Fractal Design Define XL R2 Case Review

Define XL R2 Final Thoughts & Conclusion

Fractal Design’s Define XL R2 definitely did not let us down in the style department. It’s so simplistic and sleek that it’s very pleasing to the eye. I was also happy to see very little plastic in this case, but the trade-off of that is a heavier case. I don’t know how many of you would be transporting or constantly moving a full ATX case, so weight probably won’t be an issue.

Another thing that shouldn’t be an issue with most, is the cost of the Define XL R2. With a retail of $124.76 shipped for the Titanium version that we reviewed today, this full tower case should be in the price range for pretty much all enthusiasts. Fractal Design also provides a little piece of mind by providing a 1 year warranty for the Define XL R2.

I have very little complaints in regards to build quality, as being a mostly steel case I found it to be very solid. The only issue that I had was the finish came off on the corner when I was trying to take the side panel off. Word of advise: Take your time pulling the side panels off if you’re working over a harder surface! This happened to me due to a slightly poor design with how the panels come off. If Fractal Design implemented a grip point on the rear of the side panel, like I’ve seen on other cases, it would have made removing it much easier.

Working inside the Define XL R2 was nothing short of awesome. When you purchase a full tower chassis, you get the best benefit of them all: tons of room. Fractal Design placed the grommet holes in plenty of good locations, which made wire routing and hiding your wires a breeze. Having the ability to remove the HDD cages completely or spin them around if you don’t like the way they mount.

The water cooling abilities of this case I feel should be pretty good. You will have the ability to mount several radiators inside the case, with the top accepting 240mm or 280mm slim radiator, the front can handle a 240mm, bottom can take a 120mm, and the rear can also take a 120 or 140mm. That’s a lot of water cooling potential, should you want to purchase smaller kits. Should you water cool the CPU and need to mount a backing plate, you will also find a nice cutout on the motherboard tray to easily access the back of your motherboard.

Legit Bottom Line: Fractal Design’s Define XL R2 is simple looking, but gorgeous and well put together full tower case with very few flaws, which carries a price tag that should be plenty within reach of most PC enthusiasts / system builders.