Fractal Design Define R4 $79 Shipped Free

I bought the black out edition of this case and love it, you really cant beat the price and the quality of the tower
 
Nice case. Don't forget to put the SSD's in before you put the motherboard in if you want them screwed in.. I just velcro'd mine so, I can take them out easier.
 
I agree on this being a nice case, built a friends rig in this and I'm tempted to pick one up for my Devil's Canyon build.
 
Well I got one. Thanks OP.

Reading the various reviews makes this case seem like the best thing around :)

Will be sitting here ready for my next build.
 
This is a decent case, but the Antec 300 has both a front & PSU air filters for less money. This is KEY for me with cats & smoke. I like the fact it includes integrated fan controllers & 2-140mm "hydraulic" fans (nice touch) I'll pass & give my money to Antec (this will be my 3rd time) Also, I don't care for the enclosed front panel (kills airflow) Plus, the Antec 300 goes on sale for around $50.00 shipped a few times a year. Might not be as "sexy" but get's the job done!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...129180&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-180-_-Product
 
UMASS said:
This is a decent case, but the Antec 300 has both a front & PSU air filters for less money. This is KEY for me with cats & smoke. I like the fact it includes integrated fan controllers & 2-140mm "hydraulic" fans (nice touch) I'll pass & give my money to Antec (this will be my 3rd time) Also, I don't care for the enclosed front panel (kills airflow) Plus, the Antec 300 goes on sale for around $50.00 shipped a few times a year. Might not be as "sexy" but get's the job done!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...129180&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-180-_-Product
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The Antec 300 is not really in the same category as the Fractal Define R4. The Fractal is billed as a super quiet case for those of us who appreciate the efforts to dampen the sound inside the case. Antec has products in this category but the 300 is not one of them.

Regardless I picked up the R4 and a new corsair h100i water cooler to go in the front.
 
luke51087 said:
I bought the black out edition of this case and love it, you really cant beat the price and the quality of the tower
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I used that case for a friends build not long ago. Great, great case.

Big fan of fractal cases.
 
UMASS said:
This is a decent case, but the Antec 300 has both a front & PSU air filters for less money. This is KEY for me with cats & smoke. I like the fact it includes integrated fan controllers & 2-140mm "hydraulic" fans (nice touch) I'll pass & give my money to Antec (this will be my 3rd time) Also, I don't care for the enclosed front panel (kills airflow) Plus, the Antec 300 goes on sale for around $50.00 shipped a few times a year. Might not be as "sexy" but get's the job done!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...129180&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-180-_-Product
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My previous case was the Antec 300... and it actually houses my ESXI Hypervisor now. For the extra $25 the R4 is lightyears nicer in construction and materials.
 
docmal said:
The Antec 300 is not really in the same category as the Fractal Define R4. The Fractal is billed as a super quiet case for those of us who appreciate the efforts to dampen the sound inside the case. Antec has products in this category but the 300 is not one of them.

Regardless I picked up the R4 and a new corsair h100i water cooler to go in the front.
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Same setup(h100i+R4). You might want to actually mount the radiator on top. How the front fans attach to the case is kinda goofy(it is a panel that removes when you remove a clip). I have mine mounted on top blowing out with my FX8350 running at 4.6... cooling is still good and I never break 45c.
 
If the R4 had front filters (why in gods name do case manufacturers avoid this is beyond me!) This is where you're going to pick-up the most dust bar-none! Yes...The Antec 300 is getting semi-long in the tooth, but fits my needs perfectly! If the R4 had filters, then it would be another story. Still....I don't care for the enclosed front faceplate. Any gamer knows, you need max. airflow to keep your case cool. Light years ahead? I don't think so. Have fun with it.
 
UMASS said:
If the R4 had front filters (why in gods name do case manufacturers avoid this is beyond me!) This is where you're going to pick-up the most dust bar-none! Yes...The Antec 300 is getting semi-long in the tooth, but fits my needs perfectly! If the R4 had filters, then it would be another story. Still....I don't care for the enclosed front faceplate. Any gamer knows, you need max. airflow to keep your case cool. Light years ahead? I don't think so. Have fun with it.
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The R4 has front(2 fans) and bottom filters(powersupply+fan). As a "gamer" I know how important airflow is... and airflow is fine in the R4. I have two 140mm in front, a 120mm on bottom, my h55 radiator on back, and my h100i radiator on top... my system runs icey cold with this setup! Even with a 290x. ;)
 
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Shyne151 said:
The R4 has front(2 fans) and bottom filters(powersupply+fan). As a "gamer" I know how important airflow is... and airflow is fine in the R4. I have two 140mm in front, a 120mm on bottom, my h55 radiator on back, and my h100i radiator on top... my system runs icey cold with this setup! Even with a 290x. ;)
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You don't get it do you? Doesn't matter if you have two-140mm front fans, unless you have an exposed grill (meaning not a closed one that the R4 has) it doesn't mean S**T! This why I LOVE the Antec 300! It has a filter with 2-120mm frontal fans. Plus a 1 rear-120mm & 140mmm top fan. Not to mention 1-120mm VC fan & 1-120mm CPU fan! Nuff said!
 
