Fractal has been producing high-quality PC cases for a long time, with a recent focus on airflow and cooling with its Meshify and Torrent series. Today Fractal is launching its latest Meshify chassis – the Meshify 3, and it comes in black or white colours, with or without tempered glass and RGB and in regular or XL sizes. In this review, we are taking a closer look at the regular-size Meshify 3, but it’s the Ambience Pro RGB version that sounds exciting – or does it?
Timestamps:
00:00 Start
00:45 The New Case
01:16 Pricing
01:41 Original Plan put on Hold
02:04 The Design
02:47 Tool Free panel removal
04:20 Front I/O
04:33 Cooling Support
05:38 Mobo Support
05:45 GPU / CPU Support / Cover
06:38 PSU Shroud / Mount
07:45 Cable Management
08:40 Drive support / HUB
09:42 The cables / spacing
10:14 Floor Of The Case
10:45 Accessories
11:09 Test System Hardware & Methodology
12:20 Test Results
14:03 Install thoughts and overall views
Fractal Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Features:
- According to Fractal the Meshify 3 offers top-tier cooling performance via a front mesh panel and four included Fractal Momentum 14 fans, an aerodynamic chassis design and an air guide directing airflow towards essential components.
- The Ambience Pro RGB version features Advanced Ambient Lighting with a start-up effect and software-free customisation stored on the included Adjust Pro Hub.
- It supports up to EATX motherboards, 360mm radiators, big graphics cards, tall CPU air coolers and ATX power supplies.
- It's also available in several different versions, with or without tempered glass and RGB and there's also an XL version for when you need more space.
Specifications:
- Case Type: ATX Mid-Tower
- Dimensions (DxWxH): 423 x 229 x 483 mm
- Net Weight: 8kg
- Material: Steel, Plastic, Tempered Glass
- Motherboard Support: E-ATX (277mm), ATX, MATX, m-ITX
- Expansion Slots: 7
- Storage bays: 3.5” x 2 / 2.5” x 4
- Max GPU Length: 349mm
- MAX GPU Width: N/A
- MAX GPU Thickness: 175mm (7 slots)
- Max CPU Cooler Height: 180mm
- Max PSU Size: ATX 180mm
- Pre-installed Fans: 3 x 140 mm Momentum
- Fan Support: 3 x 120 mm, 3 x 140 mm (Top) 2 x 120 mm, 2 x 140 mm (Front) 1 x 120 mm (Rear)
- Radiator Support: 120/140/240/280mm (Top) 120/140/240/280/360mm (Front) 120mm (Rear)
- Dust Filters: PSU / Bottom
- Font I/O: 1 x USB Type-C 20 Gbps, 2 x USB Type-A 5 Gbps,
- 1x Audio Combo Jack, Power button
- LCD Screen: N/A
Thermal Performance Testing
To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Speed Way stress test simultaneously in a loop for 30 minutes to load the system fully. This gives the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.
Thermal performance is measured with the case in various configurations, such as the default, with the tempered glass left-hand side panel removed and with the front panel removed to see how these configurations affect the CPU and GPU temperature. During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps are set to maximum RPM and fans are set to a custom RPM curve by the Motherboard software/BIOS.
All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then the last 15 minutes of the data are calculated to get the average. The ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 19-20⁰C.
Test System Specification:
- CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Motherboard – ASROCK X870 Steel Legend Wifi
- Graphics Card – INNO3D RTX 4080 Super X3 OC White
- Memory – 64GB (2 x 32GB modules) G.SKILL RIPJAWS M5 RGB DDR5-6400
- Storage – 1TB Corsair MP700 PCIe Gen5 M.2 NVME SSD
- CPU Cooler – Fractal Lumen S28 RGB 280mm AIO
- Power Supply – Seasonic Vertex GX1200 80+ Gold ATX 3 PCIE 5
- Case fans – Stock 3 x Fractal Momentum 14
- Chassis – Fractal Meshify 3 (Ambience Pro RGB White)
- Operating System – Windows 11
Thermal Performance Overview
We tested the case thermals with a 280mm AIO CPU cooler installed in the roof and with the case in several different configurations. The default configuration shown in the charts is with a 280mm roof-mounted AIO, the stock case fans installed and all case panels fitted.

