The enlarged version of the Fractal Epoch XL case continues the consistent modern design vocabulary, with mesh textured door panels, fabric pull tabs and simple and neat lines, with a clean interior space. It also fully supports E-ATX, 360mm water cooling, 2 180mm fans, and up to 7 120mm fans. Players who like high-quality design can integrate the game console into various home environments, and compared with its big brother North It also provides a more accessible entry-level option.
Specification
Material: steel, tempered glass
Color: black
Dimensions: 503 x 240 x 509 mm
Weight: 9.42kg
Motherboard compatibility: E-ATX, ATX (supports back-plugging), mATX (supports back-plugging), Mini-ITX
Front I/O ports: Power button, 2 x USB-A 5Gbps, USB-C 20Gbps, 3.5mm headset
PCIe expansion slot: 7
Storage space: 2 x 2.5” or 2 x 3.5”
Pre-installed fans: First 3 x Momentum 14
Fan: Front 3 x 120/140 mm, Top 3 x 120mm / 2 x 140/180mm, Rear 1 x 120mm
Cold radiator: upper 280/360mm, front 280/360mm
CPU cooler height: < 176mm
Graphics card length: 425mm
Power supply: ATX (max. 175-290mm)
Cable management space: 37mm
Dust filter: bottom x 1
Article Chapters
Fractal Epoch XL case unboxing and assembly/ neat, modern and still E-ATX high expansion
Table of Contents
Fractal combines design aesthetics with computer cases and peripheral products, allowing players to easily integrate familiar computers into their home environment. The “Epoch XL” that is unboxed this time is an enlarged version of the previously launched Epoch, with better hardware expandability. It uses a mesh front door panel with three Momentum 14 fans to ensure sufficient cooling airflow inside the case.
Epoch XL is a slightly larger ATX tower case that can support E-ATX motherboards as well as ATX and mATX back-mounted motherboards. In addition, a 360mm water-cooling radiator can be installed on the front door or above the case, and it supports up to 7 120mm fans, 5 140mm fans, and even a large space for installing 2 180mm fans.
It has 7-slot PCIe expansion space, supports CPU tower fan 176mm, graphics card length up to 425mm, and supports ATX 175-290mm length power supply. It also maintains two 2.5-inch and two 3.5-inch storage device expansions. The right side of the case also has a 37mm deep cable management space and a convenient Velcro cable routing, allowing players to easily assemble a modern and simple computer host.
↑ Fractal Epoch XL case outer carton.
Fractal Epoch XL is launched in a total of 5 versions: Black Solid, Black TG Light Tint, White TG Clear Tint, Black TG RGB Light Tint and White TG RGB Clear Tint. To put it simply, there is a black version without glass (Black Solid), a black/white version with glass side (Black/White TG Light/Clear Tint), and a version with an RGB fan (Black/White TG RGB Light/Clear Tint).
The Epoch XL has a black case with no side penetrations. The front door uses a fine mesh door panel and has a laser-engraved aluminum Fractal nameplate. The overall shape is somewhat similar to the classic North. But although the name has “XL”, the actual size is relatively larger than that of an ATX tower case.
↑ Epoch XL black model without glass sides.
↑ Front door with fine mesh door panel.
↑ Laser-engraved aluminum Fractal nameplate.
The left side of Epoch XL Black Solid has the same black metal side panel, which is the same as the right side panel of the case, but the two cannot be installed interchangeably. This is because there is an extra baffle on the left side of the casing that blocks vision.
↑ The metal side panel on the left side of the casing.
↑ Right metal side panel of the casing.
The rear of the case has a fully open-hole heat dissipation design, and there is a considerable space above the rear I/O of the motherboard for players to easily install a 360mm water-cooling radiator. There is a 7-slot reusable PCIe baffle below, and the power supply installation is inserted into the case from the rear, and there is a dedicated dust filter at the bottom.
↑ The rear of the casing is fully open for heat dissipation.
↑ There is more space above the I/O on the back of the motherboard.
↑ 7-slot PCIe and rear-tucked power supply bay.
↑ Dust filter at the power supply.
The top of the case maintains the rear 2/3 as a fine cooling mesh, and the front 1/3 is a flat front I/O, providing a power button (indicator light), 2 USB-A 5Gbps, USB-C 20Gbps and 3.5mm headset microphone. There is a small cloth tab at the rear, and the upper cover can be removed by simply pulling it backwards.
↑ The shape of the top of the casing.
↑ Front I/O.
↑ Small cloth label pull tab on the upper cover.
The bottom of the casing has anti-slip foot pads, a bottom dust filter, and different mounting holes for the hard drive tray in the lower compartment.
↑ Bottom of case.
Slightly larger ATX mid-tower, 3 fans pre-installed on the front, 360mm upper water cooling installation
The Epoch XL front door adopts a quick-release design. Just pull out from under the front door panel to remove the door panel. Three 140mm Momentum fans are pre-installed on the front of the case, and the three fans are pre-connected in series. Players only need to connect a 4-Pin PWM cable.
↑ Chassis front door version with three 140mm Momentum fans pre-installed.
The space on the left side of the Epoch XL case this time is quite spacious, and it also has a removable visual shielding panel; and the motherboard installation position, in addition to the openings that support ATX and mATX back-plug motherboards, has enough wiring openings on the top, right and bottom of the motherboard, making it easier to install than smaller Epoch cases.
↑ The space on the left side of the Epoch XL case.
