When I build desktop PCs, I prefer them to look a little more grown-up than the usual RGB-bedecked gamer machines. (Yes, I’m a mature adult. Just don’t look at the plastic spaceships on my desk.)
Today, my favorite case—Fractal Design’s much-loved North—can be had for a rare discount: it’s currently $110 on Amazon, which is a sizable $30 off its sticker price.
The North is a standard ATX case design with some stylish wood accents on the front panel. Steel and aluminum construction, no extra lights, nothing that looks like it fell off a Gundam. It’s slick. This version is black with a walnut finish on the front and a mesh panel side (instead of tempered glass) for maximum ventilation. And yes, it’s the exact model that’s mounted under my desk as I type these words.
But don’t let its button-down looks fool you: The North has enough space and flexibility for a serious build. It’s capable of mounting three 120mm or two 140mm fans (or their AIO cooler equivalents with radiators) on both the front and top panels, plus one 120mm on the back. This mesh version of the case can add an additional two fans on the side bracket, and there’s clearance for CPU coolers of up to 170mm tall.
Add in support for GPUs up to 355mm long, plus seven PCIe slots and up to four dedicated 2.5-inch drive bays (two of which are on quick-remove sleds with 3.5-inch support), and you’ve got the room to make a monster. It’ll look nice and tidy on the inside, too, thanks to plenty of built-in cable routing and a pre-installed fan hub.
At $110, this is still on the pricey side for an enclosure—but having built my own PC with it, I think Fractal Design’s North is worth every penny. Unfortunately the other colors and glass options aren’t on sale.
Get $30 off the Fractal Design North PC caseAuthor: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.