Fractal Design Define R4 Front Panel
When it comes to cases there are two dissimilar types. The beginning is the flashy cases that are meant to take hold of everyones attention and testify off all the cool hardware inside. The 2d is the sleek professional looking instance that is all about way and function. When it comes to Fractal Design I always seem to place them in this second category. They don't brand anything flashy or over the top, but their cases are always functional, cool, spacious, and what I like to call business organization sexy. Their Define cases have always been a perfect example of this, today we are going to have a look at the Define R4, their lastest version.
Production Proper noun: Fractal Design Define R4
Review Sample Provided by: Fractal Design
Written by: Wes, Brennon
Pictures by: Wes
Specifications
| Technical Specifications | -ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX motherboard compatibility -7 + 1 expansion slots -2 - 5.25" trophy -8 - three.5" HDD trays - all compatible with SSDs, 2 - 2.5" extra SSD positions -3 - ModuVent™ plates - two in the top and one in the side -7 - fan positions (2 Silent Serial R2 fans included) -Filtered fan slots in the front and lesser -CPU coolers upwardly to 170mm tall (when no fan is installed in the side panel) -ATX PSUs up to 170mm deep when using the lesser fan location, when not using this fan location longer PSUs (upward to 270mm deep) can exist used -Graphics cards upwards to 295mm in length with the top HDD muzzle installed -With the elevation muzzle removed, graphics cards up to 430mm in length may be installed -26mm of space for cable routing behind the motherboard plate -Thick rubber grommets on all holes on the motherboard plate -Colours available: Blackness Pearl, Titanium Gray, Chill White -Case dimensions (WxHxD): 232 ten 464 x 523mm -Bundle dimensions (WxHxD): 320 ten 535 x 610mm -Internet weight: 12,3 kg |
| Cooling / Ventilation | -one - Front hydraulic bearing 140mm Silent Series R2 fan, 1000 RPM speed (included) -1 - Front 120/140mm fan -1 - Rear hydraulic begetting 140mm Silent Series R2 fan, 1000 RPM speed (included) -2 - Top 120/140mm fans - positions also back up some models of 240 radiators, depending on configuration -1 - Bottom 120/140mm fan -1 - Side 140mm fan -1 - Integrated fan controller for upwardly to iii fans (included) |
| Front interface | -2 - USB 3.0, 2 - USB 2.0 -Audio I/O -Ability push with LED (blue) -Reset button -Fan controller (backside door) |
| Retail package content | -Define R4 computer instance -User transmission -Accessory box |
| Additional Information | -EAN/GTIN-13: 7350041080923 -UPC: 817301010924 -Product lawmaking: FD-CA-DEF-R4-TI |
Packaging
As is the usual with Fractal cases we accept a simple cardboard package of brown and black. At that place is a uncomplicated picture of the example on the front forth with the name of the case and a url for Fractal Design. On the back we can detect a piece past piece diagram of all the different parts of the case along with a list of detailed explanation of what each part is for in multiple different languages. Once more we can find the url for the Fractal Pattern website, I think they desire us to visit!
On the inside nosotros find a aircraft setup that is common among cases. The case is tucked abroad safely inside of a plastic bag to keep the finish from getting tarnished before we have a chance to flaunt it. The case and the plastic covering is inside of cream shipping compartments to keep information technology from getting damaged by the Harlem Shake.
Inside we tin find the a simple user'south guide with installation help and data. Also inside the case we detect quite a few numberless of different screws and things that may come of use when hooking everything up. Among these are standoffs for the motherboard, zip ties for tidy cablevision management, and screws to be used on the outside of the case that are able to be screwed and unscrewed without the use of a screwdriver.
Exterior
The outside of the Ascertain R4 is mostly blackness in end other than the front end. The model we are taking a await at today is called the Define R4 Titanium Greyness. With that, the forepart of the case is finished in a metallic titanium stop that picks up a reflection of anything around it. If yous wait at our pictures closely you lot can see part of the LanOC function in fact. Sticking with Fractal's clean styling, the front end panel is completely clean and lacks whatever branding on the entire example. On both sides of the front end door is venting, putting the ventilation on the sides nonetheless allows for good airflow simply helps proceed noise down by making the audio take to make a few more bounces before it gets to you lot, rather than a direct line out the front and into your ears.
The left side of the case is likewise in our photo'southward here and every bit you can see, at that place is cypher at all going on. You too have a bully view of the round aluminium feet that requite the instance a piffling style without going over the meridian. What is interesting though is that the front feet look different from the rear feet.
