Fractal Design has announced a new version of its beautiful North XL case supporting reverse connector motherboards. Now you can combine elegance and clean aesthetics all while maintaining great cooling performance.
The brand hasn’t shared pricing for this model, but based on the changes on hand we don’t expect it to stray away from the original’s £169.99. If you’re considering buying one, here is the compatibility list, so you can plan your build ahead:
| North XL (Mesh & TG) | North XL RC | |
| Motherboard | E-ATX (330mm) | ATX and mATX with rear-facing connectors or Mini-ITX |
| Front radiator | Up to 420/360mm | Up to 420/360mm |
| Top radiator | Up to 280/360mm | Up to 280/360mm |
| Rear radiator | 120/140mm | 120mm |
| Included 140mm fans | 3 | 3 |
| 120mm fan mounts | 9 (Mesh) 7 (TG) | 7 |
| 140mm fan mounts | 8 (Mesh) 6 (TG) | 5 |
| Graphics card | Up to 413mm | Up to 413mm |
| CPU cooler | 155mm with fan bracket or 185mm without | 169mm |
Keeping all features of the well-known North XL chassis, this RC version mainly reconfigures the interior to accommodate motherboards that have rear-facing connectors such as the MSI B650M Project Zero. If you liked the North XL before, this change should make it more appealing. Say goodbye to cables running everywhere ruining the view of your hardware, all while making cleaning a breeze.
Talking of breezes, cooling should also improve as cables no longer impede airflow. An improvement that should allow for lower fan RPMs to reduce noise without hindering performance. Note however that this North XL RC version will only be available with a glass side panel, meaning that you won’t have an option to add extra fans on the side. Understandable, since the whole point of this design is to deliver a nice clean look over your hardware.
Though the original’s build procedure was already fairly straightforward, this one should make it even simpler. With all connectors accessible from the back, you will have less struggle neatly routing cables and securing them in place. No more fighting with the case headers too. We just hope Fractal took this occasion to fix some of the limitations found on the original XL, such as the smaller fan hub and the top panel which slides off without much prodding.
Those who like flashy lights will have an unobstructed look at their RGB fans and LCD CPU coolers. And with the North XL material quality, your fancy parts will feel right at home. In my eyes, the chassis’ charm resides in its gorgeous natural look, so RGB is a no go. Putting a plastic plant or a wooden sculpture on top of the graphics card instead would deliver a more appropriate result.
