Review: Versatility and Refinement : Read more

 

[Newtonius]

That moment in 2020 when the only CON for a PC case is, "No RGB lighting". We've become moths attracted to RGB lights.

 

[baylesje]

Guess it's not for sale? All the links are.. not for the case.

 

[sstanic]

Shouldn't "No RGB lighting" go into the pros column? Also, where's the handle to pick it up? Or we shouldn't vacuum our homes for 4-5-ish years until we change our PCs?

 

[Newtonius]

Shouldn't "No RGB lighting" go into the pros column? Also, where's the handle to pick it up? Or we shouldn't vacuum our homes for 4-5-ish years until we change our PCs?

Well, it is a box. Simply lift with your legs.

 

[King_V]

I'd like something quiet but with good cooling like this, but 35 lbs is . . uh . . a lot. Then again, I also won't need the ability to convert to "storage" type of feature.

I am pretty impressed with the combination of cooling ability and quiet, though.

 

[Crashman]

Why are you putting cases on the ground? If you come to my workspace, you fill find that I put mine on a stand. You will find that some people have a shelf, and that others have room on their desks. For those who have neither, you will find a finished floor to the left or right of the desk.

 

[Jake Hall]

No RGB is a pro

 

[Skhelter]

no RGB is so much a PLUS imo

I am not a moth.

 

[namtrooper81]

Well, it is a box. Simply lift with your legs.

What? Lift with my legs like some kind of bodybuilding savage!? 😉

 

[Nick_C]

Shouldn't "No RGB lighting" go into the pros column? Also, where's the handle to pick it up? Or we shouldn't vacuum our homes for 4-5-ish years until we change our PCs?

Indeed - it's an elegant box - and RGB is, for some, a waste of power and heat.

 

[chris maple]

The full height hinged front panel is a huge disadvantage. Can't play a CD without opening the panel, and if the panel is open while the CD carrier is out there a risk of breaking the CD player by pushing the panel closed. It's a pity that this stupid design is so common now.

 

[King_V]

The full height hinged front panel is a huge disadvantage. Can't play a CD without opening the panel, and if the panel is open while the CD carrier is out there a risk of breaking the CD player by pushing the panel closed. It's a pity that this stupid design is so common now.

How many PCs come with optical drives these days?

 

[hannibal]

That moment in 2020 when the only CON for a PC case is, "No RGB lighting". We've become moths attracted to RGB lights.

yeah! For me that was big plus! No rpg... definitely interesting case!
The only downside is that thus has tempered class sidepanel. Hopefully you can get one without it...

 

[Newtonius]

yeah! For me that was big plus! No rpg... definitely interesting case!
The only downside is that thus has tempered class sidepanel. Hopefully you can get one without it...

I wouldn't want a case with an rpg in it either. Would get me in a lot of trouble.....

 

[thisisaname]

I wonder how much better the cooling would be if the front door was left open?

 

[closs.sebastien]

Shouldn't "No RGB lighting" go into the pros column? Also, where's the handle to pick it up? Or we shouldn't vacuum our homes for 4-5-ish years until we change our PCs?

+++1

 

[curiousmcgeorge]

I'd like something quiet but with good cooling like this, but 35 lbs is . . uh . . a lot. Then again, I also won't need the ability to convert to "storage" type of feature.

I am pretty impressed with the combination of cooling ability and quiet, though.

Yeah, 35 pounds is way more than any case I've ever heard of.
But it looks great.
Since I don't move mine I wouldn't mind having one myself.

I just got a Fractal design Meshify C last year and like it, so I have no need for a new case.

 

[King_V]

I wonder how much better the cooling would be if the front door was left open?

Apparently a lot - Gamers Nexus appears to have been somewhat disappointed with the cooling.

 

[BulkZerker]

Apparently a lot - Gamers Nexus appears to have been somewhat disappointed with the cooling.

Seems par for the course when you have a case that leans towards being quiet. The overclocking obsessed reviewer dings it because there isn't enough airflow/noise

 

[JohnMD1022]

I'd like something quiet but with good cooling like this, but 35 lbs is . . uh . . a lot. Then again, I also won't need the ability to convert to "storage" type of feature.

I am pretty impressed with the combination of cooling ability and quiet, though.

Too damned heavy. I wonder how much that glass panel adds to the weight?

 

[2Be_or_Not2Be]

I like the Define 7, especially the front-accessible bottom air filter and the USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port on the top front of the case. However, I wish they would update their Mini to have the same things. Related, I wish there was a shortlist of X570 boards that supported 3.1 Gen2 front-side ports on the case.

 

[2Be_or_Not2Be]

Too damned heavy. I wonder how much that glass panel adds to the weight?

FD's site says 13.49kg (~29.7lbs) for the Define 7 (no glass side panel), which is only slightly higher than the 13.45kg/29.6lbs for one with the tempered glass side panel. So the glass option is ever so slightly lighter. Packaged up, the Define 7 weighs ~ 35lbs.

The Define 7 XL (taller than the regular 7) is closer to 36lbs. Packaged up, it's ~ 41lbs.

 

[Mr5oh]

One of the pros should be it's still got a 5.25" slot... It's getting really tough for me to find decent cases that I can still use optical drives in. Now if one of the optical drive manufacturers would only make a drive in a black casing...

 

[tommyhardware]

Shouldn't "No RGB lighting" go into the pros column? Also, where's the handle to pick it up? Or we shouldn't vacuum our homes for 4-5-ish years until we change our PCs?

Just because we're nerds, doesn't mean we have to be stereotypical weaklings.