Conclusion and Verdict
The ARC XL chassis from Fractal Design is a solid offering that implements several traits that are important to enthusiasts and gamers alike such as modern looks, solid construction, and superb build quality. Many of the features that are included with the ARC XL such as support for larger tower CPU coolers, multiple radiator setups, longer graphics cards, and support for up to ten storage drives are a definite bonus to a chassis in this price point.
The included cooling system performed well in keeping our Intel testing system in acceptable temperature ranges while remaining fairly quiet on both low and medium fan controller settings. To top it all, Fractal has given this chassis the added ability to accommodate some serious liquid cooling options. All of these attributes will surely attract many potential customers looking to build their next gaming rig or benching system.
That said, there are a couple of items that could be improved upon in future iterations such as implementing a completely tool-less feature for storage drives and enlarging the reset button. The plastic front panel also detracts from the chassis overall excellent feel of pure quality. These are the only attributes that keep the ARC XL from being near perfect at this particular price point.
Overall, I am really impressed by the design and layout of the ARC XL. This base design has a strong foundation to build upon and I cannot wait to see what Fractal has in store for us in the future.
The Fractal Design ARC XL Chassis can be found online at various e-tailers such as Amazon for right around $129.99 USD.
Pros:
- Sturdy construction
- Superb build quality
- Durable paint finish
- Quiet acoustics
- Spacious
- Support for up to ten HDDs or SSDs!
- Filtered Ventilation
- Built-in fan controller
- Simple yet appealing looks
- Intelligent use of space
- Included air cooling
- Epic liquid cooling options
Cons:
- Microscopic reset button
- Hard drive installation not completely tool-less
- External drive installation not completely tool-less
- Plastic front panel takes away from the feel of quality of the rest of the chassis
Final Thoughts:
What we have here readers is a solid offering in the ARC XL chassis from Fractal Design. If you have a craving for a simple yet appealing chassis that has many great and modern features whilst offering an abundant amount of storage and cooling options, then you may want to consider the Fractal Design ARC XL. Thanks and have a Funky Day!
