Fractal Design North vs Lian Li LANCOOL 217

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

all judged against PC cases at a similar price

The Lian Li LANCOOL 217 scores 7.4/10 overall, ahead of the Fractal Design North at 6.2/10.

The Lian Li LANCOOL 217 leads on airflow and cooling, space and compatibility, noise and value.

They score the same on build and ease of building.

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

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Lian Li LANCOOL 217

7.4/10verdict: good, not the best

The Lian Li LANCOOL 217 is for builders who want a mesh-front mid-tower with plenty of fans already fitted. It suits people fitting a long graphics card, a large air cooler or a 360 mm radiator in the top. It also suits anyone planning a vertical GPU mount, since Lian Li lists the case as supported by its VG4 kit.

Typically about £109.99 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	Fractal Design North	Lian Li LANCOOL 217
Airflow and cooling	30%	7/10	8/10
Build and ease of building	20%	7/10	7/10
Space and compatibility	20%	6/10	8/10
Noise	15%	4/10	5/10
Value	15%	6/10	8/10
Overall		6.2/10	7.4/10

Specifications

Spec	Fractal Design North	Lian Li LANCOOL 217
Case type (mid tower, Micro-ATX, small form factor…)	ATX mid-tower	Mid-tower
Motherboard sizes supported (E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX)	ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX	E-ATX, EEB (back-connect compatible)
Maximum graphics card length (mm)	355 mm (300 mm with a 360 mm front radiator fitted)	380 mm (max)
Maximum CPU cooler height (mm)	145 mm	180 mm (max)
Power supply type supported (ATX or SFX) and maximum PSU length (mm)	ATX only, maximum PSU length 255 mm	ATX; max length 220 mm in standard mode, 180 mm when rotated
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 mm	Top: 360 / 280 / 240 mm
Fans included and fan mounts	Two 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 0	5 pre-installed, including two 170 mm front fans
Drive bays (3.5 and 2.5 inch)	Two combined 3.5"/2.5" bays and two dedicated 2.5" bays; seven expansion slots	not listed

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 217

+ Five fans pre-installed, including two 170 mm front fans
+ 380 mm GPU room with anti-sag bracket included
+ Takes E-ATX and EEB boards plus 360 mm top radiator
− PSU length limit drops to 180 mm when rotated
− CPU cooler height is capped at 180 mm

Skip it if:

Buyers with a CPU cooler taller than 180 mm
Buyers with a power supply longer than 220 mm
Anyone who wants a solid-panel case chosen for quiet running

Read the full Lian Li LANCOOL 217 review ›

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