Fractal Design North
Walnut wood front · Mesh side · ATX
Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black
Mid-tower
Fractal Design North takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Fractal Design North lands at 92 and Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black at 90. That puts Fractal Design North ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Fractal Design North if…
- ✓Real walnut wood front panel
- ✓Excellent airflow
- ✓Great cable management
Pick Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black if…
- ✓Tool-less panels on most
- ✓Cable-management channels
- ✓Dust filters
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testBuild
Fractal Design NorthCompared on the build sub-score
Fractal Design North leads on build (95 vs 88).
Airflow
Fractal Design NorthCompared on the airflow sub-score
Fractal Design North leads on airflow (92 vs 90).
Value for money
Fractal Design NorthSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Fractal Design North more score per dollar ($139 vs $179).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Fractal Design North | Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Mid-tower ATX | — |
| Dimensions | 447×215×469 mm | — |
| Front panel | Walnut + mesh side | — |
| GPU clearance | 355 mm | — |
| CPU clearance | 170 mm | — |
| Fan support | 7× 120 mm | — |
| Color | Charcoal Black, Chalk White | — |
| Type | — | Mid-tower |
Fractal Design North
- +Real walnut wood front panel
- +Excellent airflow
- +Great cable management
- −Glass version pricier
- −No vertical GPU mount included
- −Front fans not RGB
Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black
- +Tool-less panels on most
- +Cable-management channels
- +Dust filters
- −Fan inclusion varies
- −GPU clearance limits for triple-slot cards
- −Weight on glass panels
FAQ: Fractal Design North vs Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black
Which is better, Fractal Design North or Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black? +
Fractal Design North scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Fractal Design North worth the price? +
At $139, Fractal Design North delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in design.
Is Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black worth the price? +
At $179, Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in airflow.
Does Fractal Design North or Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for build, Fractal Design North or Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black? +
Fractal Design North — leads on build (95 vs 88). Compared on the build sub-score.
Which is better for airflow, Fractal Design North or Lian Li Lancool III · Matte Black? +
Fractal Design North — leads on airflow (92 vs 90). Compared on the airflow sub-score.