Save space without curtailing components, thanks to the Define 7 Compact Mid-Tower Case with dark tempered glass from Fractal Design. Supporting ATX, micro-ATX, and mini-ITX motherboards, this mid-tower case features two 2.5/3.5″ drive bays inside a drive cage. Two drive trays are also included, allowing you to mount 2.5″ drives on the PSU shroud or behind the motherboard. Seven expansion slots can be used to install various adapter cards, including GPUs up to 14.20″. If a front fan is installed, graphics cards up to 13.43″ are supported. Likewise, with the drive cage and a front fan installed, power supplies are limited to 7.87″, while CPU coolers up to 6.65″ are also supported.
The Define 7 Compact Mid-Tower Case comes with two preinstalled fans: one 140mm intake fan, and one 120mm exhaust fan. Additional fans can be installed at the front, top, and bottom of the case for increased airflow. Or install radiators up to 360, 240, or 120mm at the front, top, and rear of the case. Front radiators with widths up to 5.71″ are supported, and if the drive cage is removed, users can install a 120mm radiator at the bottom of the case, as well.
Utilizing a steel frame and dark tempered glass left-side panel, the Define 7 Compact also features an aluminum front panel. The side panels feature a top-latching design, and the top panel can be swapped between a noise-reducing steel or a ventilated mesh panel, or removed completely for easy access. Keep your build looking tight thanks to easy-to-clean nylon filters at the front, top, and bottom of the case. Additionally, 0.67 to 1.10″ of routing space, integrated cable guides, touch fastener straps, and a PSU shroud help you hide excess cables. Alongside a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, the front I/O panel also incorporates two USB 3.1 Gen 1 and two 2.0 Type-A ports. Audio input and output ports are also present.
Jenifer Zemlak (verified owner) –
Case is very well built. Solid. Incredibly versatile. Great attention to details. Includes all screws, cable ties. Note that if you want to install a DVD player/burner, it is involved. I found some YouTube videos very helpful. Very happy with case. Well designed, well built
Domenico Jakubowski (verified owner) –
I had a Define R4 that I loved. This is an upgrade in every way. I like it over the R4 for the following. 1. Removeable top makes it easier to build. Plugging in power/headers along the top is much easier 2. Hard Drive tray design is much better than R4 because you get better air flow. 3. Front Door is a much better build quality and room for 3 intakes instead of R4’s 2 fans. 4. tools less doors are much easier to get on/off even if you have poor cable management.
Cyrus Osinski (verified owner) –
I was disappointed that the side panels and top panel just snap into place and are not held with fasteners. When you pick up the case to move it, particularly if one side panel is open when doing so, you have to be careful it doesn’t come apart. Other than that, the layout and internal function of the case is great. Does not have the ability to mount an optical drive if that is a consideration (though most can do without these days or use a USB connected optical drive). We installed Windows via a USB optical drive we had around for laptops. A Fractal Design 7 (full tower) I bought a couple years ago uses thumbscrew fasteners for everything and it’s just more solid (and more expensive).
Judd Gerlach (verified owner) –
No, it does not offer ‘hot swap’. For the money, this is the case I was looking for – solidly built – requires a slight learning curve and some dexterity – the included builder’s guide is a big help. It sure stores a heck of a lot of 2.5/3.5 inch drives (like 14?). If you install a 6xSSD cage in the 5.25 slot, even more! Supports ITX to E-ATX mobos.
Felicita D’Amore (verified owner) –
Fits a 3080Ti barely with the front fan in. Cable routing on the backside is good, could be a little larger channel for the power cables.
Katheryn Russel (verified owner) –
A lot of people complain about thermals with this case. I’m running a 3060 Ti and an i9 with two 140mm intake and one 120mm exhaust; there have been zero issues with thermal throttling with this case. Even when I only had one 140mm intake, no issues. This case looks great, the dark tempered glass lets a classy amount of RGB through from my mobo. It’s also easy to clean the filters, though I have noticed dust still get’s into it. And cable management wasn’t the hard either. The only complaint I have is the top USB ports are very very very tight. It’s incredibly hard to remove the little wireless mouse receivers. However, anything bigger(like the steam controller receiver) is easier to get out.
Lorena Trantow (verified owner) –
Most of my issues with this case are of the Old Man Shakes Fist At Cloud variety. With that disclaimer: Good: It’s not unnecessarily large. There’s just enough width for a typical 120mm tower cooler and a modicum of cable routing, just enough height for a rad up top and air underneath, and just enough depth for a full ATX board plus a rad up front. Construction is solid, and the slot covers don’t protrude from the rear like most chassis these days. Comes with 140mm intake and 120mm exhaust fans, both of which seem decent. Airflow is better than one might expect, and configuration is reasonably flexible. Swappable solid and vented top panels are a nice touch, as is how far it can be disassembled. Less good: Cable routing can be tedious, which I’ll accept in trade for the small-ish size. Included fans are not PWM. Sound damping material doesn’t seem all that effective, but if air is to get in, one supposes that sound will be able to get out. No drive activity light. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is black inside and out, which makes it really hard to see what you’re doing without really good lighting. Controls and ports are on top instead of the front, and there’s no 5.25 bay. Basically, it’s a Meshify 2 with a solid front panel, which is interesting because I passed over the Meshify 2 because I don’t like the look.
Conrad McKenzie (verified owner) –
Needed a midsize ATX case for a new build. Fits a 3080 Ti lengthwise with about a centimeter to spare with the front case can inatalled. Wires route nicely on the backside.