fractal design mood review Fractal Design Mood Review - Stylish and Compact ITX

Fractal Design Mood Review – Stylish and Compact ITX

Fractal Design is among the PC case manufacturers that stood out in the past few years. While many companies make aquarium-style chassis with tempered glass panels to showcase RGB lighting, Fractal Design offers unique options. Today, our Fractal Design Mood Review will feature the latest PC case that will blend well with your home’s aesthetic.

The Mood is a 20.4L case supporting ITX motherboards, up to 325mm graphics cards, and up to 280mm radiators. It has a fabric exterior, resembling a high-end speaker. 

Find out what this case is about in our Fractal Design Mood Review. We will discuss all the essential details, including its design features, our PC building experience, and more.

Fractal Design Mood Review – Design and Functionality

Let’s continue this Fractal Design Mood Review by discussing its exterior. Mood impresses and catches our eyes with one of the cleanest aesthetics we have ever seen on a chassis. It looks premium, appealing, yet unique. 

The product features a more modern and stylish look due to the textured cloth panels. These conceal the front and sides of the case for added protection as well. 

In front of the case is an air vent with a cloth material covering it. The latter takes the form of bigger openings within the metal sheet. 

The front I/O faces forward at the bottom of the case. The connectors include two USB 3 Type-A ports, a USB-C port, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. You will also find an illuminated power button.

The Mood case has a clever design with a removable rear panel that you can effortlessly pull from the bottom. Once you remove the screws, you can slide the entire outer shell upwards and work on the chassis.

Rear Panel

The rear panel is open, and you will find a removable dust filter functioning as the intake for its GPU. Also, we noticed the GPU chamber is isolated from the CPU and PSU chambers.

The unhindered access to outside air combined with the top fan pulling hot air up promotes better thermal performance. After building our PC, we also used it to share our test results for this Fractal Design Mood Review.

Top Panel

The top panel has a metal mesh cover where the 180mm fan can push air out and promote active airflow. When you tip the chassis over, you will find an opening for the motherboard backplate and two GPU expansion slots. 

You can run the cables on the rear for neat cable management. Plus, it has two compact hooks to zip-tie the cords.

Interior

To access the interior of the case, remove the back cover and two screws securing the shell. Once released, slide it up and off the inner frame of the chassis. This design saved us time when we built a PC with this case for our Fractal Design Mood Review.

Here, you will see the sides with solid metal sheets and the openings in front.

When looking from the front, you will find a fan bracket supporting a pair of 120 or 140mm fans. Fractal Design also includes a 3.5-inch bracket here. 

The left side of the chassis shows the motherboard tray set away from the front. This space is for the cooling components and the SFX PSU, which has a mounting bracket design. Plus, the large opening of the motherboard tray lets you conveniently access any CPU cooler backplate.

The surface area on the other side is where you can place one of the 2.5-inch drive brackets. Its modular design allows you to install it later, even with a fully built system.

Viewing the interior from the rear, you will find the part exclusive to the GPU. Plus, there are two expansion slots with thumb screws and reusable covers.

The top features the 180mm PWM fan, which you can temporarily detach when installing another 2.5-inch drive. Below, you will find the PSU bay.

All cables within the chassis are adequately long, allowing easy routing and cable management. Plus, they support the usual plugs to make installation and PC building seamless.

Key Features of the Fractal Design Mood 

What makes this product one of the best PC cases today? Our Fractal Design Mood Review will discuss its primary features to help you decide if it meets your needs.

Reduced Footprint

In an age where desk space is often limited, the Fractal Design Mood PC case provides a solution with its compact, pillar-like design. Despite its small size, this case offers ample room for your components, giving you the luxury of a more spacious, streamlined environment for your work or gaming setup.

Its low-volume design ensures you get all the performance benefits of a larger case without dominating your workspace.

Easily Accessible

The Mood case is designed with ease of use in mind. The back panel pops out and slides off effortlessly, thanks to the fabric-covered enclosure.

