Fractal Design Arc Midi

[EvanJackPenn]

Hi guys,

I was looking at building a rig in a Corsair 600T White soon. However, that is one damn expensive case (~£130). And it is large. I reasoned to myself that it was a luxury and wasn't needed - I'm looking at single GPU, an SSD and HDD, mildly overclocked CPU, with a single PCI expansion (wireless adapter). I did not really need such a high end case for that.

I recently stumbled upon the Fractal Arc Midi case.


My question is - will this case suffice for my build? I have a few priorities:

1. Value - I think £75 is my limit
2. Temperatures - I notice there are lots of fan spaces, do I need to buy more?
3. Ease of build - this is my first, I want it to be easy enough
4. Noise - I'm not after silent, but neither am I after an elephant; I know there's an included fan controller, or should I just use the built in one with the mobo?
5. Looks - I like minimalism, no garish LEDs
6. Cable management - I'd like to keep the inside clean, and I'm opting for a modular PSU

I was also considering going mATX as I don't need SLI/Crossfire. Is that a good idea?

Thanks for your never-ending stream of knowledge and advice

[scaryjim]

tbh, I think with your requirements most cases will suffice: it's going to come down to a personal preference. I wouldn't bother going mATX unless you specifically want a small, compact computer: you may find the lack of expansion options later limiting, and if you went for mATX board and case, you might find the smaller space harder to work in if this is your first build (depends on the case, but I've had some very fiddly mATX builds in the past).

Don't forget that you don't have to keep the fans that come with a case: if you like a case but dislike an LED fan in it you can just swap it out. In which case, look at the Casecom range at ebuyer: they've got a lot of good sized ATX cases with a lot of features at a very reasonable price. For instance, you could get this K5-9388 which has a nice minimal mesh front, and replace the LED fan with a normal one. Basically look for the ones with the all black interiors and bottom-mounted PSUs. Both me and Pob have used them in builds and are fans of the quality and features for the price - always remember it's a £30 case not a £75 case

[Pob255]

Yep as scaryjim said.
I'll add that the new casecom k5 is a revision of the KM series (which both scaryjim and myself used) they improved a few things esp of the cooling and cablemanagement side.
You really don't need a heck of a lot of cooling and such for most systems.

I was running a pair of 9800gtx in sli in mine at one point, although I had taring issue with it due to card bios compatibility issues so swapped to a single gtx260

That said the Arc is a very nice case with very good cable management, the extra width of the case has been put to good use with more space to run cables, 140mm fans and they've off set the top fan slots to allow for larger radiators to be used in a smaller case.
It comes with three 140mm fans which should be fine, you can always get more later.
The fractal design fan are very quiet so the fan controller shouldn't be that much of an issue

About the only things I don't really like are, 1 the fake brushed aluminium bezel, the front bezel is actually an ABS plastic with a texture on it to make it look like brushed aluminium, I'd of much prefered just smooth instead.
2 no dust filter on the side panel vent, fractal isn't the only company to do this and it really annoys me, they put filters on all the other intakes then leave a gaping big unfiltered hole in the side for dust heavy air to enter.
It's fairly easy to fix, just get a 140mm dust filter (if your buying from scan just add one of these to the order http://www.scan.co.uk/products/140mm...r-kit-magnetic )

[EvanJackPenn]

Hmm, I'm very much tempted by it. I probably wont use the side fan slot, but should I still dust filter it? Do you think it'll be okay with just the stock fans or should I fill it like this picture?


Also, if I were to remove the rear fan due to a liquid cooling radiator, where would be the best place to move it? This is me hoping for LC with Bulldozer

Thanks

[EvanJackPenn]

The specification says: one 140/180mm in side panel
Does that mean I should get a 180mm filter? I might put an additional fan on the side as well, considering I have put a dust filter there.

Concerning fan control, should I just hook the fans up to the mobo?

Thanks.

[Pob255]

I'm not sure on that side panel fan, I thought it was 120 or 140mm not 180.

I'd not bother with a fan in to bottom it'll not really be needed.

You can mount an all-in-one radiator and fan on the rear fan position as an exhaust it'll not work quite as well but it will still work. 2-4c worse depending on exact setup.
if you plan to remove the hard drive cage then you could put the rad&fan there as an intake, that should give slightly better results, but will increase the temperature inside the case slightly.
Ether way it shouldn't be enough to matter.

ok just double checked, yes it's 180mm on the side, the silverstone penetrator should fit, but a filter is going to be an issue as I cannot find one for sale in the uk
Silverstone do do a basic plastic one (I've got the 120mm version they are very nice) http://www.frozencpu.com/products/99...nd_Filter.html and they do a magnetic version as well, not sure if you can get it separately. might be an idea to contact silverstone.
Or make one http://forums.hexus.net/chassis-mods...r-pob-way.html

[EvanJackPenn]

I emailed to confirm on the side slot:

"Hi,



The fan slot is of 180mm size, so a 120mm filter will not cover all of it. We unfortunately don't have such a filter in our own product lineup, and I'm not sure if there are 180mm filters of other brands available in shops. However, if you use the fan slot to push air out of the case, dust should not be a problem.



As for a revision of the case; we are always looking for ways to improve and update our cases. Currently we are working on designing a windowed side panel for the Arc Midi, although we are still in the development stage of this project so it's very difficult to predict when it will be ready.



Best regards,

Fractal Design"

[razer121]

Just going to chime in here, I just so happen to have this case although im cutting the hell out of it, for a starter case, it is easily one of the best mATX case's you could pick, it is rather large considering it is a mATX case! nice and chunky to boot aswell so alot of heatsink coolers work with this beaut, plus as said before the fact it is long helps heaps with cable mangament

[EvanJackPenn]

Just going to chime in here, I just so happen to have this case although im cutting the hell out of it, for a starter case, it is easily one of the best mATX case's you could pick, it is rather large considering it is a mATX case! nice and chunky to boot aswell so alot of heatsink coolers work with this beaut, plus as said before the fact it is long helps heaps with cable mangament

Is it a good, cheaper alternative to the big Corsiars?

Would you recommend going mATX, although it can contain ATX?

[razer121]

Yes, i went mATX a little while back, as long as you pick the board that suits your needs your sorted, i use to always buy a board with two sli slots...but now mATX boards carry that too not that i use them but its a perk that is there. Again a great case that seems well built, minus the damage mine had but good ol scan are sorting that for me

I've however not used a corsiar case so cannot comment on them unfortunatly...

[Pob255]

ah-hem

Arc midi = ATX
Arc mini = mATX

The mini only has a 140mm slot on the side which is where I got confused.

[EvanJackPenn]

ah-hem

Arc midi = ATX
Arc mini = mATX

The mini only has a 140mm slot on the side which is where I got confused.

Haha, yeah! I realise that

Is there no point in putting a mATX mobo into the midi then? Just stick to ATX. I'm not intending to go SLI or anything.

[razer121]

Sorry i didnt even notice the title was for a midi! i speed read it XD yes i have the mini lol

[UseItNow]

These Fractal design cases are loooovely....

[Butuz]

Thinking of buying one of these for a watercooling project. Looks like plenty of space for rads!

Butuz

[AdamHiggins]

I was originally tempted to get this case over its bigger brothers the R3 and XL due to the support for a top mounted dual rad (H100 was my pick), the case is a dream for both air cooling and water cooling, especially when you consider the size and price of it.