The Fractal Era 2 Mini ITX case is a notable upgrade over its predecessor, blending aesthetics with improved hardware support. It features a sleek design, available in colors like Silver, Midnight Blue, and Charcoal Gray, with premium materials such as anodized aluminum and an optional walnut top panel. The compact dimensions make it an appealing choice for space-conscious setups.
In terms of hardware compatibility, the Era 2 can fit a 240mm or 280mm radiator on top, supporting advanced cooling solutions. It also accommodates GPUs up to 326mm long, making it capable of housing high-performance builds despite its small size. However, cooling with an air cooler is limited to a maximum height of 70mm, so larger CPUs often necessitate an AIO cooler for optimal performance.
The case provides good thermal performance overall but can exhibit some noise issues, especially with certain high-speed fans, where vibrations may cause resonating sounds. Using quieter fans, such as Fractal’s own Aspect series, tends to resolve this issue. The panel design makes it easy to access internals, though cable management might be a challenge due to the limited space. Additionally, the exclusion of ATX PSU support allows more room for larger GPUs, with SFX and SFX-L PSUs being the preferred options.
Priced at around £195, it positions itself as a premium offering with features like a PCIe Gen4 riser cable included, making it a worthwhile option for enthusiasts seeking a stylish and compact ITX build.