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Comparison Fractal Design Define R6 black vs Fractal Design Define R5 black

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Fractal Design Define R6 black
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3 regular coolers. Modular design. 4 places under SVO. A useful PWM hub for controlling coolers. Installing the graphics card vertically. Side window fastening without bolts. Quick access to dust filters. Side panels on latches.
Featuresgaming
Form factorMidi TowerMidi Tower
Mountverticalvertical
Motherboard supportATX
ATX /micro-ATX, mini-ITX/
Board placementverticalvertical
PSU form factorATX (regular)ATX (regular)
Computer case
Dimensions (HxWxD)448x233x535 mm451x232x521 mm
Graphics card max lenght440 mm440 mm
Fan max height185 mm180 mm
Weight12.4 kg10.2 kg
Materialsteelsteel
Rubber feet
Side panelremovableremovable
Storage
PSU
PSU mountbottombottom
5.25" bays12
3.5" bays
/convertible to 2.5/
8
internal 2.5" compartments22
Expansion slots
/2 vertical/
7
Graphics card vertical mount
Cooling
Fans total
/Dynamic X2 GP-14/
2
Fans (back)
1x140mm /1x120mm/
1x140mm /1x120mm/
Fans (front)
2x140 mm /3x120mm/
2x140mm /2x120mm/
Fans (side)
1x140mm /1x120mm/
Fans (top)
2x140 mm /3x120mm/
3x140mm /3x120mm/
Fans (bottom)
2x140 mm /2x120mm/
2x140mm /2x120mm/
Fan mounts total99
Dust filterfront, top and bottom+
Liquid cooling support
Liquid cooling system
Liquid cooling (rear)120 mm140 mm
Liquid cooling (front)360 mm360 mm
Liquid cooling (top)360mm420 mm
Liquid cooling (bottom)280mm240mm
Liquid cooling mounts44
Connectors and functions
Placementon top of the caseon top of the case
USB 2.022
USB 3.2 gen122
Audio (microphone/headphones)
More features
Front panelsolidsolid
More features
front panel
soundproof
removable HDD cage
hidden wiring
CPU cooling mount window
front panel
soundproof
removable HDD cage
hidden wiring
CPU cooling mount window
Color
Added to E-Catalogmay 2018july 2015

Features

The direction in which the body is facing. This parameter is indicated only for models that have a certain specialization and differ markedly from general-purpose cases.

Gaming. Cases designed for high-performance gaming computer systems. They usually have numerous openings for expansion slots and bays for drives (see the corresponding paragraphs), as well as advanced options for installing cooling systems — many “seats” for fans, the ability to use liquid cooling (see “Liquid cooling support”) and etc. In addition, they often stand out due to their design: they can be equipped with decorative lighting, transparent windows, etc.

HTPC. Enclosures for PC multimedia orientation, the so-called Home Theater Personal Computer (HTPC). The characteristic features of such cases are compact size, the presence of additional buttons on the front panel for controlling multimedia (and sometimes a sensor for the remote control) and an advanced design.

Fan max height

The highest cooler height allowed for this case.

In this case, we mean a cooler used to cool the processor — such a component is found in the vast majority of modern PCs. Height is measured relative to the motherboard.

Rubber feet

The presence of rubberized legs in the design of the case.

These feet absorb vibrations generated during operation of the computer (mainly due to the operation of fans and optical drives), thereby reducing noise levels and providing additional comfort. Rubberized feet are especially desirable if the computer is placed on a table (on a tabletop or in a dedicated compartment on a table) or on a hard floor.

5.25" bays

The number of 5.25" form factor bays provided in the case design. Such bays are made only external, that is, they can be accessed from the outside without opening the case (unlike 3.5", see the corresponding glossary items). Today, 5.25" bays are mainly used for installing optical disk drives, internal hard drives in removable pocket adapters (Mobile Rack), and sometimes additional fans. Also, 3.5" devices can be installed in such bays using special adapters. ". Most cases are equipped with 1 5.25" bay or two bays. But there are models with 3 or more bays, as well as cases without external bays.

3.5" bays

The number of internal 3.5" form factor bays provided in the design of the case. Such bays, in accordance with the name, are intended for internal components, mainly hard drives and some SSD modules; to access them, the case must be disassembled.

Theoretically, the number of bays corresponds to the maximum number of drives that can be installed in the chassis. However, in fact, the best option is to install drives through a single slot to ensure efficient cooling. Accordingly, it is best to select a case in such a way that the number of internal 3.5" bays is twice the expected number of hard drives.

Expansion slots

The number of slots for expansion cards located on the rear panel of the case.

The expansion card itself (graphics card, sound card, TV tuner, etc.) is installed in a slot on the motherboard, and an external panel of such a card with inputs and outputs is attached to the hole on the back of the case. The more holes are provided in the case, the more expansion cards can be installed in it. Note that some boards can occupy two or even three holes at once; this is especially common in powerful video cards. On the other hand, you have to pay attention to the number of holes mainly if you are building a powerful high-performance system. For an ordinary household PC, in most cases, one opening is enough for a graphics card; and in many configurations, the openings on the rear panel are not used at all.

Graphics card vertical mount

The ability to install a graphics card in the case vertically, facing the side panel. To do this, the design provides for an appropriate bracket, and the graphics card is connected to the motherboard with a special extension cable — a riser. This feature is found in open cases and models with a viewing window (see relevant paragraphs), its purpose is primarily aesthetic: a vertically placed graphics card is clearly visible from the outside, which gives the case an original appearance, designed for fans of external modding. But vertical installation does not provide any fundamental practical advantages.

Fans total

The more fans provided in the design, other things being equal, the more intense the cooling will be and the more powerful (and, accordingly, “hot”) hardware can be placed in the case without the risk of overheating. For everyday tasks, a case with one, two or three factory fans is enough. At the same time, when comparing, it is worth considering not only the number, but also the performance characteristics of the fans (diameter, speed). Also note that there are cases without fans on the market with free space for fans, which allows, if necessary, to supplement the cooling system and improve its performance.

Fans (front)

The number of fan slots on the front of the case, and the size of the fans these slots are designed for. The presence of the fans themselves in the kit should be specified separately.

The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: a large diameter allows you to work efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces the noise level and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters; specifically for the front panel, the size up to 92 mm is considered relatively small, 120 mm — medium, 140 mm — large, and in the most advanced solutions, fans of 180 mm or even more can be installed.

Also note that most often the holes for installing fans are designed for one specific size, however, there are also “multi-size” seats, for 2-3 options. Moreover, these options may differ both in diameter and in quantity: for example, it may be possible to install two 140 mm fans or three 120 mm fans.
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