Fractal Design Meshify 3 (Black Solid) vs Montech XR Wood

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against PC cases at a similar price

The Fractal Design Meshify 3 (Black Solid) scores 7.2/10 overall, ahead of the Montech XR Wood at 6.5/10.

The Fractal Design Meshify 3 (Black Solid) leads on airflow and cooling, build and ease of building and noise.

The Montech XR Wood leads on space and compatibility and value.

The biggest difference is build and ease of building, where the Fractal Design Meshify 3 (Black Solid) scores 8/10 to the Montech XR Wood's 5/10.

Fractal Design Meshify 3 (Black Solid)

7.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The Meshify 3 Black Solid is for builders who want a mesh-fronted ATX mid-tower with strong airflow and a plain steel-sided look. It suits air-cooled and radiator-cooled builds where cooling matters more than a glass window. It's best for people whose graphics card fits within 349 mm.

Typically about £124.90 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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Montech XR Wood

6.5/10verdict: good, not the best

The Montech XR Wood is for budget builders who want a mesh-fronted ATX case with fans already fitted. It suits people planning an air-cooled or liquid-cooled gaming PC with a long graphics card and a small number of drives. It is a weaker fit for storage-heavy builds or back-connect motherboards.

Typically about £55.02 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	Fractal Design Meshify 3 (Black Solid)	Montech XR Wood
Airflow and cooling	30%	8/10	7/10
Build and ease of building	20%	8/10	5/10
Space and compatibility	20%	6/10	7/10
Noise	15%	6/10	5/10
Value	15%	7/10	8/10
Overall		7.2/10	6.5/10

Specifications

Spec	Fractal Design Meshify 3 (Black Solid)	Montech XR Wood
Case type (mid tower, Micro-ATX, small form factor…)	ATX mid-tower	ATX Mid-Tower
Motherboard sizes supported (E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX)	E-ATX, ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX	ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Maximum graphics card length (mm)	349 mm	420mm
Maximum CPU cooler height (mm)	173 mm	175mm
Power supply type supported (ATX or SFX) and maximum PSU length (mm)	ATX only, maximum PSU length 180 mm	ATX 230mm max length (conflicting sources: Vividrepairs gives ATX up to 200mm)
Radiator support (e.g. 360mm top, 280mm front)	Front 280/360 mm; top 240/280 mm; rear 120 mm	Front 280mm, Top 360mm (Tom's Hardware); conflicting figures from other sources
Fans included and fan mounts	Three Momentum 14 included at front; front 3x 120/140 mm, top 2x 120/140 mm, rear 1x 120 mm	4 x 120mm GF120 ARGB PWM pre-installed; accommodates up to 12 fans
Drive bays (3.5 and 2.5 inch)	not listed	3.5-inch: 2; 2.5-inch: 2

Strengths and weaknesses

Fractal Design Meshify 3 (Black Solid)

+ Mesh front with GPU air guide and three fans fitted
+ Tool-less panels and captive thumbscrews ease building
+ Front, top and rear radiator mounts with brackets included
− 349 mm GPU length limit draws owner complaints
− Front radiator makes power cable routing harder
− PSU bay is ATX only, maximum 180 mm long

Skip it if:

Buyers with a graphics card longer than 349 mm
Anyone who wants a glass side panel to show off parts
Builders using a non-ATX power supply or one longer than 180 mm

Read the full Fractal Design Meshify 3 (Black Solid) review ›

Montech XR Wood

+ Four 120mm ARGB PWM fans pre-installed
+ Radiator and fan support praised by owners
+ Takes graphics cards up to 420mm
− Front dust filter restricts airflow and adds noise
− Only two 3.5-inch and two 2.5-inch drive spots

Skip it if:

Buyers with a back-connect motherboard
Builders who need many 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drive bays
Anyone wanting a near-silent build with a solid front panel

Read the full Montech XR Wood review ›

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