Fractal North XL
Full-tower · Walnut accents · E-ATX
Fractal Design North
Walnut wood front · Mesh side · ATX
Fractal Design North takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Fractal North XL lands at 91 and Fractal Design North at 92. That puts Fractal Design North ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Fractal North XL if…
- ✓Gorgeous walnut front
- ✓E-ATX and 420 mm rad support
- ✓Quiet mesh airflow
Pick Fractal Design North if…
- ✓Real walnut wood front panel
- ✓Excellent airflow
- ✓Great cable management
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testBuild
TieCompared on the build sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Airflow
TieCompared on the airflow sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
Fractal Design NorthSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Fractal Design North more score per dollar ($139 vs $189).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Fractal North XL | Fractal Design North |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Full-tower | — |
| MB support | E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX | — |
| Fans | 2× included | — |
| Max GPU | 413 mm | — |
| 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 |
Fractal North XL
- +Gorgeous walnut front
- +E-ATX and 420 mm rad support
- +Quiet mesh airflow
- −Large footprint
- −No vertical GPU mount included
- −No included fan hub
Fractal Design North
- +Real walnut wood front panel
- +Excellent airflow
- +Great cable management
- −Glass version pricier
- −No vertical GPU mount included
- −Front fans not RGB
FAQ: Fractal North XL vs Fractal Design North
Which is better, Fractal North XL or Fractal Design North? +
Fractal Design North scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Fractal North XL worth the price? +
At $189, Fractal North XL delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in build.
Is Fractal Design North worth the price? +
At $139, Fractal Design North delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in design.
Does Fractal North XL or Fractal Design North 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 the better value, Fractal North XL or Fractal Design North? +
Fractal Design North — more score per dollar ($139 vs $189). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.