In its internal testing, Fractal says the Momentum Edition case (below, left) with its three 120 mm fans is about 4 dBA quieter (42.4 dBA) than the original North (below, right) and its 140 mm spinners (46.1 dBA), with both at max fan speed. And the new 120mm fans can ramp up to 2,050 RPM, while the older 140 mm models maxed out at 1,650 RPM. Average temps were also 2 degrees Celsius lower, with most of the difference coming from lower GPU temperatures. This makes sense, given the new fan layout means there's more intake in the lower portion of the case front.
We didn't have the time to throw a system inside the North Momentum Edition, but we will be testing the company's Momentum fans on their own, so stay tuned. Still, we're tentatively glad to hear this new model should be quieter and cooler. That said, I've been using the original North as the case for my main system since 2023. It sits under my desk, about 15 inches from my knee as I write this, and it has handled my Ryzen 9 7950X / RTX 4090 build without giving me any major complaints on the noise front. But I might feel differently if the case were on top of my desk, rather than below it.
There's also a promise of improved cable routing, but that only applies to the North Momentum XL, not the smaller model shown above. Since the larger case now supports rear-connect motherboards, the space between the back of the case and the door has been widened from 29 to 37 mm. That's good, considering the primary complaint I've had about most back-connect cases is that they don't have enough room for all the cables behind the board.
One change I'd love to see is the addition of a second USB Type-C port on the top panel, given the proliferation of USB-C devices. But since this is a minor refresh (at least when it comes to design), I'm not surprised to see the same IO, with two USB-A and a USB-C port, alongside separate mic and headphone jacks.
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/pc-cases/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/pc-cases/fractal-designs-new-north-and-north-xl-momentum-edition-cases-sport-stealthy-black-wood-slats-promise-quieter-fans-xl-model-also-supports-back-connector-motherboards#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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