Fractal Design at Computex 24
This year’s Computex may be over, but we still have some stuff from it that we want to publish. These include the Fractal Design product showcase. In terms of our focus, you could say that the FD booth was mainly about computer cases, but the expansion into new markets is also notable. Headsets with microphones or computer chairs will soon be available under the Fractal Design brand.
Computex 24: New cases…
The importance of SFF cases for Fractal Design is obvious. Especially in the recent years, where there has been a lot of activity in this direction. And the trend is continuing. The introduction of the new Mood series is proof of this.
The first case – the Fractal Design Mood – is characterized by a small volume (approx. 20.4 liters) and a super-small footprint (212 × 212 mm), with the dominant dimension being the height (453 mm). This means that the Mood fits well into scenarios where desk space is tight or the user wants the computer to take up as little space as possible on the desk. However, there is still room for the installation of powerful components. The graphics card can be up to 325 mm in length and there is also a position for a 240 mm liquid cooler. As is the case with such small cases, the length of the components (graphics card and liquid cooler) is not the only one of the parameters that guarantees compatibility. But that’s a topic we’ll cover in detail when we go into the details of this case in our tests.
From the basic things it should be added that the case shell is coated with fabric and there is a 180 mm fan on the ceiling for exhausting warm air.
FD Mood cases are expected to be available in stores on 6/18/2024 for a manufacturer’s suggested price of 150 USD. The price for which the cases will be in stores may, as always, vary somewhat depending on the specific market. However, all of them will have two designs in common that you will be able to choose from. Dark and light.
The second case, which will go into stores a little later (according to FD’s current estimate in the third quarter of 2024), is the Era 2. You already know its basic features from the Era “1” from three years ago. In this case, too, space is used in depth, where the footprint of the case is larger than that of the Mood model, but the Era 2 is again lower and fits in places where many (even SFF) cases will be too tall.
In connection with the Era 2, Fractal Design talks about an evolution in which the emphasis on cooling has increased. This will make it possible to use more powerful builds than in the Era 1. Or components with comparable performance could eventually be quieter. This is because the ceiling has been opened up, or a ventilation panel has been added to the top of the case. The latter is made of walnut, thus representing the wooden elements that Fractal Design often uses in new cases. The cooling is supported in several ways and we will come to an analysis of all of them in the reviews, which will already be based on the new test methodology (for cases) that we are preparing and we will soon be consulting it with you, our readers, as well.
Skrinky Era 2 budú v troch farebných vyhotoveniach (Silver, Charcoal Gray a Midnight Blue) s jednotným MSRP nastaveným na 200 USD.
… and Fractal Design peripherals
Something you might not have expected is that Fractal Design is expanding its product portfolio to include peripherals such as chairs and audio headsets.
At least initially, the chairs will be concentrated under the “Refine” range, where one type of chair (Mesh) will have a perforated seat thanks to the use of mesh, the second (Fabric) and the third (Alcantara) will be upholstered in fabric. Alcantara, meanwhile, is a material that can also be found on seats in more “luxurious” cars. When it comes to seating comfort, Fractal Design also points to the padded armrests or the soft memory foam headrest cushion. However, the aluminum armrest itself is supposed to be strong, thanks to the use of fiberglass.
The release of Refine chairs is announced for Q3/2024. Suggested prices are listed at 550 USD, except for the Alcantara material variant (900 USD). Refine Mesh and Refine Fabric will be available in both light and dark versions.
By the end of this year, FD headsets, or headphones with microphones, called Scope should be available. They will connect wirelessly, via Bluetooth (with support for the 5.3 standard).
We don’t know much about the technical parameters yet, but the (larger-than-average) earcups as well as the headrest are covered in fabric, just like the chairs. The headset will again come in two variants – black and light with an MSRP of 200 USD for both of the variants. These headsets will apparently be the last of all the Fractal Design releases mentioned to hit stores, in the winter of 2024.
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
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they were so close with the Mood but obviously they had to double the height