Fractal Design Torrent White TG Clear Tint PC Case Review

Fractal Design is known for its good build quality and continuous innovation. Their PC Cases, in particular gain attraction as they carry distinctive style, design, and a feature set setting them apart from the competition.

Not only this but Fractal is also known to break the shackles of traditional design and bring something new. I think Lian Li is the only other brand doing that. Anyhow, Fractal Design released Torrent back in 2021, and this case immediately gains the attraction of almost every market segment as this was a breather design that the majority did not see coming.

Once again, Fractal did something different and did that in quite a style and a particular footprint with enormous success.

We have earlier tested Meshify 2 from Fractal and found that case to be a fantastic offer covering almost every requirement a user would need, be it a storage server layout or a regular cooling-based layout with a plethora of features. This time we are taking a look at the Torrent case from Fractal. The case is available in three main sizes:

• Torrent
• Torrent Compact
• Torrent Nano

Fractal has recently released a few more SKUs in this line. We now have as many as 6 SKUs in a standard Torrent configuration:

• White RGB TG Clear Tint
• Black RGB TG Clear Tint
• Black TG Light Tint
• Black TG Dark Tint
• Gray TG Light Tint
• White TG Clear Tint
• Black Solid

Fractal Design Torrent is nothing like a regular design. Fractal Design has given due focus to airflow-optimized design in a very different manner in terms of layout. PSU Chamber is not located at the base or side rather, it is moved upwards. Fractal has taken an aggressive approach to generate high airflow out of the box as this case comes with 2x 180mm fans on the front having a thickness of 38mm. There are three 140mm fans on the base.

Also Read: Fractal Design Celcius+ S36 Dynamic Cooler Review

Let’s take a look at the salient features of Fractal Design:

• The open front grille and full-length base intake with 180 mm fan support
• Newly developed 180 x 38 mm Dynamic X2 PWM and Prisma AL PWM ARGB fans leverage power, size, and thickness for greatly enhanced air-moving capacity
• Streamlined open interior with extra headroom for components and cooling
• Top-mounted PSU compartment with an aerodynamic shape and integrated ARGB effects (TG versions only)
• Five PWM fans included—three 140 mm and two 180 mm
• Both front and bottom panels support extra-thick radiators and push-pull fan configurations up to 420/360 mm
• New Nexus 9P Slim PWM fan hub pre-installed
• External Velcro tie-downs help manage the power cord and other cables on the rear exterior
• Seamless tempered glass panels with a bolt-free top-latching mechanism
• Integrated ARGB lighting and Prisma ARGB fans use standard 5V RGB connectors for full software control on motherboards with addressable RGB support
• Removable top bezel and cable guides with Velcro ties behind the motherboard plate
• Two vibration-damped HDD trays and four dedicated SSD brackets included
• Integrated support for water-cooling reservoirs on the motherboard tray
• Seven bridgeless expansion slots ensure obstruction-free hookup
• GPU support bracket included
• Compatible with the Flex B-20 Vertical GPU Riser Bracket (sold separately)
• Recessed channels along the left and right underside edges of the base for adding LED strips             

Specifications

Packing Box

This case is shipped inside a brown color cardboard packing box.

Product specifications (salient) are printed on the front side of this box. There is an illustrative picture as well. Fragile means this case has a tempered glass panel.

Fractal Design has highlighted 10 key features of this case on the backside of the packing box. There is an open grille design with a Y shape accent on the front. 2x 180x38mm and 3x 140x25mm fans are pre-installed. We will cover design aspects shortly.

When we opened the box, there was a box tucked between white color Styrofoam pads. This box has fan brackets.

Ooppsss! We broke a lower portion of a pad when taking the case out of the box. No damage was done to the case.

Design

It is time to take a look at the design elements of this case but first, let’s see what Fractal is saying about this case. “The Torrent is a high-performance PC case designed entirely around the objective of delivering the highest possible airflow out-of-the-box with conflict-free support for high-end hardware with unconventionally large cooling solutions.

Standout features include a newly designed component layout with a top-mounted PSU compartment and full E-ATX/SSI-EEB support, large open front grille and bottom intakes, and most notably of all, two 180 x 38 mm Dynamic X2 PWM or Prisma ARGB PWM fans (both developed and released in tandem with the Torrent).