↑ Remove and install the visual baffle with thumb screws.
↑ Complete left space.
↑ Back plug openings and wiring openings in the motherboard installation space.
↑ Cable routing openings on the subdivision.
↑ Pay attention to the top of the Epoch XL motherboard installation space. Not only are there two more overhead wiring openings to facilitate routing of the fans above, but there is also an L shape on the back side of the opening. This is a thoughtful design that allows two CPU 8pins to be routed from here.
↑ There is also an additional small hole for the front audio source cable above the sub-compartment to facilitate routing.
On the top of the case, three 120mm fans or two 140mm or 180mm fans can be installed. The water-cooling radiator can support 280mm and 360mm water-cooling radiators. Look carefully at the fan frame, and the installation positions 12, 14, and 18 are carefully marked.
↑ There is also a water-cooling water injection hole in the fan frame above the casing.
↑ The fan frame is marked 12, 14, and 18.
The space on the right side of the case has a cable management depth of 37mm, and there are Velcro felts in the main cable routing areas, allowing players to easily optimize the cable management paths for MB 24pin, CPU 8pin and case front panel cables.
↑ Cable management space on the right side of the casing.
↑ There is Velcro felt in the main wiring areas.
↑ The routing openings above.
↑ There is also devil’s felt inside on the right hand side.
There is a compartment at the bottom of the case. If two 3.5-inch hard drives are installed, the recommended length of the power supply is 175mm. If only one hard drive is installed, the length of the power supply can be supported to 200mm.
↑ Bottom power subdivision.
↑ The hard drive tray in the front.
Finally, the chassis accessories include detailed installation instructions and various mounting screws in the accessory box.
↑ Case front panel cable.
↑ Instructions and accessories.
↑ Screw pack in accessory box.
Fractal Epoch XL assembly sharing
The larger Epoch XL has a wider installation space and better hardware support than the Epoch. For example, mainstream 240/280/360mm water cooling can be installed in the space above the case. After installing the water cooling radiator and fan above, there is still some distance from the connection port at the upper edge of the motherboard, so the CPU_FAN, ARGB and other pins can be easily connected.
However, the power supply compartment of Epoch XL is at a lower height, so the power supply needs to be installed with a bracket first, and then the power supply needs to be inserted into the chassis from the rear and then the bracket is fixed.
↑ The space is large and easy to construct.
↑ Install the power supply bracket first.
↑ The power supply is inserted into the case from the rear.
In terms of storage devices, two 2.5-inch and two 3.5-inch dedicated brackets are provided, which are also very convenient to install. First of all, although the 2.5-inch bracket is wall-mounted, it can be connected normally using a punctured SATA power cable during actual installation. The installation space of the 3.5-inch bracket at the bottom can be adjusted according to needs, so that the power supply compartment at the bottom has considerable space flexibility.
↑ Provides two 2.5-inch and two 3.5-inch exclusive brackets.
↑ Wall-mounted 2.5-inch can actually be used to pierce the SATA power cord without any problem.
↑ 3.5 inches of installation space at the bottom.
The actual assembly photos are provided for players’ reference, but since it is Epoch XL Black Solid style, the left side panel is not installed.
↑ Epoch XL Black Solid actual assembly.
↑ The display effect of components on the left.
↑ Space above the power subbay.
↑ Space above the motherboard.
Finally, cable management is provided for players’ reference. Epoch XL is equipped with Velcro felt for the main wiring paths, so it is very easy to organize the chassis I/O, power supply cables, fans and other connecting cables. The right side of the case has a cable management depth of 37mm, allowing players to easily assemble it.
↑ Epoch XL Cable Management Reference.
↑ The depth of the right side of the casing, including the space for the side panels, reaches 37mm.
Summary and heat dissipation test
Fractal Epoch XL continues the modern and simple ATX tower case. The size is a little larger than Epoch, but it is also the size of mainstream cases. Epoch XL can support E-ATX large motherboards, ATX/mATX back-mounted motherboards, 360mm water-cooling installation space on the front and top, up to 7 120mm fans, and large graphics cards up to 425mm long.
Moreover, the cable management space on the right side has a depth of 37mm, and there is Velcro felt on the main cable routing path, making it easier for players to get started when assembling and managing cables. In addition, the left side of the casing is specially designed with an L-shaped routing opening for the CPU 8-pin power cable, and there is also a fan routing opening at the top, as well as extra routing openings on the sub-chamber for the front audio source pins. These designs are really considerate.
In the heat dissipation test, the 9900X CPU was 41°C and the RTX 4080 Super GPU was 30°C when the computer was in standby. Under the AIDA64 CPU stress test, the CPU temperature came to 62.9°C and the VRM was 49°C. Then under the FPU stress test, the CPU temperature came to 63.6°C and the VRM was 49°C. Immediately after the GPU stress test, the Speed Way Stress Test that simulates the game kept the GPU temperature at 63.7°C and the memory at 78°C. As for “Dytronics 2077” at the highest 4K ray tracing setting, the GPU temperature was 62.4°C and the memory temperature was 72°C.
↑ Fractal Epoch XL Temperature Test.
The Fractal Epoch XL black without side see-through, as well as the black and white side see-through versions are all priced at $119.99, while the RGB version is $139.99. Judging from the US dollar pricing, the Taiwan dollar price of Epoch XL will be quite close to that of Epoch, allowing players who like Fractal’s simple style and neat lines to have a better design fan case.
