Admittedly, the headline is a bit sensationalist. But compared to the total thermal failure of the first Era generation, things could only get better. Read on to find out how Fractal Design has transformed the Era 2 into a really good ITX case.
With the first Era, Fractal made the fatal mistake of concentrating exclusively on the design of the dwarf case. With fatal consequences, as the thermal performance of the case was torn to shreds in practically all tests and the general ratings were correspondingly negative. A missed opportunity, as FRACTAL DESIGN has already proven several times in recent years that it is possible to build high-quality and high-performance cases. The Era 2 should now have completely left the weaknesses of the first generation behind and because our ITX specialist Tim had to miss out due to a lack of time, I stepped in to test it. As pictures say more than 1000 words, let’s start by freeing the case from its housing.
Unboxing
Scandinavian minimalism starts with the design of the outer box. Apart from the manufacturer’s logo and a discreet inscription, there is nothing to see here.
There it is! The test specimen comes in frosty silver and even with the direct lighting, you can already get an idea of the elaborate design.
Minimal curvatures make the Era 2 look like a work of art.
Although the front I/O also looks very minimalist, the connectivity leaves nothing to be desired. Well, you have to do without the reset switch, HDD LED and the separate jack connections, but this is the rule rather than the exception, even with large ATX cases.
Both side panels are perforated over a large area – apparently they have learned from the catastrophic ventilation of the first Era.
Viewed from behind, the Era 2 reminds me of a fusion of an XBOX 360 and a NAS drive. Simple and tidy, we will come back to the individual elements later.
And from this perspective, we also see the wooden roof for the first time. Who would have thought that the wooden elements of the Fractal North would be so well received that they would make it into the ITX segment? Between you and me: I think it’s dead chic!
Elegant down to the smallest detail:
The wooden panel is mounted on a metal support frame, which in turn is held in position magnetically. A clever solution, as the waste heat is likely to damage the wood over time, so it is protected by the metal support.
Back to the rear. The “handle” at the bottom turned out to be a pull-out dust filter for the intake fans in the floor:
But the insert not only serves as a dust filter, it also operates the mechanism for unlocking the aluminum cover of the Era 2. A discreet symbol already hinted that there was more to it than that.
Once the mechanism is unlocked, the cover can be pulled upwards in one piece:
A look inside the cover once again underlines the completely new approach of the Era 2. Air supply is the motto and, as you can see, this can be achieved without compromising on design.
Without the lid, you start to get an idea of the structure of the interior. Interesting approach!
The left-hand “chamber” accommodates a vertically mounted graphics card and two 2.5″ drives.
Even at first glance, it is noticeable that even ballers >30cm long and 3 slots thick would fit here.
Two 120mm Aspect 12 fans are fitted in the base ex works to ensure an adequate supply of fresh air.
I explain what this “mechanism” is all about on the second page.
Viewed from the front, the right-hand side offers space for an SFX(L) power supply unit.
And of course for the ITX mainboard.
At least 0.1 points are deducted for the absence of the ever-popular “centering nub”. All four corners are fitted with simple spacers.
And at this point at the latest, as an ITX novice, I was a little confused. Isn’t that somehow “the wrong way round”? Resolution follows..
The next mechanism is already hidden in the lid. I wonder what the lever does with this arrow?
Oh look! This allows you to unlock the lid and install fans or an AIO water cooling system conveniently and without taking up too much space.
Finally, the enclosed accessories and paperwork:
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