Fractal Design Define S2 Vision RGB Case Review

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Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Contents

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I think Fractal Actually does listen to their customers you can tell from case to case they release.  One case is great, but a few people complain about one aspect, then on the next release those complains have been taken care of but since you can’t please everyone, new complaints emerge and the evolution continues.

Pros

  • Relatively affordable (Compared to the R6, but adding 4 RGB fans)
  • Tempered Glass tinted side, top and front panels
  • Includes 4 fans, 1 x Rear and 3 x front 140mm fans
  • SUPER Quiet
  • Up to 5 hidden Drives (3 x 3.5’+ 2 x 2.5’ or 6 x 2.5)
  • Allows for many fans or Liquid cooling options
  • Fits from ITX to eATX moterboards.
  • TONS of space for cable management behind the motherboard trays
    • Tons of space everywhere else on the rear as well
  • Nexus9P Fan hub
  • Multiple Case top options, from Glass, Filters, Liquid cooling units
  • Noise Dampening
  • Vertical GPU Mounting option built in
  • PSU Shroud also allows for 2 x 2.5” drives
  • Vented PSU Shroud
  • Adjustable R1 RGB controller is a great idea

Cons

  • Not a biggy, but they should make the PSU Shroud easily removable
  • Does not offer additional SSD Trays
    • While 6 drives is nice, since they have 2 options on top of the PSU shroud, should provide more trays for more options
  • Does not offer alternate side glass panel for purchase
  • eATX is offered and works, like on all cases, it feels like an afterthought

Being that I have to review many different types of components, I feel like this case offers the best options out of any of their prior cases.  eATX support while it is there, suffers a bit.  The rubber grommets are great, but when you have a full eATX board, there’s not much you can fit through there as you saw in my build video.

The placement for the rubber grommets does not work for the ATX, EPS cables and PCI-e cables, so they have to be routed differently.  While the alternate routing works, it will impede airflow a bit and just doesn’t look as nice.  This is not a Fractal Design flaw alone, most if not all cases from all manufacturers that support eATX boards suffer the identical flaw.  Just a thought for Fractal Design though, on their next rev.

Aside from that, the case layout is ideal for any situation, although for minimalists, it might be too much.  Up to 5 SSD’s or 3 x 3.5in drives and 2 x 2.5in drives, making sure you never run out of space.

R1 RGB controller is great idea, keeping those of us that do not have RGB header capable boards happy.  Honestly, before I reviewed this case, I was not caught up in the RGB craze, but I think I get it now… a bit late but better than never.

For those of you that would like a video overview of this review, you can check out this video covering everything you have seen here,… well minus the build of course.

[P_REVIEW post_id=1084671 visual=’full’]

The best of the S2 series and the R6 brought into one, great job Fractal Design.

Thank you Fractal  Design as usual for creating top notch cases.  I give you 9.9 Stars out of 10 for an Editors Choice Award.

Congratulations Fractal Design.

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