The Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact Lite RGB case test

Test methodology

There is no let up in the downsizing of cases and it goes on. Now Fractal Design has worked on a simpler version of the Meshify 2 Compact, to which we gave a rare editorial award a while back. The skeleton of the case has remained the same, the materials used have not changed, but in some places, cuts have been made. And in other places, improvements have been added. In our analysis we have looked at the case in the Lite RGB variant.

Basic parameters

Exterior

After pulling the case out of the cardboard box, you get to the accessories, which are plentiful in some models but the Lite version is not one of them. It is mostly made up of various types of screws and single-use tightening strips. Additional accessories are extra brackets for attaching a water cooling radiator and a wipe for the glass with a Fractal logo. There is also a manual with pictures for the easiest explanation of all the case options.

The left side panel is made of tempered glass with a thickness of 2.85 mm. Like the original non-lite version, the Lite versions have been given a tool-less latching mechanism for both sides. This makes it quick and easy to get inside the case without having to manipulate it. From the back, just pull on the panel protrusions and it simply stays in your hand.

The perforated front panel has a “wrinkled” look, which is typical of the Meshify series of cases. The company logo is placed underneath, which also serves as a handle for opening the perforated part. It is attached to the other part of the front panel with snap-on hinges, which makes cleaning the perforations and fans from dust easier. As this is a stripped down version of the case with the price in mind, the fine nylon dust filter behind the panel is missing. The perforations that are here are about one millimeter in size, which is ineffective as a dust filter.

The second part of the front panel – the frame can also be removed. This gives you easier access to the three Aspect 12 RGB fans. These are, according to the manufacturer, slightly less powerful than the versions with PMW, of which Ľubo has already made a detailed analysis. If you would like to replace the original 120mm fans, you can do so with two 140mm fans or a water cooling radiator up to 360mm.

Two USB Type-A ports are available right out of the box, but if you miss the USB Type-C on the top I/O panel, it can be purchased for about 13 EUR under the Model E label. This is one of the other cost savings over the full-size version of the Meshify 2 Compact case. The rest of the panel consists of two 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks, a power button, and one for changing the backlight. The case gives you more than enough options, 49 to be exact.

The open part of the case on the top is protected from dust by a mesh with the same holes as those used in the front. I don’t see this as a negative on the top, especially when this part is used for exhaust rather than intake. For this you can use two 120 or 140 mm fans or even a water cooling radiator up to 240 mm. However, you need to be careful about the size of the RAM modules when using a radiator. They should not exceed 35 mm. In addition, these positions can also be used for 2.5″ or 3.5″ storage using the universal bracket, which is sold separately. Labeled “Universal Multibracket – Type A”, two are sold in a package for a price of around 13 EUR.

The back of the case is standard, with the slot for the power supply located at the bottom, along with a frame. Above it are seven covers for PCI Express expansion card slots, a slot for the motherboard I/O panel, and next to it a position for a 120mm fan. The latter is fitted with the same model as the three in front – the Aspect 12 RGB.

The bottom of the case belongs to a fine nylon filter, which will protect the power supply from dust. In addition, there are four feet with non-slip pads. These hold the case firmly on the surface.

There is no let up in the downsizing of cases and it goes on. Now Fractal Design has worked on a simpler version of the Meshify 2 Compact, to which we gave a rare editorial award a while back. The skeleton of the case has remained the same, the materials used have not changed, but in some places, cuts have been made. And in other places, improvements have been added. In our analysis we have looked at the case in the Lite RGB variant.

Interior

The case is designed for ITX, M-ATX and ATX motherboards. Mounting positions (for boards) are properly marked. Surprisingly, there are also changes in the maximum possible dimensions for the graphics card on the same chassis. With the Lite version, it is possible to fit a graphics card with a maximum length of 345 mm where it has improved by four millimeters compared to the full-fledged Compact. The largest possible size for the tower-shaped CPU cooler has not changed from 169 mm (maximum height). The cost reduction has also been reflected in the structural design. The wiring grommet covers are only vertically on the side. Neither the top nor the bottom grommet has them, but this is not something that would hurt the case. What I missed the most was the removable ceiling, which made installing hardware into the case much easier. Even though there is 40 mm from the motherboard to the ceiling, connecting the cables to power the CPU is trickier than with the ceiling removed.

Alternatively, two 2.5″ storage units can be placed on the perforated part of the tunnel via brackets. I may be repeating myself but why not also use this part as additional positions for fans under the graphics card? There are two plastic caps next to the fans. These will allow you to either gain space for a water cooling radiator or open up space for a fan to be placed on the bottom of the tunnel.

The only thing the back is lacking compared to the full-size Compact is three pieces of Velcro strips. The Lite has tightening strips vertically located in the main cable tray. There’s 28 mm of space for them. The other 13 positions are ready to attach cables, for example via the strips in the accessories. Only one thicker cable, namely the one for the CPU power supply, is routed along the back. The 18 mm allotted for this is sufficient. In addition to cable management, the tray also holds two brackets for 2.5″ storage. These are the ones that can also be placed on top of the tunnel.

