Buzz
North, a case model introduced by Fractal Design in December 2022, swiftly garnered numerous awards and positive reviews for its distinctive design and unique combination. Recently, Fractal Design North has been officially imported and distributed in Vietnam, with the first batch selling out quickly. Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to get my hands on the Tempered Glass version, so I'm sharing insights on the Mesh variant with you all. After experiencing it firsthand, I've noticed some distinctive features of the North Mesh compared to the glass edition.
First impressions matter, and the packaging of the North Mesh certainly makes a statement. It arrives in a large cardboard box, significantly larger than the case itself, thanks to its thick foam padding. The dimensions of the North Mesh are 447 x 215 x 469 mm, while the cardboard box measures a whopping 565 x 326 x 553 mm. The interior of the box is adorned with the Fractal Design logo, which adds a touch of elegance.
The most unique highlight that Fractal Design has designed for the North is on the front panel. The presence of wood or organic material in the computer industry in general, and the computer case in particular, is very rare and intriguing. Ten solid wood slats are glued onto the plastic frame at the front, providing a more balanced feel when most familiar materials are plastic and metal.
You can see the wood grain and distinctive details of real wood, not plywood. These wood slats are not perfect, meaning they have their own imperfections, flaws inherent in the tree trunk when cut. The types of wood include oak and walnut, however, Fractal Design does not allow users to choose but rather it's random. I don't have the experience to distinguish between oak and walnut of the product in this article, nor do I know if on one North model there will be only one type of wood or a combination of both.
The North Mesh comes bundled with two 140 mm PWM Aspect fans installed at the front, without LEDs. You can mount up to 8 120 mm fans or 6 140 mm fans inside the North Mesh case.
If you're using an AIO water cooler, you can freely install the fan bracket anywhere, but with an air cooler, there are limitations. I tested it with the ID-COOLING SE-226-XT ARGB SNOW air cooler, which has a height of 154 mm, and it was too tall. If you want to install the fan bracket at the top, you can only use an air cooler with a maximum height of 145 mm.
On the upper side behind the motherboard, the North Mesh integrates an additional hub for 4-pin fans, the non-glass version does not have this feature.
Fractal Design impresses by its unique approach of separating 3.5-inch drive bays into individual metal frames, ensuring optimal airflow. However, this design choice may demand more space. The provided power supply clearance accommodates both drive bays at 155 mm, but my AORUS P1200W, measuring 160 mm, encounters slight interference with the modular connector. If the modular cable section were slightly elevated, this issue could be mitigated.
The accessory box includes various screws and zip ties but lacks Velcro cable ties. The manufacturer has neatly organized the case's cables (power cables, connectivity ports, etc.) with Velcro straps, enhancing aesthetics and cable management.
One aspect that greatly appeals to me in the Fractal Design North Mesh is its cohesive design language. Apart from the circular mesh panels on the sides and top, all other ventilation slots maintain a consistent elongated hexagonal pattern, providing a visually unified appearance from top to bottom, including the PCI bracket cover.
The UTS standard standoff screws for the motherboard come with #6-32 UNC threads, making them very user-friendly. Some manufacturers use a combination of #6-32 UNC and M3 standards (where the standoff base is #6-32 UNC while the screw threads are ISO M3), which can be inconvenient if misplaced. I find #6-32 UNC to be more common and easier to replace, used in securing PCI slots, side panel screws, PSU screws, etc.
The cutout for routing the EPS12V 8-pin CPU power cable is quite small. Even though the test power supply has ribbon cables, it still gets snagged and is quite challenging to feed one end of the 8-pin connector through this hole. From my observation, widening the hole slightly in one of the two dimensions should suffice.
Installing a complete system into the North Mesh case is quite straightforward and smooth, except when threading the CPU power cable. Overall, for around 3.5 million dong, the Fractal Design North is a unique mid-range case option. It offers similar features to other representatives in terms of flexible support, up to ATX motherboards, 240mm radiator support on the roof, etc., but stands out with its unusual combination with wood. Additionally, meticulous attention to detail and finishing is another strength of the North, providing a sense of a meticulously crafted device.
What do you guys think about the Fractal Design North Mesh PC case?
