The latest hardware from the Swedish company is a case for Mini-ITX boards. However, thanks to the sensible interior layout, it is also possible to mount larger components. Their cooling is taken care of by the ubiquitous perforation of the outer plates and two 140 mm fans. With or without them? You’ll have to decide what you want to cool more effectively. We measured four different scenarios in our tests.
Conclusion
In the test results, a phenomenon that we do not see with cases with standard mounting of hardware appeared. With two fans on the side, when the performance (noise) increased, the processor heated up more and not the other way around. While graphics card cooling is more efficient, the heat from the card is dissipated more into the case. In this case, the small CPU cooler does not keep the temperature down. While with no fans, the NH-L9x65 can get to a pleasant 58 degrees Celsius at 42 dBA. You’ll see a better result without them, even with the temperatures of the motherboard and the CPU VRM. But it’s the graphics card that suffers the most with a difference of six degrees.
The additional 80 mm fans do not make a big difference in either the “intake” or “exhaust” position. With their use, the temperatures of each measured component are kept almost at the same values as without them. I can imagine that they could be useful with taller graphics cards where the Aspects would have to be removed.
I don’t have any negative things to say about the build quality of the case, I guess I can only praise it. You get a case perforated on each side with thick metal plates, which can also be disassembled quickly and easily thanks to the latching system. Of course you have to count on screwing quite a bit during installation. If you need a lot of storage space, you’ll get it here, even with the smaller case dimensions. I see the main disadvantage in the inability to use a larger liquid cooling radiator at the same time as a graphics card. I also miss dust filters, at least on the side panels through which the fans suck in cool air.
Fitting the components was easy, mainly because everything fit together gradually from the bottom to the top. You can also manage the cabling without the slightest difficulty.
For a price of around 155 EUR, you get a perfectly built case with an elegant design. It can also save you a lot of desk space with its small dimensions. In regards to cooling, it can handle mid-range hardware at a not very obtrusive noise level. Basically, you get something along the lines of the case that full Trident builds from MSI use, except that you choose the hardware. There was very little that was missing for achieving the “Smart buy” award. For example, a dust filter on the intake, or a little more room for combining the graphics card with a water cooling radiator or ceiling fans. Thus it takes away a much deserved “Approved” award from the editorial team.
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
| Fractal Design Ridge |
| + Precise workmanship |
| + Thick sheet metal |
| + Easy installation |
| + Space for a larger graphics card |
| + Up to four positions for 2.5" storage |
| - Lacks a dust filter |
| - Little room for fans above the graphics card |
I wonder how the thermals of an exhaust only setup will look like. So three 80mm exhaust fans, with the two 140mm fans removed. That would be a negative pressure setup which I think will provide the best balance of CPU and GPU thermals, though it will severely limit GPU options.