Fractal Design Period 2 evaluation

ITX circumstances are inherently a problem. Not solely from a PC constructing perspective, the place their intricate inner layouts make them extremely irritating but satisfying to work with, but additionally from a producing standpoint. It’s important to finely stability so many variables when designing a stable ITX providing. Construct high quality, {hardware} compatibility, type, options, and ease-of-use all play a serious half in that course of. However the large one is total footprint; that’s what makes or breaks a terrific ITX case.

For a lot of within the SFF (small type issue) fanatic area, the vast majority of trendy ITX circumstances simply aren’t sufficiently small. Most are large, cumbersome juggernauts that fall extra on the aspect of a being Micro-ATX setup, or some bizarre Frankenstein mid-tower, full with twin rad assist and GPU area bigger than most keyboards.

Fractal Design has confirmed in the previous few years that it very a lot adheres to that old-school mind-set about SFF chassis. And, with the likes of its ridiculously small Terra, Temper, and Ridge circumstances, it has re-defined precisely what it’s you are able to do with a chassis that has such a small footprint.

The Period 2 is a direct refinement of its preliminary Period ITX case, which launched manner again in 2020. Aesthetically, Fractal has abided by an extremely related design language with it. It is acquired that curved anodized aluminum exterior housing, walnut panel lining the roof (albeit this time with air flow), and intriguing perforated aspect panels, full with an nearly equivalent total footprint. But, it is the inner format that is had the most important overhaul, against this. In truth, examine the 2 side-by-side, and what you are are two extremely completely different circumstances. It is this transformation which radically alters the construct expertise, and completely for the higher.

Design shenanigans apart, it isn’t a very low-cost chassis; the Period 2 clocks in at $200 US and £195 UK at launch, placing it within the extra premium bracket for wee steel bins of this caliber. It is acquired so much to reside as much as with that kinda price ticket hooked up, and truthfully, it does a fantastic job of justifying that price.

For those who look immediately on the inner layouts of each the Period and the Period 2, the variations are astounding. Every thing from motherboard place to cooler location, energy provide mounting and assist, and extra have modified. Largely for the higher.

Though the aesthetic and common design ethos definitely comply with that of the Period ITX, its inner format truly carefully mimics that of Fractal Design’s more moderen SFF chassis, the less-costly Terra. Albeit with some slight tweaks and enhancements right here and there. Motherboard mounting, energy provide location, and GPU answer are nearly solely equivalent, bar some minor tweaks which are principally potential solely because of the elevated top.

The most important distinction between them lies in the truth that the Period 2 helps AIO coolers. You may technically match as much as a 280 mm radiator within the roof, though admittedly even Fractal recommends you persist with a 240 mm there. You understand, simply to your personal sanity, and I am inclined to agree.

There’s additionally been some further adjustments to how the GPU is put in (the detachable setup is gone). Plus, the PSU now mounts with a sliding bracket quite than the latch system the Terra makes use of. The adjustable inner spine/motherboard tray design—which lets you shift your entire inner format backwards and forwards to provide you extra space on the CPU or GPU aspect—stays and is a welcome addition, albeit with some caveats.

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From a look, the Period 2 is simply gorgeous. Its satin metallic end on that anodized aluminum panel is excellent to have a look at, significantly with the blue evaluation pattern I’ve acquired handy. Mix that with the walnut prime plate and the refined Fractal Design logos etched right here and there, and it positively appears like a premium chassis; it feels prefer it’s worthy of that $200 price ticket.

The true problem for any ITX case although, is the construct course of, and let me be clear: this can be a true ITX case; it isn’t for the faint of coronary heart. Going into it, element choice goes to be vital to your success. Though the Period 2 does assist ‘full-size’ SFX-L PSUs, I might extremely suggest sticking with the shorter SFX design. Doing that offers you much more cable administration room to play with. Though that’s principally simply an extra inch of area, it is an inch that critically counts.

Equally, it is advisable to pay shut consideration to your energy lead port location on the PSU you are utilizing, because the passthrough cable Fractal has included is right-angled in a single orientation. With my be quiet! SFX-L 600W PSU, it immediately conflicted with the aspect of the case’s shell.

