Fractal Design Vector RS Review 23

Fractal Design Vector RS Review

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Value and Conclusion

  • The Fractal Design Vector RS has an MSRP of US$180 excl. taxes.
  • Excellent construction quality
  • Great attention to detail
  • Excellent mix of materials
  • Glass side panel construction is clean and has no screws sticking out
  • Three glass panels are a nice touch
  • Ability to switch between "storage layout" and "open layout" to fit your needs
  • Can take up to a 420 mm radiator in the ceiling and a 360 mm radiator in the front
  • Includes three 140 mm retail quality fans
  • Removable dust filters on all intake areas, including strips inside the front panel
  • Embedded RGB strips in the top and front
  • In-line RGB controller included
  • Three-piece top cover for uncompromising liquid-cooling capability
  • Updated PWM fan controller
  • Can hold up to 8 storage drives out of the box, with a maximum of 13
  • Alternate placement of SSDs possible if you like to show them off
  • USB-C 3.1 port included out of the box
  • Can take PSU of up to 300 mm in length
  • GPUs of up to 440 mm in length will fit
  • CPU cooler's maximum height of 185 mm is more than enough for air-cooling enthusiasts
  • Interesting optional accessories, should you want/need them
  • Available with a heavy or lighter tint
  • RGB LED implementation not quite as clean as other brands
  • In-line controller hard to reach if you want to switch lighting up frequently
  • No more activity LED
  • 2.5" drive-bay placement on shroud not ideal
  • An additional cover for the shroud would have been nice for the alternate layout
Well, the Fractal Design Vector RS is quite the different approach to what we have seen and frankly become accustomed to from the brand. With the company's recent rebranding also comes a bolder approach to case design it seems. In fact, the Vector RS is the first case from Fractal with RGB elements build into the overall design of the case, while previous lighting implementations were based on separate LED strips of RGB-equipped fans.

That said, this gears the case to a completely different target audience than their classic Define line, for example. The Fractal Design Vector RS looks to be the next step towards going beyond pure functionality after tipping their toes into the element with the Vision variant of the Define S2 which employed glass and RGB fans to appeal to those who seek flashier setups.

Design is always a purely subjective element, so I won't voice my opinion of the looks and leave that for you to decide. What I can can mention is that the embedded RGB strip with the material mix between glass and solid panels in the front and top speaks for the attention to detail Fractal is known for. That said, there is still a little room for improvement to really get the brightness and continuity of these lighting elements just right, as there is a bit of a disconnect between the top and front panel.

On the interior, the Vector RS shines due to the utilization of the same frame we have seen in the Define R6. With its "storage" and "open" layouts, the inclusion of three 140 mm retail-grade fans, and the immense liquid cooling possibilities along with plenty of room for your biggest components, you are able to throw any type of hardware into the chassis easily. Couple that with Velcro strips, unique and well-designed HDD trays and plenty of smart cable routing all utilizing thick, sturdy steel panels and you have all your bases covered.

It really comes down to capturing the right market with the chassis. Those who love all that quality and understated and clean looks can opt for the original R6, which launched with an MSRP of US$129, or the updated R6 USB-C clocking in around $150—with their market segment being a lot more compact, both can stand out more. The Vector RS adds a few dollars, but is part of that crowded space where RGB is king, cases are plentiful, and designs are numerous, which means the Vector RS will be competing for a much tougher crowd to win over in comparison even though it is a great case.
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Nov 25th, 2024 22:45 EST change timezone

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