Fractal Design Core 3000

Guru3D has posted a review of the Fractal Design Core 3000 mid-tower PC case. If you are on the hunt for a new case, this review will be of interest to you.

The Core 3000 has plenty of cooling options, up to 7 fans in various sizes can be installed. The front panel is easily removable and pre-fitted with fan filters to ensure a dust free interior. The sleek black interior is matched and contrasted with white expansion slots and HDD trays. Similar to the Define Series, all the HDD trays are fitted with anti-vibration silicon grommets. The upper HDD cage is removable and rotatable, which enables support for the longest graphic cards.

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They don't even try installing any hardware in the case. IMO most problems with cases first show their ugly face during the installation of hardware.

But looks like a neat budget-case.

Idef1x said:

They don't even try installing any hardware in the case. IMO most problems with cases first show their ugly face during the installation of hardware.

But looks like a neat budget-case.

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Yes but fractal makes good quality cases.

mannyman said:

Yes but fractal makes good quality cases.

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So does Lian Li, however, some fo their case (most noteably, the V352) have strange installation requirements that basically prevent any modern GPU from fitting in. Even a lowly GTS450 reference design would fail to clear it's GPU height requirements (which was fine at 4" back in the day, but now GPUs are pushing 4 and a quarter inches). Something not immenently obvious from reading anything but a full install review.

While that is not a newer case, it's still a decent example of why an install review is better than just an expanded PR launch briefing, IMO.

jeremyshaw said:

So does Lian Li, however, some fo their case (most noteably, the V352) have strange installation requirements that basically prevent any modern GPU from fitting in. Even a lowly GTS450 reference design would fail to clear it's GPU height requirements (which was fine at 4" back in the day, but now GPUs are pushing 4 and a quarter inches). Something not immenently obvious from reading anything but a full install review.

While that is not a newer case, it's still a decent example of why an install review is better than just an expanded PR launch briefing, IMO.

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Well put.

wow
looks nice

I wouldn't ever give this case a try. Too much like the Antec 900. Which is a dust magnet which I hate.

jeremyshaw said:

So does Lian Li, however, some fo their case (most noteably, the V352) have strange installation requirements that basically prevent any modern GPU from fitting in. Even a lowly GTS450 reference design would fail to clear it's GPU height requirements (which was fine at 4" back in the day, but now GPUs are pushing 4 and a quarter inches). Something not immenently obvious from reading anything but a full install review.

While that is not a newer case, it's still a decent example of why an install review is better than just an expanded PR launch briefing, IMO.

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I sure hope no one is making cases like that in the day and age.

mannyman said:

I sure hope no one is making cases like that in the day and age.

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I also hope for a good review that's better than an extended PR blurb

Sooooooooooooo...... yeah where can one in the US buy this case? I'm not paying $45 in shipping charges from Canda for a $60 case!

The only case reviews that are worth reading are those by bit-tech, IMO.

Kicking the dust off this thread to mention Newegg has it in stock now.

Of course.. AFTER I get impatient and order mine from Canada... oh well lol

Hmm might as well spend the extra 30 and get Arc if you like FD. I don't see it though. They are like the new Antec I guess.

I agree with the others, no install = terrible "review".

Sometimes I wonder about these tech sites that can't be bothered to put a little extra time into their articles and actually use the products. Especially something like a case. Out of all the hardware that tech sites review, the lowly PC case seems to be the one least properly reviewed. They will benchmark and OC the hell out of 40 video cards in a dozen different games, yet somehow they can't manage to actually install any hardware into a case and give us a breakdown of real world usage. However they can split the article up over 8 (!!!) pages. Epic fail.


Anyways, in my opinion, here is what a good case review should include and most of these a simple spec sheet won't tell you (or mislead you):


How is cable management?

Will my extra long video card fit?

How is the cooling of the stock fans?

What about cooling of multiple hard drives and will they interfere with a large video card?

How loud are the stock fans and the case in gerneral?

How durable is the finish of the case?

Thin, cheap metal or thicker heavy duty stuff?

Optical drive length an issue (for those smaller mATX cases)?

Dust an issue?

Are cable lengths, both PSU and front Panel (audio, USB) going to be an issue?

Am I going to cut myself up or fight with getting hardware in the case?

What about my huge ass CPU cooler...is it going to fit in the case correctly?




I am sure there are more, however most of these can only really be analyzed when you install an actual system in it and use it for at least a couple days.

It happens - much of journalism is simply glorified advertisements. I once knew a write for a magazine who admitted she never went to a bunch of places she 'reviewed' for touristy things. You know like go to this cute ice cream shop its great etc etc. Someone will put together a youtube video. At that price lots of people can do one for us.

Looks sleek, simple and functional. I like.

man that case look so nice to bad it has installation issue's :/

I have one getting delivered tomorrow. Rest of parts came in today. I'll post a build thread and link here in a few days.