Building with the Define S
Readers of the Define 5 review will see few changes in the build process with this new enclosure, with the lack of any drive bays on the inside of the case being the obvious difference (though all drive bays were optionally removable with the Define R5).
A look at the Define S's wide-open internal layout
And here's where things get a lot different – not just from the R5 but from any enclosure I've encountered. All storage bays are mounted flush against the back wall of the enclosure.
While this has become commonplace for SSD mounts it's interesting to see 3.5" bays installed this way.
Storage
The drives are very easy to install with a single thumbscrew securing each tray, and all three 3.5" trays have rubber grommets to control vibration.
With a drive in place there is still plenty of clearance for cable routing, as the Define S has a generous amount of room behind the rear panel
Cooling
This is what this case was built for, and there are so many options available with the Define S that it would take a massive effort to try testing and covering them all. For this build I opted for a simple 240mm AIO liquid CPU cooling solution and an air-cooled graphics card, but with this much internal room and plenty of fan mounts this would be an excellent choice for housing a custom loop.
The Define S includes toolless reservoir mounts and pre-drilled pump mounts
Fractal Design has an entire separate specifications section for the cooling support for this case:
Cooling system
Front: 3 – 120/140 mm fans (included is 1 Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 fan, 1000 RPM speed)
Rear: 1 – 120/140 mm fan (included is 1 Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 fan, 1000 RPM speed)
Top: 3 – 120/140 mm fan (not included) or 1 – 180 mm fan with 165mm hole spacing (not included)
Bottom: 1 – 120/140 mm fan (not included)
Side: 1 – 120/140 mm fan (not included)
Dust filters: Bottom and front intakes
Water cooling compatibility – Radiators
Front – 360, 280, 240, 140 and 120 mm radiators of all thicknesses
Top – 420, 360, 280, 240, 140 and 120 mm radiators. (A thickness limitation of 55mm for both radiator + fan applies on 420, 280 and 140 mm radiators)
Bottom – 120 mm radiator (Use of radiators in the bottom position limits the PSU length to 165 mm)
Rear – 120 or 140 mm radiator
Water cooling compatibility – Pumps
Pre-drilled holes on the bottom panel, supports many DDC and D5 variants
Water cooling compatibility – Reservoirs
Adjustable mounting brackets allow for almost any rectangular mounting screw pattern
Maximum distance between the mounting bracket screw positions: 350mm height / 80mm width
Quickly going over the space available in the Define S we'll first look up top, where removable panels (lined with insulation material) can be popped out to reveal a triple-fan opening supporting up to 420 mm radiators.
Inside the rear of the case a 140 mm fan is fitted from the factory, and a 120/140 mm radiator can of course be installed here if needed.
Next we have the bigger front area which supports up to 360 mm radiators. This is populated with a single 140 mm fan out of the box, and is the location I chose to mount my 240mm cooler.
Finishing the Build
The build in progress – man is there a lot of space in here!
Installation of the motherboard, graphics card, and power supply was as uneventful as one might imagine considering there is absolutely nothing hampering the build in any way inside this enclosure. The storage mounts on the back are likewise easy to use, and cable routing is dead simple with Fractal's awesome velco straps along the back returning from the R5. My overall impression when finishing the component installation was "wow is there a lot of empty space in here!" It's almost absurd how much space there really is, especially when your motherboard is only micro-ATX!
Next up, the completed build with the Define S plus noise and temperature results!
Such a great review as
Such a great review as always!
You’re too kind 🙂
You’re too kind 🙂
Awesome review! I’ve been
Awesome review! I’ve been waiting for a review that goes through the temp and noise aspects.
I know I’m still in the minority, but I still use an optical drive to rip discs and play Blurays. I’ll just get an external housing for my drive and use this case. 🙂
One correction for the review… In the Test Platform table, you list the Graphics card as a 750Ti OEM version. Should be the Lightning card as used in the review.
Thanks! And I corrected the
Thanks! And I corrected the table – definitely not the 750 Ti (that was meant for the recent Corsair cooler review).
Nice review. I would have
Nice review. I would have like to have seen you really build the case out: full-size ATX mobo, all three 3.5″ inch drive mounts and at lease one SSD mount installed and cabled, and another AIO for GPU cooling. Otherwise, I’m really glad you reviewed this case – I’ve been interested in it for some time.
Thanks, and I agree that more
Thanks, and I agree that more can be done with the Define S. I would also like to try out a full custom loop liquid cooling setup if we revisit it.
Where can you buy them at?
Where can you buy them at?
Bought mine at Newegg:
Bought mine at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352054 (Non-Window)
Here’s the Windowed version:
Here’s the Windowed version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352055
Fractal Design puts out a
Fractal Design puts out a great “clear canvas” to fit a nice looking watercooled build in 🙂 You seriously need to get your hands on some wc parts to feature in cases such as this one Sebastian!
Now if Fractal only where to update the 2010 Define Mini the m-atx guys also could have a viable option….. Its long over due! (u hear that @FractalJosh)
Great review.
Thanks – and I totally agree
Thanks – and I totally agree that enclosures like this scream watercooling. The build looked incomplete without it.
Great review, you’ll have to
Great review, you’ll have to throw some custom cooling stuff in there and check out the tolerances. I’d like to see someone squeeze a thin 420mm rad in top with a front rad or try to fit a couple 360mm rads in there. Keep up the great work!
Just bought my Define S to house my custom loop! Can’t wait to get it!
Sweet – you’ll have to hit us
Sweet – you’ll have to hit us up with photos when the build is finished
Great review!
So let me get
Great review!
So let me get this strait it’s available in the US already, but over here in Germany I’m screwed?
I’m seriously considering having it shipped, couldn’t possibly take longer.
Sorry for my whining I’m hoping for Fractal to notice.
Very informative review.
Very informative review. This is not a case for me since I still need 5 1/4″ optical drives and front panel USB and audio jacks would be nice too. Thanks to your review this is one case I won’t have to look at a second time.
Hi Sebastian Comprehensive
Hi Sebastian Comprehensive and excellent review. I have a lot of time for the Fractal Define cases they offer excellent design and flexibility. The Define S looks a winner lots of good stuff in there.
Thanks for informative
Thanks for informative review. The case got very nice design. I like Fractal Design Define S with Window Side Panel from NewEgg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352055
http://www.proweb365.com/website-design
Now if only they made the
Now if only they made the Define R5 with this hard drive mounting mechanism.
Awesome review and great
Awesome review and great review quality as always guys!
Keep up the lovely work!
On the mod side of things, how possible would it be to fit an SSI-CEB form factor in this? Does it have the less than 3cm space to not hit the psu? Or it needs further tampering?