Fractal Design
North
$129.99
Released 2022-12
Best PC Cases · head-to-head
North vs 4000D Airflow
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. 4000D Airflow is cheaper at $104.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Corsair
4000D Airflow
$104.99Cheaper
Released 2020-09
Which is better: the North or 4000D Airflow?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The 4000D Airflow is the cheaper at $104.99.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | North | 4000D Airflow |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $129.99 | $104.99 |
| Brand | Fractal Design | Corsair |
| Released | 2022-12 | 2020-09 |
| Form factor | Mid-Tower (ATX/mATX/ITX) | Mid-Tower (ATX/mATX/ITX/E-ATX up to 277 mm) |
| Max GPU length (mm) | 355 | 360 |
| Max cooler height (mm) | 170 | 170 |
| Included fans | 2 x 140 mm Aspect PWM | 2 x 120 mm AirGuide |
| Radiator support | Front: 360 mm; Top: 240 mm; Rear: 120 mm | Front: 360/280/240 mm; Top: 240 mm (2x120) or 280 mm (2x140); Rear: 120 mm |
| Side panel | Tempered Glass (TG variant) or full mesh (Mesh variant) | Tempered Glass (slide-on/slide-off) |
| Dimensions (mm) | 447 x 215 x 469 | 453 x 230 x 466 |
| Release | 2022-12 | 2020-09 |
Sources — North: fractal-design.com (verified 2026-06-15). 4000D Airflow: corsair.com (verified 2026-06-23).
What's the difference between the North and 4000D Airflow?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Form factor: North Mid-Tower (ATX/mATX/ITX) vs 4000D Airflow Mid-Tower (ATX/mATX/ITX/E-ATX up to 277 mm)
- Max GPU length (mm): North 355 vs 4000D Airflow 360
- Included fans: North 2 x 140 mm Aspect PWM vs 4000D Airflow 2 x 120 mm AirGuide
- Radiator support: North Front: 360 mm; Top: 240 mm; Rear: 120 mm vs 4000D Airflow Front: 360/280/240 mm; Top: 240 mm (2x120) or 280 mm (2x140); Rear: 120 mm
- Side panel: North Tempered Glass (TG variant) or full mesh (Mesh variant) vs 4000D Airflow Tempered Glass (slide-on/slide-off)
- Dimensions (mm): North 447 x 215 x 469 vs 4000D Airflow 453 x 230 x 466
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
North
Two whitelisted hands-on testers (Tom's Hardware, TechPowerUp) reviewed the base North ATX mid-tower; both were charmed by its wood-slat design and praised its thoughtful features, but flagged airflow and noise compromises. Tom's measured 53 dB and loved the thermals; TechPowerUp found the vented side panel and price harder to justify. North XL and Momentum variants excluded. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Distinctive wood-and-mesh front that looks gorgeous and stands out from black-box cases; Thoughtful functional touches — PWM fan hub, included side fan bracket, solid 3.5-inch drive support; Exceptional CPU thermal performance in lab testing.
Flagged: Loud at full fan speed (53 dB average); Vented mesh side panel diminishes the front-intake tunnel effect unless extra side fans are added; Only two fans plus a simple hub feels high-priced for a compact ATX case.
4000D Airflow
Two whitelisted testers cover this case, both at its September 2020 launch. TechPowerUp ran a dedicated 4000D Airflow review with its own temperature and noise testing on a supplied sample. Tom's Hardware ran a combined 4000X / 4000D review — the verdict and Editor's Choice are aimed at the pricier 4000X RGB, but the article includes separate 4000D Airflow thermal, acoustic and fan-speed data, which is what is cited here. Every quote and measured figure below was confirmed as a literal substring of the fetched article text; note both reviews are paginated, so the quotes live on sub-pages (Tom's verdict box on page 1 and its testing/conclusion on page 3; TechPowerUp's on its page 7 conclusion) rather than on the landing URL. Both testers praise the clean, understated exterior at the roughly $80 asking price ($79.99 MSRP per TechPowerUp, $80 per Tom's) and both want a second front USB-A port. Only Tom's produced measured cooling and acoustic results. No other outlets were checked in this pass, so the absence of others here is not evidence that none exist. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Clean, understated minimalist exterior with a solid feel for the roughly $80 asking price; Good value against competitors — Tom's calls the small Corsair premium well worth it, TechPowerUp calls it a beautiful and capable case for the price; Practical build details that ease assembly and cable routing (side panels that unhook and swing out, Velcro cable channel, plentiful zip-tie anchors).
Flagged: Only one front USB-A port; both testers wanted a second USB 3.0; Heavily tinted glass side panel hides non-RGB hardware — TechPowerUp calls the tint too heavy, Tom's notes it as a deliberate trade-off it is willing to accept; Liquid-cooling constraints — TechPowerUp says support is not as vast as other ATX cases; Tom's warns thick front radiators won't clear the PSU shroud cutout and the top is limited to 280 mm.