Am i wrong in thinking that the things that can slide out for the front fans and the power supply are filters? I keep seeing people say it doesnt have filters but i slide them out without opening the case and wipe off the dust.
 
UMASS said:
You don't get it do you? Doesn't matter if you have two-140mm front fans, unless you have an exposed grill (meaning not a closed one that the R4 has) it doesn't mean S**T! This why I LOVE the Antec 300! It has a filter with 2-120mm frontal fans. Plus a 1 rear-120mm & 140mmm top fan. Not to mention 1-120mm VC fan & 1-120mm CPU fan! Nuff said!
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We understand you like the 300. But as stated previously is is worlds behind the R4 in terms of acoustic and fit and finish. The R4 has no competitor for the price.

It has gotten praise from every review site. And it has filters, I don't know why you continually say it does not. Its pretty clear you have never owned a R4.

I have had 3 of them. Can't beat them for the price and features.
 
Looks like a good price. How does this compare to the Corsair 550D? Don't need it my 550D will serve my needs for many years to come (hopefully).
 
Jm: Once again there are NO front filters inside the R4! Plus it has a closed front panel! I could give a S**t about reviews! It simply doesn't have good frontal air-flow! If you guys are happy, then "God Bless" It's still a crappy case IMHO!
 
UMASS, I really have no idea what you are talking about my r4 has a pop out front 2 fans and has a slide out filter that i can wipe off, and it lets you slide out one in the back for the PSU filter. Really not sure what hes talking about
 
UMASS said:
Jm: Once again there are NO front filters inside the R4! Plus it has a closed front panel! I could give a S**t about reviews! It simply doesn't have good frontal air-flow! If you guys are happy, then "God Bless" It's still a crappy case IMHO!
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I just watched a video on the fractal site where they pull the filter out of the front and show it.

Also, the ever popular Antec p180/280 have front doors. In fact every acousticly sound case has one. The doors act as an acoustic baffle while the air flow goes in the vents on the sides of the door. Sound is deadend by baffles like this at a much higher rate than air flow is dampened. This is why these doors are used.
 
Shyne151 said:
The R4 has front(2 fans) and bottom filters(powersupply+fan). As a "gamer" I know how important airflow is... and airflow is fine in the R4. I have two 140mm in front, a 120mm on bottom, my h55 radiator on back, and my h100i radiator on top... my system runs icey cold with this setup! Even with a 290x. ;)
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Shyne: Are you a complete idiot? Unless the R4 comes-up with a front air-filter, it's crap! Did I mention it has an enclosed front plate? Airflow is EVERYTHING! The Antec 300 may not look as pretty, but it has everything you need & then some!
 
UMASS said:
Shyne: Are you a complete idiot? Unless the R4 comes-up with a front air-filter, it's crap! Did I mention it has an enclosed front plate? Airflow is EVERYTHING! The Antec 300 may not look as pretty, but it has everything you need & then some!
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I have done everything I can to try to educate you that it does indeed have front filters and there are large vents on the sides of the door but you refuse to listen. Therefore I have concluded that you are an idiot and I am henceforth ignoring you. In fact I have decided to never buy anything from Antec ever again for fear that it might have contributed in someway to your colossal ignorance.
 
Does the R4 support multiple 240/280mm raidiators, i.e., one at the top and one in the front?

I'm not really liking my current case the N200, though it's definitely smaller.
 
UMASS said:
You don't get it do you? Doesn't matter if you have two-140mm front fans, unless you have an exposed grill (meaning not a closed one that the R4 has) it doesn't mean S**T! This why I LOVE the Antec 300! It has a filter with 2-120mm frontal fans. Plus a 1 rear-120mm & 140mmm top fan. Not to mention 1-120mm VC fan & 1-120mm CPU fan! Nuff said!
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The P180/2 (or whatever the current version is called) is Antec's equivalent to this case, not the 300.

Using that as a comparison, both have their pros and cons. I think the R4 is much easier to work with, but I dislike that it only has 2 front bays and no 3.5" bays (sometimes I need that).

I'd gladly give up a couple 2 or 3 HD bays for that. I can live with 5 Hard Drives. By the time I need more than that, I'm sure drive capacity will have doubled. I guess I could use it for my file server, which is using an old dragon case, but there's really nothing wrong with that case either.
 
