Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

Fractal Design North vs Phanteks XT Pro Ultra

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

all judged against PC cases at a similar price

The Phanteks XT Pro Ultra scores 6.7/10 overall, ahead of the Fractal Design North at 6.2/10.

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

The Phanteks XT Pro Ultra leads on space and compatibility and value.

They score the same on airflow and cooling and noise.

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

Phanteks XT Pro Ultra

Phanteks XT Pro Ultra

6.7/10verdict: good, not the best

The Phanteks XT Pro Ultra is a mid-tower for builders who want a mesh-fronted case with fans already fitted. It suits people planning a large graphics card, a tall air cooler or a 360 mm radiator. It is less suited to anyone who puts quiet running or a rigid side panel first.

Typically about £76.99 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

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightFractal Design NorthPhanteks XT Pro Ultra
Airflow and cooling30%7/107/10
Build and ease of building20%7/106/10
Space and compatibility20%6/108/10
Noise15%4/104/10
Value15%6/108/10
Overall6.2/106.7/10

Specifications

SpecFractal Design NorthPhanteks XT Pro Ultra
Case type (mid tower, Micro-ATX, small form factor…)ATX mid-towerMid-Tower
Motherboard sizes supported (E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX)ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITXE-ATX (up to 280 mm wide), ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX; rear-connect boards supported for MSI Project Zero, ASUS BTF and Gigabyte Project Stealth
Maximum graphics card length (mm)355 mm (300 mm with a 360 mm front radiator fitted)415 mm; GPU width 184 mm
Maximum CPU cooler height (mm)145 mm184 mm
Power supply type supported (ATX or SFX) and maximum PSU length (mm)ATX only, maximum PSU length 255 mmMaximum PSU length 270 mm; bottom mount
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: max 360 mm; Front: max 240 mm; Rear: 120 mm
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 0Four M25-140 D-RGB fans included; top 3x 120 mm or 2x 140 mm; front 3x 120 mm or 3x 140 mm; midplate 3x 120 mm; rear 1x 120 mm or 140 mm
Drive bays (3.5 and 2.5 inch)Two combined 3.5"/2.5" bays and two dedicated 2.5" bays; seven expansion slots5x 2.5-inch plus 1x 3.5-inch HDD, or 3x 2.5-inch SSD plus 2x 3.5-inch

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 ›

Phanteks XT Pro Ultra

  • + Four D-RGB fans included
  • + Roomy: 415 mm GPU, 184 mm cooler, E-ATX
  • + Owners praise cable routing and value
  • − Owners report noisy stock fans
  • − Side panel flex reported by owners
  • − Only two 3.5-inch bays at most

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who put quiet running first and don't want to deal with stock fan noise.
  • Anyone building a storage-heavy system with several 3.5-inch hard drives.
  • Buyers who want a rigid side panel.
Read the full Phanteks XT Pro Ultra review ›

More comparisons

Compare all PC cases · Best PC cases