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AUDIO RECORDINGS
These recordings were made with a high resolution, lab quality, digital recording
system inside SPCR's own 11 dBA ambient anechoic chamber, then converted to
LAME 128kbps encoded MP3s. We've listened long and hard to ensure there is no
audible degradation from the original WAV files to these MP3s. They represent
a quick snapshot of what we heard during the review.
Each recording starts with ambient noise, then 10 second segments of product
at various states. For the most realistic results,
set the volume so that the starting ambient level is just barely audible, then
don't change the volume setting again while comparing all the sound files.
- Fractal
Design Define R2 - Baseline at 1m
— rear & front fan @12V (15 dBA@1m)
— rear, front & side fan @9V (16~18 dBA@1m)
— rear & front fan @12V, side fan @9V (18~19 dBA@1m)
— rear, front & side fan @12V (22~23 dBA@1m)
FINAL THOUGHTS
Given the Define R2's similarity to the Antec Performance One line, the P183
is the obvious choice for a direct comparison. The R2 is a smaller case overall,
about 3 inches shorter as there is less space between the ceiling and the top
of the motherboard tray (just enough room for 25 mm thick fans), and there is
no compartment separating the power supply from the rest of the case. The latter
is nothing noteworthy as the chamber design is pretty much obsolete given the
multitude of quiet, cool power supplies today as well as the as-effective approach
of having the PSU fan draw its air from below the case. However, one of the
very quietest high-end power supply we've tested is the Antec
CP-850, and the P183 is one of the few cases that supports it. The overall
build quality of the R2 is not as strong, particularly the side panels which
are much thinner and hefty only because of the bitumen pads; we wouldn't call
it weak though as it's stronger than most $100 cases. The R2 also lacks removable
drive cages, relying on side-mounting dampened hard drive trays, which incidentally
were also pioneered by Antec.
In some ways, the R2 is more refined. Its front door is of quality construction and the magnetic seal gives it a sturdy feel. Cable management is also very good and access to the CPU backplate is useful for enthusiasts who insist on high end aftermarket CPU cooling. Perhaps the best thing about the R2 is the additional fan placements at the bottom, side and top of the case which gives it a broader appeal. Those less picky about noise can add a couple of fans and reap the benefits
of improved cooling. The side panel fan is particularly useful for video card
cooling, even though a fan mounted there increases the noise dramatically, particularly
if hard-mounted. Unlike their retail box fans, the case doesn't ship with rubber
fan isolators.
Users more interested in silence will be happy to know that the extra fan mounts
on the top and side of the case are blocked off by default with thick bitumen
mats, so they don't represent a an acoustic liability like most gaming style
cases with similar cooling options. The case includes a manual fan speed controller, but it's a bit of a waste given the ultra low noise level of the stock 120mm fans — running them below 12V is pointless. We feel a little silly complaining
that they're too quiet, but faster, louder fans, in the 16~18 dBA range would
be more practical as long as there is some fan control available. Another concern
regards the hard drive trays — they do not snap in as tightly as Antec's
and our sample rubber grommets are very stiff; we doubt they effect much improvement on hard drive vibration.
It is rare to see a rookie manufacturer come out of nowhere with a
well-thought out design right off the bat. Luckily for Fractal Design, much
of the trail was already blazed by Antec: The Define R2 is a kind of homage
to the P180. Fractal
Design engineers kept true to its core design, added a few simple improvements,
and cut corners in areas they believed were not fundamental to thermal performance
and noise reduction. The result is an affordable, versatile, minimalist case
that is suitable for housing a simple quiet PC, a well-cooled gaming machine,
and anything in-between. It may not have the highest build standards, but it's good value.
While the case is already available in Europe, NCIX
in Canada is apparently the only company in North America currently offering
the Define R2. It can be pre-ordered for CAD$110 with an ETA of May/June. Their
US site has the R2 listed for just under
US$100, but it is not yet available for order for consumers south of the border.
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Fractal Design Define R2
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PROS
* Sturdy, dampened door
* Insulated side panels, ceiling, fan placements
* Many fan options
* Very quiet stock fans
* Fan controller included
* Effective cable management
* Price
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CONS
* Hard drive trays need improvement
* Stock fans too weak
* No fan isolators included
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Fractal Design Define R2
SPCR Recommended Product
* * *
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Antec Twelve Hundred Gaming Case
Antec P183: The P182 Gets More Air
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