Fractal Design Node 605 HTPC Case Review

Details

Written by Matthew Steere on February 05th 2013 at 9:30pm

With the quantity and variety of media available online growing with each new day, it's high time a manufacturer produced a case that allows the vast reserves of internet-based media entertainment to be tapped with an air of elegance.  Fractal Design's Node 605 maintains their trademark asthetic simplicity while boasting a front panel constructed from 8 millimeters of anodized aluminium, heavy gauge steel case construction, noise dampening material on the top panel and two 120mm Silent Series R2 hydraulic bearing fans. Able to fit right in with your current home theater, the Node 605 is a testament to Fractal Design's ability to create a case meant for those who value form and function.

Overview

Fractal Design Node 605 The Node 605 highlights a minimalistic, sleek Scandinavian appeal which is designed to integrate into your home theatre equipment.  Featuring a stunning exterior appearance accompanied by a modern, black interior with sound and vibration dampening materials, the Fractal Design Node 605 supports a full ATX motherboard as well as a graphics card up to 280mm in length.   Features 8mm anodized aluminium front panel. Built from heavy gauge steel with supplementary noise dampening material. Supports ATX, miniATX, microATX and DTX motherboards. Supports GPUs up to 280mm in length. 2 USB 3.0 and 1 FireWire port on front panel. Integrated compact flash, SD and micro SD card reader. Includes 2 120mm Silent Series R2 hydraulic bearing fans. *Courtesy of Fractal Design

Specifications

Packaging and Included Accessories

The best way to describe the packaging of the Node 605 is "like a microwave."  However, I mean this in the best possible way.  The front of the box has a very nice depiction of the case while the remaining three sides list off the critical features in a logical and easy to understand manner.  But like a microwave, the box conceals the magic contained within.   While cutting the packing tape, one might be lulled into expecting some hum-drum, sub-par case that will be an absolute bore to deal with and even more disappointing to look at for the rest of its functional life.  Then, after opening the box flaps, all of those preconceived notions vanish at first sight on the finely-finished monument of modern styling barely contained by a heavy plastic bag and rigid white styrofoam (again like a microwave).  With the case comes an instructional packet written in eleven different languages, a little box containing all the screws and standoffs needed and a bright red leaflet with explicit instructions on what to do if you've received a faulty product.