Question Where can I find a glass side panel for my Fractal Design R4?

[ingeborgdot]

I have a Fractal Design R4 case that I would like to add a glass side panel to. I did it to my R5 with an upgrade panel and love it. I now can't seem to find one. Does anyone here know where to look? I'm sure it will have to be used, since I can't find any new. Checked ebay etc, but no luck. I'm hoping that some knowledgeable person on here would give me some direction. Thanks.

 

[Tech Junky]

FD - contact their support for a replacement

 

[ingeborgdot]

I guess that would be as easy as anything.

 

[ingeborgdot]

Well, it wasn't easy. They have nothing. I will need to hope that someone has that side panel to sell, otherwise I am out of luck.

 

[Tech Junky]

Could probably get one made at a hardware store or glass shop. Might be easier to find a steel panel though. The whole glass panel thing is a pain to deal with.

 

[ingeborgdot]

I already have a solid side panel, I just want a glass one like I got for my R5. It worked out well, and looks good. I don't think it is going to happen anytime soon though. They must be far, and few between. I really don't want to spend them money on a new case either, since I really like my FD R4 case. I like the 8 HDD bays it has. The new ones just don't have that, unless I want to spend over $200 on a case.

 

[BoomerD]

Where to buy

Find your closest retailer selling Fractal Design products.

www.fractal-design.com

You MIGHT find one through a vendor.

 

[Tech Junky]

$200 on a case

I have a meshify 2 and it holds more drives (13) and runs less than $200. You could transplant the system into the new case and sell the existing one to make up the difference.

 

[ingeborgdot]

15 calls, 15 no, we don't have it. Crap.

 

[ingeborgdot]

Is the meshify as quiet as the Define R4?

 

[Tech Junky]

Is the meshify as quiet as the Define R4?

Quiet is all relative to your cooling setup. I don't hear it but I'm also not sitting right next to it. I put ample fans in it to keep the RPMs down since it runs 24/7. I might hear a slight hum when it's under load for a few seconds the fans kick up over 1k but otherwise it's silent. Fully meshed front and top make for easy airflow.

If you want smaller the node 804 which is mATX can still hold 8+ HDDs and tons of fans as well. I would've used it for the ADL system but there aren't any decent board options in mATX.

 

[ingeborgdot]

True, but the R4 and R5 that I have are so incredibly quiet, I can't believe my ears.

 

[aigomorla]

Have you tried to email customer support at Fractal and see if they can sell you one?
They have pretty good support, and maybe able to help you find a acceptable replacement.

 

[ingeborgdot]

I have called them even. There are none around. The only way would be to find a used case out there someplace. That is not working out either. I have checked marketplace, and they are just far and few between, or they are asking way too much.

 

[sammykhalifa]

I have actually been looking for the same thing, haha. Nowhere. There must have not been that many produced in the first place.

Too bad. I was going to refresh my R4 with the panel and some new fans for my new build.

 

[ingeborgdot]

Well, it could be that most people are happy with the case and are not looking to upgrade. I love the case as it hits every check mark I have for a case. I guess I'll just keep looking and be content with what I have.

 

[aigomorla]

yikes....

Problem with glass panels is that they should be tempered safety glass.
Reason is they are more shatter resistant, and when they do shatter it blows up in tiny pieces instead of having sharp edges.

If you do decide to go the normal glass route, i highly recommend you film or tint it with something so when it does break, you have the film as a form of barrier / protection.

And custom cutting / drilling into tempered saftey glass is a nightmare.
It requires specialized tools, and heat, and is not something you can do with a simple glass cutter + drilling bit.

I would think it might be easier and less time consuming just to buy a new gen design case with a glass panel, and recycle the old one to possibly someone in your family, or a friend.

 

[ingeborgdot]

I like the one I have because it fits my build better than almost anything else out there. I need a lot of space for HDD.
And I don't have to spend any more money.

I'll just keep what I have, and be happy with it, even without a glass side panel. And, I also would put in tempered glass if I decided to put my own in, but that is not happening.

 

[aigomorla]

I'll just keep what I have, and be happy with it, even without a glass side panel.

personally for me, if its not a snowblind glass panel, they aren't really worth it IMO.

I spend more time looking at my monitor then inside my PC.

Now if its a snowblind....

We got a whole other beast here....

 

[ingeborgdot]

Is that for real?

 

[aigomorla]

Is that for real?

Yes... its called snowblind... there are mods for it... but iBuypower sells the case if you do not want to do the messy mods.
snowblind case

ive seen people just buy the case... rip the side panel off it, and use it on a different case with good results as well.
But 179 dollars for a side panel is a bit too much if you ask me.