Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
Lian Li Lancool 216 vs Fractal Design North
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best PC Cases: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Lancool 216 gives you the most cooling, space, and included fans for the money, making it the easy default for most builds. The Fractal North is the one to pay up for if looks matter as much as thermals.
Lian Li Lancool 216
Buy itThe value airflow king: two enormous front fans, roomy interior, and a price that shames cases costing far more.
- Two 160mm front intake fans plus a 140mm rear fan included, moving a lot of air quietly out of the box
- Generous clearance for long graphics cards, tall air coolers, and up to 360mm radiators front and top
- Front USB-C, a proper mesh front, and thoughtful cable management with a PSU shroud
- Fairly large and boxy, so it eats desk or floor space
- The tinted tempered-glass side and plain looks won't win any design awards
Fractal Design North
Buy itA genuinely beautiful real-walnut tower that also cools well when you choose the mesh side-panel version.
- Real wood front slats and clean lines make it one of the few cases that looks at home in a living room
- Mesh side-panel trim delivers strong airflow; the front takes up to a 360mm radiator
- Excellent fit and finish, front USB-C, and two included 140mm fans
- Costs noticeably more than the airflow leaders for similar cooling
- The wood-slat face is likely slightly more restrictive than a full-mesh front, so pick the mesh side-panel version for airflow
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Lian Li Lancool 216 Our pick | Fractal Design North | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone building a mainstream or high-end air- or liquid-cooled PC who wants the best cooling-per-dollar | Builders who want a standout, design-forward ATX tower and will pick the mesh version for airflow |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Form factor / board support | ATX mid-tower (E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX) | ATX mid-tower (ATX, mATX, ITX) |
| Cooling approach | Mesh front, high airflow | Wood-slat front; mesh or glass side |
| Included fans | Three (two 160mm + one 140mm) | Two 140mm |
| Max GPU length | Up to 392mm | Up to 355mm |
| CPU cooler clearance | Up to 180mm | Up to 145mm |
| Front USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Build experience | Roomy and easy | Roomy and refined |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Lian Li Lancool 216 if
anyone building a mainstream or high-end air- or liquid-cooled PC who wants the best cooling-per-dollar.
Know before buying: fairly large and boxy, so it eats desk or floor space.
Pick the Fractal Design North if
builders who want a standout, design-forward ATX tower and will pick the mesh version for airflow.
Know before buying: costs noticeably more than the airflow leaders for similar cooling.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Lian Li Lancool 216 - The value airflow king: two enormous front fans, roomy interior, and a price that shames cases costing far more. Choose the Fractal Design North instead if builders who want a standout, design-forward ATX tower and will pick the mesh version for airflow.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best PC Cases: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).