North reimagines the gaming PC, incorporating natural materials and custom details to make gaming a fashionable addition to the living room. The case combines design and airflow engineering, with fine-patterned mesh ventilation and an open front with real walnut or oak panels. Sleek brass or steel details complement the design, as does an integrated tab for easy access to the case’s top. North has an easy-to-use interior layout and a wide range of compatibility. The new Fractal Design PC case is partially made of wood, or made with new design.
The North is designed for ATX, mATX, and ITX motherboards and supports GPUs up to 355mm in length, or 300mm with a 360mm front radiator. It comes with two 140mm Aspect PWM fans, three USB ports on top of the front panel, one USB-C port, and drive mounts for up to four 2.5-inch and two 3.5-inch drives. The case, according to the design-savvy Swedes at Fractal, is easy to access, with quick-release side panels and an integrated tab that allows the top panel to simply pop off. Seven bridgeless expansion slots on the inside allow for extensive customization.
Mesh side panels on cases are a bit divisive. Although you might think that the mesh improves thermals, there is evidence (at least in some cases) that air coming in from the side can be detrimental to the front-to-back airflow path. The only other case we’ve recently tested with a mesh side panel was the Azza Aero 480, which did not fare well. Fractal’s North, on the other hand, performed admirably in our tests, particularly with CPU thermals.
There are the usual cable tie points, a dual 2.5-inch drive bracket, and two 3.5 or 2.5-inch drive trays behind the motherboard tray. The drive trays actually live under the PSU shroud, and each can fit a 2.5-inch and a 3.5-inch drive at the same time, as well as be mounted upside down to make room for chunkier PSU cables – a thoughtful feature by Fractal. Finally, the Fractal Design North can support four 2.5-inch and two 3.5-inch drives at the same time, which is quite impressive in 2022. If you require more, you will usually need to look for a larger case. A PWM fan hub is also included, which is by default mounted behind the motherboard tray.
The North weighs 7.6kg for the mesh model and 7.7kg for the tempered glass model. It has dimensions of 447 x 215 x 469mm, including its cute little feet.
| Motherboard compatibility | ATX / mATX / Mini-ITX |
| PSU max length | 1 HDD Tray: 255 mm max, 2 HDD Tray: 155 mm max |
| GPU max length | 355 mm with front fan mounted / 300 mm with 360 mm front mounted radiator |
| CPU cooler max height | 145 mm with Fan Bracket (Mesh version only)/ 170 mm w.o |
| Cable routing space | 30 mm |
| Front interface | 1xUSB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 2xUSB 3.0, Audio & Mic |
| Total fan mounts | 8 x 120 mm or 6 x 140 mm |
| Front fan | 3 x 120, 2 x 140 mm (2 x Aspect 140 mm PWM Included) |
| Top Fan | 2 x 120/140 mm |
| Rear fan | 1 x 120 mm |
| Dust filters | Front, PSU |
| Expansion slots | 7 |
| Combined 3.5/2.5” drive mounts | 3 (2 included) |
| Power supply type | ATX |
| Front radiator | Up to 360 mm |
| Rear radiator | 1 x 120 mm (If using a rear radiator the mesh version fan bracket can only be slotted into the bottom position) |
| Top radiator | Up to 240 mm (See manual for details on ram clearance) |
| Case dimensions w/o feet/protrusions/screws | 433,5 x 215 x 450 mm |
| Case dimensions (LxWxH) | 447 x 215 x 469 mm |
| Net weight | 7.6 kg (Mesh) / 7.7kg (TG) |