Another three 140 mm PWM fans come pre-installed in the base for a total of five. The Torrent also features support for the Flex B-20 Vertical Riser Bracket (available separately), allowing GPUs to be vertically mounted in a central position with excellent access to incoming air.”

The Fractal Design Torrent White case has an overall dimension of 544x242x530mm (LxWxH) with a net weight of 10.8 kg. The main building materials used in this case are Steel, Tempered Glass, and Plastic. We are starting with a complete take on the front side of this case before moving further. Let’s begin.

Fractal Design has adopted a Y shape design grille up front. The complete area on this side is open-ended but worry not as there is a full-length dust filter behind this grille front panel. Since Fractal Design is focused on airflow, this design not only will aid in achieving the desired results but doing that in quite some fashion.

This Y shape grill is made of aluminum material it is in a silver color. Fractal Design has done a good job in the integration of this grille inside a white color plastic made frame. We can see that there can be two fans behind this beautiful front panel.

We have a brushed aluminum plate with Fractal Design branding over top giving a nice look to the front.

Man, I love it. Taking out the front panel is simply a convenient job. Just gently pull it from the top and the complete panel will come off. This is due to the fact that Fractal Design was paying attention to details. We have a hinged design which makes installing or removing a panel easy. Another key note is that panel will not completely get out as it may fall in that way. It will become loose but remain attached to the main housing from the base.

How good is that! The above picture is showing the backside of the front panel. Notice a dust filter covering the entire front panel. Its removal is even easier. There is a catcher up top. Gently slide it upward. This will release the dust filter and now you can pop it out. The front griller can also be removed by undoing the black color screws.

The above picture shows the dust filter and front panel side by side. This is not a magnetic attachment. Dust filters can be cleaned and washed easily. Now, we can gaze at the unrestricted airflow design on the front panel.

Behold two 180mm fans up front. If you are wondering what is so special? These fans are custom designed in 180mm size. They have a thickness of 38mm not just 25mm. These are designed to generate and sustain a high amount of airflow. While we are at it, let’s take a look at their specifications:

The model of these fans is Dynamic X2 GP-18 PWM. The RGB edition of this case comes with PRISMA AL fans. These fans are installed using two brackets on top and bottom on the front housing. These fans are installed on the inside of the case, not the front housing. This is why we have a concealed design on the front without any cutout for cable routing. These fans have a mounting hole pattern of 165x165mm.

We have removed both 180mm fans by removing 8x self-tapping screws. Now you can see the inside of the case through the front open area.

We have now removed both brackets for 180mm fans. Now you can see the entire front area. We have red-circled spots in the picture. These are cutouts. These are placed with exact measurements and these are there to catch fan brackets.

The idea is if you want to install 140mm size fans on the front of this case, then you would need to install fan brackets on the outermost cutouts and if you are going with 120mm size fans then the brackets would need to be placed in the innermost cutouts. This immediately gives away one Con. We don’t have a design where the user can install a 120mm or a 140mm size fan regardless of the bracket design.

The above picture shows fan brackets for 180mm size fans. These come pre-installed and can easily be removed by undoing screws 7x screws.

Wait, where I am going with all this? Remember, we mentioned fan brackets during unboxing. It is time to take a look at that box.

There is a cardboard-made accessory box that comes tucked between two white color pads in the main packing box. This box has fan brackets.

Both brackets are placed inside a bubble sheet for further protection.

The above picture shows both fan brackets. These brackets can either house up to 3x 120mm fans or 3x 140mm fans. These brackets are not for any other size and this is due to their particular design and installation requirement in this case.

Just to show you an idea, we took 3x 120mm fans from Thermalright Frozen Magic 360 Scenic AIO and placed them inside the brackets. This is how you will see these brackets once installed in the case.

The above picture shows fan brackets installed for a 140mm size fan configuration.

Here is a close-up view of where brackets are installed for 140mm size fans.

The above picture shows fan brackets installed for a 120mm size fan configuration.

Here is a close-up view of where brackets are installed for 120mm size fans.

These brackets have cutouts on the side to pass fans’ cables through. Fractal Design was paying attention to the design.

