Fractal Design reveals Define Series 7 & 7 XL Chassis

Fan-favorite chassis maker Fractal Design is back again with a new case that is sure to become a favorite with builders just as previous iterations have been. Fractal Design is calling this new enclosure the Define Series 7 and Define Series 7 XL.

The Fractal Design Define Series 7

Fractal Design says the Define Series 7 is the "latest pinnacle of the Define series, setting a new standard for what you should expect from a mid (or full for the 7 XL)-tower case when it comes to modularity, flexibility, and ease of use." The company highlights the new chassis design meant to maximize access to the interior; an aluminum front panel with reversible hinges; and a "multibracket" that converts unused fan positions into HDD, SSD, or pump mounts.

The Define Series 7 comes in four colors-black, white, black/white, and grey-and offers light, dark or clear tempered glass; you can also go windowless and with a steel side panel. The 7 XL, meanwhile, comes in just the one color (black) and can be paired with dark or light tempered glass or a windowless design.

The Define Series 7 is roomy enough for a small family or a whole bunch of hard drives. The chassis has four dedicated SSD mounts and an optical bay. In the full-storage layout, the case can hold 14 HDDs. Motherboards all the way up to 285-mm E-ATX or SSI-EEB will fit into the Define Series 7.

So much room for activities

Radiator support includes rads up to 420 mm up top and 360 mm in the front, and the case can handle up to 9 120- or 140-mm fans. It comes with three 140-mm fans pre-installed. Fractal Design says the case offers "silence-optimized construction" with industrial sound-dampened steel. A multi-layered top panel also lets you decide whether you want to focus on silence or ventilation with the ability to easily swap between solid steel or filtered ventilation.

The case keeps your PSU's tangle of cables organized with a detachable PSU cable shield and integrated cable guides, and the case has 13 rubber-grommeted cable pass-through holes and two removable covers.

As far as front I/O, the Define Series 7 features one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, audio I/O, and a power and reset button. Inside, you'll find an "ultra-slim" Nexus+2 fan hub that connects up to three PWM fans and six three-pin fans.

The Define Series 7 XL: All that and More

The Define Series 7 XL can handle much of the same but offers more room along the way. It can handle up to 18 HDD or SSDs and features five dedicated SSD trays and two optical bays. It has room for 9 140-mm fans again but can also handle up to 11 120-mm fans. The front and top of the case can fit radiators up to 480-mm long.

The case pricing starts at $160 US for the Define Series 7 Black Solid (no window), and climbs from there up to $210 for the Define Series 7 XL with a glass panel. The cases aren't yet showing up on major retailers like Amazon and NewEgg, but Fractal lists both on their retailer page for the case, so they should show up soon.

If Fractal Design's past performance is reliable, these should be well-reviewed, well-received chassis by community and critics alike.

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