Fractal Design Define 7 Mid Tower Case

Define 7 Hardware Installation

I decided I am going to water cool the CPU in this build and leave the GPU on air.

First up, I installed the Enermax reservoir and pump. to do this, I utilized the multipurpose bracket. I lined up the holes and the bracket with the bracket on the pump and attached them using the screws proved by Enermax. Next, I took the pump and bracket assembly and attached it to one of the plastic panels that cover the front of the power supply shroud. This then snaps back into place. I found it handy as I could install and remove the assembly as needed when building this system in the Define 7.

The motherboard, power supply, fans, etc are all easy to install, I used the EVGA Z390 FTW motherboard and it installed without too much issue. The 90° connectors on the motherboard did prove a challenge here and there but overall not difficult, however, this is an EVGA specific issue. Non-rotated connectors shouldn’t pose too much of an issue.  On the backside of the case, I was intentionally was a bit lax on the cable routing and management and it still turned out decent. I was able to hide connectors and a bit of a mess of extra cables behind the power supply basement cover. I also added a Swiftech PWM hub as the fan cables on the 360mm radiator were a bit short to reach the included fan hub or the motherboard.

I lack the mounting hardware to properly attach fractals VRC-25 PCIe riser cable. The I/O panel of the case takes all the weight and doesn’t cause the GPU to sag nor does the back of the case deform under the weight.

Overall, I’m pleased with the build. The clear tempered glass panels show off any mistakes you may have made. On the plus side, it shows off some beautiful hardware. I used a few more 90° adapters than I thought I would but that comes with planning a loop in any chassis, not just the Define 7.