Cooling Provision on Front

So, what are our options for cooling items on the front?

• 2x 180mm Fans
• 3x 120mm Fans
• 3x 140mm Fans
• 1x 360mm Radiator in 180mm size
• Up to 360mm Radiator in 120mm size
• Up to 420mm  Radiator in 140mm size

Push Pull configuration is also supported thanks to the spacious layout but there are a few considerations that we will cover down the road.

There is a single-piece, large-size dust filter on the base of this case. It can be pulled from the front for which there is a requirement to remove the front panel as well.

The bottom dust filter is made of nylon. It is non-magnetic and can easily be washed and cleaned.

Take a look at the rear view of this case. We have a different design over here. There is a PSU chamber over the top that can house a standard ATX-size PSU. The majority of the wall of this case is perforated in a honeycomb design. There are mounting holes for a 120mm fan as well as a 140mm fan. These are fixed positions and by the look of it, there is no pre-installed fan there. Idea is that the front and bottom mounted fans would generate enough airflow that an open design grille pattern towards the rear will not provide any obstruction for the air exhaust.

There are 7x PCIe slot covers. They are removable and perforated as well. Another good design is that these slot covers are bridgeless design. Meaning there is no wall or frame between any two slots like In the majority of the cases. Removing all covers would show a large size opened design. This makes it easier to install a vertical bracket for a graphics card.

The top cover is secured with the main frame using two captive thumb screws. It is made of plastic material. The above picture shows an inside view of the PSU chamber. We will take a look at it shortly as well.

Since PSU is now on the top of this case, the power cord would need to cover more distance than if the PSU was at the base of this case. Fractal Design has provided 4x Velcro Strips here to catch the power cord. Users can also group the cables for connectivity on the rear of the motherboard. Attention to detail is impeccable.

There is a white color plastic-made cover which can be removed by undoing two screws on the rear. Starting from the left, we can spot a large size cutout on top. There are three circular cutouts on the PSU bay’s frame. These are there to provide access to the fill port on the reservoir if DIY cooling is applied. There are two mounting holes which are circled in red color. In case you are shipping this case over and would want further protection or extra care. You can screw a glass panel in the main frame using this screw. However, the solid side panel needs to be secured using a side-mounted hole which is somewhat inconvenient. There are two cable tie points as well.

The PSU bay has a perforated base with six feet having black color anti-vibration or anti-slip pads. PSU unit is placed over these feet. There is a large size Velcro strip to catch and route the cables is provide on the front.

There is a digital RGB LED strip pre-installed in the PSU chamber. It is powered by a standard 3-pin, 5V connector for which your motherboard must have a supported header. These LEDs face the diffuser towards the inner side of the PC Case. It will give a very subtle look.

There are 7x digital RGB LEDs on this strip.

The plastic panel has a honeycomb pattern on the inner side.

Looking at the bottom or base of the case from the outside, we can spot two handles having anti-slip feet on each end. These serve as feet of this case and prevent it from slipping and scratching the surface. There is a full-length dust filter. A serial number sticker is pasted toward the front as well. These feet are removable.

Now, we can see the fan bracket installed at the base of this case. We can see 3x 140mm fans which are pre-installed. There are insets on the main frame at the top and base where users can install additional digital RGB strips.

The I/O panel is located on the top side of this case towards the front area. The following connectivity options are provided.

• 2x Audio Jacks
• 1x USB Gen2 Type-C port
• 1x Power Button
• 1x Reset Button
• 2x USB 3.0 ports

Now that we have almost covered the exterior of this case including the possible details of the front and top areas, it is time to take a look at the main area of interest that is inside this case.

Fractal Design Torrent White TG Clear Tint has a tempered glass panel. TG in the model explains it as well. Clear Tint means, the glass is not tinted and one would get a clear view even without any lighting. This panel is using a toolless and top-latching mechanism for opening and closing which makes life easier.

There is a handle towards the rear of this case. That handle is a part of the panel. Simply pulling it will release the panel and it will come but will not fall due to the bottom hinges. Edges of these panels are steel reinforced as well. As we can see the glass panel flushes fully with the frame of this case which is a nice touch. We can see two color tones on top and base as well.

