Fractal Design Define 7 Case Review

I have heard a lot about Fractal Design over the years.  During Computex in 2015 I met with them on what I would call a “speed date”.  This one day media event was staged in a local restaurant allowing people to eat and drink until your meeting.  At that time they would quickly go over the products allow you to take photos and send you on your way.  In terms of content everything was hyper focused and very informative.  This was fairly early in the Fractal timeline as they were showed AIO coolers, custom fans and several small form factor cases as everyone was scrambling to get some of that MiniITX action.

In this review we will be looking at the opposite of a small form factor case and what could be called the latest and most comprehensive iteration of the Define series from Fractal Design.  This case builds on previous case designs while still keeping with the company directives focusing on build quality, silent operation and versatility with modern minimalist aesthetics.

The case I am talking about is the Define 7 and could easily be one of the most comprehensive cases I have ever reviewed.  The Fractal Design Define 7 is a case that checks all the boxes making it an easy choice for PC builders looking for a versatile chassis that can accommodate ambitious builds while leaving room for the inevitable upgrade.  

• Spacious and extensively adaptable dual-layout interior easily accommodates large motherboards up to and including E-ATX
• Support for radiators up to 360 mm in front, 420 mm up top, or 280 mm in the base in the default Open Layout
• Convert to Storage Layout for up to 14 HDDs along with 4 dedicated SSD mounts and one ODD bay (6 HDD/SSD + 2 SSD brackets + 1 multi-bracket included)
• 5.25” ODD bay converts to an additional 140 mm front fan mount with filtered louver covering
• Silence-optimized construction with industrial sound-damping bitumen on front, top, and side panels
• Top cover can be removed to swap in the included ventilated top panel for additional cooling options
• New chassis design opens up to fully expose the case interior on three sides for totally unhindered installation and cable routing
• Anodized aluminum front panel with reversible dual-handed hinges and magnetic latching
• Nine 120/140 mm fan mounts with three preinstalled Dynamic X2 GP-14 fans
• Versatile new multi-brackets convert any unused fan position to an HDD, SSD, pump or reservoir mount
• Two vertical GPU slots for use with the Flex VRC PCIe riser (available separately)
• Five front USB ports including one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
• Ultra-slim Nexus+ 2 fan hub with three PWM and six 3-pin connections logically placed in-line with cable channels
• Redesigned HDD cages with sturdy four-point supports
• Tool-less, top-latching panels offer quick access and prevent accidental drops
• Bridgeless expansion slots ensure obstruction-free connections
• Ventilated PSU shroud with two-part removable cover and additional SSD/multi-bracket mounts
• Easy-to-clean high airflow nylon filters on the front, top and base with full PSU coverage and convenient front access
• Detachable PSU cable shield and integrated cable guides with Velcro straps simplify cable management behind the board

Case dimensions (LxWxH): 547 x 240 x 475 mm
Net Weight: Solid: 13.49 kg / TG: 13.45 kg
Cable routing space: 30 mm
Case Material: Steel, Tempered Glass