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Fractal Design North — Walnut wood front · Mesh side · ATX
Fractal Design

Fractal Design North

Walnut wood front · Mesh side · ATX

92
/ 100
From $139
VS
Fractal Design North wins by 6
NZXT H5 Flow — Mid-tower
NZXT

NZXT H5 Flow

Mid-tower

86
/ 100
From $94
Specdex verdict

Fractal Design North takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Fractal Design North lands at 92 and NZXT H5 Flow at 86. That puts Fractal Design North ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Fractal Design North if…

  • ✓Real walnut wood front panel
  • ✓Excellent airflow
  • ✓Great cable management

Pick NZXT H5 Flow if…

  • ✓Tool-less panels on most
  • ✓Cable-management channels
  • ✓Dust filters
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Build

Fractal Design North

Compared on the build sub-score

Fractal Design North leads on build (95 vs 84).

Airflow

Fractal Design North

Compared on the airflow sub-score

Fractal Design North leads on airflow (92 vs 86).

Value for money

NZXT H5 Flow

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

NZXT H5 Flow more score per dollar ($94 vs $139).

Fractal Design North 92
vs
86 NZXT H5 Flow

Score breakdown

Fractal Design North
92
build 95
airflow 92
ease 92
design 96
value 92
features 0
NZXT H5 Flow
86
build 84
airflow 86
ease 0
design 0
value 86
features 84

Specs side-by-side

Fractal Design North versus NZXT H5 Flow — full spec comparison
Spec Fractal Design North NZXT H5 Flow
Form
Mid-tower ATX
—
Dimensions
447×215×469 mm
—
Front panel
Walnut + mesh side
—
GPU clearance
355 mm
—
CPU clearance
170 mm
—
Fan support
7× 120 mm
—
Color
Charcoal Black, Chalk White
—
Type
—
Mid-tower

Fractal Design North

Pros
  • +Real walnut wood front panel
  • +Excellent airflow
  • +Great cable management
Cons
  • −Glass version pricier
  • −No vertical GPU mount included
  • −Front fans not RGB

NZXT H5 Flow

Pros
  • +Tool-less panels on most
  • +Cable-management channels
  • +Dust filters
Cons
  • −Fan inclusion varies
  • −GPU clearance limits for triple-slot cards
  • −Weight on glass panels

FAQ: Fractal Design North vs NZXT H5 Flow

Which is better, Fractal Design North or NZXT H5 Flow? +

Fractal Design North scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Fractal Design North worth the price? +

At $139, Fractal Design North delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in design.

Is NZXT H5 Flow worth the price? +

At $94, NZXT H5 Flow delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in airflow.

Does Fractal Design North or NZXT H5 Flow last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for build, Fractal Design North or NZXT H5 Flow? +

Fractal Design North — leads on build (95 vs 84). Compared on the build sub-score.

Which is better for airflow, Fractal Design North or NZXT H5 Flow? +

Fractal Design North — leads on airflow (92 vs 86). Compared on the airflow sub-score.