We have removed the glass panel and now are taking a look at the inside of this case. The first thing that you will notice is the spacious layout with loads of space to work around in this case.

Another observation would be the dire airflow from the base and front of this case. Since the PSU bay is now located towards the top, this has given more space and tons of cool airflow provision, particularly from the base.

The motherboard tray is white in color as well. Rubber grommets are black in color and the other element in black are the fans. Fractal Design has recently released a full-white version of this case with RGB fans. I wish they had done that the first time.

The motherboard tray protruded towards the inside. We have a total of 4 large size cutouts and each has a rubber grommet on it.  The unit comes with a pre-installed GPU support bracket which we removed first.

Usually, we have consideration of clearance from the top of the case towards the top of the motherboard PCB for RAM height and top-mounted liquid cooler height. In this case, this displacement is 32mm approximately but it is not a concern as there is no provision to install any cooler on top of this case.

The above picture shows a close-up of the motherboard tray. 8x standoffs come pre-installed on this tray. These are there to catch standard ATX size or E-ATX motherboards out of the box. Speaking of the motherboards, this case can house:

• ATX
• E-ATX
• Mini-ITX
• MicroATX
• SSI-EEB
• SSI-CEB

We have a large size cutout in this tray for a convenient installation of a CPU cooler. Two of the main four cutouts are located on top with one towards the left and the other towards the right side. There is no cutout in between.

The other cutouts are in a vertical layout. There are three angular manner cutouts on the base of this tray as well. Fractal Design has provided mounting provision for the reservoir as well on this tray. These mounts are on the right of the main cutouts.

However, the reservoir length has a direct relation with the length of a graphics card and push/pull configuration on the front can also restrict its mounting.

We have mentioned that the PSU bay has a perforated base that faces the inside of this case. This implies that PSU would need to be installed fan the down position. This could actually raise the inner temperature of the PSU unit since all the warm air of the main chamber will also be sucked by the PSU fan.

Fractal Design has mentioned that this PSU bay has an aerodynamic design feature. We can see a diffuser on the base of this chamber. It has 7x digital RGB LEDs for subtle digital lighting.

This case has seven PCIe slot covers. These are reusable and there is a bridgeless design making this case compatible with Fractal Design Flex B 20 GPU Riser Bracket. This bracket is not included and can be purchased separately.

There is no pre-installed fan on the rear. The user can install a 120mm or a 140mm fan on the rear. Similarly, a 120mm or a 140mm size radiator can be installed on the rear. We have an open and full grille style on the rear providing a large area for air exhaust.

Now are taking a look at the top from the inside of this case. The large opening is faced by a plastic made top cover that has a honeycomb design. The cables from the top IO panel are routed from the opposite sides as well. This gives a neat and clean look.

Here we are taking a look at preinstalled 2x Dynamix X2 GP-18 fans. We have already discussed these fans in detail above. Notice the area available in front of these fans right before the start of the motherboard tray. This is quite a spacious layout for front cooling provision.

Looking at the base of this case, there is a fan bracket that is pre-installed using two captive thumb screws. There are three Dynamic X2 GP14 PWM fans pre-installed there in a pull configuration. Specifications of these fans are:

The cooling provision on the base of this case includes:

• 3x 120mm Fans
• 3x 140mm Fans
• 2x180mm Fans
• Up to 360mm Radiator in 120mm size
• Up to 420mm Radiator in 140mm size

We have removed the fan bracket from the case.

The above picture shows the opposite side of this fan bracket. Now, you can better see the mounting provision on this bracket. This bracket is using a rail design so the fans’ position can be adjusted as well.

Here we are showing the base of this case after removing the fan bracket. You can spot a cutout right below the motherboard tray. This is there to route the fan cables toward the other side of this case. Also, note three grooves or insets at the bottom. These are there to catch the tabs on the fan bracket. The bracket slides inside these grooves.

The above picture shows another cutout towards the front side. The front-mounted fans’ cables are routed through this cutout.

There is one limitation of fan brackets in this case. If you are installing 120/140mm fan brackets on the front then make sure that you are done with the bottom cooling configuration because those fan brackets protruded inside the case and obstruct the bottom fan bracket from installation.