This makes accessing your build easier than ever, whether you need to install new components or replace existing ones. Its tool-free design reduces hassle and saves time, allowing you to maintain and upgrade your PC with minimal effort.

Discreet Design

The Fractal Design Mood is not just about performance—it’s also about style. Its clean, minimalist colour palette and sleek shape blend seamlessly into any modern living space or office.

The breathable fabric front panel adds a soft touch to the otherwise industrial look of typical PC cases, making the Mood case as much a piece of home decor as it is a powerhouse for your hardware.

Whether you place it in a home office or living room, its subtle design will complement any aesthetic.

Front-facing I/O

Connectivity is crucial for any modern PC, and the Mood case makes it easy. Its front-facing I/O panel is conveniently positioned, so you can connect your peripherals with ease.

The panel includes a USB-C 20Gbps port, ensuring that your devices transfer data at lightning-fast speeds, making it perfect for connecting external drives, smartphones, or other high-speed devices.

Cool Operation

Effective cooling is essential for keeping high-performance hardware running at optimal temperatures, and the Mood case excels in this area.

Equipped with a 180mm Dynamic fan, this case is designed to channel airflow upward through the chassis.

This top-to-bottom airflow design helps prevent overheating and ensures your components are kept cool even during intense workloads or gaming sessions.

Designed to Perform

Don’t be fooled by the compact size—the Mood case is built to house powerful hardware. It supports graphics cards up to 325mm in length, making it compatible with most high-end GPUs on the market.

The inclusion of a PCIe 4.0 riser cable further enhances compatibility, allowing you to mount your GPU vertically for optimal airflow and display. This feature ensures that you can build a powerful, future-proof system without worrying about space limitations.

Adequate Storage Space

While compact, the Mood case doesn’t skimp on storage options. It provides space to install two 2.5-inch drives on accessible brackets, making it ideal for SSDs or other smaller storage devices.

Additionally, the case includes a mount for a 3.5-inch drive, giving you the flexibility to add more storage as needed. Whether you’re building a system for gaming or productivity, the Mood case offers enough space to accommodate your storage needs.

Cooling Support

The Fractal Design Mood case is not only optimized for air cooling but also supports more advanced cooling solutions. It can accommodate radiators up to 280mm, allowing for robust liquid cooling setups if you prefer quieter and more efficient cooling.

For those opting for traditional air cooling, the case supports CPU coolers up to 114mm in height. Our experience building a PC in this case was smooth and hassle-free, demonstrating its flexibility and user-friendly design.

Specifications

Drive Mounts

  • 3.5″ Drive Mounts: 1x (included)
  • 2.5″ Drive Mounts: 2x (included), 2x total positions
  • 5.25″ Drive Mounts: None

Expansion Slots

  • 2 slots (2.75 width)

Front Interface

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C (20 Gbps)
  • 2x USB 3.0 Type-A (5 Gbps)
  • 1x Combo jack (Audio/Microphone)
  • Power button

Fan Mounts

  • Total Fan Mounts:
    • Front: 2x 120mm or 2x 140mm
    • Top: 1x 180mm (included)
    • Rear: None
    • Bottom: None
  • Dust Filters: Rear magnetic filter mesh included

Additional Features

  • Tool-less push-to-lock: Rear panel + 2x 2.5″ SSD brackets
  • Captive thumbscrews: 2x PCIe blanks

Compatibility

Motherboard Support

  • mITX

Power Supply

  • SFX, SFX-L
  • PSU Max Length: 130mm

Radiator Support

  • Front Radiator: Up to 280mm
  • Top, Rear, Bottom Radiators: None

Graphics Card Support

  • Max Length: 325mm
  • Max Thickness: 56mm (2.75 slot)
  • Max Height: 145mm (excluding cables), 158mm (including cables)

