Define Series Fractal Design Computer Cases and hardware

Table Of Content

• Price: $146
• NZXT H510 Compact ATX Mid-Tower PC Gaming Case White/Black - New In Box S/N#0386
• Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Case Red/White - includes rubber feet
• Trying to find HDD cages with trays that are compatible with Fractal Design Define R5 (2013ish version)
• Dual side mounted door
• Fractal Design Define Computer Cases with 1 5.25 in Drive Bays

Fractal Design has done a fantastic job designing the Define R5, it is by far one of the highest quality cases we have reviewed thus far. First, Fractal-Design desperately needs to put another 140mm fan on the front to improve airflow. Picking PC cases can be tough, but it's easier if you know what you want. Fractal Design makes some great cases, and this list has the top options they have for your own PC build.

Price: $146

It has been a good case, but I am wanting to get something new for my main build. So I would like to repurpose my R5 into a Plex/NAS server, but the stock HDD cage (with trays) only holds 3 3.5in drives (though I am planning to go all 2.5in SATA SSD). It has a centre screw hole that looks like additional cages could be screwed below the 5.25in bays, and another on the top of the stock cage. Searching for additional cages has been frustrating, as they either bring up stuff for R7 or other models from Fractal or they bring up forum posts from years ago with other people asking for them.

NZXT H510 Compact ATX Mid-Tower PC Gaming Case White/Black - New In Box S/N#0386

The modular insides can be easily adapted to suit different builds, and the R5 is a quiet runner, too. For such a competent case, one would expect a BMW-esque price, but the Define R5 is a great value at only $109.99-$119.99. The Define’s foam-covered side panels seem to insulate the SSD mounts on the back of the motherboard tray. While the R5’S SSD temperatures aren’t bad, the uninsulated Obsidian 450D keeps our SSD a fair bit cooler with the drive in a similar location.

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Case Red/White - includes rubber feet

The R5 itself has “Designed in Sweden” stamped into its sheet metal, in case you weren’t getting the message. Quite honestly the positives outweigh that one negative like a cinder block on a scale with a feather at the other side. The cinder block being the great building accuracy and the engineered flow is a common thought while I built into this case. For enthusiasts looking for an extremely versatile chassis with a dual-layout interior, the Fractal Design Define 7 is a feature packed case with outstanding thermal and acoustic performance. The Define 7 is the latest pinnacle of the renowned Define series, setting a new standard for what you should expect from a mid-tower case when it comes to modularity, flexibility and ease of use. The buildAs I was expecting from its bevy of user-friendly features, the Define R5 is a pleasure to build a system in.

With the 5.25″ bays removed, one can mount three 120- or 140-mm fans, or radiators up to 420 mm in length, at the top of the R5. Some radiator sizes are subject to a 55-mm height limit here, however, so be sure to check the manual for compatibility. The R5’s PSU emplacement is similar to that of other cases I’ve tested recently, which is a good thing. The power supply rests on four wide, rubber feet to prevent vibration from traveling into other parts of the R5’s frame. The panels are a neat idea, but I wish Fractal had made their retaining clips more finger-friendly. It also would have been really slick if Fractal had included a matching magnetic filter for each ModuVent panel, since the top vent is unfiltered when these panels are removed.

I doubt the R5’s higher temps are anything to worry about, but they are worth pointing out. The omission of a top filter is also strange considering Fractal includes a full-length filter at the bottom of the case. While some builders might put a fan or radiator down here, I think top-mounted fans or radiators are a far more common choice. For those who do wish to add bottom-mounted cooling, removing the drive cages makes room for a pair of 120- or 140-mm fans—or a radiator up to 240 mm in length.

The Define R5’s motherboard tray is pretty conventional by modern standards, with the requisite set of rubber grommets ringing its border. Interestingly, the motherboard tray is recessed a little bit, which helps to explain the R5’s ability to swallow 180-mm-tall CPU coolers. The motherboard tray also features an enormous cutout to facilitate the installation of CPU cooler backplates. Users looking to install a liquid cooler or two in the Define R5 will find that tradeoffs are in order. Removing the ModuVent panels up top allows more noise to escape from the R5, as demonstrated by the slightly higher top-of-case noise numbers at idle. Despite the lower noise numbers under load, the radiator-equipped Define R5 also seems to let more GPU whine escape from its top vent while stressed.

Now that we’ve seen the exterior of the Define R5, let’s see what Fractal’s design chops have wrought inside. Fractal Design Define series has always been the successful line of chassis, with this fifth iteration which continues to innovate with its exclusive noise isolations. The Define R5 manages to keep it up compared to the competition in the aspects of...

Installing the radiator behind the front fan mounts might be a better option for keeping noise levels down, although that depends on whether you keep your PC on top of your desk or under it. For those in the former group, installing the radiator up top may still be a better option. My Corsair Obsidian 450D and the XFX Type-01 Bravo each required varying degrees of elbow grease to get the expansion card screw holes lined up with the back panel. The Define wasn’t perfect in this regard, but it required only minimal muscling to achieve the same effect. The same was true of my motherboard, which needed only a tiny bit of force to line up with the alignment pin in the center of the mobo tray. I don’t like applying undue force to delicate electronics, so this surprise was a welcome one.

InteriorGetting inside the Define R5 is a little different than with other cases I’ve tested. The left side panel is secured with both thumbscrews and a push-to-release latch, while the right side panel sticks with a pair of thumbscrews. For both side panels, Fractal Design has fixed the one thing that I hate about the Obsidian 450D (and many other enclosures). If you're looking for the best balance, the Fractal Design Define R6 is the case to pick. It is feature-packed, runs quiet, and comes with a whole lot of cooling features.

The understated look and feel allows for a natural fit into your home or office while never compromising on quality, performance of configurability. /r/buildapc is a community-driven subreddit dedicated to custom PC assembly. Anyone is welcome to seek the input of our helpful community as they piece together their desktop. My only wish is that the cable grommets at the top of the case were a bit bigger.

I also wish Fractal had made the R5’s drive trays tool-free, and I was let down a little by the case’s occasional hard-drive-related buzziness. As for the effectiveness of the foam-lined side panels, the results are somewhat mixed. The Define didn’t dampen their song completely, but it did cut down on the whine enough to make them only mildly distracting.

After I removed two of the modular top panels, installing the 240M was a snap. The radiator mount is offset significantly from the motherboard, so there was plenty of room to connect the Nepton’s fans to the twin CPU headers on my Asus Crossblade Ranger mobo. Builders willing to push their luck probably have enough room to mount push-pull fans on slim radiators like the Nepton 240M’s, though doing so would obstruct the rear fan considerably.

If the non-standard USB 3.0 port coloration might cause confusion, at least it’s hard to reset the R5 by mistake. A combination power and disk activity LED is nestled into the center of the front panel, as well. Fractal uses a blue LED here, though it’s mercifully not the eye-searing kind of blue that’s tainted so much hardware in recent years.