Version Air - Fractal Define C [PostBuildLog]

[For Science!]

 

The Fractal Define C is an excellent compact case but with enough space to fit even the most demanding setups. This particular build is a hybrid gaming & scientific application build and so I needed 2 GPUs as well as a solid CPU for gaming.

 

Obligatory box collection photo.

 

The case itself is one of the smallest ATX form factor cases, and has the distinct Fractal Look, very sleek and minimalistic.

 

 

I've gone for the side window variant, it is not tempered glass, but is wide and shows off the rig nicely.

 

Recessed motherboard mount surface, rubber grommets to aid cable management.

 

The Prime Z270-A motherboard has most of the features that are needed for a KabyLake system. Wifi is lacking however.

 

Due to the compact nature, you can see that there is not too much space from the top of the case and the motherboard. This can introduce issues with memory clearance with radiators. I used Corsair LPX RAM, which seems to be the shorted RAM sticks you can get without going heatspreadder-less.

 

The grommets are all in the correct place so no issue managing the 24-pin, EPS, SATA, USB 3.1, HD audio etc.

 

The power supply used is a fully modular PSU from corsair, 750W is plenty for a dual-1080 + 7700K.

 

The one thing I would mention however is that the fully modular power supplies are a bit longer and this gets very close the drive cage and leaves little space for the cables.

 

The two 1080's that went into the build. I consciously went for a blower style card as I knew thermals may be an issue in such a compact case.

 

 

The CPU will be kept in check using a corsair H100i v2. This cooler was excellent, although I changed the fans for Noctua. I would highly recommend plugging the fans into the water pump itself so that the fans react to water temperatures by default. Otherwise with the hot 7700K you may find that your fans ramp up unnecessarily. 

 

The culprit for everybody's thermal nightmare, although it performs very nicely in games

 

Top mounted radiator to make sure the GPUs don't take any kind of beating with slightly warmer air.

 

Just to highlight the aforementioned issue with RAM clearance with this case if you choose to top mount a radiator

 

Plenty of room for rear cable management too

 

Some LED for white ambient lighting. To maximize the whiteness of the LEDs, I would recommended using a slight orange tint instead of the complete equal RGB. Fractal Venturi's for intake and exhaust. I attached a thermal probe to the GPU so that the intake fans ramp up according to the GPU fan speed to maintain balanced airflow,

 

Side panel still fits too, yay

 

 

[Zando_]

Awesome! And @Ordinarily_Greater will want to see this!

[pelark]

Nice build, use that case and PSU myself.

I'd get some sleeved cables though, corsair makes some nice ones you can get in all white or white and black 

[For Science!]

11 hours ago, pelark said:

Nice build, use that case and PSU myself.

I'd get some sleeved cables though, corsair makes some nice ones you can get in all white or white and black 

Thanks =)

Yes, I managed to get some custom cables when I moved the build for a full-water loop.

[Moeplazz]

Nice build! 

ps. I love the leds and great cable management.