In the default configuration using just the front 140mm stock Intake fans, the case does well at keeping both the CPU and GPU temperature controlled. With an average load temperature of 64°C over ambient for the CPU and 43°C for the GPU, we consider these good figures for a high airflow case.
Changing configuration has little effect on thermals, removing the glass side only drops CPU and GPU temperature by 1°C. However, removing the mesh panels drops CPU temperature by 3°C which is not significant but it may suggest the mesh is a little restrictive. Adding a rear fan also doesn't significantly affect the CPU or GPU temperature so when using a top-mounted AIO CPU cooler in the Meshify 3, the default configuration is optimal.

With a custom fan curve set to low RPM at idle, a system built inside the Meshify 3 can be configured to be almost silent. However, with only a 280mm AIO supported in the top of the case, under load with a high-power CPU the noise can be quite loud as seen with our test system reaching up to 52dBA noise output.
In this scenario most of the noise comes from the CPU AIO cooler fans, so choosing a good quality AIO with quiet fans will be the key to keeping noise low with the Meshify 3.
Closing Thoughts
Fractal originally planned to release this case earlier this year. However, due to ourselves and other media finding issues with the tightness of PCIe slots and having difficulty installing graphics cards, the company delayed the launch globally to resolve the issue before release, which it has done now with a revision of the slots so the problem won't be experienced by the end user. So well done to Fractal on that one.
That said, I can't help but feel a little disappointed with the Fractal Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB for several reasons. The case doesn’t feel as though it is built to Fractal’s usual high standards, there is a lot of flex in the chassis frame and top panel especially. Some panels don’t align particularly well with uneven gaps too.
The dimensions and naming scheme with the Meshify 3 is confusing for users of previous Meshify cases, as the regular case is now more like the size of the Meshify 2 compact, while the Meshify 3 XL has dimensions/specs closer to the Meshify 2 regular case. The main issue with that is you can't run a top-mounted 360mm AIO in the regular Meshify 3.

There are some good things about the case though, the cooling has been well designed, the air scoop in the floor helps to direct cool air to the graphics card, the included Momentum 14 fans seem reasonably quiet and efficient and the RGB lighting effects from the fans and the LED strips built into the case are good. The new Adjust Pro RGB fan hub is easy to connect up and configure RGB effects using the software free web-based configuration tool.
Cable management is quite easy with the adjustable cable clamps integrated into the case and other than only supporting 280mm top radiators, the hardware support is decent with EATX motherboards, big graphics cards and tall CPU air coolers all supported. The lack of top 360mm radiator support is an issue for me though, I would always recommend top radiator mounting in gaming systems and I think the Meshify 3 is predominantly aimed at enthusiast gamers.
However, it is quite an expensive case for what you get; the Ambience Pro RGB version is priced at over £200 in the UK or almost $220 U.S., which is high compared with similar cases. There are loads of excellent value cases available for much less than this with a similar amount of included fans and an integrated RGB fan hub, with equal build quality so if you are interested in the Meshify 3’s high airflow design and compact dimensions, shop around first to see what you can get as there are some great deals out there.
The Fractal Meshify 3 and Meshify 3 XL are available in the UK now from Scan priced from £129.98 HERE. The Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB White featured in this review is priced at £204.98 HERE.
Pros:
- Good airflow from the stock fans.
- Excellent CPU and GPU thermals.
- Nice effects from the RGB components.
Cons:
- A lot of chassis flex and misaligned panels.
- GPU can be very difficult to insert.
- Case dimensions and naming structure are confusing.
- Expensive.
KitGuru Says: Following on from the brilliant Meshify 2, the Meshify 3 doesn't quite hit all our expectations but it has great cooling, and the software-free RGB control is a winner for me.

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Fractal Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Case Review first appeared on
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