Fractal Design Define 7 Mid Tower Case

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

First, let’s get into temperature performance. The room was at 36°C. All settings for the motherboard, CPU, and GPU were set to their defaults. For the CPU tests, I ran the Aida 64 torture test and recorded the last minute average after a 30-minute run. The GPU was tested using the stress test feature in the Superposition benchmark. I ran each set of tests 4 times. Once with the vented top with the door open and closed. The next set was with the solid top with the door open and closed. For the build, I did install 2 of the 140mm on at the top exhausting out. Having these fans there made no difference with the solid top in place, as expected, so I disabled them for the test with the solid top testing only.

Keep in mind this is a solid front case. The intakes with the door closed are going to be restricted in airflow. The vents in the front to provide enough airflow to keep the components under max temperatures. I completely expected the temperatures of the components to be hotter than with the door open or the vented top. Does the case run hotter than a meshed front case? Yes. Does it run hotter with the door closed than with it open? Yes, although slightly. While the cooling performance may not be the best, in this build it is sufficient. Even then, the case was able to deliver the cooling performance above while maintaining quiet performance.

I didn’t know how I was going to like the black exterior and white interior. I like it, a lot, actually. In combination with the clear tempered glass, it gives me a nice view of my hardware and handwork. All the ball lock mechanisms work well and held the panels firmly in place. The overall fit and finish of this case is very good.

Building in the Fractal Define 7 was a breeze. There is plenty of space on the component side to get your hands in and around to plug components in. With the top off and the top radiator mount removed, you gain even more space. Everything worked well and I didn’t have to fight getting components into the case. The only struggle that I had was actually getting some of the screws loosened. The other issue I had was with the 90­° connectors on the EVGA motherboard. It is a very tight fit along the bottom of the motherboard and the power supply shroud however, I don’t see this as a Fractal or EVGA issue. It is just a matter of planning. Even then, I was still able to get everything connected.

The Define 7 retains the elegant looks of the Define R6 but with much needed improvements internally. By default the Define 7 ships in the open configuration which I expect most people would be using. Which means consumers will not have to reconfigure their case from the start. The plastic covers Fractal uses to cover certain parts of the case add to the elegant finish and are easily removed when necessary. The multifunction bracket is a great idea and well executed. Hard drives are a no brainer for the bracket and it should fit most pumps on the market. Most, not all. I originally planned on using an older EKWB pump in this build however, I could not find a good mounting solution without drilling holes in the case. Switching over to the storage layout was quick and simple. Remove a couple of fans and screw and slide parts over, and reattach is essentially what needs to happen. The storage configuration allows the Define 7 to house 14 drives in total.

For mounting the radiator and fans, I wound up using and AlphaCool ST-30 and EKWB Vardar fans which just fit between the front of the case and the plastic plate where the pump is mounted.  The cable management side is well thought out. I really liked the velcro cable runs provided and allows some really nice cable management. The cover over the basement is a nice touch as well as it helps to hide the unsightliness of non-custom length wiring and power connectors for case accessories such as fan hubs.

The Define 7 currently retails for $159 for the non-tempered glass version and $169 for the tempered glass version. The price has gone up a bit when compared to the Define R6. Define 7 lives up to the Define series as it is simplistic on the exterior while being user-friendly and modular on the interior. I feel the Define 7 delivers and the quality of the product makes up for the reduction in cooling performance.

See more about Fractal Products we have reviewed