Fractal Design Define S Review

Performance Analysis

The CPU delta T of 51°C is the warmest we've seen so far on the new test gear but it's hardly a problem given that it's only 3°C more than using an open test bench. We're still tweaking the test gear and want to show the thermal differences more between cases as well, so we're likely to retest in the future. That said, the Define S is clearly capable of taming an overclocked Intel CPU with its two defaults. In terms of noise, it isn't as quiet as the Define R5 – it's less insulated, and doesn't have fan control either. Still, even at maximum speed the included fans are only rated for 1,000 RPM and are far from loud. The thermal results suggest there's room to use your own fan control to limit the speed quite safely too.


The GPU, at a delta of 45°C, is exactly in line with what we've seen from the other mid-towers we've tested so far. Again, we're looking at tweaking our test system further, but there's no immediate cause for concern, and the GPU evidently isn't starved for air or anything. Still, we'd definitely add an extra intake fan, either up front or, even better, in the bottom fan mount if possible, if we were running an air cooled SLI or CrossFire system.

Conclusion

The Define S is a welcome addition to an already successful family of cases. The retweaked design has benefits for airflow and aesthetics, with less interrupted airflow and a far cleaner internal design. Interestingly, radiator support is actually the same as the Define R5, as all of that case's HDD cages as well as the ODD cage are removable. You can even maintain three HDDs when using the front radiator in the R5 by moving the drive cage further into the case. However, the R5 has less options for installing pumps and radiators and those three drives won't be hidden away like they are here. Also, the two cases aren't competing – they sit side by side and are just different manifestations of a largely similar design ethos.


We will say that we're slightly less impressed by the build quality of the Define S compared to the Define R5, although it is slightly cheaper and on the whole it's very good, especially the steel sections. You also get two good 140mm fans and a large window for your £70, which is a decent deal. The Define R5 is the better case in our opinion – it has better features, is more geared towards silence and has a more flexible interior. That said, there's little wrong with the Define S and we're sure that interior design is going to win over a lot of fans. If you're shopping for a mid-tower chassis, it's a crowded market, but the Define S should definitely make your shortlist.