Fractal Design Define Mini Ports
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) Port(s): Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for connecting USB 3.2 Gen 1 and older devices (5 Gb/s).
USB 2.0 Port(s): Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for connecting USB 2.0 and older devices (480 Mb/s).
Power LED: Light that is on while the system is powered on. May flash when the system is in standby / sleep.
Power Switch: On/off button for the device.
Front Headphone Jack: 3.5mm analog audio jack for output to headphones.
Front Microphone Jack: 3.5mm analog audio jack for microphone input to the computer.
Fractal Design Define Mini Dimensions
The front door on this version is 'Titanium Grey' in color.
This is a very nice smaller case which is a nice fit for a MicroATX motherboard. It offers good cooling, several internal hard drive bays, along with built-in sound dampening material. This case is a few inches shorter than most full towers, so if you are height restricted for your system, this may be a nice option to consider. A downside to this case is that it has no 3.5" external bays, and just two 5.25" (DVD) bays. So if you would like to use a 3.5" device, it will need to be placed in one of the two 5.25" bays, leaving just one 5.25" bay for a single optical drive.
*This case gets plenty of cooling when the front door is closed. There are vents to left and right of the door designed to allow enough air in with the front door closed, and that air still gets filtered to stop the majority of dust from getting inside the system.
The Define Mini is the little brother to Fractal's Define R4, and it really does look like a scaled-down version of the ATX chassis. The smaller size does result in a few small sacrifices. While there are optional mounts for 140mm fans in the top or side of the case, the front and rear positions will only take 120mm fans. The reset switch is located behind the front door rather than up top with the power button and front ports, and there's no front panel fan speed controller. With that in mind, this is still a very nice mATX case. It feels solid and looks nice, and the interior layout is good for cooling, so a fan controller really isn't necessary. This is a great option if you're looking to save a little space.
Choosing a computer case is an important part of the system building process. You need adequate airflow for your components, the space to fit everything inside, and it needs to look good while feeling sturdy. If the case looks crude and feels cheap, it changes your perspective of quality for the entire machine. Fortunately, this case does pretty well in all of those aspects. There's multiple fan configuration options available, it has healthy potential for expandability -- above average for an mATX chassis, and it feel like a solidly constructed case. The only gripe I have is that the front fan filters require a screwdriver to remove; that turns a simple chore into somewhat of an inconvenience. That being said, this is still a fine case that deserves to be looked at as an option.
Note: We have designed custom shipping materials for this case. Specially made foam and boxes provide superior protection during shipping! Click here for more details.
Model: Fractal Design FD-CA-DEF-MINI-BL
Specifications
| Color | Black |
| Material | Plastic shell, steel frame |
| Type/Size | Micro Tower |
| Maximum Motherboard Size | MicroATX |
| Case Window | Yes |
| Power Supply | None |
Dimensions | |
| Height | 395 mm (15.6 in) |
| Width | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Depth | 490 mm (19.3 in) |
| Net Weight | 9.5 kg (20.9 lbs) |
| Maximum CPU Cooler Height | 160mm |
| Maximum GPU Length | 260mm (400 with HD cage removed) |
| Maximum PSU Length | 220mm (170mm with bottom fan installed) |
Drive Bays | |
| External 5.25 inch | 2 |
| External 3.5 inch | 0 |
| Internal 2.5/3.5 inch | 6 |
Front Panel Connectors | |
| USB 2.0 | 2 |
| USB 3.0 | 1 |
| Firewire | 0 |
| Audio In | 1 |
| Audio Out | 1 |
| eSATA | 0 |
Cooling System | |
| Cooling Method | Air |
| Included Fans | 120mm front and rear |
| Total Fan Mounts | 120mm front, 120/140mm top, 1x 120mm bottom, 1x 120/140mm side |
Features
- Patent pending ModuVent design, allowing the user to either have optimal silence or optimal airflow
- Pre-fitted with dense, noise absorbing material
- Fan controller for 3 fans included
- USB3 support in the front panel
- Supports graphic cards with lengths up to circa 400mm when upper HDD bay is removed
As the name implies, Define Mini is the smaller sibling of the acclaimed and award winning Define R4 case. Being a micro ATX version of Define R4, it offers a number of interesting functions with a very stylish appearance. It's a case focused on low noise level, without neglecting other important features such as cooling, expandability and ease of use. The Define Mini excels in including a lot of features in a small size!
The patent pending feature ModuVent, in which you can choose whether to have fan slots in side and top panels open or not, makes the case appealing for users seeking optimal silence, as well as the performance hungry ones.
The sleek black interior is matched with pre-fitted, dense noise absorbing material on the side panels, efficiently absorbing noise and vibrations. You can fit an astonishing total of six hard drives into this case, using the user friendly HDD-trays. All painted in a nice white color and using black silicone mounts. PSU is mounted in the bottom of the case, with a convenient pull-out filter beneath it.
