Fractal’s latest case reuses a ton of tooling from the favored North to be able to hold prices low, leading to a $110 MSRP ($130 for RGB). The Epoch’s entrance panel will increase GPU clearance with out making the case any bigger than the compact North it is based mostly on. The brand new design additionally comes with 3 inventory followers versus the North’s 2, so we’ll cowl the variations in thermal efficiency intimately, in addition to noise testing.
The North itself initially launched at $130, then went to $140, and is now $154. That is nearly undoubtedly because of tariffs. With the Meshify 3 (learn our evaluate) going for $155 minimal as properly, the Epoch fills a finances slot in Fractal’s lineup that hasn’t actually been up to date because the Pop Air (watch our evaluate) and Focus 2 got here out in 2022.
Right now then, we’re reviewing and benchmarking the Fractal Epoch for thermals and acoustics.
| 3.5″/2.5″ drive mounts | 3 (2 included) |
| Devoted 2.5″ drive mounts | 2 |
| 5.25” drive mounts | 0 |
| Growth slots | 7 |
| Motherboard compatibility | ATX / mATX / Mini-ITX |
| Energy provide sort | ATX |
| Entrance interface | 1x USB Kind-C 20Gbps2x USB Kind-A 5Gbps1x Audio/Mic Combo Jack |
| Whole fan mounts | 6 x 120 mm or 4 x 140 mm |
| Entrance fan | 3 x 120/2x 140 mm(# 3 x Momentum 120mm PWM included) |
| High fan | 2 x 120/140 mm |
| Rear fan | 1 x 120 mm |
| Backside fan | N/A |
| Mud filters | PSU |
| Entrance radiator | As much as 360mm; As much as 280mm |
| High radiator | As much as 240mm |
| Rear radiator | 1x 120mm |
| Backside radiator | N/A |
| PSU max size | 1 HDD Tray: 255mm max2 HDD Tray: 155mm max |
| GPU max size | 372 mm with entrance fan mounted; as much as 345mm with entrance mounted radiator. |
| CPU cooler max top | 170 mm |
| Cable routing house | 30 mm |
| Cable routing grommets | Sure |
| Mounted velcro straps | Sure |
| Instrument-less push-to-lock | Thumb screws for facet panels, PSU bracket, ball joints entrance panel and sliding lock high mesh. |
| Captive thumbscrews | HDD brackets, SSD brackets, Facet panels, PSU bracket |
| Left facet panel | Tempered glass 3 mm [or] Metal |
| Proper facet panel | Metal |
| Case dimensions (LxWxH) | 447 x 215 x 469 mm |
| Case dimensions w/o toes/protrusions/screws | 443,3 x 215 x 455,3 mm |
Specs copied from producer supplies, please learn evaluate for our personal measurements and opinions
The Construct
The construct expertise within the Epoch is basically the identical as it’s within the North, however we’ll recap some particulars right here. We just like the North total, however at launch, we said that the North felt prefer it must be $20-$40 cheaper if it weren’t for the wooden within the entrance panel. We additionally stated the wooden elevated the case and (arguably) made it definitely worth the value.
The Epoch lacks wooden and it is $20-40 cheaper than the North is presently, in order that traces up with the sooner statements. The one problem is that it’s $30-$40 cheaper than the North’s new value, which is greater.
The Epoch (just like the North) is pretty primary. Eradicating the two-part facet panel and the sliding mesh high panel provides good entry to the case inside, however there is a clear divide between the Epoch and one thing just like the costlier Meshify 3, which has absolutely detachable high and entrance mounts that utterly open up the case.
The North’s shallow type issue signifies that GPU clearance is proscribed to 355mm, which might mash the tip of the GPU instantly towards the entrance fan mounts. The entrance of the Epoch has been reworked to push the entrance followers additional into the entrance panel, therefore the listed 372mm GPU clearance. Updating this for the Epoch was worthwhile, though it appears extra probably that individuals are going to attempt to match large, costly GPUs into the North or North XL quite than the plainer Epoch.
The redesign additionally signifies that the brand new case has extra clearance for followers and radiators between the PSU shroud and the fan bracket, up from 36mm to 58mm by our measurements, and there is much less materials overhanging the entrance drive bracket. The one draw back we seen with the entrance panel redesign is that fan cables should be managed extra rigorously to keep away from getting in the best way.
The brand new design is easier, with the steel mesh on the entrance of the Epoch appearing as a filter quite than the detachable filter within the North. We’ve discovered that that is higher thermally (and up to now, we’ve present in testing that noise-normalized, it’s additionally superior). You’ll simply wipe the entrance panel down as a substitute.
