{"id":244626,"date":"2025-05-22T17:45:37","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T15:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hwcooling.net\/?p=244626\/"},"modified":"2025-05-24T00:20:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T22:20:53","slug":"north-xl-rc-with-rear-connectors-and-fd-meshify-3-xl-in-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hwcooling.net\/en\/north-xl-rc-with-rear-connectors-and-fd-meshify-3-xl-in-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"North XL (RC) with rear connectors and FD Meshify 3 XL in practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fractal Design\u2019s Computex 2025 showcase took place in office-style spaces \u2013 very pleasant ones, at that. What stood out was the fact that their latest cases were equipped with components, allowing visitors to see complete builds. For instance, you could view the Meshify 3 XL in a full desktop setup, or explore cable management in the North XL RC, where an unconventional layout keeps everything out of sight from the front.<\/p>\n

In our tests, we\u2019ve recently covered the Meshify 3 XL case in thermal testing<\/a>, and seeing how it can be incorporated into a room adds a nice layer to forming a more complete picture. That\u2019s exactly what Fractal Design offered at Computex 2025, and we managed to photograph the case on a desk, paired with the Refine chair (also by Fractal Design)<\/a>. Below is a photo illustrating one possible way that the Meshify 3 XL in its Ambience Pro RGB Black TG Light Tint variant<\/a> might look in a real home environment.<\/p>\n

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Then there\u2019s the North XL RC build, featuring special cutouts designed for motherboards with rear-facing connectors. The idea is mainly to prevent visible cables and connectors through the transparent side panel \u2013 something many users find unsightly. The setup on display featured the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Stealth Ice<\/a> motherboard. Naturally, models from other brands like Asus and MSI are supported as well. We previously went into more detail in our dedicated article on the launch of the Fractal Design North XL RC cases.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Now, a few insights into how things look from the side through the glass, and then from the back.<\/p>\n

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The case tray has designated cutouts for the connectors of compatible motherboards, allowing them to route through to the rear \u2013 into spaces that remain hidden in a sealed case. This applies to nearly all connectors, not just the 24-pin and 4+4-pin CPU power cables, but also SATA cables and fan connectors with even thinner wiring bundles. Naturally, the North XL cases are designed with extra space behind the motherboard to ensure the right side panel can still close properly. For more information on these cases, refer to this earlier article: Fractal Design North XL RC. Cases for \u201ereverse motherboards\u201c<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The showcase also included Terra SFF cases for Mini-ITX boards<\/a> and in general, the current lineup displayed in the hallway of Fractal Design\u2019s space<\/a>, in a museum-like style.<\/p>\n

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Yes, we still owe you full test results for the Mood<\/a> model (so far, we\u2019ve only published a preview with construction details<\/a> \u2013 but it\u2019s coming), and it won\u2019t be long before we start releasing fan tests for the Momentum series, which first debuted in the Meshify 3 (XL) cases<\/a>.<\/p>\n

English translation and edit by Jozef Dud\u00e1\u0161<\/em><\/p>\n