Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Fractal Design Define R3 Case

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    79
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post

    Question Fractal Design Define R3 Case

    I currently have an Antec p180 (original, without holes for rear cable management), and this case has served me perfectly fine for several years at this point; although the cable management is a bit annoying without any way of putting it behind the motherboard.

    I've recently bought 4 new Samsung Spinpoints F3 1TBs, which means I will have a total of 5 hard-drives; the issue with my current Antec P180 is that it does not have enough spare bays to keep 5 hard-drives.

    So I've been looking around for a new case to replace the p180, and in comes the Fractal Design Define R3; the way it's laid out just seems to make sense, and the styling is pretty much identical to my p180.


    So what are people's opinions on it?

    And are there any alternatives that people can suggest for under £100?
    Last edited by bluesatin; 16-01-2011 at 07:02 AM.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Chichester, West Sussex
    Posts
    288
    Thanks
    16
    Thanked
    43 times in 39 posts
    • Skulltrail's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabertooth X58
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 920 @ 4.2GHz
      • Memory:
      • 12GB (3x4GB) Mushkin Blackline DDR3-1603 CAS8
      • Storage:
      • 120GB OCZ Agility 3 (Windows & Apps), 60GB OCZ Vertex 2E (VMs), 2x 3TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.14
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2GB Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 (3x Windforce fans)
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX750 (modular)
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design R3
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit) and Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
      • Monitor(s):
      • 24" Dell Ultrasharp U2412M 1920x1200
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity 76Mbps @ 64Mbps / 17Mbps

    Re: Fractal Design Define R3 Case

    A friend has an R3, and my impressions were very positive; good cable management, easy access dust filters and a good level of expandability for the size of case.

    On the downside, I found the acoustic foam, although effective, was not that well secured, and the space for spare cables (he was using a non-modular PSU though) was not quite sufficient, causing a bulge on one of the side pannels.

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    79
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post

    Re: Fractal Design Define R3 Case

    Quote Originally Posted by Skulltrail View Post
    [..] the space for spare cables (he was using a non-modular PSU though) was not quite sufficient, causing a bulge on one of the side pannels.
    By chance are I actually do need a new PSU as my current one doesn't have enough cables to supply all my new hard-drives, and it probably wouldn't handle them anyway as it's several years old and only 500W.

    I'll make sure I get myself a modular unit to save on that bulging.

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    156
    Thanks
    27
    Thanked
    19 times in 18 posts
    • PC4Free's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M4A89GTD/PRO
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom II 1090T
      • Memory:
      • 2x2gb Crucial Ballistix Tracer (blue)
      • Storage:
      • Crucial C300 64gb - Samsung F3 500Gb
      • PSU:
      • HuntKey X7 900W
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define XL
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Profesional

    Re: Fractal Design Define R3 Case

    I have the XL which is just a larger version. I love it, fanrastic cable management and nice and quiet!
    PC4Free
    I never finish anyt

  5. #5
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Fractal Design Define R3 Case

    Before I found out my current PC is shot (PSU went bang twice) meaning I have a spare SilverStone case, the R3 XL was top of my case list.

    Nice to hear some others' opinions - maybe I'll treat myself to a new case after all...

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Fractal Design Array Mini ITX NAS Case
    By CAT-THE-FIFTH in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 17-05-2010, 09:43 AM
  2. Can anyone reccommend a simple looking PC Case?
    By Andaho in forum Chassis and Mods
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 01-10-2007, 11:14 AM
  3. Custom fabricated "Creature" case.
    By Leecho in forum Chassis and Mods
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 12-05-2006, 02:32 AM
  4. Initial cube case design scribbles
    By Flibster in forum Chassis and Mods
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10-02-2004, 06:23 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •