Fractal Design Arc Midi: The Mid Tower You've Been Waiting For?

Conclusion: Almost There

In a way, reviewing the Fractal Design Arc Midi feels like I'm reviewing two different cases: the one that ships, and the one enthusiasts will tinker with. One of these is good but not great, while the other has the potential to be a stellar investment. Break it down into two parts and you can see where Fractal Design went right and where they went wrong.

The case design itself is stellar and leaves little to be desired. It's a little cramped, sure, but that's the price you pay for getting a healthy amount of expansion and flexibility in a mid tower format. In exchange you do get that expansion and flexibility, all in what I think is an extremely attractive package with a smart aesthetic that feels at worst frugal rather than cheap. Build quality is excellent, with a lot of attention paid to the little details. It's easy to assemble, it looks good, what more can you ask for?

Well, you can ask for better fans. I think the fan controller included is a nice touch, but I suspect the fans Fractal Design uses are less than ideal for this enclosure. I keep feeling like we could see better performance out of the Arc Midi if we just pulled the stock fans, pulled the fan controller, and added better fans. The acoustics just don't fall in line with the cooling performance, but thankfully this is one place where the dedicated enthusiast can probably get a lot of mileage out of the Arc Midi.

Unfortunately, replacement fans cost money, and when you start spending up you begin to wonder if you shouldn't have just gone with something like the Corsair 650D or my personal favorite, the Rosewill Thor v2. My answer? Frankly, I like the way the Arc Midi looks, so I'd be more inclined to tinker with it. $99 is fairly inexpensive for a quality case, and the Arc Midi is well-built, looks good, and is easy to use.

If you want the best case you can get for under $100, as it ships, I'd probably suggest going with the Corsair Carbide 400R or In-Win BUC. But if you're willing to put in the time and energy and invest a bit, the Fractal Design Arc Midi should serve you well.