Fractal Design has refreshed its product range with the Define One mid-tower, the Summit full-tower chassis, and the Radius AIO series, earning strong marks from APH Networks and Tom's Hardware for thermal balance, BTF compatibility, and efficient pump operation. The Ryzen 7 7700X3D faces harsh criticism from Club386, which deems the $319 processor poor value due to a negligible price gap and up to 10% performance deficit compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. In the budget segment, ID-COOLING's $8.99 AM-120-K fan secured the top quiet-spot in Hardware Busters' 13-fan comparison, while Corsair's SKIFF 100 offers a $59 membrane alternative with dedicated media controls. GIGABYTE's $250 B850M AORUS Stealth Ice Micro-ATX motherboard rounded out the news, landing a 90% rating from TweakTown for its backside-connecter design and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.
Fractal Design Unveils Define One and Summit Cases; Radius Coolers and Ryzen 7 7700X3D Reviews Drop
Fractal's new chassis lineup spans mid-tower to full-tower, while Club386 says AMD's 7700X3D needs a price cut to make sense.
Fractal Design is hitting the refresh cycle hard. The Define One has landed alongside the Summit lineup, and the Radius AIO series is officially here. APH Networks and Tom's Hardware have put the new chassis through their paces, while IgorsLAB and Guru of 3D are reporting on the cooling hardware. On top of that, Club386 has finished its review of the Ryzen 7 7700X3D, and the verdict is lukewarm on pricing.
The Define One slots in below the flagship Define 7. This isn't a replacement, though. It's a new entry carved out of the lineup. APH Networks put the Dark TG variant through its paces. It's a mid-tower with E-ATX support up to 277 mm at the front. You get six fan mounts and room for a 360 mm radiator upfront. Tom's Hardware is calling the Define One a dual-threat for noise and thermals. It keeps the quiet DNA you expect from the series. The case carries a price point below the flagship, making it a more accessible option for builders who want the Define acoustic seal without paying top dollar.
APH Networks: Fractal Design Define One Dark TG Review
I was at a wedding a few months ago where the bride and groom are both physicians. Unsurprisingly, pretty much half the people attending are also physicians. As we were all chatting, someone jokingly said to me, "Hey, are you not a doctor?" I just kind of laughed and replied, "Not that kind of doctor." Just for reference, I have a PhD in electrical engineering. We then ended up bantering about what is a "doctor" and what is not, to which everyone agreed that medical doctors are obviously doctors, but referring to someone with a PhD as "Dr." in a non-medical context is also appropriate. We then went down a list, which we generally agreed that calling dentists and optometrists a "doctor" is fair game. Someone then threw in the statement, "But we can all agree chiropractors are not doctors, right?" and everyone laughed and nodded in agreement. A guy joined the conversation a few minutes later, introducing himself as "Dr. [Name]". When asked what his specialty is, he said he is a chiropractor, in which everyone glanced at each other and tried to be as polite as possible. Without diving into the chiropractic legitimacy debate, it can be seen holding an official title does not always guarantee the social recognition that should come with it. This brings us to the tech world, where product naming works much the same way. The Fractal Design Define series has always been the company's flagship lineup. I was first exposed to the Define R3 in 2011, and most recently reviewed the Define 7 in 2020, all of which are worthy of its name. After a six-year drought, we are finally blessed with a new Define model, the Define One. It carries the Define name, has many signature elements of the Define series, but is not meant to replace the Define 7, as the Define 7 remains in production. In fact, the Define One is priced roughly halfway between the company's mainstream models and the Define 7, so it is not even a flagship case. Does this make the Define One not a true Define model, or is it still legit? Read on to find out!
Fractal Design Define One Dark TG Review (Page 1 of 4) | APH Networks
Tom's Hardware: Fractal Define One case review: Balancing noise and thermals
Fractal's Define One focuses on quiet operation and video card cooling
Fractal Define One case review: Balancing noise and thermals
The Summit lineup pushes Fractal's furniture-inspired design language even further. APH Networks reviewed the Summit Ambience Blackout TG. You pay $170 for this full-tower. It targets BTF motherboards and high air-flow builds. TechPowerUp notes excellent cooling performance. Fractal keeps its build quality marks high here. The standard Summit pulls from Scandinavian furniture aesthetics. ThinkComputers flags the real oak and walnut accents on the front panel. Tom's Hardware says the Chalk White and Black colorways stand out the most. You can choose between three variants: Solid, TG, and Ambience TG.
