Meshify 2 or Meshify 2XL for my use?

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professional loser

Limp Gawd
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Mar 22, 2018
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I am conflicted between Meshify 2 or Meshify 2XL for a 3d workstation, non gaming use, with the following parts.

- CPU- Ryzen 5950x
- Air cooled (Noctua NH-D15).
- GPU, hopefully 2 x RTX3090 or whatever in the future, one day!!!!!
- Around 4 spinning HDs
- 2 SSDs, 1 M.2 (on mobo)
- Asus X570 Dark Hero
- 64GB RAM (2 x 32GB G.Skill Ripjaws)
- Corsair HX1000W

It seems that Meshify 2 will fit all my parts? Will it get hot being smaller in volume, stuffy?

On the other hand the 2XL might give better air flow and future proofing as the PC will be rendering and generating heat?????

Price difference of $30 between the two is not the main issue.

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/meshify/meshify-2-dark-tempered-glass/black/
https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/meshify/meshify-2-xl-light-tempered-glass/black/

Any input?
 
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If you care about future expandability and flexibilty, the Meshify 2 has only 7 slot brackets, which will prevent installing a dual-slot GPU in the bottom PCIe slot. Other than that I think there is no relevant difference.

Though I would be wary of either case for a multi-GPU setup. You possibly want something with a side panel fan.

professional loser said:
- 2 SSDs, 1 M.2 (on mobo)
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I suggest to not bother with SATA SSDs, the price difference to NVMe is relatively small and for moving around large amounts of data it can really make a difference.
 
Honestly unless you're planning on a ridiculous number of Hard Drives or need to have 9 slot brackets, go with the smaller one. It's still pretty big, and will likely be plenty big enough.

I'm saying this as a super happy owner of the Define 7 XL.

That said, I'm not sure how much space dual 3090s would actually take up.
 
chithanh said:
If you care about future expandability and flexibilty, the Meshify 2 has only 7 slot brackets, which will prevent installing a dual-slot GPU in the bottom PCIe slot. Other than that I think there is no relevant difference.

Though I would be wary of either case for a multi-GPU setup. You possibly want something with a side panel fan.


I suggest to not bother with SATA SSDs, the price difference to NVMe is relatively small and for moving around large amounts of data it can really make a difference.
Click to expand...

TheSlySyl said:
Honestly unless you're planning on a ridiculous number of Hard Drives or need to have 9 slot brackets, go with the smaller one. It's still pretty big, and will likely be plenty big enough.

I'm saying this as a super happy owner of the Define 7 XL.

That said, I'm not sure how much space dual 3090s would actually take up.
Click to expand...


The 2 SATA SSDs are from an older build, so not buying any new ones. But after reading your post I think I will get 2 M.2 and populate both slots on my Mobo (instead of just one that I had planned). So one for the system and one for cache/WIP progress files.

I found this photo online of Meshify 2, but it is RTX3070 and not 3090. Hmm!
 

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This is a somewhat older pic of the inside of my Define 7 XL (in storage mode). So there's also 3x 140mm fans in the front.
The videocard is a 1080TI + Arctic Accelero III + EVGA Power Link, so its probably roughly equivalent to a higher end 3080 or 3090 in size.

The biggest difference is the space above the motherboard (huge gap there, probably awesome for a top mounted radiator) and the larg empty space below the motherboard, where you could definitely fit another videocard but mine is currently taken up by a 120mm slim fan.
There's also about another inch of space between the motherboard and the hard drives (in storage config) which seems absolutely excessive unless you're doing storage config or are planning on a huge reservoir.

1619427469653.png

This one is somewhat more recent, for an idea of the absolute size of this damn thing. Even without any radiators its probably approaching 70ish lbs full. Though the Meshify version will have a different front grill (and honestly is probably better for it.)
I have 7 spinning HDDs in this build and 4 NVMEs. Gonna be 8 HDDs sooner rather than later.
 
You are sending me mixed messages, bro :) So if I went with one RTX3090 then clearly Meshify 2 is enough, if 2 x RTX3090 then maybe 2XL is better, even though the rest of the extra space is not required. With 2XL there will be plenty of space to mount one card vertically? Bloody decisions!
 
