Fractal Design Vector Rs Water Cooling

Fractal Design has been regarded every bit i of the marketplace leaders in enthusiast-level mid-tower cases for quite some fourth dimension, with a plethora of options for builders who want silent operation, ease of build, and h2o-cooling.

Today we are looking at the all-new Fractal Design Vector RS Blackout PC example, and the first matter to note is the identical interior to the excellent Define R6. That's correct, this is substantially another refresh from Fractal Design, with some serious outside changes. While this new look from Fractal Blueprint does a groovy job of interweaving RGB, tempered drinking glass, and sharp case angles, does it tick the usual boxes their other premium cases tick?

Fractal Design Vector RS Blackout

233 10 552 x 498 (W x D x H)

Steel, Plastic, Tempered Glass

Specifications

233 10 552 x 498 (W x D x H)

Steel, Plastic, Tempered Glass

2 x USB 3.0, ane x USB Blazon-C, Microphone, Headphone, Reset Button, Power Button

Upward to eleven three.5″ drives (half dozen included) and upward to iv 2.v″ drives (two included).

E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX

3 x 120/140mm (2 x 140mm included)/ one x 120/140mm (1 ten 140mm included)/ 3 x 120/140mm (with cooling subclass installed)

440mm with front end fans mounted

Enough of cooling options

Interchangeable acme panels

Packaging & Contents

Fractal Pattern sent the Vector RS over to us and also threw in the ION+680P power supply and a pack of their Prisma fans. The case arrived undamaged equally you would await and has had some mixed reviews in the office.

Inside, you lot get the case and also an accessories pack. The accessories pack wasn't anything tremendously exciting; information technology was just the modular brackets for the top of the example, if yous were planning on hooking upwards extra fans. In the pack, you also get your manual and the screws for installation.

Included:

• Vector RS Blackout computer instance
• 3 x Dynamic GP-14 fans
• Ventilated top panel
• Meridian filter
• Elevation radiator/ fan bracket
• Conform R1 RGB controller
• User manual
• Accessory box

The Exterior

Seeing the Vector RS upwardly close with the packaging removed and I'm less skeptical about the angular front. The Vector RS is labeled 'Blackout' due to its blackness aesthetics inside and out. Y'all tin go fifty-fifty darker though with Fractal offering a 'Nighttime' version, which is identical except the tempered drinking glass features a heavier tint. This example, every bit mentioned, is a refresh, but the outside of the chassis has seen the most design changes. The Vector RS is mostly comprised of steel and plastic, shipping with three glass panels.

The forepart is where nosotros see the athwart contour; certainly an acquired taste, only it does give the chassis a sleek, simplistic await.

The minimalist arroyo on the pattern is broken up with a vein of RGB running vertically upwards the front and all the style to the back, separating the tempered glass from the plastic chassis.

The I/0 ports are located on the tiptop, leaving the front of the case completely clean. There are ventilation grills forth either side of the front end panel for airflow to compensate for the glass panel and airtight-off

front.

On the subject of air, the forepart panel is hands removed to reveal infinite for fans. Of course, this case comes with 2 x 140 mm fans (Dynamic X2 GP-14) installed on the front, but there is room for a 3rd. If you wanted to mount 120mm fans on the front, it would notwithstanding just take a total of 3. You can easily mount an AIO cooler on the front as well, with infinite for radiators up to 360mm in length.

Rear

Everything at the back of the Vector RS instance is pretty standard, and we see the third and concluding pre-installed Dynamic X2 140mm fan here. For expansion, you get a fairly mutual seven slots, simply there is also the inclusion of two vertical slots. I'k not sure you lot could vertically mount a chunky GPU without running into clearance bug, and these slots may be better suited for a turbo blower carte du jour or a h2o-cooled GPU.

Information technology's worth noting that there are no side panel thumbscrews this time. Instead, we meet the use of a little ball-shaped part of the panel that clips in identify. The side panels come off with a piddling bit of force and are so smooth I thought it was magnetic at first.

To The Side

Similar a lot of Fractal Designs cases of late, we see a thick, scratch-resistant tempered glass console. Unfortunately, this case doesn't come up with any hinges of sorts as we saw in the Phanteks Enthoo 719, then you have to pay attention when taking off this side console equally information technology has a bit of weight to it. The glass, equally you would await, is of high quality, and for those that prefer a heavier tint, Fractal offers this case with a 'Dark' option too.

The Acme

On the height of the Fractal Blueprint Vector RS, Coma is where nosotros see the I/O ports, and at first glance, it's a bit limited.

The I/O ports consist of:

• Ability Button
• Reset Push button
• ii 10 USB 3.0
• i x USB Type-C
• 1 x Microphone & Headphone Jack

An unusual gripe I found while using this case was the awkward reset button. Not only did it feel difficult to actually press but is quite modest likewise, which I suppose wouldn't exist an issue if it actuated properly.