APH Networks: Fractal Design Summit Ambience Blackout TG Review
As I plan for a vacation in the coming months to Japan, I realize there are many things to do in preparation. Earlier this year, I renewed my passport, but I only recently realized I had to start booking some things. This planning process has made me recognize I will not be able to see everything I want to. I think my old self would want to see as many things as possible, especially as it is my first time there. However, between missing reservations and the high costs of other ones, as well as the overall number of places to see, I think I should take some days slower and not rush through areas just for the sake of checking it off. Instead, I want to enjoy the trip by taking things at my own pace and being selective with what I can see, knowing I plan to return another time. This is true for companies too, as the best ones do not try to capture the entire market with a sole product, but rather understand their target audiences and plan accordingly with multiple options. Today, Fractal Design is releasing a new case in their Summit lineup, and we have the Summit Ambience Blackout TG. Fractal Design is looking to target a high-performance system with optimized cooling capabilities. As tempting as it would be for this company to check off all the checkboxes and meet every potential buyer, I wonder what purposeful decisions Fractal Design has made for the Summit. Thankfully, we do not need to wonder any longer, as we can read on to find out!
Fractal Design Summit Ambience Blackout TG Review (Page 1 of 4) | APH Networks
ThinkComputers.org: Fractal Design Summit Case Review
Fractal Design has become well known for integrating wood into its cases, giving them a more refined appearance that blends in better with your workspace. The company is taking that concept even further with the new Fractal Design Summit, a premium ATX mid-tower case that combines furniture-inspired Scandinavian styling with the cooling and hardware support needed for a modern high-end gaming PC.
TechPowerUp: Fractal Design Summit Ambience Blackout TG Review
Fractal Design's new Summit Ambience Blackout TG case is elegant, flexible, and even supports rear connector motherboards. It has the experience and quality you'd expect from the company, plus excellent cooling and low noise, though it loses points in one area where Fractal Design usually scores top marks.
Tom's Hardware: Fractal Summit case review: real wood accents scream premium, but it only stands out in white or black
A solid all-around mid-range case with a woodgrain finish shines on non ‘blackout’ versions.
The new Radius AIO platform is a genuine redesign, not just a fan swap. IgorsLAB measured the Radius 360 RGB and found it hits most of its cooling potential at 2,000 RPM. Max speed adds a paltry 0.3 to 0.7 °C. That means you can run nearly silent for most loads. The pump specs show 3,400 RPM with a ceramic bearing. You'll spend $110 for the RGB 360 mm version. APH Networks confirmed the Radius 240 RGB Black uses the same copper cold plate and EPDM tubing. It's a cohesive ecosystem play.
IgorsLAB: Fractal Radius 360 RGB White review: Cooling performance
The Fractal Radius 360 RGB White achieves most of its cooling performance at around 2,000 RPM; maximum speed provides only 0.3 to 0.7 °C.
The Guru of 3D: Fractal Design Radius 360 RGB (LCS CPU Cooler) Review
The Fractal Design Radius 360 RGB is a 360 mm all-in-one CPU liquid cooler developed around strong thermal performance, straightforward installation, and the company’s familiar Scandinavian design language.
APH Networks: Fractal Design Radius 240 RGB Black Review
Last month, I attended our annual church summer conference, but I arrived late due to some prior engagements. I have gone to this camp all my life, so even though I was going late, there was nothing too out of the ordinary. However, when I arrived, I was immediately greeted with a story and a video from a parent. The day before, some of the youth decided the best way to get into someone's moving car was to climb and hang on to the outside. According to people retelling the story, security at the location was called and they threatened to call the police on these offenders. However, the real surprise to me was the fact most of these youth, when confronted, did not think much of it and sarcastically laughed off any threat of repercussions. While reckless behavior is understandable with people whose frontal cortex has not fully formed, and the guilty party's identity was not surprising in the slightest, I was still shocked to hear the events. There are times when you might want a change in pace or something unexpected to happen, but I prefer smaller shocks like improved food for meals or meeting new people instead of car surfing and other acts of endangerment. In a similar vein, today Fractal Design has launched several new products, including a lineup of closed-loop water coolers called Radius. As such, what surprises does our Radius 240 RGB Black bring today? Is it something that we can pleasantly retell, or an incident that will live on in infamy? Let us read on to find out!
