PCWorld tears down Fractal's gorgeous Era 2 case

As a PC builder, I know you can’t beat the flexibility and utility of a full-sized, standard ATX build. But also… small form factor desktops are just so pretty. Fractal makes some of the prettiest SFF cases, including the super-compact Terra — and PCWorld’s video team got their hands on the latest Fractal Design, um, design, the Era 2.

The original Era SFF case was gorgeous with its curved metal exterior and wood-accented top (a trend we see continued on the North and others), but it was knocked for its poor cable routing and cooling options.

The new version of the Era SFF keeps the original’s slick styling with a much more flexible interior. Dig the more capacious cutouts on the aluminum sides for better airflow and the now bottom-mounted front IO panel that keeps the look symmetrical.

The new design is ideal for a liquid cooling setup for some serious performance in a build, and that’s partly why it’s a larger physical case (366mm long, 314mm tall) versus some other cases that prioritize being the smallest possible size. This extra room lets you use up to a 280mm all-in-one cooler (double 140mm fans) at the top. Inside the frame is using a split interior layout with an included PCIe 4.0 riser and room for up to four 2.5-inch drives.

Small form factor cases generally assume that you’re going to build it, close it, and then adjust things as infrequently as possible. But the Era 2 almost invites tinkering thanks to a system that lets you remove the top fan assembly and then the aluminum “shell” with zero tools. It’s still a bit tricky, but it’s undeniably slick.

Our team has only been able to check out an engineering sample so far, so while there’s a lot to break down in the near 40-minute video, we’ll have to wait for a final verdict. Subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube and check out our dedicated channel for The Full Nerd podcast, too!

Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld

Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.

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