Fractal Design Core 500 - Mini Tower Computer Case - Mini ITX - Optimized High Airflow and Cooling - 1x 140mm Silent Fan Included - Brushed Aluminium - Water-Cooling Ready - Black

Great little case plenty of room has spots for 2 HDD, 2 ODD, 4 add on cards and full ATX power supply most is rolled edges and except for HDD Phillips screws all other are thumb screws on case, all 4 back panel have replaceable slots covers so it can be replaced if needed, not breakout ones like most cases. Good little case for the price.

I Just got this baby because I need a tower cooler and my usual go-to case (the cooler master elite 130 or similar) doesn't have the head room. The case layout is excellent. The PSU is mounted sideways in the front instead of above the CPU. Make sure that the ATX PSU isn't too deep, or use a SFX PSU. But if you can swing a full ATX PSU that will be less dense and thus less noisy. This is in order to accommodate a long GPU without the power cables getting in the way. It has one large rear exhaust fan, no front intake fan (venting at bottom, sides, and top, but not really the front).This is still perfect for a tower cooler flow-through design. It also accommodates a radiator venting to the top, but that mount for that is removable and I'm not using it so I removed it.I recommend something like the Seasonic Focus Gold series for full-ATX, or the SilverStone SX500-LG (500W.. the 'longer' SFX is still a lot shorter than a typical ATX). However, the SX500's fan is noisy if it ramps up so always orient it to pull air from the bottom (grill) and not the other way around to help exhaust air from the inside of the case.The other option is a full ATX PSU... Seasonic is my go-to brand there as they are OEMs and not rebranders. Make sure its a short-depth PSU like the Focus Gold series. Best to orient it similarly... to pull air from the bottom and not to pull air from inside the case.In anycase, back to the case. I like the flexible layout. I like having multiple storage options inside as well as the 5.25" bay and internal 3.5" bay. This means I could throw in a little dual or quad 2.5" hot-swap into the external bay which I prefer over internal mounting.I have it loaded with an AMD RX 570 GPU and a Ryzen 3600, plus tower cooler, using the ASRock B450 mini-itx mobo. The result is a very quiet but powerful mini-itx form factor PC.--Two more notes on case cooling. First, the included 120mm case fan (exhaust) is a bit too noisy for my tastes, and the minimum fan setting in the BIOS to ensure it starts is 55% so there is just no way to run it slowly. I've had good luck just removing it entirely and instead going with a two-fan solution on the tower cooler. Or buy yourself a better case fan such as a 4-pin Noctua 120mm fan.A second option to improve case airflow is to turn around the fans on the tower (or the single fan on the tower + case fan) to pull air in from the back instead of exhaust it out the back. For minimum fan noise I have been using the two-fan setup on the tower cooler, turned around to pull air in from the back, and then removing the case fan entirely. But under heavier loads you will definitely want to keep a two-fan solution.Note that when you use a 4-pin PWM case fan you can program the BIOS to actually turn it off when the system is idle or under a low load to reduce noise further.--Addendum (much later.) I have several of these cases now and I've found the best PSU to throw into it is actually a full ATX, but with short-depth so the cabling doesn't interfere with the GPU. The Seasonic Focus Gold series (which *is* modular) has been a perfect fit. The SilverStone SFX PSU works fine but its actually quite noisy under a variety of conditions, whereas a full ATX PSU like the Seasonic is dead silent.I still also recommend swapping out the exhaust fan included in the case with a better one. The result is a dead silent system (sans GPU-related noise, which is a different issue). There are lots of cooling options with this case. It's big enough to accommodate a cpu tower cooler AND a rad, for example (be cognizant of your clearances though), so the adventurous tinkerer could go with a CLC on their gpu and a tower or mini-tower on their CPU. My preference is to just limit the frame rate on the GPU so the fans never ramp up past 50%.-Matt

nice mid tower ATX case, very much reminds me of the nice cases from the 90's. I like it because it isn't garish or pretentious. just a computer case. no LED's no see through plastic. I can't stand those clown cars people call cases now.nice fit and finish, very light weight, nice rolled edges so no cuts like the cases from the 90's. The holes drilled for the 5.25" bays should be slots so you can precisely place you drives. some devices don't line up with the front of the case perfectly because of this.with the large case fan installed properly installing full size hard drives is not possible in both positions. though a drive can be installed in the top position if you only install 2 screws and the drive will be slightly crooked. not the best design.

From an undeniable veteran perspective with varied experiences, the Fractal Design Core 1100 - Mini Tower Computer Case is a sensational finding in durability and flawless operation. Having served me tirelessly for six eventful years, I can bet on its efficiency and assure you that it could easily outlast the period I held onto it.It always made a simplistic but potent design statement with its minimalistic look. It's no less than an aesthetic marvel; the brushed, black aluminum outer shell transformed my average-sized work desk into an uber-professional setup.Resilient doesn't even start to cover its reliability, owing to the compact Micro ATX Case designed for exercising extraordinary airflow and cooling mechanism, working round the clock to ensure system stability. Credit is due to the single 120mm fan that silently bosses around, amplifying the shell's cooling efficiency and positioning the rig far from overheating issues.The front panel bears a sleek, three-dimensional textured finish next to awe-inspiring. Loading up on the functionality, the Comprehensive I/O, USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, and the automated available audio ports occupy the front panel granting easy reach and tripling the utility quotient. Innovation screams as you notice the vertical HDD bracket design, neatly engineered to accommodate varying drive sizes; such keen detailing ensures optimal space utilization, maintaining a clean, classy look.Indeed, maintenance is a breeze as front panel dust filters and closed top-bottom panels prevent dust intrusion, promising to keep the insides fresh and dust-free. The secret behind its longevity could be ascribed to the vibration-dampened mounting framed explicitly for the 3.5" Drive slots.I gave up on it solely to experience something new, not due to any noticeable dips in the case's functioning. It left me more satisfied than I initially thought any Mini Tower Case could be. For anyone contemplating a high-performing, long-lasting, and affordable case with an elegant design that erases the divide between functionality and aesthetics, Fractal Design Core 1100 waves the green flag.

Decent case, but the plastic front case cover arrived damaged. It was completely detached from the metallic case due to shipping. I was able to repair it enough for my needs, but it's clear the packaging could be much better to protect the case from damage.