Fractal Design ERA ITX Chassis Review

A Closer Look at the Outside

Fractal’s case packaging doesn’t go over the top. The ERA comes in a simple monochromatic box with the appropriate color marked with a sticker, in our case, Cobalt blue.

Inside, the Era case is wrapped in a foam bag and sits in Styrofoam supports. A large flat box sits on top and holds the accessories.

Inside the box is yet another box, and the two top panels. One mesh, common to all color options, and for our model, a dark tempered glass panel.

The smaller box includes some zip ties for wire management, and a pile of screws for the motherboard, drives, and other parts.

The entire outside is almost entirely sculpted aluminum. A pattern of holes is drilled at an angle to let even more air in.

The rear looks similar to most cases, with the main surface inset a bit from the sculpted exterior surface. You get two expansion slots, an IEC C14 AC Inlet, and a fan grill with an included 80mm fan hiding behind it and the standard motherboard rear-IO cutout.

The right-hand side also has a drilled grill pattern on the rear half for airflow.

The top is plastic with a few magnetic posts sticking up. Both top options are not installed while shipping.

The top panels sit in place and are held magnetically. A fairly wide gap surrounds the installed top panel for exhaust airflow.