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Fractal Summit case review: real wood accents scream premium, but it only stands out in white or black
The Fractal Summit mid-tower case looks great, with real wood accents that scream premium, especially on the White Chalk versions. Noise-normalized performance wasn’t the best, but it’s easy to build in and worth a serious look in its 170-$200 price bracket.
Can’t see the wood grain as well on Blackout models
Noise-normalized thermals are slightly warmer than expected
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Fractal arguably kicked off the wood accent PC trend with the North line, and the company says its new Summit case is built for “...expressive, high-performance systems combining distinctive Scandinavian design and advanced cooling potential.” The chassis sports FSC-certified wood (timber verified to come from responsibly managed, socially beneficial, and economically viable forests) for details like the front surround and solid wood feet. There’s no doubt it’s a good-looking case, but if you want to show off the wood, you’ll want to stick to the Chalk White or Black versions, as it blends in with the Blackout SKU we tested.
Compared to the Define One that also announces today, the Summit, with its open-face design and three included Momentum 14 fans, provides plenty of airflow to a roomy internal space that can fit up to E-ATX motherboards (including rear-connect options), huge graphics cards, and dual 360mm radiators. It also offers tool-free access to the inside via removable top and front brackets for easy building. The top-mounted panel offers plenty of connectivity, with two USB Type-A ports and even 20 Gbps Type-C up top.
Finally, the Ambience Blackout version we’re testing has integrated, customizable ARGB ambient lighting that wraps around the front panel edge, hidden behind the removable front panel. The other versions forgo any ARGB lighting. Prices range from $169.99 for the non-ARGB versions (Chalk White Solid/Chalk White TG Clear and Black Solid/Black TG Light Tint) to $199.99 for the Ambience Blackout, which we have for review.
We'll cover many more details inside and outside the chassis, showcasing the features and any issues we may encounter during the build process. We'll also run the case through thermal and noise testing to show how it performs compared to others and whether it has a chance of making our best PC cases list. Below are the case's specifications from Fractal.
20.3 x 19.5 x 9-inches (515 x 495 x 229mm - with protrusions)
Chalk White SolidChalk White TG Clear TintBlack Solid