Fractal Design – The Define R5: Where Clean Styling Meets Quiet Acoustics

Fractal Design is no stranger to the computer case market, and it has always had some really top shelf offerings in the past – today is no different, enter the Fractal Design Define R5 – The Definition of Silence.

The Define series of cases already have a well-earned place in the case market, and this R5 is the latest to join that family.  As you can see from the pictures, minimalistic styling this thing has in spades.  I don’t know about you guys, but I have had the cases with wild designs, lights all over the place – something that looks like a Telepod from the movie “The Fly”.  I for one have all of that out of my system (I think, hehe) and I am really wanting my next case to be a clean, well cooled simple-looking box, and that is what we have here.

In addition to improvements in acoustic handling, the Define R5 features a removable ODD cage.  I love that personally, as the demand for optical drives is almost non-existent.  Another accolade certainly worth mentioning is the easy to remove dust filters.  My current case, the Antec NineHundred Two, does feature “removable” dust filters, but to remove them is not a simple task at all., so it rarely gets done.

The Design R5 features fan slot covers, so you can cover the top section or not, depending on if you choose to add fans up top for a liquid cooling setup, or just extra case fans.  Another feature worth mentioning is the tool-free SSD mounting, just behind the motherboard tray.  Cable management/liquid cooling line management in this case will be a cinch, with all the accommodations inside the case.  The front door is lined with sound deadening material, which boasts impressive sound-deadening capabilities, which is definitely a plus, considering the extensive cooling support of this case – a radiator in the top up to 420mm, 360mm in the front, as well as radiators up to 240mm and 140mm in the bottom – 9 fan slots total in this case.

The Define R5 is very competitively priced, at $109.95 for a solid side panel, and $119.95 for a window in the side panel.  The colors available are Black, Titanium and White.