Our fundamental complaints with the North boiled right down to cable administration, which was missing in comparison with rivals even on the time. That’s as a result of the deeper channel on the entrance of the case is 3cm deep at most, which may result in the facet panel bulging with poor cable administration and a variety of cables, particularly because the facet panel does not hook into the case alongside that edge.
It isn’t an insurmountable downside, which is nice, as a result of the Fractal Epoch is strictly the identical in that regard.
The cutout for CPU energy connectors can also be a little bit on the small facet, and the inside of the PSU shroud can get crowded if each drive trays are used. These house points are a little bit extra forgivable within the North as a result of the North XL exists as a substitute, however we aren’t conscious of plans for an Epoch XL.
A few options from the North have been eliminated, presumably to chop prices. There’s presently no mesh facet panel choice for the Epoch, which additionally signifies that there is not any facet fan bracket (and no mounting holes to put in one). There’s additionally no built-in fan hub, however Fractal has dealt with this by daisy-chaining followers in each case variants.
As we noticed within the Meshify 3, Fractal makes use of Kind-C formed connectors (NOT precise USB) for its RGB Momentum followers, however the RGB Epoch makes use of an adapter that splits out into normal fan and RGB connections.
In any other case, the variations are impartial beauty particulars.
The entrance I/O has been rearranged, the illuminated strip from the North is gone, and the 2 audio jacks have been mixed into one. The USB ports are of the identical sort and amount, however the Kind-C port is now related with a flat ribbon cable. The case toes have been redesigned with out steel accents (the Epoch’s may nonetheless be costlier since every is a singular form), and the faux-leather pull tab behind the case has been changed with cloth. The captive screw on the half-panel on the entrance of the case nonetheless will get wedged, identical to the North, however at this level, we have needed to make peace with that.
Fractal Design Epoch Thermals
For thermal testing, we ran one set of checks with the inventory non-RGB case, then moved the RGB followers into that very same case and ran one other set of checks to make sure each different variable remained precisely the identical.
Of the instances we have examined these days, the direct comparisons for the Epoch are the Corsair Body 4000D RS, Phanteks XT Professional Extremely, the Lian Li Lancool 207 (or arguably the 217), and naturally Fractal’s personal North. These are all pretty compact ATX towers within the $90-$110 vary, with the Epoch touchdown on the higher finish of that and the North being the very best of all of them.
The non-RGB Epoch will probably be our fundamental level of comparability because the RGB model prices $130 and will have barely worse thermal efficiency. In keeping with the spec sheet, identical to with the Meshify 3, the non-RGB followers can generate extra noise and transfer extra air at peak pace. Now we have now a possibility to truly take a look at for variations, though they need to be minor, and the rated RPM is 2200 for each fashions.
CPU Full Load Thermals – Noise-Normalized
We’ll begin with our noise-normalized take a look at, the place we regulate the pace of the inventory case followers to hit an total SPL of 27 dBA as measured in our hemi-anechoic chamber. We constructed this chamber to permit extra correct testing and normalization by eliminating exterior noises that will have an effect on day-to-day noise ground.
With a full-system torture workload, CPU temperature within the Epoch was 43 levels Celsius above ambient for the all-core common and 47 levels on the P-cores, and the temperatures with RGB followers have been inside one diploma for each measurements for the two instances. Fractal’s declare is that the non-RGB followers are a little bit louder and better CFM, which may imply that our noise normalization reverses or equalizes for efficiency variations.
The Epoch outperformed the unique North, which got here with two 140mm followers and averaged 46 levels above ambient all-core and 50 levels P-core. The glass-sided North is extra much like the Epoch, however the mesh choice is a bonus for the case, reducing the all-core common to 44 levels above ambient and 48 levels over ambient P-core.
The Phanteks XT Professional Extremely was even hotter than the glass North, which suggests the Epoch can also be higher than the XT Professional Extremely. The Corsair Body 4000D RS was inside error of the Epoch and functionally the identical, which is smart given the same format and fan association. Essentially the most severe competitors comes from Lian Li’s dirt-cheap Lancool 207 (learn our evaluate) with its 41 diploma common, in addition to the costlier 217 (learn our evaluate), additionally at 41. These instances are at about 45 levels for the P cores.
GPU Full Load Thermals – Noise-Normalized
Shifting to GPU thermals in the identical take a look at, the Epoch RGB averaged 45 levels above ambient and the common Epoch averaged 46. Reminiscence temperatures confirmed a barely wider delta, with the Epoch RGB at 49 and Epoch at 51. The common Epoch was louder at max pace, so it required a larger fan pace discount to hit our noise-normalized threshold, which explains the temperature distinction together with a +/-1 diploma vary.
The common Epoch outperformed the glass North’s 48-degree common and tied the mesh North at 46. The Phanteks XT Professional Extremely got here nearer to the Epoch right here than it did for CPU thermals, though the reminiscence temperature was a weak level for the Phanteks case at 54 levels over ambient.
