The Fractal Design Torrent Nano model marks an exciting addition to the compact case segment, showcasing meticulous design and exceptional craftsmanship. This new entry completes Fractal Design’s lineup of gaming cases, emphasizing efficient airflow and thoughtful internal organization.
Specifications
| Motherboard Compatibility | Mini-ITX, mini-DTX |
| Power Supply Type | ATX up to 160 mm with installed 3.5″ drive cage / up to 200 mm |
| Expansion Slots | 3 |
| Front Panel Ports | 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 2 x USB 3.0, Audio I/O |
| Fan Mounts (Front) | 180 mm x 1 / 140 mm x 2 / 120 mm x 2 |
| Fan Mounts (Bottom) | 140 mm x 2 / 120 mm x 2 |
| Radiator Mounts | 240 mm / 140 mm / 120 mm (front) – / 280 mm / 240 mm / 140 mm / 120 mm (bottom) |
| Maximum CPU Cooler Height | 165 mm |
| Maximum GPU Length | 335 mm |
| 2.5″ Drive Bays | 2 |
| 3.5″ Drive Bays | 1 |
| Net Weight | 6.0 kg |
| Case Dimensions (LxWxH) | 417 x 222 x 374 mm |
| Packaging Dimensions (LxWxH) | 446 x 300 x 638 mm |
Packaging and Accessories
Upon unboxing, users will notice a significant size difference between the Fractal Design Torrent Compact and the Nano model, providing insight into what to expect from this new offering.
The packaging is crafted from sturdy cardboard, adorned with appealing graphics that harmonize with the product’s key features and model description.
Inside, users will find a well-organized accessory kit for mounting cooling systems, including two mounting frames for 120/140 or 240/280 mm fans and liquid cooling systems. A white bracket serves as support for larger graphics cards.
Additionally, the package includes mounting hardware and a detailed user manual. A small box contains a microfiber cloth, screws for mounting components, and several cable management ties.
Appearance and Design
Fractal Design unveiled the Torrent Nano as part of its new gaming case lineup, available in black and white with options for a solid or tempered glass side panel. The Torrent Nano stands out with its compact dimensions of 417 x 222 x 374 mm and a robust front panel featuring extensive perforation.
In contrast to other Fractal Design cases, the Torrent Nano slightly deviates from minimalism. Its rounded top edges and mesh panel give it a unique character, distinguishing it from similar models like the NZXT H210.
This Mini-Tower case supports Mini-ITX and Mini-DTX motherboards, with the power supply positioned at the top. While the compact design necessitated some compromises, the Torrent Nano still accommodates a high-end graphics card up to 335 mm in length, including models like the GeForce RTX 3090 or Radeon RX 6900 XT.
The interface panel remains unchanged, featuring a power button reminiscent of luxury supercars. It includes one USB Type-C port, two USB 3.0 ports, audio jacks, and a reset button.
The front panel showcases designer air intake blades, with multi-zone partitions that set the Torrent Nano apart from typical single-level designs.
Internal Structure
The Torrent Nano boasts a spacious interior designed for compact motherboards, while still allowing ample room for other components. It accommodates CPU coolers up to 165 mm tall. Despite sharing a similar chassis design with the Torrent Compact, the Nano model is more refined in its details, featuring additional rubber grommets for cable management and sections for vertical GPU mounting.
The top cover provides access to the power supply, with secure latches ensuring a snug fit for the plastic components.
While documentation suggests compatibility with both ATX and SFX power supplies, no adapter for SFX was found. A removable cage for a single hard drive is conveniently located on the right side.
A standout feature of the Torrent Nano is its large Dynamic X2 GP-18 PWM fan, measuring 180 mm in diameter and 38 mm in thickness. Although only one fan is included, its size is sufficient for maintaining excellent airflow. The front panel’s removable inserts minimize unwanted turbulence, ensuring optimal air intake.
There are ample mounting points for additional fans, with a standard 120/140 mm exhaust fan located at the rear. The front panel can be easily detached, revealing a high-quality fine mesh dust filter that minimizes internal contamination over time.
