Impressive Fractal Terra Mini-ITX Case: Wood, Aluminum, & Gull-Wing Doors
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Date: 2023-05-31
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Comments and reviews: 15
Xaytana
I'm liking the trend of removable top panels. This could also be an interesting NUC case, but only if the CPU card has backside-mounted components for obvious cooling reasons; which I've complained about since the new NUC formfactor originally released, which is also a complaint about PCIe and ATX, and why we need newer standards that better evolve with the way the industry is moving, which I've also complained about for a couple years now. I'd also be interested in seeing if blower style coolers could see any improved efficacy (though I think core design needs massive changes first) within this formfactor as I would think you'd want the rear of the case to be common exhaust with side intakes, with front/top/bottom being perforated for passive airflow to avoid hotspots within the case itself; I think it'd be even more interesting to see something like a high airflow with decent pressure 200mm fan, I know this is a more difficult task to achieve with case fans, with fanless heatsinks on the CPU and GPU with this kind of setup, a front to rear airlfow design with one intake and one exhaust setup, similar to how a server does airflow but without the noisy little fans.
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I'm liking the trend of removable top panels. This could also be an interesting NUC case, but only if the CPU card has backside-mounted components for obvious cooling reasons; which I've complained about since the new NUC formfactor originally released, which is also a complaint about PCIe and ATX, and why we need newer standards that better evolve with the way the industry is moving, which I've also complained about for a couple years now. I'd also be interested in seeing if blower style coolers could see any improved efficacy (though I think core design needs massive changes first) within this formfactor as I would think you'd want the rear of the case to be common exhaust with side intakes, with front/top/bottom being perforated for passive airflow to avoid hotspots within the case itself; I think it'd be even more interesting to see something like a high airflow with decent pressure 200mm fan, I know this is a more difficult task to achieve with case fans, with fanless heatsinks on the CPU and GPU with this kind of setup, a front to rear airlfow design with one intake and one exhaust setup, similar to how a server does airflow but without the noisy little fans.
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mahatmagandhiful
When I first started getting interested in SFF PCs, I was completely enamored with sandwich-style case layouts. But nowadays, especially after having worked with multiple faulty riser cables, I find them to be far more hassle than they're worth. A conventional layout (ie motherboard and GPU perpendicular) can achieve the same or similar footprint while significantly improving overall parts compatibility. (In other words, you have access to actually decent CPU air coolers.) It's why I was so happy to see the NR200 do well; after years of the SFF space moving more and more to the sandwich being the standard, it (and to a lesser extent the Fractal Era) showed how user-friendly SFF could actually be.
Now we just need motherboards with GPU slots jutting out of the sides of the board to complete the SFF revolution.
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When I first started getting interested in SFF PCs, I was completely enamored with sandwich-style case layouts. But nowadays, especially after having worked with multiple faulty riser cables, I find them to be far more hassle than they're worth. A conventional layout (ie motherboard and GPU perpendicular) can achieve the same or similar footprint while significantly improving overall parts compatibility. (In other words, you have access to actually decent CPU air coolers.) It's why I was so happy to see the NR200 do well; after years of the SFF space moving more and more to the sandwich being the standard, it (and to a lesser extent the Fractal Era) showed how user-friendly SFF could actually be.
Now we just need motherboards with GPU slots jutting out of the sides of the board to complete the SFF revolution.
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itech
What was that uncomfortable undertone about?
From reading the comments my thoughts are:
- Asus building?
- Most expensive building / furniture in region... lost touch
- Shadows, so security monitoring them?
- Other companies paired Steve up with a ceo or expert to assist with the overview. Fractal seemed to dump them in a corporate room being observed rather than openly work with them
- Riser cable reviews left a bad taste?
- Dust / weather no filters
I like the look of the case but won't be buying ITX anytime soon.
I much preferred the feel of the other companies Steve visited. They seemed genuinely interested in embracing Steve and team, where the learning seemed two way.