With the forepart panel articulate, all of the front I/O functionality is up on the top of the case. We have a center mounted aluminum ability button, a reset button, headphone and microphone ports, then four USB ports (ii USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0). Effectually the power button is a clear band that also goes downwards to the superlative edge of the case that will glow bluish when your PC is powered upwardly.
Upwardly tiptop you will find two vents only if you look closely they are actually covered upwards from the inside. This is Fractal's ModuVent design that keeps the noise down just allows you to accept it off and take more than airflow if needed.
Dorsum on the front of the case with the front end door open we really start to get a inkling on how much Fractal works to keep the dissonance down on the Define R4. The front door itself is extremely thick, at least a half inch, and filled with sound deadening foam. For ventilation, all the style downwardly the front there are horizontal vents, along with that we take two 5.25 inch drive trophy up summit. The drive bays can to go at without being in your face all of the fourth dimension. be removed using the latch on the correct side. Also well-nigh those latches, and hard to encounter in our photograph, is the cases fan controller switch. As a case design for low noise its non a shock that they would include a fan controller, and its peachy that it is fairly easy
The correct side of the case had nix going on only on the left side nosotros really have a vent. Of class much like the top vents this vent is also covered with their ModuVent. Located right to a higher place the GPU's this is a great option to have to absurd your cards downwards if you take problems in the future.
Effectually dorsum we tin see a trivial scrap of Fractal'south signature white trimming. The cases 7 PCI covers (eight counting the side mounted cover) all stand out with their white finish up against the black case. Along with that you can come across the white fan peaking through next to the rear I/O console. The PSU is lesser mounted and here you get a little inkling to the cases width equally well. You tin can meet that there is a lot of infinite on each side of the ability supply, something we don't always see. This is normally a good sign for skilful wire direction and/or lots of room for tall heatsinks.
On the lesser of the Define R4 you have a fan filter that is attainable from the rear of the instance that covers the air intake for the ability supply also as a second intake location on the bottom of the example. I mentioned earlier that something was off with the feet and you can encounter it better from here. The front feet are wide but the rear feet are smaller and don't take equally much aluminum around them Its weird they would do this but I did figure out the reason for it. If they went with wider feet they wouldn't accept room for the air filter on the bottom.
Inside
Digging into the Define R4 the commencement thing that I noticed was that each of the side panels weighed more than I take e'er seen a side panel weigh earlier. A quick glance showed why though, Fractal has covered both side panels with a thick sound deadening material to keep the dissonance inside of the instance. Along with that you lot tin see what ModuVent is all most with its extra audio dampening cloth.
Starting around back nosotros are able to go a good idea of the Define R4's wire management ability. First nosotros can encounter 5 different holes to feed wires through and each has a grommet for a clean look and wire protection. On top of that at that place are nada tie tabs going all the fashion up the middle of the motherboard tray for proper wire management. At only under an inch there is the room needed, but I wouldn't listen seeing a little more. 24 pin power cables are thick and will take up most of that space.
Effectually on the business side of things, stepping back and taking information technology all in, the all black wait paired with the white accents catches your eye. Its actually a shame to cover it all up with a windowless side panel, just this is what y'all sometimes have to give up to keep noise down. Its as well really impressive when you see all viii of the cases hard drive trays, you could actually pack the Define R4 full of hard drives.
Up in the top left corner we can see the two grommeted holes up above the motherboard for your 8 pin power connection and actress fan wiring. Its a pocket-size touch just I also dearest that the fan doesn't accept a sticker on information technology here, I would remove the sticker for a clean look anyhow, its smashing to see that they recognize that. Also for those who need to swap out their heatsink you have good access with a large hole in the motherboard tray as well.
A little lower downwards we take a better await at the white PCI slot covers that we were admiring from the outside. I'1000 kind of surprised they went with vented on these considering the efforts to proceed noise down, only of grade you lot do demand some airflow to keep things cool.
Downward at the bottom you accept a large grommeted pigsty for you to feed nearly of your power supply cables through. I too wanted to point out that all of the cabling in the Define R4 is black to match the remainder of the case. Its a pocket-sized touch, but it all adds up to a clean build when yous get it all together.
Over on the right side y'all have the eight hard drive trays that I mentioned before. Each tray supports both 3.5 inch and 2.5 inch drives. The difference between the ii installations is in the condom mounts. The 2.5 inch bulldoze mounts don't have any rubber. This isn't a large deal with SSd'due south, just if you do finish up running a 2.5 inch hard bulldoze it may finish upwards being louder than a 3.five inch bulldoze in this case.
The main hard bulldoze muzzle is actually removable if you lot demand more infinite for your video cards. All you accept to do is remove the two thumbscrews and pull it all out.
