Final Words & Conclusion

Final Words & Conclusion

It’s time for the conclusion. Fractal Design has succeeded in improving its Focus chassis. Focus 2 is a well-thought product. The improvements made here make this chassis attractive, especially considering the price range of 69.99 to 79.99 USD. You can install up to six 2.5/3.5” drives; there are two bundled, good-quality 140 mm fans (with RGB, when an appropriate case variant is selected) and three fan filters.

The build quality is good. The internal layout is without a PSU shroud, but the PSU is stills located at the bottom, and you can pass the power cables conveniently. The maximum format of the motherboard is an ATX. You don’t get any fan controller, but you can daisy-chain the two bundled fans and connect it to the motherboard. To control the fans’ RGB, you can use the chassis controller or the software of m/b.

Features

There’s enough space for up to 405 mm long GPUs, 170 mm tall CPU coolers, and 250 mm long PSUs (but a maximum of 175 mm is preferred). You can install up to six 3.5”/2.5” drives. The liquid cooling capacity is more than enough, and you can install a 360 mm rad on the front of the case, a 240 mm one at the top (but the compatibility is very limited), and a 120 mm one at the back. The I/O panel has a standard set of two USB 3.0 ports, USB 3.1 Type-C (but it’s optional, for ten bucks, not bundled), an audio jack, and the power and LED buttons. You get three fan filters; at the front, it’s a steel mesh; at the top – plastic mesh; and the last (for the PSU) is a nylon type. As for the mainboard connection, you need to plug in only the power switch.

Aesthetics

Looks are always a subjective matter. The new Focus 2 design is rather classic, with a front mesh and leaves nothing to be desired. Visually, it remains pretty similar to its predecessor but still looks much more modern due to many smaller further developments. The quality is good; there’s no reason for complaints, especially in that budget.

Performance

The temperatures are a bit average due to the two bundled 140 mm fans. The noise levels are about average. If you slow them down, they still should give a decent airflow and bring the temperatures (and noise) to an even more comfortable area. 

The Verdict

The Fractal Design Focus 2 is an ATX-compatible mid-tower chassis 471.5 × 215 × 450.5 (L×W×H), which is 45.7l of volume, so rather average. There are lots of minor improvements which make this product fulfill the modern requirements. The looks are attractive, especially with the tempered glass panel and the RGB fans. There’s also a version with a solid panel, and you can also go for the RGB-less fans variant. The build quality is very good for this budget. There’s an option to install a combo of 360 (front)+240 (top, but the compatibility is limited) +120 (back) mm water radiators. If you prefer air cooling – even the 170 mm products will fit (and that’s a slight improvement vs. 165mm in the predecessor). As for the power supply – theoretically, it’s 250 mm (so I think all used PSUs would work), but in reality, it’s 175 mm max preferred (which is still okay). Speaking of the storage options – you can mount up to six 3.5”/2.5” drives. The default I/O port at the top right with a vertical placement is a good solution. There’s an option to add a USB Type-C port, but it costs an additional 9.99 USD. The chassis costs from 69.99 to 79.99 USD, which is an attractive offer. You receive good quality features, like the two good-quality 140 mm fans. It’s possible to have them with the RGB lighting, built-in controller), and attractive looks. The front mesh makes the Focus 2 good in the thermal and acoustics department. The final build results are pretty clean. Still, the PSU shroud would make it even cleaner. The water cooling enthusiast won’t make too complex loop here, but for the CPU AIO, this is more than enough. The air cooling system will also do fine in that chassis. So summing it up, for the overall package, you should be satisfied for 69.99-79.99 USD. Without a doubt, we grant the “Great Value” award for the whole package, with a nice looks/features ratio. If you’re looking for an excellent budget-friendly chassis, you should be happy with that choice.

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