The Pop 2 Vision is a compact fishbowl dual-chamber PC case from Fractal Design. Offering an impressive amount of room despite its more compact design, the Pop 2 Vision is a sharp-looking and well-designed case. Available in both black and white and RGB or non-RGB options, and priced at a cool $99.99, the Pop 2 Vision is almost the perfect dual-chamber case.
As a fan of dual-chamber cases, despite their slightly less efficient airflow systems, I am impressed with the overall look and design of Fractal Design’s latest entry. Measuring 434 x 297 x 441 mm, the Pop 2 Vision is relatively compact in size, much like the excellent be quiet! Light Base 500. Despite this, it fits most components quite well. I was sent the white RGB-enabled variant for review and would recommend spending the extra 10 dollars.
Examining the case, there are a couple of smart design decisions evident off the hop. The overall assembly is well thought out, allowing for easy, tool-less removal of both sides and the front panel, and also includes a slide-out tray for access to the bottom side of the case. This is actually a game-changer for wire runs, providing easy access to those historically difficult to cable. Even with all of the panels removed, the Fractal Designs case feels incredibly sturdy to work on.
“The Pop 2 Vision is almost the perfect dual-chamber case.”
The four included RGB-enabled fans look gorgeous in their housing as Fractal Design has opted to provide a clean shroud inlay in which each fan is inset. The result is an exceptionally clean and minimalistic look, one that I am quite fond of. The included fans are Aspect 12X Reverse RGB non-PWM, which are quiet. While I was a bit disappointed to see non-PWM fans installed, I have to confess that after testing, I really don’t mind them as they are quiet and look great.
If there is a desire to swap out any of the four case fans, the Pop 2 Vision’s easy-to-remove panels make access and swapping a simple and quick affair. This theme of simple install runs through the whole design with a few small caveats that I’ll circle back to momentarily. For the most part, though, there is plenty of room to work in and on the Pop 2 Vision.
Examining the back chamber reveals two options for PSU mounting: a bottom or midrange option. I chose to install the be quiet! Power Zone 2 750w PSU, and while it does fit, it is quite snug, creating a bit of tight space for cable management. Of note here is that the exterior backplane housing for the PSU is tight, even causing a small tension point where the PSU’s AC port is positioned. I could still install and safely plug the PSU in; it’s just that the metal cutout is slightly smaller than the needed room for the PSU port, with the latter pushing against the metal shroud.
“Priced at $99.99, the Pop 2 Vision is a great offering.”
Despite this small tension point, there is still room in the second chamber for cable runs, and Fractal Design has included both preinstalled Velcro cable ties (my fat fingers thank you), and a removable H3.5 and 2.5 drive mount bracket for easy access. All of the case fans come preinstalled and daisy-chained together, allowing for easy connection to the motherboard and case.
One thing of note, as it relates to those RGB fans, is that while I do appreciate the design, there is no ability to pass through the RGB control, so during the build, you’ll need to choose if you want to run the RGB controls directly from the case or via the motherboard; there is no option to daisy-chain to both.
Additionally, if you are running an AIO, such as be quiet! Light Loop 360mm used in this build; you’ll need to bring an RGB controller or extra cables to daisy-chain the fans and RGB cables together. There is no built-in fan controller, which sadly feels like a missed opportunity. Regardless, there is plenty of room to install one (I mounted one to the underside of the HDD bracket with ease).
As for the rest of the PC components on the front side of the Pop 2 Vision, there is plenty of room to work with. The Pop 2 Vision supports up to a 412 mm GPU, a 360 mm top radiator and a 120 mm rear fan. On that last note, there is no included exhaust fan, which did seem a bit odd; however, with the AIO cooler pulling air through the top of the case, I’ve not found I needed it. There is plenty of room for up to a 280 mm E-ATX case with the Z890 AORUS ELITE DUO X motherboard fitting easily in place.
The Fractal Design Pop 2 Vision Case is a solid entry for the company. Despite a few minor shortcomings, it provides a beautiful canvas for PC builders to work in. Its minimalist design is well constructed and provides plenty of options for component layout. Priced at $99.99, the Pop 2 Vision is a great offering.
