Fractal Design Vector RS Case Review

Fractal Design has taken a modular approach to the interior design with the option to swap between either a storage layout, offering more drive positions and storage options or an open layout which maximises interior space, airflow and water cooling support.

In the storage layout configuration, there are six HDD trays with eleven positions available – additional trays can be purchased separately allowing a total of eleven HDDs to be installed. The HDD trays are a sturdy steel construction with vibration-damping rubber grommets.

Swapping between the two layouts is reasonably simple. Once all HDD cages are removed, there are a total of six screws – two top, two front and two bottom, which need to be taken out to release the storage panel and then moved to the open layout location and fixed in place with the same six screws.

Two SSD brackets are included, with four mounting positions available; two behind the motherboard tray and two on the PSU shroud. Again, extra SSD brackets can be purchased separately. Additional SSDs can be mounted in the HDD trays also.

The Vector RS supports vertical GPU mounting for GPUs up to 2.5 slot thickness via a Flex VRC-25 PCI-e riser which is sold separately. Due to clearance of the GPU and side panel, liquid cooling is recommended for GPUs over 2 slots thick.

Fractal Design implement extensive cooling support in the Vector RS including radiators up to 360mm in the font, 420mm in the top and 280mm in the base. The interior is spacious enough to allow installation of an E-ATX motherboard up to 285mm wide.

Pre-installed into the Vector RS are three ultra-quiet Dynamic X2 GP-14 140mm fans. The case supports a total of nine fan positions of 120mm or 140mm size fans. Three in the front, three at the top, two in the floor and one in the rear.

A full cover ventilated PSU shroud placed at the bottom of the case helps hide away untidy looking cables and doubles up as an alternative SSD mounting location. Towards the front of the PSU shroud, there is a cut away portion to facilitate radiator installation.

Inside the PSU shroud, there looks to be plenty of room to install a large power supply. Towards the front, there are spaces for either two 140mm fans or a 280mm radiator to be installed.

Included with the Vector RS is a Nexus+ PWM fan hub which can manage up to three PWM fans plus six 3-pin fans. The Nexus+ fan hub features short circuit protection and advanced power regulation shields from potential current/voltage spikes.

The interior of the Vectors RS provides scope for almost every type of system installation with its modular design. The huge amount of options in storage configuration makes it an ideal home server case. In open configuration, the case would be ideal for high end custom water cooling.

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