Fractal Design North XL – Enlarged Dimensions, Maintaining Virtues

With the introduction of the North, Fractal Design delighted customers and reviewers with an innovative approach to designing a modern case. The Swedish manufacturer acknowledged that there is a segment of customers who are not thrilled by aggressive lines and flashy designs and who do not want a box on their desk that does not fit into their living space.

The front of the case is dominated by vertical slats made of real wood, behind which is a dust filter. On the front part of the top of the case, there are standard I/O connectors, while the rear part is reserved for a mesh-patterned panel for better airflow.

Now, a year and a half later, Fractal Design has decided to release the North XL model on the market. Just as its name suggests, it is a case identical to the original North but with increased dimensions, for users who want to install the largest components and maximize the case’s cooling potential. In numbers, the case has been enlarged by about five centimeters in all directions and now measures 503 x 240 x 509 mm. It is also worth noting that the case is available in black and white, as well as with a side panel of tempered glass (TG) or with a mesh pattern. We received the white version with a tempered glass side panel for testing, called North XL White TG.

AIRFLOW THROUGH WOOD

Even at a cursory glance, it is clear which part of the case is the most interesting. Of course, it is the front panel, which is made of vertical wooden slats. In the case of the white version of the case, the slats are made of oak, while in the case of the black version, they are made of walnut. The case makes a striking impression on the desk. Below the slats is a mesh, which also serves as a dust filter, behind which we find three factory-installed 140-millimeter fans.

The clean and simple Scandinavian design allows this case to blend perfectly into a modern living space.

Disassembling the case is extremely easy. The side panels are detached by unscrewing the screws and pulling them back, while the top panel is removed by pulling the leather “tail.” Here we have a small complaint about Fractal, as opening the top panel requires surprisingly little force, and during testing, we accidentally opened the top panel. The same problem existed with the smaller North.

The front I/O connectors are located on the front part of the top of the case and include two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, two analog connectors for headphones and a microphone, and a large, round power button.

Thanks to the abundance of space, installing components is a real pleasure. Even the largest components will have no problem finding space inside this case.

Although made of tempered glass, the side panel does not extend from edge to edge of the case but has a metal front part that can be separately removed by simply unscrewing one screw. Removing it provides better access to the interior, which will be appreciated by customers who would like to remove the front fans and replace them with a radiator for liquid cooling.

Given the size of the case, it goes without saying that the interior is full of space, which in itself facilitates the installation of components and configuration editing. The case has a separate chamber for installing the power supply at the bottom, but first, it is necessary to unscrew the metal frame and attach it to the power supply, and then pass the entire power supply through the opening. The maximum specified length of the power supply is 290 mm, so we are quite sure that no one will complain about a lack of space. Under the power supply, there is also a dust filter that can be easily removed by pulling it backward.

The right side of the case reveals a multitude of cable-routing cutouts lined with rubber, two brackets for 2.5″ storage devices, and two cages that can accommodate one 3.5″ HDD each or two 2.5″ devices

Cable routing also does not require any particular intelligence and skill, as the case comes with several velcro ties pre-installed on the back of the motherboard. These need to be added to the large rubber-lined holes. The only complaint we can make is about the length of the internal USB 3.0 cable. Namely, the position of the USB 3.0 connector on our motherboard was at its bottom edge, and the cable from the case was a few centimeters too short, so we couldn’t plug it in. Fortunately, most new motherboards have a USB 3.0 connector (s) on their right edge, so it is unlikely that customers will have a problem with the length of the cable.

PLETHORA OF STORAGE OPTIONS

When we already mention the lower chamber, it is worth mentioning that it has places for installing 2.5” and 3.5” drives. With the case, two cages are supplied, each of which can accommodate one 3.5” HDD or two 2.5” SSDs. Also, their position is not fixed, as the case at the bottom has more holes, and the cages can be adjusted according to your own desire. The specific position of the disk cages will ultimately depend on the chosen power supply.

The version of the case with a mesh side panel further enhances airflow, and it is possible to install a liquid cooling radiator up to 280 mm in length or two 140 mm fans on it.

Mechanical drives are installed by first inserting rubber spacers into the edges of the cages, and then screwing them in. The spacers manage to partially cancel out the vibrations of the drives in operation, but not completely. There are two additional storage locations on the right side of the case, behind the motherboard. There, you can install two additional 2.5” devices.

TALENTED IN COOLING

One of the biggest functional characteristics of the North XL is its cooling capabilities. We have already mentioned that the case comes with three 140-millimeter fans installed. These are Fractal’s own Aspect 14 PWM fans, which are connected to the also built-in hub, which is then connected to the motherboard. The fans are optimized for maximum performance in combination with a liquid cooling radiator, which somewhat surprises us because we believe that most customers would rather use the fans supplied with the liquid cooling, while the fans supplied with the case are expected to have lower maximum speeds and optimization for lower noise in operation.

Anyway, we tested their performance and found that they could be quieter. With our test board, we couldn’t set the fan speed below 30% PWM signal, which resulted in a speed of about 650 rpm. However, even in this situation, the fans were somewhat noisier than all other installed components, which we did not expect. Our sound meter measured about 40.5 dBA. We must say that this is not a high value in itself, but we somehow expected more from fans of this size and with that rotation speed. At maximum speed, which in our case was 1,500 rpm, the fans become quite noisy. This was confirmed by the sound meter, which measured 48.5 dBA. Considering their enormous dimensions, we would recommend customers to set the speed curve so that the fans rotate at a lower speed in all scenarios, given that even in this way, they can collectively move a large amount of air. Noise, in general, can be considered the only noteworthy flaw of this case, especially if the customer opts for the version with a mesh side panel. Mesh openings on all sides simply do not allow particularly good sound insulation performance, so we advise customers to pay special attention to the noise of their moving parts when choosing each component of their computer. Also, if you are going to use the North XL for a computer that you will keep near your head, consider replacing the factory fans with quieter ones.

Like its smaller brother, the North XL is available in a black version, and both can have a glass (TG) or mesh side panel.

With the mentioned three installed fans, the story about cooling is just beginning. Namely, the case supports the installation of all, including the largest, liquid cooling radiators. So in the North XL, it is possible to install a liquid cooling radiator of up to a whopping 420 mm in the front. A radiator of up to 360 mm in length can also be installed on the top, and up to 140 mm on the rear. Finally, the mesh version of the case allows the installation of a radiator on the left side panel, up to a maximum length of 280 mm. Customers who will not use liquid cooling will be interested to know that there are a total of six places for installing 140 mm fans, or seven if they plan to install 120 mm fans. The maximum height of the CPU air cooler is also a generous 185 mm.

The case is equipped with a useful hub for four fans, and it connects to the motherboard with a single 4-pin PWM connector.

The maximum possible length of the graphics card is 413 mm, and if a front radiator is installed, this value drops to still enormous 380 mm. The graphics card can also be installed vertically, but only with the purchase of Fractal’s own Flex B-20 adapter, which has a retail price of a high 65 euros. If the graphics card is installed horizontally, its cooling can be further enhanced by installing an 80-millimeter fan below it.

From all the above, it is evident that the North XL is in every way just an enlarged “ordinary” North, which is a direct response to the needs and desires of customers. Although it does not differ in terms of innovation compared to the original North, some particular changes, in our opinion, were not even necessary, given that the first model was characterized by exceptional build quality, excellent cooling capabilities, and a smart, modern layout for component installation. The flaw in terms of potential noise should be taken with a grain of salt because the point of this case is maximum airflow and maintaining internal components at the lowest possible values. Even the price of the recommended 200 euros doesn’t seem unreasonable.