Fractal Design Radius 240 RGB Black Review (Page 1 of 4) | APH Networks
Not bad for under ten bucks. ID-COOLING's AM-120-K sits at $8.99. Hardware Busters ran a sweep across 13 comparable fans and crowned this the quietest. It measured 35.0 dBA at top speed. You get Platinum airflow and Titanium static pressure ratings from Cybenetics. The magnetic hydraulic bearing handles the job. Zero RPM mode is included. It's hard to argue with that price-to-performance ratio.
Hardware Busters: ID Cooling AM-120-K 120mm Fan Review
At 35.0 dBA the ID-COOLING AM-120-K is the quietest of thirteen 120mm fans measured at the same top speed - and at $8.99 it is also the cheapest.
AMD needs to rethink the 7700X3D pricing. Club386 put the Ryzen 7 7700X3D against the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The 7700X3D costs $319. The 7800X3D sits around $329 on the street. That's a 3% gap. Performance? Up to 10% slower in productivity. Frame rates drop 1.4 to 6% in games. The verdict from Club386 is blunt. "A decent CPU in desperate need of a price cut." You'd need a $50 gap for the math to work. If you're upgrading from a Ryzen 5 7600X, save for a 9800X3D. Or drop to a 9600X. The 7700X3D just doesn't sing at current prices.
Club386: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D review: a decent CPU in desperate need of a price cut
3D V-Cache helps give the Ryzen 7 7700X3D decent gaming pace, but this processor's price makes very little sense in the current market.
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D review: a decent CPU in desperate need of a price cut | Club386
Fractal isn't stopping at cases. The Refine 2 gaming chair lands at $639.99. PC Perspective gave it a strong nod for ergonomic design. You get lockable 4D armrests and a synchro-tilt mechanism that locks into 11 positions. The weight capacity hits 135 kg. The frame warranty covers five years. Three upholstery options keep the price flat. At $640, it undercuts Herman Miller by a mile while claiming similar Scandinavian sensibilities.
PC Perspective: Fractal Refine 2 Gaming Chair Review - Ergonomic Luxury
Fractal Refine 2 Gaming Chair Review - Ergonomic Luxury Thankfully, when Fractal reached out about the new Refine 2, I was able to selfishly route the review
Fractal Refine 2 Gaming Chair Review - Ergonomic Luxury - PC Perspective
Corsair's SKIFF 100 targets the budget segment with a membrane switch layout. You pay $59 for a full-size keyboard with a numpad and media controls. Funky Kit awarded it a 7.8 out of 10. The IP53 spill resistance and rotary volume dial are the draws here. It's a practical choice if you want 1000 Hz polling without the mechanical tax.
Funky Kit: CORSAIR SKIFF 100 Gaming Keyboard Review
The CORSAIR SKIFF 100 takes a slightly different approach to the modern gaming keyboard, focusing on delivering the core features gamers need without pushing the price into premium territory. With a full UK layout, membrane switches, 10-zone RGB lighting, dedicated media controls and a convenient volume dial, it aims to provide a practical combination of gaming functionality and everyday usability. CORSAIR has also included a detachable soft-touch wrist rest and IP53-rated spill resistance, making the SKIFF 100 a keyboard designed for regular day-to-day use as much as gaming.
GIGABYTE's B850M AORUS Stealth Ice rounds out the roundup. TweakTown rated it 90%. This Micro-ATX board puts every connector on the rear of the PCB. You get a nearly cable-free build on the front side. Wi-Fi 7 and 5GbE LAN come standard. The MSRP is $250. The only knocks are a weak primary M.2 cooler and a lack of 20 Gbps USB. It's a strong pick for SFF showpieces.
TweakTown: GIGABYTE B850M AORUS Stealth Ice Review - One for the cleanest of builds
Boards with backside connectors remain a niche, but for those looking for the cleanest of SFF builds, this stealthy GIGABYTE option is hard to beat.
GIGABYTE B850M AORUS Stealth Ice Review - One for the cleanest of builds
The Define One and Summit cases are live for purchase. The Radius AIOs and 7700X3D are also available now. If you're hunting for the quietest fan under ten dollars, the ID-COOLING AM-120-K is worth a look.