UMASS said:
Shyne: Are you a complete idiot? Unless the R4 comes-up with a front air-filter, it's crap! Did I mention it has an enclosed front plate? Airflow is EVERYTHING! The Antec 300 may not look as pretty, but it has everything you need & then some!
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http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/07/20/fractal-design-define-r4-review/1

"Elsewhere on the dust-fighting front is a huge removable dust filter along the case’s floor, and a combined dust filter and fan-mount cage hidden behind a push-button hatch at the front of the case. This means that, out of the box, every fan mount in the case (bar the rear exhaust) can either be blanked off or dust filtered, making it easy to keep your PC’s guts clean and grime free."

Thanks for calling him an idiot: it makes this post much more rewarding. :p
 
I couldn't find where it said it has a front filter. I apologize then! Time to own-up. Looks like a polished case & for that type of money, seems like to be very worthy.
 
docmal said:
I have done everything I can to try to educate you that it does indeed have front filters and there are large vents on the sides of the door but you refuse to listen. Therefore I have concluded that you are an idiot and I am henceforth ignoring you. In fact I have decided to never buy anything from Antec ever again for fear that it might have contributed in someway to your colossal ignorance.
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I actually liked you well written post! Even laughed for a couple of minutes @ my expense. Everyone needs a swift kick-in-the-pants every now & again. I'll take my medicine like a man. You're in fact correct & now I have changed my tune. For $80.00 it appears to be a nice case. I'll still continue to buy the newer version of the Antec 300 myself. Love it's simplicity & weight. Antec will have to shut it's doors without your support!
 
UMASS said:
Shyne: Are you a complete idiot? Unless the R4 comes-up with a front air-filter, it's crap! Did I mention it has an enclosed front plate? Airflow is EVERYTHING! The Antec 300 may not look as pretty, but it has everything you need & then some!
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Yes a complete idiot who is a software developer for a Big 10 University and with a MS in Computer Science. :rolleyes:

Don't run your mouth when you don't know what you're talking about. Especially when numerous people proved you wrong. Grow up.

*edit* Yes I did see you admitted defeat and apologized. But to call someone an idiot when you have no idea what you're talking about makes you look like... an idiot.
 
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Received this case last year as a gift. Coming from a HAF 922, I absolutely love this case. The filters and acoustics are what I love the most. Cooling isn't a problem. It's got good looks, too. No more having to blow the case out every couple months - just gotta dust the filters off.
 
UMASS said:
You don't get it do you? Doesn't matter if you have two-140mm front fans, unless you have an exposed grill (meaning not a closed one that the R4 has) it doesn't mean S**T! This why I LOVE the Antec 300! It has a filter with 2-120mm frontal fans. Plus a 1 rear-120mm & 140mmm top fan. Not to mention 1-120mm VC fan & 1-120mm CPU fan! Nuff said!
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Take an R4, put in some noctua fans, the NF-A14's if I recall? bingo bango. Has filters, they collect a lot of dust (Or rather I have an exceptional amount of dust in my house? Living where I do.). The NF-A14s work well for radiators/cases (pulling lots of air through that enclosed front panel, while remaining quiet).

edit: I have this case, I was exceptionally impressed with the build quality, but more so the intuitive design of it all. I used it to build my fiance's rig (It was a pleasure to work in).
Mine is in an older silverstone FT02B, a fabulous case if you can afford it. I do envy the ease of carrying the smaller R4 around. When you have to pick up a fully loaded FT02, from maximum arm reach that's sitting behind a monitor on a corner desk, you will know what I mean. If I could get an R4 with the quality of the Fortress 02, and the vertical mobo design, and collective one direction airflow, I'd be in absolute heaven.
 
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I've owned one and a half of these cases (the half was that I impulse bought one last time it was around this price, then decided to go mini itx the next day and resold it new in box).

Awfully nice case for $80, and my only gripes are minor:

1. The PSU is a slight hassle to mount. IIRC, there's no lip/shelf at the rear, and the rubber pads that serve this function aren't tall enough to let the PSU naturally rest aligned at the screw holes.
2. Could just be my particular case, but the very top hard drive bay is a little snug.


Caveat that I've never owned Noctua fans, but the included fans are pretty quiet at 7V (middle setting on the included fan controller) and audible but not a nuissance at full blast. To satisfy my OCD about matching accessories, I bought extra Fractal fans for the front and bottom intakes rather than Noctuas or my cheapy favorite AC PWM fans. The drive trays are decent at dampening vibration. I have 6 WD Reds stuffed in my R4 and don't hear them at all.

I can see the cooling being a bit of an issue if you want both a ton of drives and OC'd SLI or something like this. The case does have respectable airflow, but it's primarily designed for a quiet machine rather than maximum air flow like Fractal's Arc series. The bottom drive cage can be rotated 90 degrees to help airflow, at the expense of a restriction in GPU length. Of course, you can just take it out completely if you don't need those 5 drive bays at the bottom. Also a reminder that the side panels have sound dampening foam already.

All in all, quite a step up from the cheaper Antecs I had (NSK 4482/6580).
 
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