Fractal Design North XL Review: Is The Upgrade Worth it?

Highlights

• The North XL by Fractal Design offers a charming, minimalist design with wooden accents, providing a lot of room for expansion.
• This case features mesh or tempered glass side panel options, sturdy and lightweight construction, but can be a bit expensive for some.
• The North XL is a well-designed and spacious option for users seeking an elegant way to showcase their latest PC build.

Fractal Design has a longstanding reputation for creating innovative and stylish PC cases, many of which have been recommended and showcased on Game Rant’s list of the Best PC Cases. Fractal Design originally released the mid-tower North Chassis on the 7th of December 2022. It promptly became a fan favorite, and for good reason. The original North case stood out for its originality and organic design, presenting an elegant chassis that features real walnut, oak, steel, and brass accents.

Due to the overwhelming success in response to the North, Fractal has since released the North XL in March 2024. The North XL stands as a larger redesign of the North chassis that offers more creative freedom and space for larger GPUs, such as the RTX 4090, all while mirroring the original design elements that can be found in the mid-sized North.

So, how well does the North XL hold up against the original, and is it worth the upgrade?

First Impressions

Although the North XL is considered a large, full tower case, it did not feel oversized or ridiculously tall. The North XL strikes a nice balance with proportions that won’t overshadow the desk and everything around it. The North XL perfectly meshes with its environment, subtly drawing attention to it, rather than demanding attention like other showy full tower cases.

Further inspection of this case shows that the North XL features many details that illustrate thoughtful consideration of aesthetics and design on Fractal’s part. Further information on these details will be highlighted later in the article.

All in all, the North XL feels sturdy and lightweight, especially when empty.

However, users of a smaller stature should be aware that the substantial size of the North XL makes it a bit awkward to carry, which is common with many full tower cases. The North XL features a sleek and rounded design as well as wooden accents on the front panel, all of which are undoubtedly beautiful, but they make the process of lifting and moving the case seem more arduous. Initially, it can be tricky to find the right place to grab the PC case when moving. To reiterate, however, the North XL feels incredibly sturdy, so confidence when lifting and carrying can be easily built over time.

Contents of Accessory Box

The accessory box can be found tied to the bottom of the case, mounted to an HDD tray. It is relatively simple to retrieve once the back panel has been removed. The contents of the North XL’s accessory box are standard. As expected with most PC cases, the user can expect to receive a handful of screws, which are as follows:

• 11 x Mounting Screws
• 8 x Hard Drive Dampers
• 8 x Hard Drive Screws
• 4 x Power Supply Screws
• 16 x Motherboard Mounting Screws
• 3 x Motherboard Standoffs
• 4 x Cable Ties

The extra replacement screws are appreciated, especially due to the likelihood that screws may be dropped or become lost during the building process. Although thoughtful, the cable ties are lackluster and prove to be of little practical use as there are so few, and they are very thin and short. Cable ties of this size and length are best for securing a handful of PWM or RGB cables and not much else. Regardless, the inclusion of these cable ties shows some extra consideration for the user.

Presentation, Design & Features

The overall presentation of the North XL is excellent, presenting a great balance of wood and metal materials, offering an attractive PC case that seamlessly blends into its environment. This makes the North XL a great addition to most living spaces.

The finish on the chassis feels high-quality, cool, and pleasant to the touch. Additionally, the North XL didn’t scratch during teardown, building, or when being moved around. Some fingerprints did show on the flat matte part of the panels, but they were easily cleaned off with a microfiber cloth.

Without a doubt, the North XL excels in the quality of its fine details. Not unlike a complex piece of art, the North XL progressively appears finer the longer it’s inspected. These details are present even in minor aspects, like the power button, which features a laser engraving of Fractal’s logo.

The brass (or steel) elements that are seen on the power button, can also be found on the case’s front I/O ports, which feature:

A matching metal band can also be found around each of the feet, offering a uniform aesthetic.

The walnut panels present on the front of the case also feature a visible, tactile grain that looks great up close, especially in the light. This subtle detail adds to the overall organic feel of the North XL. The wood type varies between oak and walnut, depending on the color chosen. The black North XL offers brass and walnut accents, whereas the white case offers steel and oak.

As far as convenience and unique case features that benefit the user, there are a few key aspects that are worth showcasing.

There is a small dust filter just below where the PSU is mounted, that can easily be slid out and cleaned with no teardown of the case necessary. Although a bit trickier to remove, there is a larger dust filter along the front panel. Both of these filters combined guarantee some efficiency in collecting excess dust, and make overall maintenance just a bit easier.

Finally, there is also a PWM hub mounted to the upper backside of the case that allows up to four 4-pin PWM fans to be connected at once. Three of Fractal’s Aspect 14 fans come pre-installed with the North XL and are connected to the hub.

Ease of Installation

Compared to its predecessor, the North XL features an impressive amount of space to build in. The North XL features a 36% increase in size, resulting in a significantly larger chassis with more room for expansion and cooling versatility.

Users will find that the North XL supports a versatile number of fans and radiators, providing a fully customizable cooling system that can support the cooling needs of nearly every user. The North XL can confidently support up to seven 120 mm fans, or six 140 mm fans. Likewise, radiator support for the North XL is just as expansive, with the front of the case being able to mount any size up to a 420 mm radiator, and the top being able to mount up to a 360 mm radiator.