CPU Cooler

  • Max Height: 114mm

SFF-Ready

  • Supports Enthusiast GeForce Cards

Dimensions & Weight

Case Dimensions

  • 212 x 212 x 453 mm

Package Dimensions

  • 303 x 287 x 580 mm

Weights

  • Net Weight: 4.6 kg
  • Gross Weight: 5.9 kg

Other Details

Package Contents

  • Case, Accessory Box, Manual

Accessory Box Includes

  • Mounting screws (6-32): 10pcs
  • SSD Mounting screws (M3): 8pcs
  • 3.5” Drive screws: 4pcs
  • Thumbscrews: 2pcs
  • Cable straps: 6pcs
  • Cable ties: 8pcs
  • 2.5” Side bracket: 1pc
  • 2.5” Top bracket: 1pc

SKU & Codes

  • Light Gray: FD-C-MOD1N-01, EAN 7340172703921, UPC 843276103927, JAN 4537694299770
  • Black: FD-C-MOD1N-02, EAN 7340172703938, UPC 843276103934, JAN 4537694299787

Warranty

  • 2 years

Hands-on with the Fractal Design Mood 

We took the Fractal Design Mood through a full PC build to test its usability and performance. From unboxing to installation, the case impressed us with its user-friendly design and thoughtful features that catered to both novice and experienced builders alike.

Our experience highlighted the case’s strengths, making it clear why it is a favorite among ITX enthusiasts.

One of the standout aspects of the Fractal Design Mood is how easy it is to work with. Installing our components was a smooth and hassle-free process, largely thanks to the case’s well-engineered layout.

The removable back panel and tool-free design made accessing the interior straightforward, allowing us to effortlessly install the motherboard, graphics card, and power supply.

The inclusion of the PCIe 4.0 riser cable was a nice touch, ensuring seamless vertical GPU installation without compatibility issues.

Cable management is often a pain point when building in smaller cases, but the Mood case addresses this with several convenient features. It comes equipped with compact hooks and adequate space behind the motherboard tray for routing cables, making it easy to keep everything organized.

The long, flexible cables included with the case also ensured that everything reached its intended ports without any stretching or awkward placements.

As a result, our build not only looked neat, but airflow was also optimized, which contributes to the overall thermal performance of the system.

Despite the case’s fabric-covered panels, which might raise concerns about airflow, the temperatures inside the Mood case remained impressively low during operation.

The top 180mm fan effectively pushed hot air out, and the open rear panel design promoted solid ventilation. However, due to the compact size of the case, we recommend pairing it with low-power components or ensuring an adequate cooling setup for higher-end hardware.

While the case can support a 280mm radiator, it’s best suited for systems where both heat and noise are kept at a minimum.

Our hands-on experience with the Fractal Design Mood was highly positive. The case performed admirably, meeting our expectations in terms of thermal efficiency and ease of use.

Its versatile design supports a wide range of components, from sizable GPUs to effective cooling solutions, while maintaining a minimalist, sleek appearance.

Whether you’re building a gaming rig or a compact work PC, the Mood offers flexibility without compromising style or functionality.

Fractal Design Mood Review Summary

The Fractal Design Mood case stands out as a stylish and functional option for PC builders seeking a minimalist aesthetic without sacrificing performance.

Its compact, pillar design offers a reduced footprint, making it ideal for those with limited desk space, while the fabric-covered exterior gives it a unique, modern appearance that blends seamlessly into any home or office environment.

Functionality-wise, the Mood excels with its thoughtful design elements. The tool-free back panel, front-facing I/O ports, and efficient cooling system make building and maintaining a PC hassle-free.

Additionally, its support for high-performance hardware, including up to 325mm graphics cards and 280mm radiators, ensures that it can accommodate powerful setups without compromising thermal performance.

The interior of the case is well-designed for both airflow and cable management, with ample space for components and a dedicated area for storage drives.

Whether you’re installing multiple fans or opting for liquid cooling, the Mood offers versatility and easy installation, making it suitable for both novice and experienced PC builders alike.

The Fractal Design Mood is a top-tier choice for those looking for a balance between form and function. Its discreet design, coupled with robust features, makes it an excellent investment for anyone who values aesthetics as much as performance in their PC case.