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Fractal Design North vs Montech XR Wood

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

all judged against PC cases at a similar price

The Montech XR Wood scores 6.5/10 overall, ahead of the Fractal Design North at 6.2/10.

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

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

They score the same on airflow and cooling.

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

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 (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 NorthMontech XR Wood
Airflow and cooling30%7/107/10
Build and ease of building20%7/105/10
Space and compatibility20%6/107/10
Noise15%4/105/10
Value15%6/108/10
Overall6.2/106.5/10

Specifications

SpecFractal Design NorthMontech XR Wood
Case type (mid tower, Micro-ATX, small form factor…)ATX mid-towerATX Mid-Tower
Motherboard sizes supported (E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX)ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITXATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Maximum graphics card length (mm)355 mm (300 mm with a 360 mm front radiator fitted)420mm
Maximum CPU cooler height (mm)145 mm175mm
Power supply type supported (ATX or SFX) and maximum PSU length (mm)ATX only, maximum PSU length 255 mmATX 230mm max length (conflicting sources: Vividrepairs gives ATX up to 200mm)
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 mmFront 280mm, Top 360mm (Tom's Hardware); conflicting figures from other sources
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 04 x 120mm GF120 ARGB PWM pre-installed; accommodates up to 12 fans
Drive bays (3.5 and 2.5 inch)Two combined 3.5"/2.5" bays and two dedicated 2.5" bays; seven expansion slots3.5-inch: 2; 2.5-inch: 2

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 ›

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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