Installation/Performance
After checking the Define R4 out information technology was finally time to dig in and install our test rig. Dropping in our motherboard went smoothly, the Ascertain R4 has plenty of room to piece of work around in, particularly for our Micro-ATX motherboard. Dropping in our power supply information technology was nice to see the safety mounts under the power supply to continue the vibration down. Our GTX 580 fit in the Define R4 without having to remove the hard drive cage, we even had another inch of clearance. If y'all do happen to need more room you lot can pull the main hard drive cage out and make actress room. Installing our difficult drive was simple, each of the 8 hard drive trays have rubber mounts for iii.five inch hard drives and each installs with four screws from the bottom.
With everything installed I'g sure you are curious about how the Define R4 performed every bit far equally cooling and noise. First, without a doubt this is an extremely quiet instance. Fractal went over the top making sure the side panels were covered in sound deadening material, to the indicate where each side console was EXTREMELY heavy. The power supply is kept quiet with rubber mounts to keep any vibration from moving into the example as well. They fifty-fifty made a signal to encompass up iii of the unused fan grills on the example with what they call ModuVent, basically a thick audio barrier. The forepart door likewise plays its part in keeping the sound downward with a built in insulation and a design that pulls from the sides of the front rather than the front of the case where noise can exist heard easier. All of it together makes for the quietest case nosotros have ever seen or tested.Wiring up the Define R4 wasn't as well bad, Fractal left enough room back behind the case to fit our wiring and most importantly they included holes in all the correct places in the motherboard tray for proper wiring. Each hole had a grommet in it making for a clean look when its all said and done as well. All of the internal wiring was blacked out adding to that clean look. The only wiring that was more than complicated than normal was the built in fan controller, merely even that wasn't too bad.
From our feel, serenity cases ordinarily aren't the best at cooling. The Define R4 simply has ii active fans in its stock configuration. This is enough to get the job done, but in the example of a gaming PC that puts out more heat you lot volition nigh likely want to add a petty more cooling to keep things down to a more comfortable level. Fractal did allow for an additional fan to be mounted on the bottom and forepart of the case but if you want to go across that you are left removing the ModuVent's and potentially increasing the cases noise output as well. Its obviously a fine residual, merely in the stop this is all the same going to be a quieter case than most, even if you pack it total of fans. The plus side to that beingness you could use the built in fan controller and run the fans on depression and notwithstanding have the ability to bump information technology upwardly more on hot days.
Beyond the cooling and noise, I was very happy with the Define R4. I love the power button existence centered on the top and the blue LED that lights up with information technology looks cracking. I kind of wish that the built in fan controller was a little easier to get to simply Fractal is all almost keeping the design clean, part of that is hiding things similar the fan controller that you might non employ mean solar day to day. On top of that with both USB 3.0 and ii.0 ports up top I was extremely happy with the number of USB ports that y'all have admission to on the front/height of the case.
Really the only issue that you might come across with the case is its weight. At but over 27 pounds information technology isn't calorie-free at all. Adding a high end PC inside, especially water cooling, yous are going to have a case that you lot are going to dread picking up. For most people this won't exist an result, but I do desire to make sure to point it out for those of you who might hit a few LAN parties a year or merely someone who likes to rearrange their office from time to time. Of course this is the downside to an all steel design that too has sound dampening. I for one will deal with the back pain from time to time to keep the noise in my function downwards everyday.
Overall and FV
Fractal Blueprint made a name for themselves with the original Define and they accept continued to somehow manage to observe ways to ameliorate on the blueprint 3 more times up to the R4 that we have here today. The styling of the case hasn't inverse much really, but what is their to change. Fractal prides themselves on cases that have a clean styling and the Define R4 fits that perfectly. It does remind me of the Antec P serial of cases, but once you lot encounter it upward close its easy to run across the differences. Detect btw that I said Run across the differences, yous are just patently non going to hear the Define R4. They set the bar for audio deadening, to the point where the side panels are the heaviest side panels I take always see on a case. This leads me to the just real complaint I have about the Define R4, its weight. At 27 pounds empty, its a porker. But I would happily deal with a little dorsum hurting when you consider this is why the example is and so quiet. The virtually impressive thing though is the Ascertain R4's price indicate. At less than $110 they have priced this example in the range of just about anyone. If you have to have a side panel window, they are as well offer a model with one . Because the good wire management and attention to particular inside I don't blame people for wanting to prove off the within of their Define R4.
Source: https://lanoc.org/review/cases/6246-fractal-design-define-r4?showall=1
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