The Body 4000D did properly with a forty five diploma GPU common, whereas the Lian Li instances once more are forward, with the 207 and 217 “GPU Mode” exhibiting related efficiency at 42 levels above ambient on the GPU. Credit score to Fractal for nonetheless having the perfect GPU thermal performer with the Torrent (learn our evaluate) although, tying the Flux Professional (learn our evaluate). These are way more costly instances.
GPU Full Load Thermals – Full Velocity
We’re switching to full pace checks now, which suggests we permit noise to turn into a variable. The noise stage is subsequent to the case identify.
At full pace, the non-RGB and RGB instances did not present a lot of a distinction in thermal efficiency, however they did in noise. The inventory Epoch with non-RGB followers measured 42.2 dBA, whereas the RGB case measured 39.3 dBA. That traces up with Fractal’s claims, which have an everyday Momentum 12 at 31.3 dBA and a Momentum 12 RGB at 28.03 dBA of their testing. These onerous numbers are totally different as a result of they’re examined in numerous environments and strategies — we’re measuring complete system noise, not simply the followers.
The typical GPU temperature with the RGB followers within the Epoch was technically decrease at 43.6 levels common, however not sufficient to be outdoors the margin for error, and the common GPU reminiscence temperatures have been almost an identical between RGB and non-RGB.
The North with its inventory followers nearly stored up, with the mesh-sided end result just one diploma hotter and the glass-sided end result at 46 levels above ambient, though noise ranges have been greater than the Epoch. Every of the opposite competitor instances we talked about carried out higher, although, beginning with the XT Professional Extremely at 43 levels, then the Body 4000D at 42, the Lancool 217 at 39-40 in an excellent configuration, and eventually the Lancool 207 at 38 levels above ambient and roughly the identical noise stage because the Epoch.
Noise ranges have the Epoch about the identical because the Antec Flux Professional when at max fan pace, with the Flux Professional working far cooler with its superior followers. The Flux Professional can also be $165 to $180, relying on promos, so it’s not the identical value class.
GPU Full Load Thermals – Standardized Followers
Utilizing our standardized set of two 140mm consumption followers and one 120mm exhaust permits us to make a real head-to-head comparability between the North and Epoch entrance panels, with out inventory followers as a variable.
When it comes to GPU thermals, the Epoch, the mesh-sided North, and the glass-sided North all averaged the identical: 46 levels above ambient. The Epoch’s entrance panel could also be cheaper, however it’s not worse for thermals.
CPU Full Load Thermals – Standardized Followers
CPU thermals between the 2 North variants within the standardized fan take a look at have been additionally very related, however the Epoch was about one diploma cooler, averaging 38 levels above ambient all-core and 42 on the P-Cores alone. The brand new entrance panel appears to be barely extra open, however any additional efficiency benefits for the Epoch are right down to its inventory followers.
VRM & RAM Full Load Thermals – Noise-Normalized
Again to the noise normalized take a look at, the Epoch RGB’s VRM temperature averaged 29 levels above ambient and the common Epoch averaged 30. That is higher than both North variant, however 217 stays high of the chart at 26 levels.
Fractal Design Epoch Conclusion
The Epoch is getting into a market the place each greenback counts. It is a tougher market to compete in than the $150-$180 vary.
We expect $110 is on the higher restrict of what Fractal can realistically ask for this mannequin. It is a North with out the wooden, and whereas the trendsetting wooden accents will hold the North promoting even at $140+, a North with out the wooden is a dependable however unexciting compact mid-tower, even when the efficiency is a little bit higher and there is a little extra GPU clearance.
Fractal has steep competitors from Corsair, Phanteks, and Lian Li, amongst others.
Corsair’s Body 4000D RS (the one with three inventory followers) is mainly the identical factor because the Epoch, and as of this writing, it is on sale for $95. We weren’t terribly impressed with the Phanteks XT Professional Extremely’s thermal efficiency, however it’s presently even cheaper at $80 after a rebate on Newegg. Essentially the most ruthless competitors is from Lian Li, as normal, with its cutthroat costs. It is promoting its wood-trimmed Lancool 217 for as little as $120, however a extra direct comparability for the Epoch is the $82 compact Lancool 207, and even the 207 Digital with an built-in LCD is on sale for $105.
It’s good that Fractal is updating its finances choices as a result of it hasn’t had a refresh right here in a pair years, however there’s not a very sturdy purpose apart from model loyalty to decide on the Epoch over its cheaper competitors. The North is an effective case, however it’s primarily good due to the entrance panel and the optionally available mesh facet panel. The Epoch is the North with out both of these, leaving it as merely “tremendous.” It’s OK. However competing within the lower cost courses, we’d purchase one thing else.
