Fractal Design’s case features front and side panels lined with industrial-grade sound-dampening material. Customers found the two 120mm GP-12 X2 fans quiet while in operation and still delivered excellent airflow to keep the PC case cool.

I'm getting a new PC to replace my 7.5 year old PCS one, which has started playing up a bit lately. My main priority is quietness, as the old one was always a little too noisy for my tastes (even though it's in a Fractal Define R4 case, which is apparently quiet). As with any PC case, flexibility is a great feature to have! It will allow you to create the PC to your specifications with minimal complications. When purchasing your new case, consider its flexibility. For quiet this is where I'd go but we're super overspeccing on CPU cooler here to keep it quiet as possible, it does let us have a storage set up I'd much rather recommendYou also get three fans included! The dynamic X2 GP-14 fans are preinstalled, and the tower boasts room to expand to nine fans if you need it! Now that is some serious space. There is also space for large motherboards; you can get up to a 285mm E-ATX motherboard here! You’ll be hard-pressed to find other PC cases that can offer that for this price!

Standardized thermal testing puts the Define 7 at a natural disadvantage, because it’s one of the only cases we’ve worked with that runs as quietly as it does; in fact, the Define 7 is below our 36dBA normalized threshold for noise testing, plotting instead at 34.6dBA, and that’s with its included fans at maximum speed. Even still, with this noted, the case is doing better in CPU thermals than a few others on the chart. An extra 1dBA worth of fan RPMs honestly wouldn’t change much in this setup, anyway, but might propel it more toward the O11 XL or Helios. The GPU thermals put the Define 7 actually very near the top of the chart. This, we think, is again because of the GPU intake through the rear of the case as a result of the pressure system being created. Conclusion: Fractal Define 7 ReviewI question, however, the mix you have between CPU and GPU. The 10-core 12600KF is something equivalent to a 5800X in AMD terms and seems overkill. The GPU is pretty much low end now for 1080p and not really up to scratch for VR. Detachable PSU cable shield and integrated cable guides with Velcro straps simplify cable management behind the board Look out for cases that come with built-in fans or have enhanced airflow that will allow for a smoother and quieter operation. If you are purchasing your fans, look out for ones labeled as a quiet operation to help keep the noise levels down. To glass or not to glass? The noise-isolating materials used on the side panels work to reduce noticeable fan noise. It’s an excellent option for those building a media PC and avoids adding more noise to your environment.

This is very sizable for a mid-tower chassis, but it also means we likely will not see issues with a top-mounted 120mm based AIO or Radiator for custom liquid cooling. This is a trap many mid-towers we have witnessed recently fall into. The XL version measures in a bit larger at 566mm in height, 604mm deep, and 240mm in width. This enables the XL version to offer more 120mm fitment for even more extensive liquid cooling options for fitment. Prior to load testing, we collect idle temperature results for ten minutes to determine the unloaded cooling performance of a case's fans and air channels. Thermal benchmarking is conducted for 1400 seconds (23 minutes), a period we've determined sufficient for achieving equilibrium. The over-time data is aggregated and will occasionally be compiled into charts, if interesting or relevant. The equilibrium performance is averaged to create the below charts. The case is incredibly versatile, with a removable ODD cage and repositionable HDD slots. This allows you to rearrange the case to your preference. You can also adjust the top cover vent to enhance the cooling and mounting options. Customers praised the amount of room available within the case for a range of fans and other components. Although we are focusing on noise levels, it is still essential to consider your PC’s airflow and cooling capabilities. After all, the better the airflow is, the less your fans will need to work, delivering a quieter PC. Comparatively, the Fractal Define 7 isn’t particularly impressive or unimpressive for GPU thermals. It’s not great, but it’s also not anywhere as close to the bottom as in the CPU testing. The Define 7 ends up about where the Corsair 680X is, and that’s a glass-fronted cuboid-like case, and isn’t far from the 220T Airflow or Core P3. If you were to fit another expansion card in here, it’d potentially have drastic impact on GPU thermals since most of the air comes through the rear of the case. 3DMarkFor excellent connectivity, the case features USB 3.0 compatibility. There is also ample space within the case; you get four hard drive trays, all made with sturdy construction. While it does not have as many ports as other PC cases, its quietness is worth the port sacrifice! Not sure what you need from your quiet PC case? Let our buyer’s guide help you there! Cooling Power The case comes with three Pure Wings 2 140mm fans to deliver excellent airflow throughout the case. There is also space to add additional fans, too, for those after a very cool system. We can get ourselves a quiet PC case; that’s what we can do! The market has exploded with more of us craving a silent operation; quiet PC cases will use many technologies to keep the noise to a minimum. Unfortunately, they can’t do anything about the shouting when you get shot mid-heist!