Fractal Design has launched a new chassis, part of the Define family, which it says is all about "flexibility, silence, cooling and beyond". The new Define S takes the design ethos, sound dampening and broad component support of the rest of the series and adds "a new, innovative internal layout". Thanks to the internal design of the Define S users will benefit from a clear straight airflow path, great air and water cooling support and optimal silent computing features.
Fractal Design's Define S chassis pushes forward with the minimal design of the Define series. Its clean lines are said to be Scandinavian inspired and this 'S' goes a step beyond in this minimalisation process by doing away with any support for fitting an ODD. However users do get the convenience of front (top) panel 2x USB 3.0, Audio in/out, Power button with LED (blue), HDD activity LED (blue) and a Reset button. The omission of ODD support benefits the clean lines both inside and out. Inside the case Fractal Design says that it has focussed upon "a clear straight airflow path and uncompromising water cooling support".
As touched upon above, cooling is amply catered for, with support for radiators up to 420mm in the top and 360mm in the front. Water cooling chassis holes and grommets are pre-fitted. Buyers get two Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 140mm fans included with the chassis. With all the airflow through the case Fractal Design keep dust ingress to a minimum by using dust filters that cover the front and bottom air intakes.
Users will benefit from 'silent computing' facilitated by strategically placed dense sound-absorbing material, multiple ModuVent fan vent covers and finely tuned Dynamic Series fans, like the two 140mm models included. Sturdy steel hard drive cages with vibration-dampening grommets can each fit a 3.5 or 2.5-inch device. Your SSDs, which of course don't have any moving parts, can be installed in the two dedicated steel SSD trays cleanly placed behind the motherboard tray.
Maximum compatibility offered by the 9.1Kg, 233 x 451 x 520mm Fractal Design Define S chassis includes graphics cards up to 450mm in length (without front fans installed directly in line with the GPU) and CPU coolers up to 180mm in height. The chassis can accommodate ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX motherboards.
The Fractal Design Define S will become available in retail starting from June. It is priced at USD $79.99, EURO €89.99, GBP £64.99 and SEK 849:-. A version sporting a large side window, the Define S, costs just $10, €10, £5, or SEK 100 more.
