A Closer Look - Outside

Right out of the box, you may notice that the Fractal Define S2 Vision RGB is quite a bit longer than it is high. The overall design is clearly based on what we have come to expect from the Define family, with clean, straight edges and a plated, brushed aluminium front door. The use of materials is a step up as previous Define cases used plastic instead. The base of this chassis is obviously the Define S2, but Fractal has replaced all the major panels with slightly tinted glass panels.


As with all Define cases, the front is completely solid. You may remove the front panel to reveal three RGB-equipped 140 mm fans set to pull air into the Define S2 Vision RGB. In the rear, things are arranged in a traditional fashion with the PSU bay at the very bottom.


Looking at the main glass side panel, you will notice that the variant on the S2 Vision RGB is slightly tinted, while the original S2 glass was not. Another interesting aspect is the fact that the glass panel has been placed on a metal frame and secured just like a classic solid side panel. This allows Fractal Design to offer the chassis both as a windowed and solid variant without having to worry about different tooling elements. The same panel type has been employed on the opposing side, so you will be able to see the wires and hard drives once assembled.


Looking at the rear, the PSU bay is equipped with a mounting frame as you will have to slide the power supply in through the back of the chassis during assembly. Above that are the seven vertical and two horizontal expansion slots. With the optional Flex VRC-25 PCIe ribbon cable and slot, the two horizontal openings allow you to present your high-end GPU perfectly behind the glass window, for example. In the very top, you will find another retail-grade 140 mm fan set to blow air out the back of the chassis. This brings the total count of cooling units to a very respectable three. A big round button will release the ceiling panel once pressed firmly.


The Define S2 Vision also comes with a fitted glass top cover for good measure, but you may replace it with the more traditional vented part, especially if you plan on installing additional cooling or a radiator in the ceiling. The I/O panel is separate from the front cover, which means you may pull the latter off without having to worry about any wires. Here, you will find two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 plugs on one and a pair of audio connectors on the other side. In the middle is a small reset button and a much larger power switch. You will also find a fully fledged USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port here, which was only available as an upgrade in the original R6, but is included by default in the R6C as well.

Just like the previous generation of the series, the Fractal Design Define S2 Vision RGB Vision RGB comes with a big dust filter on its underside you can pull out through the front for easy cleaning.