Examining the front of the case without the decorative panel allows for an appreciation of the cooling system’s organization and the impressive size of the fan within the Torrent Nano.
The Dynamic X2 GP-18 PWM fan efficiently moves large volumes of air—up to 153 CFM—at low RPMs, ranging from 0 to 1200 RPM.
The case rests on high rubberized feet, though the documentation does not clarify whether this is purely aesthetic or serves a technical purpose.
Notably, the rear of the case offers generous space for cable management, ranging from 19 to 29 mm. This additional room contributes to a slightly thicker profile but allows for neat cable routing, appealing to enthusiasts looking to create visually appealing setups.
Building a PC
Assembling a computer within the Torrent Nano follows standard procedures without complications. The manufacturer has included numerous spare mounting holes and fasteners to facilitate the process. However, the placement of the CPU power connector did not align perfectly with the designated cutout on the Gigabyte B660i Aorus Pro DDR4 motherboard.
With ample space for cable management, even the stiff USB 3.0 cable fits comfortably in its designated slot. Observing the remaining empty space within the Torrent Nano reveals its efficient use of design.
The assembly process was straightforward, with many thoughtful features allowing for visual concealment of cables. Using familiar components, including the Noctua NH-P1 passive cooler and Palit GeForce GTX 1650 KalmX graphics card, we assessed the setup’s efficiency. Unfortunately, the mini-ITX motherboard’s design prevented the cooler from being positioned parallel to the airflow, as its fins obstructed the path. The pre-installed Dynamic X2 GP-18 PWM fan is positioned at the motherboard level, which may limit airflow to the graphics card.
Once assembled, the gaming setup illuminated the power supply zone with RGB lighting, creating an appealing aesthetic.
Testing
The testing setup included the following components:
- Motherboard – Gigabyte B660I Aorus Pro DDR4 (Intel B660, LGA1700);
- Processor – Intel Core i9-12900K;
- Cooling System – Noctua NH-P1;
- Thermal Interface – Noctua NH-H1;
- Graphics Card – Palit GeForce GTX 1650 KalmX;
- RAM – Thermaltake Toughram RC DDR4 4400MHz 16Gb;
- Storage – Western Digital Black SN750, 500 GB;
- Power Supply – be quiet! Straight Power 11 850W;
- Case – Fractal Design Torrent Nano;
- Monitor – AOC U2790PQU.
Before testing, we measured the speed range of the Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-18 PWM fan by connecting it directly to the motherboard’s CPU_FAN header. The results indicated a narrower operational range than specified, with speeds ranging from 0 to 1100 RPM.
The passive Noctua NH-P1 cooler is rated for ~90 W TDP in fanless mode, so we artificially limited the Intel Core i9-12900K’s power limit to 125 W to ensure proper cooling performance. With an unlocked TDP, the i9-12900K can easily exceed 200 W.
For load testing, we utilized the Linx v0.9.5 stress test.
The Palit GeForce GTX 1650 KalmX faced no leniency, as it had no pre-installed fans, and we employed the 3DMark Fire Strike stability benchmark for 20 runs.
The testing methodology focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the stock cooling system with the single Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-18 PWM fan, without additional fans installed, to assess airflow and cooling performance. The power supply fan was disabled during this process.
In passive mode, the Intel Core i9-12900K with the Noctua NH-P1 cooler and Palit GeForce GTX 1650 KalmX reached maximum temperatures, triggering throttling to prevent overheating.
However, even a single large Dynamic X2 GP-18 PWM fan proved capable of cooling components within the confined space. Engineers artificially blocked various mounting holes, except for the rear wall, and despite the passive cooler facing the least favorable side, the airflow performance remained commendable. Increasing the fan speed to a comfortable 800 RPM yielded significantly improved results.
The Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-18 PWM fan is inherently noisy due to its design, but operates quietly at lower RPMs, remaining silent up to 650 RPM, comfortable up to 850 RPM, and acceptable up to 1050 RPM.
