Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB Review

Introduction and technical specifications of the Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB

Here you have the Review of the Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB. Specifically, the model analyzed is the Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB Black TG Clear Tint, its variant with RGB lighting, black finish and transparent tempered glass without darkening.

This semi-tower somewhat follows the philosophy of the recent Pop Fractal, leaving aside the highest range with higher prices and focusing on simpler towers with cheaper prices. Leave behind the dual-chamber design to have a single space where all the components go, and also opt for an optional modular design, where there are several accessories that add functions, but are purchased separately.

Let’s see what it offers us.

Technical characteristics of the Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB Black TG Clear Tint

• Materials: Steel, Plastic and tempered glass.
• Supported formats:

  • ATX, mATX and Mini-ITX boards.
  • 250mm ATX fonts (Recommended 175mm)

• Maximum CPU heatsink height: 170 mm.
• Maximum GPU Length: 405 mm keeping the front fan.
• 3.5″ storage: 2 bays included.
• 2.5″ storage: 6 spaces, 2 bays included.
• Expansion slots
• front connectivity

  • 2xUSB3.0.
  • Input minijack and output minijack.
  • Power button.
  • Reset button.
  • RGB configuration button.

• Supported fans (Max 6):

  • 3 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm on the front.
  • 1 x 120mm rear.
  • 2 x 120/140mm top.

• Fans included

  • 2 x Aspect 14 RGB on the front.

• RL radiator supports

  • Up to 360mm front.
  • Up to 120mm rear.
  • Up to 240mm higher
  • dust filters

    • 1 x lower area.
    • 1 x front area (mesh grille)
    • 1 x upper area.

• Accessories included

  • Screws and flanges.
  • radiator adapters

• Box measurements: 471.5 x 215 x 450.5 mm
• Weight: 6.4kg.
• Price: 109.99 euros.

Design and connectivity

The exterior design of the Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB In this black variant with tempered glass, it shows straight lines with a mesh grille front under which two ARGB fans are hidden, which are the ones that give the box the most striking touch.

The right side is a neat metallic black cover, and on top we have a basic magnetized filter.

The left side is covered by a tempered glass cover with a lower metal area towards the inside that, as we will see later, tries to cover the area of ​​the cables a little.

The reason for this area is that, unlike most current towers, the Focus 2 does not have a source compartment and only has a single main chamber where everything is placed. This, as we will see later, makes mounting easier, but makes cable management a nightmare.

That interior area, with just a small slot to pass the power supply cables, gives an impression of a somewhat basic box, quite far from what we usually see in Fractal boxes.

In the back, we have a single tray separated into two areas where both the SSDs and the 3.5″ HDDs will be fixed, and quite little space for cable management. There is an option to place another tray for 2 hard drives, 5″, but must be purchased separately.

There is a small ARGB controller integrated in the upper area, identical to the one on the Pop Air)

In the upper area we have two USB-A 3.0 ports, two audio minijacks for sound and microphone, a button to manage the lighting through its integrated ARGB controller, and a power button with multicolor lighting.

Although we have indicated with letters the existence of a USB-C port, it is only a cover that does not have any type of connectivity. We will need a separate accessory to be able to have USB-C, something quite anachronistic in a 2022 tower and that is already letting us see that it has sought to save costs to the maximum. Basically, Fractal has reused the top connectivity panel that we already saw on the Pop Air that already had this lack of USB-C.

At the rear we find 7 expansion ports and the placement of the source at the bottom.

Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB Cooling Capabilities

We have room for 6 fans in total, three in the front 120mm or two 140mm, one 120mm in the rear and two 120 or 140mm in the top.

As standard, Fractal has included two 140 mm fans with ARGB, the Aspect 14 RGg are in charge of cooling the entire PC if we do not decide to accompany them with any more. Although the tower has an open design and good air inlets and outlets, in the case of using graphics cards that expel hot air inside the case, it would possibly be advisable to add one more fan to the equation to extract air, a pity that it does not come included.

What we also have room for on the Focus 2 is to add liquid cooling radiators. At the front there is room for 360mm triples, at the top for 240mm doubles and at the rear for a 120mm single.

As there is enough space between the front and the components, we can also place circuit elements such as pumps there.

The front grille itself serves as a dust filter, while in the upper area we have a fairly simple one with flexible magnets that is magnetically attached. At the bottom, a small filter prevents dirt from entering the fountain.

The fans, not having a hub or controller, must be connected directly to the motherboard, or joined together to occupy only one connector. ARGB cables can also be spliced ​​together and left attached to the board or controller as there is only one port available. It is an inelegant solution that will leave us with several spliced ​​cables.

Assembly and Storage

Mounting the PC in a single-chamber tower without interfering elements is quite simple a priori. The first thing is the power supply, and since it has no compartment, no rail, or any additional element, we simply have to place it inside and screw it. Simpler impossible.

However, here we run into a problem. The box has a small opening to pass the cables to the back, being able to leave the inner area clean of cables. Unfortunately, although we initially thought this would be the right way to go, with so little room to leave cables behind, in the end it is necessary to leave them inside in a rather unattractive way.

The 2.5-inch SSDs or HDDs are fixed on two trays that already have four projections that keep them fixed by pressure. It is a very simple way to fix them that avoids us having to walk with screws.

On the other hand, 3.5-inch hard drives are attached directly to the tray with rubber bands and 4 screws.

We can see what we told you before, although the cables can be passed to the inside through that front and horizontal column, then there is no space to leave the excess in the lower part, so we have to either screw it where we can, or leave it tucked inside, next to the source.

That leaves all the cables visible, but it is the only way to have a certain order and the minimum thickness in the back for the lid to close, especially if we have one or two 3.5″ units taking up space.

The metal piece that carries the tempered glass cover allows us to hide the cables a little, but as soon as we look from above, it lets us see them without many problems. In our opinion, the little extra simplicity of mounting the source that this design offers, does not compensate for not having a closed lower area to hide the cables.

Analysis and conclusion

The Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB has left us a little “cold”. It is true that it is a box that does not compete with the heavyweights of the brand, where models such as the Define 7, the Meshify or the new Torrent have set the bar very high. Neither did the Fractal Pop Air, with a more modest price and features, but maintaining a good design and internal layout.

Is Fractal Design Focus 2 It picks up several elements of the Pop in terms of cost reduction, such as the absence of USB-C if you don’t pay for an extra adapter, the lack of a fan controller, or the inclusion of a single-channel RGB controller. We also need to purchase separately an extra modular tray for 2.5-inch SSD or HDD.

However, the single-chamber internal layout, while making source placement a bit easier, has more drawbacks than benefits, as when combined with a cramped rear tray, it makes cable management quite tricky and we end up having inside the box, visible, cables that would be hidden in other boxes. Including a small cover on the tempered glass makes it possible to hide it slightly, but it is not enough, and the price of 109.99 euros makes it Fractal Design Pop Air be a better choice in practically every way.

As for the best things Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB Beyond the simplicity of mounting the source, we have a good cooling capacity due to its design, with a perforated front grille and many cooling options, as well as enough space for mounting high-performance and large components.

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