Fractal seemingly didn't want them there or remember they were visiting.
Strange.
What do you think?
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What was that uncomfortable undertone about?
From reading the comments my thoughts are:
- Asus building?
- Most expensive building / furniture in region... lost touch
- Shadows, so security monitoring them?
- Other companies paired Steve up with a ceo or expert to assist with the overview. Fractal seemed to dump them in a corporate room being observed rather than openly work with them
- Riser cable reviews left a bad taste?
- Dust / weather no filters
I like the look of the case but won't be buying ITX anytime soon.
I much preferred the feel of the other companies Steve visited. They seemed genuinely interested in embracing Steve and team, where the learning seemed two way.
Fractal seemingly didn't want them there or remember they were visiting.
Strange.
What do you think?
reply
gamersnexus
This is my cup of tea, i would like to of seen a bit more front I/O tbh, Specifically an extra USB-C and an SD card slot, really adds to versatility, Its a bit too airy for my tastes, im sure adding magnetic fan filters would help as its got a flat base in most places, these sorts of cases can be a bit of a burden to upkeep if you have plenty of airflow but also the more open a case is the more you can hear the fans, just something many need to keep in mind if they have not already, its a solid unit all in all regardless.
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This is my cup of tea, i would like to of seen a bit more front I/O tbh, Specifically an extra USB-C and an SD card slot, really adds to versatility, Its a bit too airy for my tastes, im sure adding magnetic fan filters would help as its got a flat base in most places, these sorts of cases can be a bit of a burden to upkeep if you have plenty of airflow but also the more open a case is the more you can hear the fans, just something many need to keep in mind if they have not already, its a solid unit all in all regardless.
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bluephreakr
While it's nice they basically went with the confined infinity sliding spine, I would had loved to see them include some positive feel every half-tick so there is a tactile response to tell end-users it is indeed slotted at a specified location on the scale. It's not necessary, and this is good as-is to eyeball it, I am sure everything basically falls into place naturally, but that tactility would be assuring during assembly.
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While it's nice they basically went with the confined infinity sliding spine, I would had loved to see them include some positive feel every half-tick so there is a tactile response to tell end-users it is indeed slotted at a specified location on the scale. It's not necessary, and this is good as-is to eyeball it, I am sure everything basically falls into place naturally, but that tactility would be assuring during assembly.
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Clement
Love the growth in the SFF sector - bringing back the days when the 'desktop' actually goes on your desk top. Looks to be a good trend to help put the brakes on rampant growth in power draw & thermals. Shame I think it's largely powered by the housing crisis where lots of people just don't have much space for towers these days & it's a choice between a tower or leg room.
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Love the growth in the SFF sector - bringing back the days when the 'desktop' actually goes on your desk top. Looks to be a good trend to help put the brakes on rampant growth in power draw & thermals. Shame I think it's largely powered by the housing crisis where lots of people just don't have much space for towers these days & it's a choice between a tower or leg room.
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George
Hey GamersNexus -- with the recent LLM/Diffusion craze, please add CUDA/OpenCL/Compute tests to your mix. It's especially important for anything that has enough RAM to run 4-bit 13B models while also serving a 2D desktop. (that is, 12GB RAM+) -- because these people will definitely want to have these models running for them in the background. I know that I do.
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Hey GamersNexus -- with the recent LLM/Diffusion craze, please add CUDA/OpenCL/Compute tests to your mix. It's especially important for anything that has enough RAM to run 4-bit 13B models while also serving a 2D desktop. (that is, 12GB RAM+) -- because these people will definitely want to have these models running for them in the background. I know that I do.
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Benjamin
Looks really nice. If I was building a SFF I would definitely get one of these. I love that there is zero glass, only aluminium mesh, why arent most cases like this (or offer the option)?
Hopefully we see that similar anodised green look come to their midtower cases. Frankly, I would be down for the whole concept only at ATX scale.
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Looks really nice. If I was building a SFF I would definitely get one of these. I love that there is zero glass, only aluminium mesh, why arent most cases like this (or offer the option)?
