Test System

Assembly

Before we dive into the actual assembly process, I switched out the white I/O panel with the supplied Connect D1 in black. Thanks to the black front door, the contrast is not that bad. Naturally, you will be able to purchase the Connect D1 in the color to match your case - I just happen to have gotten one of the very few I/O panels in existence right now that are black.


Adding a motherboard is done by traditional means, using the pre-installed spacers and included screws. There are plenty of cable-routing and hiding possibilities to keep the interior nice and clean. Thanks to the optional Flex VRC-25 kit, I was able to put my GPU front and center, which shows it off perfectly.


You may add an SSD by using the specific mounting plate or one of the 3.5" drive trays. Both employ the same method of assembly as the drive is secured to either with traditional screws. Once filled, simply put it back into the case and use the thumb screw to ensure it stays there.


The 3.5" drives are placed on the larger trays in the same fashion. As these units rest on rubber rings as an anti-vibration measure, Fractal Design has included special screws for this purpose. There are enough of these to allow you to fill all six bays, which is nice to see.


Placing an optical drive within the Define R6 is identical to previous generations of the chassis. Simply remove the cover, slide the drive in, and use the included thumb screws to hold it in place.


Due to the shroud, you have to slide your power supply in through the opening in the back of the Define R6. Before doing so, simply mount the PSU frame to your unit, which then attaches to the case frame, There is plenty of space, which means you can easily use really powerful units without worry - even when using potent liquid cooling.


With everything installed, the Fractal Design Define R6 sports a really clean look. All the cables are nicely grouped and routed, and the opening for the motherboard tray gives you unobstructed access to the CPU mounting bracket.

Finished Looks

With the side panel back in place, the Define R6 is a real beauty. The white framing of the glass panel is perfect, and the metal covers to keep noise to a minimum and unsightly elements away from onlookers really do the job well.



Interestingly enough, the white power LED is not nearly as bright as I thought it would be. I actually turned off the studio lights and took a picture with a much longer exposure time just to capture a bit of its glow. Maybe Fractal Design can revisit this element, or it could just be an issue with the prototype I/O panel.


Looking into the glass side panel is pretty weird - in a positive way. We have just become accustomed to tinted glass panels, so it does take some getting used to when you are presented with a clear variant instead. In the rear, everything is where you would usually find it, with the exception of the GPU since it is displaced to the vertical slots.