Also, from the looks of it, you can use 2x 420mm radiators at the same time as well regardless of the thickness of those radiators.

It is time to take a look at the last cornerstone of this case which is the backside.

There is a solid backside panel in white color. It is made of steel and we can see a bit of a different shade between this steel-made panel and the plastic front frame.

Looking at the backside of this case, we can see there is more going on than expected. Up on top, there is a partially covered PSU bay. All storage mountings are provided over this side. There is a brown color accessory box as well. We have roughly 32mm of cable management space here. There are a total of 16 cable tie points.

But there are more. We have cable guides and Velcro Strips as well. This is a similar approach as we saw in Meshify 2 case. The rear side of this case is Velcro Strips as we mentioned earlier. These run on both sides of the frame and provide a creative way to cable manage on both sides.

The accessory box is made of cardboard. Each item and its count are printed over this box.

Fractal Design has provided a plethora of screws, cable ties, and microfiber cloth.

There is a two-piece GPU support bracket provided as well.

The triangular shape support frame is installed on the frame of this case. The support arm is installed on the support frame and its position can be adjusted as well.

Fractal Design has installed 2x 3.5” drive brackets below the CPU cutout on the motherboard tray. They are secured using captive thumbscrews.

The above picture shows a 3.5” drive bracket after removing from this case.

The above picture shows the area under the 3.5” drive bracket. One thing to note is the tight cable connector space for these brackets. It will not be easy to navigate cables with so many SATA and data connectors.

There are 4x 2.5” drive brackets installed on the left side of this case using captive thumbscrews.

The above picture shows a close-up of the 2.5” drive bracket removed from the case.

The above picture shows the side of a case after removing one 2.5” drive bracket.

Fractal Design has provided a low profile, 9x ports fan hub called Nexus 9P Slim. This hub has 9x 4-pin PWM ports. The pre-installed fans are not connected to this hub and users would have to do it themselves. Earlier batch reported a possible shortage in these hubs which Fractal Design addressed quickly and offered a replacement of fan hub to the customers as well.

They also offered the users to return the case with a full refund. This is how you win the hearts and souls of your customers. There is a 4-pin header in the center from which a 4-pin PWM connector cable comes out. This cable reports the speed of the fans. Also, there is a 2-pin port or header for power.

This fan hub is SATA powered.

There is a 4-pin PWM connector coming from this hub. It can be connected to a 4-pin PWM header on the motherboard for speed regulation.

There are cable guides on the edge of the motherboard tray providing channels on which the cables can be placed and routed. These guides have Velcro Strips as well.

There are two Velcro Strips facing the PSU bay and CPU cutout. These are there to catch and route the cables coming from the PSU bay.

Hub is installed on the base as can be seen. It is removable.

The front IO panel cables include:

• 1x USB Type-C Gen2 Connector
• 1x USB 3.0 Connector
• 1x HD Audio Connector

The above picture shows system panel connectors. There are no HDD LED indicator connectors which are ok with me.

Storage Support

• 2x 3.5” Drives
• 4x 2.5” Drives

Clearance

• 188mm for the CPU Cooler height
• 423mm for the GPU with the pre-installed fans on the front
• 461mm for the GPU with no front fans
• 230mm for the PSU
• 32mm Cable Management space

Fractal Design has provided an extensive user guide.

There is a guide on how to set up the GPU support bracket as well.

Test Build and Experience

It is time to share our experience with the Fractal Design Torrent case. Overall PC building inside this case is convenient but you would need to plan it well and consult the user manual. We did a test build using an air cooler so that thermal testing can be done in a stock configuration.

We installed the RAM and cooler outside of the case. The cutout on the motherboard tray is large enough to provide an easy approach for cooler installation inside the case as well. The motherboard was installed without any glitches.

We did not face any issues so far in the installation. The CPU cooler’s height is within the clearance limit as well.

We connected all three fans on the base of this case to the motherboard’s fan headers at the bottom. Other cables were routed and connected as well. Yes, I know, this motherboard needs cleaning.

We installed PSU with the fan side facing down. Having a modular unit would be handy as only needed cables will be used and it would reduce cable clutter. There is still someplace in the bay to carry the unused cables.

