Review on 🖥️ Fractal Design Core 500 Mini Tower Computer Case - Mini ITX - Enhanced High Airflow and Cooling - Includes 1x 140mm Silent Fan - Brushed Aluminium - Water-Cooling Compatible - Black by James Ohlrogge

Like the other reviewer, I wanted to like this case. I liked my Define Nano S despite its shortcomings, but this case takes Fractal's shortcomings to the extreme. I bought this case for just a few reasons: 1. I wanted to shrink my Define Nano S even further, reducing it from 26.8 liters to 19.5.2 liters. I wanted an SFF package with good compatibility. It supports full size cards, 170mm CPU gap and multiple 3.5" drives. , but GPU sag has been bugging me for a long time. All of these criteria are theoretically met. But in this case "theoretically" is a breakpoint. When you get going, you immediately notice the disgusting build quality. The case cover is just awful, absolute rubbish. It's warped more than the Millennium Falcon, and it bends like it's shooting at Mr. Olympia. I'd happily pay more than $20 just for this option because I can't even aim to get to a martial arts level suitable for reliably fighting it. Cooler Master suffers from a similar flaw in its Elite series, but that's no excuse. Horribly machined taps and oddly designed screws (if you look at them, case fan screws) are the order of the day in a fractal case. Although this trend is quite common among cheaper steel brothers in the manufacture of cases. Finally. Disc Compatibility. This is normal, but with some limitations. First, if you're using internal wall mounts for 3.5" drives, a small cooler is the only way to have both mounts. Regardless of the configuration, a mount must be available. However, if you're going down the route of a large cooler, a 3.5" drive, and two 2.5" drives, be aware that multiple extension cables will be required when aligning them so that their power and data cables are out of the way, SATA cables different orientations (straight + 90 degrees) as well as bending said cables in a way that is sure to make any gymnast flinch. But it is possible and I will provide photos in case anyone needs any. I must note that the price was not taken into account for me when buying this case, I did not buy it because it is cheap, I bought it for its characteristics. Unfortunately, there aren't many options that fit my use case, as it seems most people who put powerful processors in small cases prefer to use AIO. I don't do this for many reasons. noticed in a fairly recent video by Linus. If this case cost twice as much I would buy it. I would probably buy it for three or four times the price if the quality was worth it. At the moment I'm just waiting for a Dan A4 or Ncase M1 caliber case that fits my criteria. If I'm lucky, significant next-gen CPU TDP improvements will allow me to run cases like the A4 or Sliger SM550 while still providing decent CPU cooling. Although my interests are a little out of the ordinary, you know this case is far from pleasant to work with. It might be worth compromising other aspects of your build to just avoid it if you can. PS My finger is bleeding from the case cover right now, please send help.