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For comparison purposes, we brought in the iBuyPower Snowblind, NZXT's H710, the Maingear Vybe, and the Corsair iCUE 465X RGB, to give you a good idea how the Fractal Design Define 7 chassis compares to its competitors with similar sizes and feature sets.
Heat
Despite the somewhat smaller size of the intake vents lining the side of the front panel, the dual-140mm intake fans feeding the large 140mm exhaust fan provided more than enough airflow into the chassis to keep our test system from overheating, even under constant load. CPU temperatures leveled off at 57 degrees Celsius over ambient. These results put it in a three-way tie for the lead, though just by a slim margin over the chassis. GPU temperatures maxed out at 48 degrees Celsius over the ambient room temperature, putting the Fractal Design Define 7 into a tie for first place.
Noise
We took sound level readings with two off-the-shelf dB meters from two different angles. Thanks to the thick sound deadening material and the tempered-glass side panel, the Define 7 registered barely 28dB at idle and 30dB under load. These are some of the best numbers we've seen to date from any chassis.
Value
Cooling efficiency and noise levels are both ways to measure performance. Determining acoustic efficiency, also referred to as cooling-to-noise ratio, is a matter of averaging all of our tests to determine a base value. The Define 7 performed better than the majority of our test group, even if just slightly.
Bottom Line
Added features such as the dual-layout interior, vented top panel, dedicated fill port under the top filter for refilling water loops, and a Nexus+ 2 PWM fan hub will make the Define 7 a favorite with performance enthusiasts and water-cooling aficionados alike. The overall construction of this chassis is extremely solid, and the fit and finish are top notch. If you're looking for top notch performance with a strong feature set, the Fractal Design Define 7 is worth the money.
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