A 24-pin ATX cable was an easy connection.

The CPU cooler’s fan was connected to the CPU_OPT fan header. One of the front fans was also connected to the CPU_Fan header. We did not use the Nexus 9P hub.

The EPS connector was a somewhat convenient installation due to space restrictions coming from the cooler but nothing glaring.

We then installed a graphics card.

Here comes the first serious observation. Due to the particular design and location of the PSU chamber or bay, the routing of PEG or GPU cables is challenging. Their length is not enough to reach the connector of the graphics card in the center.

If this connector was located towards the front of the graphics card, then it would have been a somewhat convenient installation.

We ended up using a modDIY adapter connector for this installation. Otherwise, there was no way out.

Cables from PSU were nicely routed outward toward the backside of the case except for the PEG cable. We needed every inch of cable length possible to make it closer to the power connector of the graphics card.

We did a little cable management but it still came out nice. Please note that installing 3.5” and 2.5” drives would add CHALLENGE for the user as it would be difficult managing this closure.

All cables are connected and the system is ready to go.

Here is another look at the assembled build.

POST was successful. You can see a nice AURA under the PSU bay.

The above picture shows the digital RGB lighting from the PSU bay in a close-up.

Some general observations include:

• Users can install 2x 180mm size fans on the base. However, installing two of these in 38mm thickness would be a tight fit sitting closer to the motherboard.
• 2x 420mm radiators are not possible at this time.
• The fan bracket on the base can’t be removed or installed after installing 120/140mm size fan brackets. However, this is not applicable with 2x 180mm fans in stock configuration.
• GPU Extension Cables might be needed.

Testing

We have used below mentioned configuration for a test build:

• Intel i7-12700K
• GIGABYTE Z690 AERO G
• Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 kit @ 6400MHz CL32
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD
• GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 VISION OC Rev.2
• DeepCool AK400 White Cooler
• DeepCool DQ-750-M-V2L-WH PSU

Noctua NT-H1 is used on the CPU IHS. We have used CINEBENCH R23.2 to stress test the CPU for 30 minutes at 4.8GHz at all cores. Time Spy Extreme Stress test was used to put a load on the graphics card and record thermals.

Also Read: Fractal Design Lumen S36 RGB Cooler Review

The ambient temperature was 24°C. This table shows the result:

Overall this is a good result from this case. We set the five fans of the case and the CPU cooler’s fan to run at 100% speed. The overall noise output is high. You can set a custom fan curve to that end.

Conclusion

Torrent is a name of a new PC Case from Fractal Design which gives a breakthrough from regular designs in the majority of the PC cases in the market with a few exceptions. Every now and then, someone comes up with a unique design that actually changes things but only a few makes difference.

This is exactly the case with Torrent. This case is designed around one main or core idea; Airflow. Fractal Design has achieved this in quite a phenomenal way though there are a few caveats as well. Torrent is available in three sizes:

• Torrent
• Torrent Compact
• Torrent Nano

This case is available in three main colors; White, Black, and Gray. There are 7 SKUs in this size:

• White RGB TG Clear Tint [New]
• Black RGB TG Clear Tint
• Black TG Light Tint
• Black TG Dark Tint
• Gray TG Light Tint
• White TG Clear Tint
• Black Solid

We have tested White TG Clear Tint version. TG here means this case has tempered glass and Clear Tint means the glass is not tinted so we have a fully see-through panel. This case has an overall dimension of 544x242x530mm (LxWxH) with a weight of 10.8 kg. The main materials used in this construction are Steel, Plastic, and glass.

I am a bit baffled about where to start! This case can do that, trust me. Let’s first summarize the cooling, storage, and clearance data.

Cooling Department

• Up to 3x 120mm or 3x 140mm or 2x 180mm size fans on front and base.
• Up to 360mm size radiator [120 or 180mm size] or 420mm size radiator on front.
• Up to 360mm radiator [120mm size] or 420mm size radiator on base.
• 1x 120 or 140mm size fan on the rear.
• 1x 120 or 140mm size radiator on the rear.

This case comes with 2x Dynamic X2 GP18 fans on the front. These fans have 180x180x38mm in size. There are three Dynamic X2 GP14 fans on the base having a size of 140x140x25mm. There is a full-length fan bracket on the base which can be removed and it has a rail design. The cooling game is this strong in Torrent.

