I’ve become a fan of Fractal Design cases in recent years, with their offerings delivering some of the most visually striking and clean designs you can find for your PC. Released last year and designed to make an impact in a small form factor, the Terra delivers in all the right ways while keeping things compact — with all the style we know and love from the brand. It brings together an elegant mix of anodized aluminum, durable steel and genuine wood veneer — elements that blend industrial sharpness with a natural touch, helping it stand out.
Compact yet refined, this ITX case makes a bold statement and gives you a build that can pack a lot of power into the space of a large lunchbox. It’s clearly aimed at users who care just as much about style as they do about performance, and the Terra manages to balance both without losing its cool — figuratively and literally.
From the minute I got everything unboxed, the Terra made a strong visual impression, especially in the Terra Jade colour I got sent for review. The clean brushed aluminum shell, paired with the FSC-certified solid walnut front, gives off an unmistakable Scandinavian vibe—clean, minimal, and premium. Measuring 343 mm high, 153 mm wide, and 218 mm deep, and weighing just 4 kg when empty, it walks the line between lightweight and sturdy with a flair all its own.
Things get more interesting once you open its clever gull-wing side panels — hinged for simple, tool-less access — and you’re greeted with a thoughtfully designed dual-chamber interior, which I find amazing given the size. In the centre, you’ll find a smartly designed, adjustable centre spine that can slide to favour either GPU length (up to 322 mm) or CPU cooler height (48–77 mm), making it remarkably flexible — perfect for PC builders looking to tailor the case to their needs. Whether you’re going for a beefy triple-slot GPU or a more airflow-focused build, the Terra has room to accommodate without wasting space. I was shocked by how versatile it all was, especially considering the size — but you won’t hear me complaining.
I walked into this review, expecting it to be a tedious process to get everything in place. I’ve built a few SFF-based PCs, and it can be a test of patience at times. Tight spaces, endless cable routing and the occasional busted knuckle were all things I’ve dealt with in the past — at least until now. The Fractal Design Terra changes things up and actually makes PC building fun. Between its lift-off panels and open-access layout, the building process feels almost intuitive.
Pre-installed standoffs, a premium PCIe 4.0 riser cable and SSD mounts with Velcro straps all help streamline the setup and make typically frustrating aspects much easier to manage. Even the power supply has its own tucked-away bracket, mounted cleanly behind the motherboard tray.
“The Fractal Design Terra changes things up and actually makes PC building fun.”
Now, even though most of what the Terra offers makes the building process easier, you’ll still need to consider some aspects — like cooling. You get space for a single 120 mm fan, either on the bottom or the side, so airflow depends largely on passive circulation through the finely perforated exterior.
For this review, I built the system using an AM4 ROG Strix B550I ITX board paired with a Ryzen 7 5800X CPU and an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT. The system managed to stay relatively cool, resting comfortably in the upper 60s°C range under full load — something I didn’t expect, especially given the limited space. This was with the standard AMD Spire CPU cooler. While it’s possible to swap in other fan options, this is just what I had set aside for this particular build.
Now, don’t get me wrong — this isn’t the sort of case I’d suggest for overclocking. While it handled a low-key gaming setup very well, there simply isn’t enough room to outfit everything with the necessary thermals to keep it running as cool as possible. It can be pushed within reason, but to properly overclock, I’d always recommend the biggest cooler, an AIO, or as much airflow as you can push through the system.
“Where the Terra really earns its stripes is in how much it manages to support within such a small shell.”
When I did push the system, thermal performance was better than expected and well within reason for a system of this nature. In stress tests with the Ryzen 7 5800X and Radeon RX 6700 XT I selected for the build, the CPU topped out at 72°C while the GPU reached 72°C — well within safe margins and on par with larger towers that rely on more fans. I credit the dual-chamber layout for this, with the Terra cleverly isolating the GPU and PSU to prevent heat crossover. Even within the limited size, it works surprisingly well.
Where the Terra really earns its stripes is in how much it manages to support within such a small shell. It works with SFX and SFX-L power supplies up to 1300W, meaning even more demanding GPUs like the RTX 5070 TI are well within reach. Storage is modest — two 2.5-inch drive bays and whatever M.2 slots your motherboard supports — but that’s more than enough for most modern setups, especially those destined for an SFF case. Front I/O keeps things simple: one USB-C (3.2 Gen 2) and one USB-A (3.0), giving you just enough to have what you need without any waste.
When I had the system running and in-game, noise levels remained modest — even when I pushed the settings to a level I feel puts the system on par with many consoles. While I felt it managed to stay very quiet, anyone looking to build the most silent system possible may want to spend a bit extra and pick up some ultra-quiet fans — they can make a major difference. And while the open ventilation helps with temperatures, it does invite dust, so it’s worth giving the system a quick dusting now and then to keep things running well and looking sharp.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Fractal Design Terra is a fantastic case. That said, it may not be the ideal case for everyone’s needs. If RGB lighting or custom water loops are must-haves, this minimalist box might feel restrictive, as it simply doesn’t have the space for anything beyond bare minimum setups. Also, this is very much an ITX case, so if you’re looking for a new home for your old tower components, it may be better to look elsewhere. For builders seeking a premium, travel-friendly or home theatre-style case that nails the balance of aesthetics and performance, the Fractal Design Terra is tough to beat.
- Install your choice of powerful GPU up to 322 mm in length, in a space-saving 10.4 L case
- Add natural materials to your setup with a front-facing panel cut from FSC-certified solid walnut