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I have the 2XL. I migrated from the FD Define 6. The 2XL is a great case with consistent Fractal Design quality.
I have an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 420 on the front cooling my 5900x. I intend to put an EVGA Hybrid 3090 FTW in it with the radiator on the top. There's just tons of room.
Here's a link to my (partial) build play by play: https://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=34052393&page=4
 
Mizzer said:
I have the 2XL. I migrated from the FD Define 6. The 2XL is a great case with consistent Fractal Design quality.
I have an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 420 on the front cooling my 5900x. I intend to put an EVGA Hybrid 3090 FTW in it with the radiator on the top. There's just tons of room.
Here's a link to my (partial) build play by play: https://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=34052393&page=4
Click to expand...

Hah! Funny ;-)
I have two 10-15 year old Silverstone TJ07 cases ( 560 x 220 x 565mm), so similar size to Meshify 2XL (600 x 240 x 566 mm). My current 2 towers sit under my double length tables. They are placed 6 inch off my wooden floor on a skateboard looking contraption that I made. One tower I had to move to the living room permanently to stream my girlfriend's fitness classes. The other tower will be converted from workstation duties to online duties. The new PC case from FD will become my new workstation based around 5950X, and will stay offline 99% of the time.

So you suggest going with Meshify 2XL?
 
professional loser said:
So you suggest going with Meshify 2XL?
Click to expand...
After migrating from the mid-tower Define 6 to the super beefy Meshify 2XL I will never go back to the smaller form factor unless I have to (for whatever reason). IMO, either the Meshify 2XL or the Define 7 XL will suit your needs. They're both Fractal so you know that quality is there. The Define 7 XL will make a silent build easier; not as much mesh. Even so, my Meshify tower sits about a meter to my right and I have to put my ear to it to hear anything.

I used Fractal cases in my last 5 builds. Solid cases.
 
Haha.
All of my empty space is taken up by hard drives.

Still, as I said previously, absolutely love my Define 7 XL, I bought it well before the Meshify variant was announced otherwise I would have gone Meshify XL.

If you're actually doing dual 3090s you should probably go XL.
 
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Just received the delivery of Fractal Meshifx 2XL (dark glass). Build quality looks great, and I don't find it super huge as my current cases are full tower too. Now I have two questions-

Q1- PSU, facing up or down? The way the PSU plate was screwed in from the factory, it seems they want the PSU to face down?
Q2- Fractal Nexus+ 2 fan hub. What is the deal? Why do I need to use it, instead of connecting everything directly to my Mobo?
 
My case was originally on carpet so I have the PSU fan sucking air from the inside of the case. It's been fine.

I only use the fan hub for the front 3x 140mm for cable routing reasons. All of my other fans are directly connected to the MoBo. My front fans are also, purposefully, non RGB.
 
Just updating and a thanks to everyone who helped me decide :)

The Meshify 2 XL Dark, PC is all done and running nicely :) The 5950x is sitting proudly in there. Always stressful pressing the power button for the first time lol

I have some fan questions. The CPU temps seem ok. Range from 32C to 82C -> (5950x with PBO, enabled) . I don't have a powerful GPU currently (availability), so things will get hotter when I add that to the mix

Currently, I have the default setup

2 x 140mm Front Intake fans
1 x 140mm Rear Exhaust fan

I am thinking of doing this-

3 x 140mm Front Intake fans (add one more fan in the front)
1 x 140mm Rear Exhaust fan (stays same as before)
2 x top exhaust fans (all new)

The PSU is facing down and sucking cold air from underneath. The PC sits on a table. The CPU cooler is Noctua NH-D15 (2 x 140mm fans, both pulling air towards the rear exhaust fan)

Sounds good?
 
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I have:
3x 140mm intake - Arctic P14 pwm
1x 140mm exhaust (default rear) -Scythe Kaze 140mm RGB
2x 140mm top exhaust (near the rear) -Fractal default fans
1x 120mm slim exhaust (pci brackets under GPU) -Scyth Kaze Slim 120mm RGB

From my experimenting. The default rear bracket nearest the CPU exhausts the most heat. Not much heat comes out of the top exhaust fans no matter how much you pump up the RPM. Though it does help from heat being trapped in the case if you're gonna be running a hot GPU and CPU simultaneously.

If you're in storage config (like I am) you cannot fit 3x 140mm along the top, but you can fill the top with 120mm. I only use two and then I have the plate that was removed from the PSU shroud blocking the other half of the open top. Works surprisingly well.

Due to how far down the GPU is from any exhaust fans, having some way to exhaust in the lower part of the case makes a big difference for GPU temps staying lower during extended play sessions. Otherwise it just recirculates around the GPU.

