Question 1

How much clearance for a tower air cooler?

Accepted Answer

This is the biggest case I’ve found and should fit any available CPU cooler.   pcpartpicker has info on exact clearances.  It depends a little bit on your mobo CPU mount.

Question 2

specs show 2 external 5.25 drive bays. I can't see or find them in photos.  
Where are they?

Accepted Answer

You can attach exactly one screw into one optical drive, as shown in their official (unlisted) video, which is linked from the manufacturer's faq.
This is wholly inadequate.  After a few months of wiggling, my CD drive now reads at 1.3x speed instead of 48x.  Haven't tried a DVD or BD lately.

Question 3

Is this compatible with a mini-ATX motherboard?

Accepted Answer

the User guide lists these as supported MB types: EE-ATX, E-ATX, ATX, mATX, and ITX. I believe there is no mini-ATX, only a micro-ATX (mATX) and a mini-ITX ((mITX). This case does support micro-ATX (mATX) but not mini ITX (mITX).

Question 4

What is the distance between the front and rear feet? I'm trying to fit it on my desk but not sure if my desk is deep enough for the fit to feet.

Accepted Answer

I just measured it at about 18 5/8" or 47cm outside edge to outside edge.  It's a big case for a desk.

Question 5

will this fit this AIO cooler on top? CORSAIR iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX. I see for radiator options on top it says up to 480mm / 420mm for the case, but the AIO is only 396mm. so I'm unsure if the smaller size would be ok.

Accepted Answer

Yes, the AIO cooler CORSAIR iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX, which is 396mm, will fit on top of this case. The case supports radiators up to 480mm / 420mm on top, so a 396mm radiator will fit without issues.

Question 6

The three vertical slots, will they support an RTX 4090's width?

Accepted Answer

I have two 4090's in mine with no issues. Not sure about three though. Hope that helps.

Question 7

Is this compatible with a mini-ATX motherboard?

Accepted Answer

It will handle a mini-ATX motherboard but it really is a full size case. Unless you want or need the two 5 1/2'" drive bays the Define 7 compact case would serve you better.

Question 8

Does this silent case still in 2022 come with 3pin fans, or have they updated it to use 4pin variable speed PWM fans?

Accepted Answer

Wouldn't know about 2022 - I got it in 2021 and it came with three 4-pin PWM fan connectors:

One Main/CPU 4-pin PWM fan RPM value reported to Motherboard

Two Additional 4-pin PWM fans

It has 6 3-pin connectors if you ever use them.

Hope this helps.

Question 9

What accessories do you need to buy to maximize the storage of this case?

Accepted Answer

Look for Fractal Design HDD trays. Type B is the newer one, which is a toolless drop-in for this case. You can also buy the Type-A ones, remove the plastic piece, and use a case screw on the rear (along with the front thumb screw) to install an HDD. Fractal has a guide for this on their website. They also sell additional Type-B drive cages, which go along the bottom where the PSU compartment is.

Question 10

Will this case fit a 280mm AIO Liquid CPU Cooler up top, when using the Storage Layout?

Accepted Answer

It does seem like you can fit a 280mm AIO cooler up top with the storage layout, anything past that however won't work

Brand	Fractal Design
Series	Define 7 XL
Model	FD-C-DEF7X-01

Type	ATX Full Tower
Color	Black
Case Material	Steel
With Power Supply	No
Power Supply	ATX
Power Supply Mounted	Bottom
Motherboard Compatibility	E-ATX / ATX / mATX / mITX / EE-ATX / SSI-CEB / SSI-EEB
Side Panel Window	No
LED	No
Dust Filters	Top panel 2 x Front Bottom + PSU

External 5.25" Drive Bays	2
Internal 3.5" Drive Bays	6 + 2 included, 18 positions total
Internal 2.5" Drive Bays	2 included, 5 positions total
Expansion Slots	9 + 3 vertical

Fan Options	Front: 4 x 120mm or 3 x 140mm fan (2 x Dynamic X2 GP-14 included) Top: 4 x 120mm or 3 x 140mm fan Rear: 1 x 120mm / 140mm fan (1 x Dynamic X2 GP-14 included) Bottom: 2 x 120mm / 140mm fan
Radiator Options	Front: Up to 480mm / 420mm Top: Up to 480mm / 420mm Rear: 120mm Bottom: Up to 240mm / 280mm

Max GPU Length	549 mm
Max CPU Cooler Height	185 mm
Max PSU Length	250 mm (both HDD cages installed)
Dimensions (H x W x D)	22.28" x 9.45" x 23.78" 21.57" x 9.45" x 23.23" w/o feet/protrusions/screws
Weight	36.44 lbs.

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Fractal Design Define 7 XL Black Brushed Aluminum / Steel E-ATX Silent Modular Full Tower Computer Case

EXTRA SPACIOUS

SUPERLATIVE STORAGE

FLEXIBLE DUAL-LAYOUT DESIGN

EXCEPTIONALLY SILENT

OPEN AND INTERCHANGEABLE

ELEGANT NEW FRONT DESIGN

SUPERIOR AIRFLOW

VERSATILE NEW MULTI-BRACKETS

REDESIGNED HDD CAGE

TYPE-C INTERFACE

Learn more about the Fractal Design FD-C-DEF7X-01

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Features	Spacious, extensively adaptable dual-layout interior easily accommodates large motherboards up to E-ATX and SSI-EEB Mount up to 18 HDD/SSDs plus five SSDs in the Storage Layout (6 HDD/SSD trays + 2 SSD brackets + 2 multi-brackets included) Use the Open Layout for more headroom and gargantuan water-cooling with radiators up to 480 mm in front or top and 280 mm in the base Two 5.25" ODD bays can be converted to an additional front fan mount with filtered louver covering Silence-optimized construction with industrial sound-damped front, top, and side panels Top panel effortlessly swaps from sound damped solid steel to filtered ventilation New chassis design opens up to fully expose the case interior on three sides for totally unhindered installation and cable routing Anodized aluminum front panel with reversible dual-handed hinges opens and closes easily with magnetic latching Outstanding cooling capacity with a total of 9 x 140 mm or 11 x 120 mm fan mounts and three preinstalled Dynamic X2 GP-14 fans Versatile new multi-brackets convert any unused fan position to an HDD, SSD or pump mount Three vertical GPU slots for use with the Flex VRC-25 PCIe riser, available separately Five front USB ports including one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C with fast charging support and speeds up to 10Gbps Ultra-slim Nexus+ 2 fan hub connects up to three PWM fans and six 3-pin fans directly in line with cable channels along the edge of the case Sturdy new HDD cage design with vibration damped trays Tool-less, top-latching panels allow quick access while preventing accidental drops Bridgeless expansion slots ensure obstruction-free connections for easier installation and hookup Ventilated PSU shroud with two-part removable cover Easy-to-clean high airflow nylon filters on the front, top, and base with full PSU coverage and convenient front access 13 pass-through holes with ten rubber grommets and two removable covers make for clean cable routing regardless of motherboard
Package Content	Define 7 XL Accessory box User manual Ventilated top panel ODD bracket ODD bay cover 2 x HDD/SSD trays (for a total of 6)

Item#: 9SIA1K6BXW4318