Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

Fractal Design North vs Lian Li LANCOOL 207

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

all judged against PC cases at a similar price

The Lian Li LANCOOL 207 scores 6.8/10 overall, ahead of the Fractal Design North at 6.2/10.

The Fractal Design North leads on build and ease of building.

The Lian Li LANCOOL 207 leads on airflow and cooling, noise and value.

They score the same on space and compatibility.

Fractal Design North

Fractal Design North

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The Fractal Design North is an ATX mid-tower for builders who want a mesh-fronted case with good build quality. It suits people planning a front-mounted radiator, as long as they accept the GPU length limit that comes with it. It is a weaker fit for anyone who wants a quiet build without adjusting fan settings.

Typically about £119.99 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Lian Li LANCOOL 207

Lian Li LANCOOL 207

6.8/10verdict: good, not the best

The Lian Li LANCOOL 207 is for builders who want a compact, airflow-first case for an ATX, Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX board. It suits anyone putting a hot CPU and a long graphics card into a small footprint. It is a better fit for a single-GPU gaming or workstation build than for a storage-heavy one.

Typically about £75 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightFractal Design NorthLian Li LANCOOL 207
Airflow and cooling30%7/108/10
Build and ease of building20%7/106/10
Space and compatibility20%6/106/10
Noise15%4/105/10
Value15%6/108/10
Overall6.2/106.8/10

Specifications

SpecFractal Design NorthLian Li LANCOOL 207
Case type (mid tower, Micro-ATX, small form factor…)ATX mid-towerM-ATX sized case with ATX compatibility
Motherboard sizes supported (E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX)ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITXATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX
Maximum graphics card length (mm)355 mm (300 mm with a 360 mm front radiator fitted)375mm
Maximum CPU cooler height (mm)145 mmnot listed
Power supply type supported (ATX or SFX) and maximum PSU length (mm)ATX only, maximum PSU length 255 mmATX, front-mounted, maximum length 160mm
Radiator support (e.g. 360mm top, 280mm front)Top 120 and 240 mm; front 120, 140, 240, 280 and 360 mm; rear 120 mm; side 2x 120/140 mmTop 360mm
Fans included and fan mountsTwo Aspect 14 PWM fans included (front); mounts: front 3x 120 mm or 2x 140 mm, top 2x 120/140 mm, rear 1x 120 mm, side 0Included: 2 x 140mm ARGB at front and 2 x 120mm PWM above PSU shroud. Mounts: front 2 x 140mm, top 3 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm, internal 2 x 120mm, rear 1 x 120mm
Drive bays (3.5 and 2.5 inch)Two combined 3.5"/2.5" bays and two dedicated 2.5" bays; seven expansion slotsTwo drive positions, each taking a 3.5" or 2.5" drive

Strengths and weaknesses

Fractal Design North

  • + Owners praise looks and solid build quality
  • + Front radiator support up to 360 mm
  • + Two Aspect 14 PWM fans included
  • − Reviewers measured 53 to 54 dB; owners complain of noise
  • − GPU clearance falls to 300 mm with a 360 mm front radiator
  • − No rear fan included

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want a quiet build without adjusting fan curves
  • Anyone pairing a long GPU with a 360 mm front radiator
  • Builders who need CPU cooler clearance above 145 mm
Read the full Fractal Design North review ›

Lian Li LANCOOL 207

  • + Top thermal chart placement at GamersNexus
  • + Four fans included, with a 360mm top radiator mount
  • + Fits graphics cards up to 375mm
  • − Reviewers report cable management and PSU fit complaints
  • − Only two drive positions
  • − PSU length capped at 160mm

Skip it if:

  • Anyone building a storage-heavy machine that needs more than two drives
  • Buyers with a power supply longer than 160mm
  • Builders who want a quiet, closed-panel case
Read the full Lian Li LANCOOL 207 review ›

More comparisons

Compare all PC cases · Best PC cases