I won’t quite say that I have grown tired of companies taking the safe route by slapping a fine mesh front panel on cases. But I admire creativity, which is what Fractal has brought to airflow-focused cases. Not only does the front panel look good, but it also performs really well, without even adding an exhaust fan. mm or 2x 180 mm (2x Dynamic GP-18 included in standard version, 2x Prisma AL-18 included in RGB version) In an effort to ensure there’s a Torrent for everyone, the Swedish manufacturer is today launching Torrent Compact for streamlined mid-tower builds, as well as Torrent Nano for those who prefer to take the mini-ITX route. Open layout with expansive base intakes and extra-large bottom fan support offers exceptional GPU cooling mm or 2x 180 mm (3x Dynamic GP-14 PWM included in standard version, 3x Prisma AL-14 PWM included in RGB version)

Fractal Design Torrent Compact RGB TG Light Tint Review

You saw this one coming, didn't you? Given the success of last year's Torrent, Fractal Design was always likely to follow-up on its popular 'all-airflow' enclosure with smaller mainstream variants.Removable top bezel and routing clips with cable ties make for easy installation and cable management If there’s a criticism of the eye-catching design, it’s that angular motifs typically result in large swathes of plastic. Though the front fascia looks incredible, the slithers that make up the vent do have some flex to them, and the chassis’ plastic top panel doesn’t carry the high-quality feel of a metal build.

Torrent Compact Case Review: Just One Problem Fractal Torrent Compact Case Review: Just One Problem

When KitGuru reviewed the Fractal Design Torrent with its funky 180mm fans we had mixed views. Indeed, we were so undecided we took a second look at the Torrent and concluded we had been correct in the first place that Torrent was interesting, effective and rather large for our tastes. So imagine our delight when Fractal Design announced the Torrent Compact which promises more of the 180mm goodness in a smaller chassis. I didn’t realize how tiny the Torrent Compact was until I started building in it. While I have experience with the Fractal Meshify C, that case looked small right when I first laid my eyes on it. However, the Torrent Compact does not. This isn’t a bad thing, but if you’re using a triple-fan graphics card, you’re cutting it close, as the case only supports graphics cards up to 13 inches (330 mm) with the front case fans installed. Looking for a case that has high airflow capability and is small(ish)? Fractal very well may have the answer for you. The Fractal Torrent Compact and the Fractal Torrent Nano are the most recent additions to the Torrent family lineup. For this review, I’ll be taking a look at the Torrent Compact. This is a Mid-tower sized version of the Torrent. The Compact can house motherboards ranging from mini-ITX up to EATX. Under the aggressively styled front panel, twin 180mm fans upfront to help provide airflow and aid in cooling of the components housed within. The Torrent Compact also features dual tempered glass side panels. So, get your cable management skills ready. Does the Fractal Compact have what it takes to keep your component cool? Read on to find out. Fractal Design Torrent cases allow you to install 180mm fans in the floor and front of the case and house the power supply in the roof so if – like us – you're not much fussed about that feature you may well be feeling a touch of meh. KitGuru says: If you fancy the looks of the quirky Torrent Compact you will need to accept its slightly unusual layout.

Smaller size, still a large amount of airflow

On the inside the decision to slim down hasn’t diminished the chassis’ suitability for a high-end build. Strictly speaking, there’s still room for up to a 274mm E-ATX motherboard, though regular ATX is going to be a better fit for for most users. Seamless tempered glass panels (TG versions) with bolt-free top-latching mechanisms for easy handling That’s the Compact in the middle, Nano to the left, and in case you’re wondering, a Fractal Design Define R7 on the right. Sleek Exterior The Torrent Nano is built to maximize cooling potential straight out of the box. Main standouts include an unobstructed base intake, an open front grille and one of our 180 x 38 mm Dynamic PWM fans (Prisma for RGB version) custom-made to achieve maximum air cooling while maintaining controlled noise levels. The size is right, pricing is acceptable, and the most appealing aspects of Torrent go untouched. That stylish front fascia looks better than ever and dual 180mm intakes deliver on the promise of high airflow.

Fractal Design Torrent Compact White TG Clear Tint Mid Tower

You will have gathered from our video that we have mixed feelings about the Fractal Design Torrent Compact. The simple explanation is that we are perfectly happy with cases such as the Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO that rely on 120mm and 140mm fans and do not feel an immediate need for 180mm fans. Optional front and bottom nylon filters included, allowing the user to prioritize between dust filtering or even higher airflow Removable top bezel and cable guides with cable straps make for easy installation and cable management Top mounted aerodynamic PSU shroud with integrated ARGB effects (ARGB strip only available on TG and RGB versions) The open interior and top mounted PSU provides plenty of breathing room for components and maximizes performance potential

Since you don’t have the option to mount a radiator to the top of the case (remember, that’s where the PSU lives), you’re limited to impractical mounting options for liquid cooling, either in the front of the case or at the bottom. We couldn’t fit our EK 240mm D-RGB AIO in the front since we’re using a Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC, which is 12.5 inches (320 mm) long. I even tried mounting the AIO first, then installing the GPU, but that didn’t work either. Fractal Design’s latest Compact rectifies a common criticism of last year’s Torrent; it was too darn big. Reducing overall volume by some 33 per cent, the mid-sized addition to the range is much better suited to desktop use while maintaining support for a good selection of high-end gear.

Torrent Nano — Fractal Design Torrent Nano — Fractal Design

You saw this one coming, didn’t you? Given the success of last year’s Torrent, Fractal Design was always likely to follow-up on its popular ‘all-airflow’ enclosure with smaller mainstream variants. A sturdy, vibration-damped drive tray supporting a single HDD or dual SSDs with two optional mounting positions

Fan mounts: 3x 120mm, 2x 140mm or 2x 180mm front, 3x 120mm, 2x 140mm or 2x 180mm front, 1x 120mm rear. Ample room for typical enthusiast parts, but similar concessions extend throughout the case. While its bigger brother can accommodate up to seven 120/140mm fans or four 180s, Compact houses up to six 120s, four 140s or two 180s. Dotted around the enclosure, that includes two 140s or three 120s at the bottom, while the rear is limited to just a 120. Top I/O Ports Rear Cable Management Hidden Storage Bay Torrent Compact Interior To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, Sapphire RX 6800 XT 16GB and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Fractal Design Torrent Compact ‘s cooling capabilities.