Hopefully we see that similar anodised green look come to their midtower cases. Frankly, I would be down for the whole concept only at ATX scale.
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Tooth
I've never been someone super concerned with aesthetics, but I replaced my Define R4 with the North after I moved to a setup where my pc is actually on top of my desk, and it's really nice to look at and easy to service. Fits everything I need, not too big, but also not so small that I'd need to treat it as a puzzle.
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I've never been someone super concerned with aesthetics, but I replaced my Define R4 with the North after I moved to a setup where my pc is actually on top of my desk, and it's really nice to look at and easy to service. Fits everything I need, not too big, but also not so small that I'd need to treat it as a puzzle.
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Natt
Hi.
Recently I ve seen Kryosheet sponsored in a couple videos now.
I m using Kryonaut Extreme & i7-13700KF & DeepCool AK620 at the moment.
Would the Kryosheet be an improvement in term of thermal? Is the difference significant?
Between Kryosheet and Honeywell PTM7950 which would perform better thermally?
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Hi.
Recently I ve seen Kryosheet sponsored in a couple videos now.
I m using Kryonaut Extreme & i7-13700KF & DeepCool AK620 at the moment.
Would the Kryosheet be an improvement in term of thermal? Is the difference significant?
Between Kryosheet and Honeywell PTM7950 which would perform better thermally?
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Jack_Dangerous
I like the new trend of putting wood on case designs, more sober design choices is what we need, we have enough edgy RGB and that sort of thing already. The Fractal North is such a beautiful case it's annoying how i can't find it for sale anywhere, it goes perfectly with the decoration of my living room.
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I like the new trend of putting wood on case designs, more sober design choices is what we need, we have enough edgy RGB and that sort of thing already. The Fractal North is such a beautiful case it's annoying how i can't find it for sale anywhere, it goes perfectly with the decoration of my living room.
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Vens
Looks like design from 70's, but it's kind of refreshing by now compared to all the 20x RGB fan Lian Li - Hyte lookalike cases made by almost everyone else.
It has character and construction by Fractal were never in doubt anyway. Also mATX and mini ITX being my fav formats -
Loved the InWin stream too!
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Looks like design from 70's, but it's kind of refreshing by now compared to all the 20x RGB fan Lian Li - Hyte lookalike cases made by almost everyone else.
It has character and construction by Fractal were never in doubt anyway. Also mATX and mini ITX being my fav formats -
Loved the InWin stream too!
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Satorii
Oh yeah flat usb cables, love cable manage them, so easy to bend in all directions. And omitting one of the usb-a must be a brilliant cost-saving measure - all in order to bring an affordable case to the market. :)
Sarcasm aside overall design and mechanical features of this case are great!
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Oh yeah flat usb cables, love cable manage them, so easy to bend in all directions. And omitting one of the usb-a must be a brilliant cost-saving measure - all in order to bring an affordable case to the market. :)
Sarcasm aside overall design and mechanical features of this case are great!
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Kr0noZ
Nice cases, I like the wood accents.
Now I just need one in mATX with an external 5.25 bay to make a neat HTPC-style box.
I know, drive bays are obsolete - I still wanna use my UltraHD BD Drive and NOT have to buy a console or dedicated player if I can have one system do it all -.-
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Nice cases, I like the wood accents.
Now I just need one in mATX with an external 5.25 bay to make a neat HTPC-style box.
I know, drive bays are obsolete - I still wanna use my UltraHD BD Drive and NOT have to buy a console or dedicated player if I can have one system do it all -.-
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neutronium95
I really like the look of this case. I built an ITX computer back in 2016, but cheaped out on the case. I always meant to transplant it into something nicer, but never got around to it. This might actually tempt me into finally getting around to it.
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I really like the look of this case. I built an ITX computer back in 2016, but cheaped out on the case. I always meant to transplant it into something nicer, but never got around to it. This might actually tempt me into finally getting around to it.
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