In the mesh version of the North XL, this space can be further expanded upon with Fractal’s use of an additional mounting tray along the side panel. Users opting to utilize this tray can add two additional fans to their total, or an additional radiator up to 280 mm. It should be noted that larger CPU coolers and stock GPUs may fight for space with the side mount, which may prohibit the use of this mounting tray. The mounting tray is fully optional, however, and can be easily removed.

Generally, removing panels on the North XL involves a bit of a learning curve.

A few of the panels are extremely simple to remove, like the side panels, which can be considered a simple, beginner-friendly process. To remove the side panels, the user only needs to remove two thumbscrews that can be unscrewed by hand or with a screwdriver. After that, the side panels are easy to slide off and remove.

That said, removing the top panel on the North XL is a great experience. There is a leather strap connected to the back of the top panel, further adding to the natural aesthetic, that can be pulled to easily slide the top panel off.

Removing other panels and mounts on the case, however, may be considered a little more difficult. Especially for novice builders who are unfamiliar with the teardown of PC cases. Despite that, it’s safe to say that the process of removing these panels provides a satisfying and tactile experience for the user. The panels can be removed with little effort, once the user has gotten comfortable with the case.

Users will also discover that the North XL features three times as many grommets to work with, resulting in six total grommets built across the North XL.

These user-friendly grommets help aid in easy, convenient cable management to make for a cleaner build.

Although the amount of available space in the back of the case takes a bit of a hit in favor of the spacious interior, there is about an inch or so of space running along the backside of the case. This space is perfect for mounting basic cables, such as RGB, PWM, and Front Panel I/O cables.

Regardless, it’s safe to say that users opting to build with the North XL will not lack cable management space, as there is a large pocket of space located at the bottom of the case, which works wonderfully to handle the usual bulk of cables.

Conclusion

Although the North XL lacks groundbreaking changes in comparison to its predecessor, this case acts faithfully as an upscaled alternative to an already perfected design. When comparing the original mid-size North directly to the North XL, it’s clear to see that key elements of design and quality remain consistent. The most notable difference between the two boils down to the 36% increase in size, as well as the addition of a few elements, such as the increased number of grommets, and E-ATX compatibility.

Case Comparisons At A Glance

Final Thoughts

The North XL by Fractal Design provides a reasonable upgrade in size, offering a case that is both large but not excessively tall or wide. In the realm of full tower cases, finding a PC case that can easily accommodate large components, while not being heavy or unwieldy, can be a difficult medium to achieve. However, the North XL is a prime example of what a full tower case should be.

The North XL easily captures the concepts associated with the original, offering users a unique, cozy case that blends seamlessly into any living space, even at its upscaled size. Although the term “full tower” may be a point of contention and worry for some, users can rest easy knowing that the North XL will not easily overwhelm most setups, in both weight and size.

Overall, this case provides the user with much more room than the original, which is incredibly important for users considering high-end components that produce a lot of TDP and require stable cooling. The size and scale of the North XL allow for more cooling and better airflow, and these benefits ultimately increase when using the mesh version of the North XL. The North XL also provides the user with additional grommets, which allows for a cleaner and easier building experience. All in all, almost everything about the North XL feels sturdy, well thought out, and supremely high quality.

That being said, the North XL is not the most budget-friendly full tower case. With the case being slightly more expensive than its predecessor, the MSRP of the North XL is set at around 169.99 USD. Although the price is somewhat understandable when considering the quality and the uniqueness of the product, its packaging could be somewhat improved upon, especially considering the price point. Generally, PC cases closer to the $200 mark tend to leave more of an impression with the unboxing experience, whereas the North XL felt very standard.

However, those drawbacks do not take away from the undeniable quality and aesthetics of the North XL. This case performs nicely as a well-designed and spacious option for users who are seeking an elegant and elevated way to present their latest PC build.

For those interested in upgrading their PC to an equally elegant case that also accentuates their setup with an all-natural wood grain, Fractal Design has a handful of case options available that fit into various form factors.

Unsurprisingly, the predecessor to the North XL, the North, is the best, lower-priced alternative available. Offering a classic form factor, this mid-sized tower case captures much of the same design and complete functionality present in the North XL.

Finally, for users with limited space, or those who are simply interested in building small form factor PCs, the Terra is a great alternative to the North and North XL. This compact case perfectly captures the organic, sophisticated wood grain look associated with the North. The Terra also offers a variety of colors, including the unique green shade of Jade. However, users should be aware that the Terra is considerably more expensive than other cases of this size.

Regardless of the decision made, each of these cases by Fractal Design offers premium quality, versatility, and user-friendly designs.

FAQ

Q: Is the Fractal North XL good for airflow?

Yes! The North XL provides excellent airflow. In addition to the well-ventilated design, the North XL also includes plenty of space for mounting fans. Those who opt for the mesh version of the North XL will also see significantly improved airflow over the tempered glass version due to the mesh side panel and the addition of two extra fan mounts.

Q: Does a 4090 fit in the Fractal North XL?

Yes, easily. The original, mid-sized version of the North provides just enough clearance for a 4090 to fit with its stock cooler. In the North XL, max GPU clearance goes from 355 mm to 413 mm, meaning that the North XL should encounter no difficulties fitting large graphics cards like the 4090.

Q: How many hard drives can you have in the Fractal North XL?

This case supports up to 4 drives total, with two of those slots supporting 3.5″ drives and the other two supporting 2.5″ drives.