Storage Support

• 2x 3.5” Drives
• 4x 2.5” Drives

Clearance

• 32mm Space for Cable Management
• 230mm Space for ATX PSU
• 188mm for CPU Cooler Height
• 423mm for Graphics Card with stock front fans
• 461mm total length for graphics

Dust Filtration

• 1x Full-length non-magnetic dust filter on the front
• 1x Full-length non-magnetic dust filter on the bottom

One distinctive feature of this case is Y Y-shaped grille design on the front. These are vented guides to provide unobstructed airflow and add a bold look to the case. These are in silver color and give quite a unique-looking outlook. This front panel has a dust filter as well. Handling dust filters is convenient as it is a hinged design.

By default, 2x 180mm fans are pre-installed on the front. Fractal Design has provided 120/140mm size brackets as well. To install these brackets we would need to remove the stock brackets.

However, a catch is that those brackets can either be installed for 120mm size or 140mm size but not both at a time so pay attention. Also, take note that you can’t remove or install the bottom fan bracket after installing these brackets.

Speaking of cooling, Fractal Design has provided an integrated fan hub called Nexus 9P Slim. This hub has 9x 4-pin PWM ports. It is SATA powered and provides a single 4-pin PWM connector to regulate the speed of connected fans. The bottom filter is taken out from the front and here comes another caveat. In order to remove the bottom dust filter, the complete front panel needs to be removed.

Both panels including the glass panel are a toolless and top-latching design which is too good. They have steel-reinforced borders as well. I appreciate the handling of these panels. These can be secured using screws for shipping. We have mentioned that Fractal Design has given the focus on airflow.

They have moved the PSU bay from the base towards the top which is another distinctive feature. The PSU bay or compartment is designed to be in an aerodynamic shape. It has a perforated base facing the inside of this case.

It also has a digital RGB LED strip for subtle lighting. Fractal has taken full advantage of this design and installed 3x 140mm fans at the base hence they have transferred this advantage to the customer. This also implies that liquid cooling is strictly restricted toward the front and base.

Another salient design approach is a complete perforated rear grille or frame of this case. Though a user can optionally install a fan on the rear, it may not be needed as such. Since heat is now being exhausted from the rear and up through the PSU bay, it may run the PSU unit warm though we could not test it.

This case has a spacious layout for your PC build. It can house mini-ITX, micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX, SSI-EEB, and SSI-CEB size motherboards. Standoffs come preinstalled. There are 4 main cutouts on the motherboard tray and they have rubber grommets. This case has 7x PCIe slot covers in a bridgeless design. These are perforated and reusable.

The area right next to the motherboard tray has cutouts that are specifically provided for the installation of a reservoir in DIY cooling. Also, there are 3x circle shape cutouts on PSU compartment main frame facing this reservoir area. These are there to provide access to the refill port. The case has an IO panel located on the top and it supports USB 3.1 Gen-2 Type C port as well.

Now coming to the cable management side, this case is filled with Velcro Strips. Since the PSU compartment is up top, so there are 4x Velcro Strips on the rear covering both sides. They can carry the power cord and at the same time, can be used to carry cables on the backside of this case.

There are cable guides, providing channels for cables and there are more Velcro strips as well. There are cable tie points as well. However, since the storage is totally on the backside of the case, it would be very challenging to manage the SATA and data cables. Also, we noticed that the GPU cable fell short of reaching the power connector of the graphics card.

The top cover is made of plastic and gives a rough feeling. The same is the case with the front panel’s plastic frame. Recessed channels along the left and right underside edges of the base can be used to house adding LED strips.

PC building in this is a good experience but you should really know this case inside out before moving on. We have already mentioned a few shortcomings above. The thermal performance of the CPU cooler and the graphics card was satisfactory and we did not observe restricted airflow which is the core purpose of this case.

Fractal has delivered a solid punch for sure. This case has an MSRP of $189.99. Now, this is a steep price for sure but given the very distinctive DNA of Torrent and its features, it can be taken though this is up to the user to decide. This PC case comes straight recommended by us.