If you're going to buy a bunch of fans and don't care about RGB, I'd just buy the Arctic P14 PWM 5 pack and call it good.
The default Fractal Fans are super silent and move an alright amount of air, but if you need more airflow (which, given the size of the case and all of my hard drive obstructions, I did) the Arctic Cooling have a potential to spin higher and push more air through.
 
TheSlySyl said:
From my experimenting. The default rear bracket nearest the CPU exhausts the most heat.
Click to expand...

Yes the single rear fan definitely exhausts the most heat! I was going to buy the Arctic P14 (x 5) value pack, but they are completely sold out in my country. Plus long term they seem to break down and get noisy, apparently. I found Noctua Nf-a14 Pwm on sale, so I got them instead! I will exchange the Fractal fan with the Noctua for the rear exhaust (Airflow 68 vs 140)

1 - I will start with 1 x 140mm at the top, completely to the back. Then take temp reading. Then add a second at the top to see if it makes any additional difference to the temps. I won't install a third at the top because it might break/disturb the flow of air coming from the front fans.
2- Install a third 140mm fan at the front, this will direct the air towards the GPU for now.
3- Once I get hold of a powerful GPU, then depending on temps, I might move the lowest 140mm fan right next to the GPU by creating my own custom contraption! Just imagine that the Fractal cardboard box is a fan. So it will be blowing cool air directly over and under the GPU!

IMG_20210505_093944.png


4- Currently I am using only 4 spinning HDs. I don't think I will use more than 6 spinning HDs. The case came with 2 extra "HDD Drive Tray Kit – Type A". Apparently it can be used without a cage, but I can't work it out how? I found one image from Fractal website, but that is Define 7 case. Do I need to swap the long metal plate from one side of the case to the other to make it attach?


IMG_20210505_090219-01.png
Large-feature-HDD-tray.jpg

-
 
Switching that metal panel out from the back of the case (flush with the motherboard) to the front (against the window) is what turns it into "storage mode".
I could not find any way to mount those particular drive sleds when its not in storage mode.
If you're only going to be using 4 drives, i wouldn't bother with it. You can fit 4 drives underneath the PSU shroud pretty easily, and you can also attach them to the top of the PSU shroud. However, for 6+, you do need to move that metal thing forward, they have guides that show you how it works - it's pretty easy. My case is in storage mode because I have 7 HDDs (soon to be 8.) You can kind of see them on the right in the top picture I posted up above, just imagine two more spaced above that.
There are two more weird multi-bracket drive sleds hiding somewhere in the case - at least there were for the Define 7 XL. I think mine were behind the back panel, accessible by taking off the rear panel. You can basically mount those anywhere a fan will fit - including ontop of the PSU shroud or hanging from the fan mounts on the top.



I don't know exactly how many trays mine came with, as I ended up buying more off Newegg eventually.

Storage mode video:
 
I would advise against using 2 top outtake fans. The ones removing heat will be primarily the rear exhaust and the rear top fan. Any fan further towards the front will mostly remove cool air before the CPU. E.g. if you are running an air cooler then a mid mounted top fan will cause a fight over air with an air cooler and will not remove much heat. While I do not run air on my CPU, the difference on temp sensors for rear and top rear exhaust temp between 1 and 2 top mounted fans was negligible for quite a bit of added noise and the air coming from the mid top mounted fan was a lot cooler than the one towards the rear. That is with the GPU drawing close to 350 watts over a long period of time.
 
evhvis said:
I would advise against using 2 top outtake fans. The ones removing heat will be primarily the rear exhaust and the rear top fan. Any fan further towards the front will mostly remove cool air before the CPU. E.g. if you are running an air cooler then a mid mounted top fan will cause a fight over air with an air cooler and will not remove much heat. While I do not run air on my CPU, the difference on temp sensors for rear and top rear exhaust temp between 1 and 2 top mounted fans was negligible for quite a bit of added noise and the air coming from the mid top mounted fan was a lot cooler than the one towards the rear. That is with the GPU drawing close to 350 watts over a long period of time.
Click to expand...

Yes I agree, when using only air cooling (like I am). I did some tests for the sake of science :) My educated guess, the rear exhaust fan does (75-80%) of the work, then the top extreme rear fan does remain 20-25% of the exhaust work. Any more exhaust fans on top is just waste, as only cold air comes out.

Another thing, the rear exhaust fan can be screwed vertically 1-2 cm up or down. Go for the vertically top most position.
 
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