Fractal has in one case once more implemented the modular top design with interchangeable panels for dissimilar setups. As you can see, the case comes with the glass panel installed on the height, and an accessory pack provides you with the other 3 attachments. The other attachments, which include the fan bracket, filter, and ventilated panel, will provide you lot with another space to mount cooling fans or, of course, an AIO radiator up to 420mm.

Regardless of which top panel yous go for, you will still become the addressable RGB LED strip running through the top. This strip is connected to the R1 RGB controller, which also comes in the accompaniment pack.

The Inside

The virtually important matter to annotation on the interior of the Vector RS case is the fact information technology is exactly the same every bit the Fractal Design R6. Equally mentioned, this is a refresh, but that doesn't mean there is anything incorrect with the insides of this premium example. The chassis can fit E-ATX boards, which would cover the cablevision holes entirely, but that isn't a big bargain every bit at that place is room through the HDD trays if you were drastic to make it work. Motherboard support is from Mini-ITX all the fashion upwards to E-ATX as discussed, but the optimal motherboard for the job in hither is definitely an ATX.

Fractal offers some modularity with the Vector RS as the HDD cages can exist removed. If yous were going for a storage-based build, then the six included trays volition exist enough to go you started. Furthermore, if you needed extra storage, you can fit up to 11 HDDs alone. As yous would wait from a case of this quality, the HDD trays come with vibration-dampening rubber grommets, only this is all fairly standard stuff for a premium case. While we are on the subject of storage, you likewise go two defended SSD brackets with the option to fit a total of four if you lot were going down the storage route. Removing the HDD trays is the simply pick for watercoolers out there as it'south in a spot where you would ideally mountain your reservoir.

Lastly, the final touch from Fractal is the full encompass ventilated PSU shroud at the lesser of the case. I'k always a fan of a PSU shroud as it's such a uncomplicated addition that goes a long mode with the aesthetics of any build, allowing you to hands tuck away those cables- out of sight, out of heed. Below the shroud, there is space to mount two x 120 or 140mm fans or a radiator up to 280mm.

The Back Panel

Taking the back panel off reveals the two SSD mounts and ample cable management room. According to the specification, the Vector RS has nearly 23mm of room for your cables. This translates to you never having to worry well-nigh the space at the back, and this also features Fractal's velcro straps, with a load of necktie points for the cable management enthusiasts out there.

Features

With the case beingness on offering in the Usa at the time of writing this, there are a few key features to the Vector RS Blackout that may persuade a few to grab this for their next build. The tool-free side panels with the button-to-lock mechanism are useful, only as mentioned, a hinged door is always preferred for me.

• Design – The angled intake vents forth the sides are designed this way to trap dissonance without interrupting the airflow, but information technology gives the case a unique expect that some perhaps won't like. In that location is plenty of storage and cooling support with this PC instance, and the customizable ARGB strip running through the Vector is a touch I quite similar.
• Water-Cooling –We have come to expect this level of h2o-cooling support from Fractal cases, and so it is unsurprising to come across it on the Vector RS. This cooling back up, along with the modular blueprint, gives builders multiple configurations to play with, and of course, there is vertical GPU mounting bachelor too.
• Fan Hub –The handy fan hub screwed into the back console assisted me during the build process and is a characteristic I'd like to see more often. While I didn't cram this full of fans, it stopped me from needing a fan splitter and tidies upwardly the build from the front massively.

While there are many features to the Vector RS Coma, there is nothing to brand this case stand out from the rest of the competition. That being said, the quality of Fractal Blueprint shines through once more, and at the right price, this could be a decent choice to get for.

Our Verdict

Overall, the Fractal Design Vector RS Blackout PC example is a solid, characteristic-packed chassis. For your common builder or enthusiast, at that place is enough to this to keep both ends of the calibration happy. The sharp angles could practise it for some, and it's the first fourth dimension we have seen Fractal include a strip of RGB through a case, but I withal prefer the R5/R6 models or even the S2s.

The acoustic performance was very good, and the three included fans practice a great job for thermals. So with few negatives to talk about, why am I still not sold on this? Well, the plastic feet and angular expect are just not to my taste for what is considered to exist a premium case. The tempered glass is cracking, only it seems wasted on the front as you can't come across any RGB fans backside information technology.

This Fractal case, similar many before it is of stellar quality and makes the building procedure like shooting fish in a barrel, so if you're on the market for a example that performs, and then the Vector RS could be one to go for.

Fractal Design Vector RS Coma

233 x 552 x 498 (W x D x H)

Steel, Plastic, Tempered Glass

Overall, the Fractal Blueprint Vector RS Blackout PC case is a solid, feature-packed chassis. For your common builder or enthusiast, there is plenty to this to keep both ends of the scale happy. The sharp angles could practise information technology for some, and it'southward the first time we have seen Fractal include a strip of RGB through a instance, but I even so prefer the R5/R6 models or even the S2s.

Source: https://www.wepc.com/reviews/fractal-design-vector-rs-review/

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