You’d assume, given you may transfer your entire inner mounting body within the Period 2 backwards and forwards, that may get rid of such an issue. Nevertheless, the PSU mounting answer is on rails and secures to the case by way of a single screw and steel tab hooked up to the aspect of your entire body. You may transfer the body, however the PSU stays the place it’s. There’s a workaround to bypass that steel tab, however to do it, it’s a must to disassemble your entire entrance of the chassis, take away a part of the plastic sledge rails, and jimmy the PSU into place. One thing I did throughout my construct, to get all the things, together with the AIO and its tubing, to suit.

The optimum construct course of in a perfect world goes like this: Tear the chassis down—eradicating as many panels as potential—then instantly set up your energy provide, getting as many cables routed and tied down as you may forward of time. As soon as that is accomplished set up your motherboard with all the things however the RAM in. Then plug in as many cables as potential, pondering arduous about cable administration as you do it, and the place your GPU and cooler are going to take a seat. After that, set up your RAM, then transfer on to your graphics card, and eventually your AIO after that.

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Choosing an air-cooler—one thing like Noctua’s NH-L9 sequence—makes this construct far less complicated to provide and truthfully is a setup I might suggest, significantly if you happen to’re working a Ryzen 5 or an Intel Core Extremely 5, particularly given how potent a few of these low-profile cooler items are. That manner, not solely do you get extra cable-management area again, however you may then set up two 140 mm followers within the roof to assist with exhaust. Mix that with the 2 included 120 mm followers within the flooring, and you will have a critically potent cooling setup that takes benefit of convection fairly properly (it is price stating you do nonetheless have this with an AIO, however the radiator does add further air resistance into the combination).

Due to its restricted type issue, you actually do have to be on prime of cabling. Take your time with it; you have acquired very restricted area between the GPU and the motherboard tray, and there are cutouts there which you can run entrance I/O cables by, however they’re fairly slender, and if you happen to put too many right here which are too thick, it isn’t potential to completely set up the GPU, with out probably damaging the graphics card.

That is truly one space the place the Terra has the benefit over the Period 2, because the GPU was put in by way of a detachable bracket, which did help you compress a few of that cabling if you happen to ran it behind the graphics card, making it far simpler to put in.

Equally, if you’re putting in your AIO, it is advisable to be aware about the place you place its followers. I initially tried to put in it with the followers on the underside of the radiator appearing as push, with the rad mounted to the detachable bracket, however instantly got here into contact with my armada of cables from the SFX-L PSU, stopping the followers from spinning. Swapping it round, so the AIO followers had been appearing as pull quite than push, proved a greater answer, though it was nonetheless a good match.

That may sound like I had a hell of a time constructing within the Period 2, and to be frank, I did, however that is all half and parcel of working in a correct ITX type issue. What Fractal’s managed to do right here nonetheless is spectacular. It is a remarkably small case with a ridiculously tiny footprint, and but, I’ve acquired a full 240mm AIO in right here, a healthy-sized graphics card, together with a reasonably high-end CPU setup as properly.

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All working tremendous clean and critically quiet in a stupendously handsome case. Confidently and the best GPU, if you happen to had an SFX-L PSU, you could possibly even probably match an RTX 4080 Tremendous in right here as properly (MSI’s Gaming X Slim sequence ought to technically match in keeping with the specs).

Is that this top-of-the-line circumstances of all time? One of the best ITX chassis on the market at present? Properly, that also very a lot depends upon your perspective. For those who’re in search of an excellent straightforward, accomplished in an hour construct with loads of room to work in as you do it, this is not for you. It is a difficult case, and at instances irritating, however that is purely all the way down to how small a footprint this factor has. There’s so much to like right here, and a whole lot of engineering prowess that Fractal’s leveraged into it, however we might most likely persist with the Terra as the very best ITX of all. For these in search of a pleasant smooth steel field for his or her newest rig that takes up minimal desk area, seems to be unbelievable, and nonetheless helps all of the {hardware} they need, with a little bit of a problem built-in to it as properly, the Period 2 continues to be by far one of the spectacular ITX choices on the market at present.