Inside the tunnel, a compartment with two hybrid drawers for 2.5″ or 3.5″ storage is mounted via screws. The structure can be moved if necessary or completely removed and a single 120 mm fan can be placed in its place. With the compartment, the power supply has 220 mm of space for the body and cables, without it 360 mm.

The entire structure and all components are held together by metal sheets 0.85 – 0.90 mm thick, depending on the measuring point. These are solid as it was the case with other models of this series. There can be no question of bending.

The installation of the components itself was relatively simple and intuitive. Most of the time is spent managing the cabling. There are two cables coming from each fan, one for the motor power and the other for the backlight. These connect to each other to make only one line. I remember assembling the original Meshify 2 Compact case, there “tidying up” the cables was quick and easy.

There is no let up in the downsizing of cases and it goes on. Now Fractal Design has worked on a simpler version of the Meshify 2 Compact, to which we gave a rare editorial award a while back. The skeleton of the case has remained the same, the materials used have not changed, but in some places, cuts have been made. And in other places, improvements have been added. In our analysis we have looked at the case in the Lite RGB variant.

Test methodology

The case with the Lite RGB designation uses three 120 mm fans from the Aspect series on the intake instead of two 140 mm Dynamic fans compared to the original version. Also, the Lite version lacks the obstacle of a fine dust filter, which may help the case’s cooling over the Meshify 2 Compact. But we’ll see how it turns out in the charts after the tests are done.

For testing purposes, we always leave the fans in their original positions.

Testing is done in a home environment where I strive for the most accurate results possible. In the room during testing, the air temperature in front of the case is 23 degrees Celsius and the minimum noise level I can measure with the Voltcraft SL-100 noise meter is 32.4 dBA. The sensor of the noise meter is aligned to the center of the top of the case at a distance of 10 cm, for the best measurement of the speed difference of the fans, which I change using the motherboard. For easy comparison to other cases, they are always regulated to fixed noise levels.

Individual components are heated for 10 minutes in FurMark synthetic stress tests and with Prime95 (custom settings) at the same time. This time is long enough to allow all components to warm up sufficiently. There are then 15-minute cooling breaks between tests, during which the component temperatures (and the case air temperature as well) are brought back to default.

Modes noise levels:

• 36 dBA
• 38 dBA
• 39 dBA

There is no let up in the downsizing of cases and it goes on. Now Fractal Design has worked on a simpler version of the Meshify 2 Compact, to which we gave a rare editorial award a while back. The skeleton of the case has remained the same, the materials used have not changed, but in some places, cuts have been made. And in other places, improvements have been added. In our analysis we have looked at the case in the Lite RGB variant.

CPU and GPU cooling tests

There is no let up in the downsizing of cases and it goes on. Now Fractal Design has worked on a simpler version of the Meshify 2 Compact, to which we gave a rare editorial award a while back. The skeleton of the case has remained the same, the materials used have not changed, but in some places, cuts have been made. And in other places, improvements have been added. In our analysis we have looked at the case in the Lite RGB variant.

Motherboard cooling tests

There is no let up in the downsizing of cases and it goes on. Now Fractal Design has worked on a simpler version of the Meshify 2 Compact, to which we gave a rare editorial award a while back. The skeleton of the case has remained the same, the materials used have not changed, but in some places, cuts have been made. And in other places, improvements have been added. In our analysis we have looked at the case in the Lite RGB variant.

SSD cooling test

Temperatures underneath the ceiling

There is no let up in the downsizing of cases and it goes on. Now Fractal Design has worked on a simpler version of the Meshify 2 Compact, to which we gave a rare editorial award a while back. The skeleton of the case has remained the same, the materials used have not changed, but in some places, cuts have been made. And in other places, improvements have been added. In our analysis we have looked at the case in the Lite RGB variant.

Conclusion

In cooling, the case did great on all fronts. In fact, the results were almost identical to the cooling of the original Meshify 2 Compact. The only thing where the smaller case fell short was in cooling the air under the ceiling. However, it should be added that the Lite didn’t have a fine nylon dust filter in front of the fans, which could form a barrier and reduce the effectiveness of the fans as it did with the full-size case.

The structure is made of thick metal plates that hold the whole case together. You’ll love the tool-less mechanism that allows you to quickly and easily remove the side panels from the structure. In case of unexpected but also expected interventions in the case, it is a great helper. Unfortunately, the case has been stripped of its removable ceiling, which also helped a lot when handling components. But with it, the case would hardly need the Lite designation.

Hardware installation was a bit slower. The main reason for this is the power cables from the fans and their subsequent placement in the cable management. Otherwise, everything went without much difficulty.

Prices in Austria and Germany start at 144 EUR for the Meshify 2 Compact Lite RGB. If we add the USB Type-C port for about 13 EUR to this price, which is an optional accessory, we are getting closer to a full-fledged Compact with RGB. And the latter is a class above in terms of features, even without backlighting. The case itself has only minor flaws, but with the price it is going for, it can’t walk away with a rating other than “Approved”.

For those of you who would like to save money but still have a premium case, I would definitely recommend looking at the Compact Lite versions but without the RGB designation.

English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš

• Contents
• Exterior
• Interior
• Test methodology
• CPU and GPU cooling tests
• Motherboard cooling tests
• SSD cooling test and temperature underneath the ceiling
• Conclusion