Fractal Design Era 2 Charcoal
$199.99
Price: $199.99
(as of Jan 01, 2025 16:20:18 UTC – Details)
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Sleek design with anodized aluminum and solid walnut.
pace for for up to 3-slot graphics cards of 326 mm length
Compatible with radiators up to 280 mm (240 recommended)
Ample ventilation on five sides for airflow performance
Includes two Aspect 12 PWM fans
Customers say
Customers appreciate the computer case’s appearance with its simple wood accent and fantastic colors. However, some find the panels not flush with the case so there is no way to pop them off while the case is sitting.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
5 reviews for Fractal Design Era 2 Charcoal
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Ben –
Tight fit but looks fantastic.
Plenty of tie down points. Center spine is adjustable. Simple wood accent. Fantastic colors. Fits most parts(see pcpartpicker to check if yours will fit). I can say with confidence this is the best PC case I have ever owned. looks good, has good cooling, just enough room for cable management, font panel IO on the bottom. I only see two things that could have been improved upon. Some how making the bottom rear of the outer shell release as to not have to remove all the cables from your case when opening it up and to maybe have either a better PSU placement or a better PSU power cable extension (better conductors so it heats up less and thinner) so it gets in the way less.These are both minor, extremely minor critiques.I love the case and hope it serves me well for years to comeMy parts list:CPUAMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core$299.00CPU CoolerARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 56.3 CFM Liquid$76.98MotherboardGigabyte B650I AORUS ULTRA Mini ITX AM5$209.99MemoryG.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL32$105.99StorageSamsung 990 Pro 4 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME$326.00Video CardEVGA FTW3 ULTRA GAMING GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8 GB$800CaseFractal Design Era 2 Mini ITX Tower$199.99Power SupplyCorsair SF850 (2024) 850 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular SFX$199.99Case Fanx4Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black.swap 60.09 CFM 120 mm$34.95×4
Ramon –
Fractal just canât execute completely.
Both Era designs have had pretty noticeable flaws. Iâll only talk about the Era 2 for now.-The finish has very faint streaking in one spot, only really noticeable in indirect light at the right angles but it is there nonetheless.- The Panels arenât flush, there is a bit of differences between the gaps in the panels.- The bottom of the outside shell is not actually flush with the case, itâs bowed out a bit.- The outer shell canât be taken off without disconnecting everything from the back due to the lower support bar on the back.- The PSU tray inside is kind of flimsy, and the PSU blows against the bottom fan.- The top panel has no way of being removed, itâs held magnetically but impossible to grip, Fractal should have added a tab or pull strap.Itâs a very nice looking case, and itâs relatively easy to build in, but there are some pretty obvious design oversights and QC issues. I definitely would not pay full price. I paid 170 on sale, I donât think itâs worth it even at that price. I would say itâs a 130 dollar case at most, and that is IF they fix the QC issues.
Meredith Martin –
Stunning to look at, botched technical design
I really wanted to like this, Such a shame since it is so visually pretty but example of prioritizing form 100% over function.the critical design flaw: the entire weight of the unit is supported by several plastic tabs. This case that is almost entirely made of metal, and will be filled with thousands of dollars of metal components, is supported by only several thin plastic pieces on the bottom of the case. . I thought about fixing this myself and wrapping a long piece of velcro around the unit, however the bottom is flexible convex plastic and protrudes outward and would break if I used a strap.Secondly, Fractal didn’t do much market research when determining the dimensions of the case. It is advertised as being fit for a 280 AIO cooler, unfortunately it fits almost none of the other 280s out there. every 280 AIO I looked at would not fit either due to the radiator being slightly too long or the pump being slightly too tall. They should make the case less than half an inch longer and wider to ensure compatibility with almost all 280 AIOs on the market, however right now it really only works with the Fractal 280 AIO. If you want to use another company you’ll probably need to get the 240 version.Lastly the top wood part is confusing. Its not solidly attached but held in place by a magnet. However it sits fully flush so there is no way to pop it off while the case is assembled. I only was able to remove it by taking the shroud off and then putting my hand it to pop it off. Why not have this be permanently connected with screws then?Fractal should move to a v3 to make the weight of the unit supported by metal (and transfer this load to the shroud) and increase the width and length by 1/2″ and this would be a 5 star case at that point, but not right now unfortunately
railerswim –
Gorgeous SFF case – Not the most difficult to Build On
Small form factor cases are notorious for taking ages to build in and having annoying little quirks. This is one of the best SFF cases I have built in.Fractal did a fantastic job giving suggestions and showing layouts in the manual while providing specific measurements on what could fit in the case for different configurations. But with it being a SFF case it was still a bit of a challenge.Pros:- Clear and detailed documentation- Accommodates a decent range of hardware- Good airflow- Sturdy and well built- Easy to disassemble- Head turner in the looks department- Plenty of cable management points- Spots for 2.5â drives- Solid and quality wood panel on magnetic top coverCons:- AC power extension cable may have to make an awkward bend at the PSU depending on the PSU that you have. I have the ASUS Loki SFX-L 850w and to have the fan facing outward, the ac power extension cable has to be installed with a bit of an unnerving bend. Wish they would have included an extra cable in the opposite orientation to account for this.- My outer case has a couple of small scratches on one of the edges in the top, canât notice it too much but it was there when I first took the case out of the packaging.- Despite cable management tie down spots, thereâs a lot of just stuffing cables where you can. Definitely look into buying custom length power cables to improve airflow.All things considered not too many trade-offs for a SFF case which is a huge deal in that context.
Haroon –
Think of this case as the “big brother” to the Fractal Design Terra, but with some significant upgrades that set it apart.While it maintains a similar compact, space-efficient layout, this version offers additional room at the top to accommodate a 280mm AIO cooler. This is a game-changer for anyone running high-TDP processors, where the Terra tends to struggle with cooling under heavy loads. The extra cooling potential ensures your system stays cool and quiet, even during intensive tasks like gaming or rendering.Aesthetically, it leans towards a more streamlined, modern design with clean lines and subtle features. The center spine is adjustable, providing more flexibility for internal component placementâa thoughtful touch for users who want to fine-tune their build. The wood accent adds a simple yet elegant touch, giving the case a unique blend of natural and contemporary vibes that will look fantastic in any setup.Overall, this case strikes a perfect balance between form and function, making it ideal for those who want powerful cooling options without compromising on style.