Conlusion
The Fractal Design Core 500 is a mini-ITX case designed for those who want a nice compact rig, which is compatible with high-end components. The front is very clean with almost no openings or ventilation slots. With this model Fractal Design decided to go for an aluminum-like finish regarding the plastic front panel, which looks really nice and it's definitely a big add-on to a case in this price range. The painting is well made and the build quality is on a good level.
On the inside, there is enough space to install high-end hardware. You can equip this case with an ATX motherboard, high-end graphics cards and a large CPU cooler. Apart from that it's also possible to install plenty of HDDs and SSDs. In addition there is a wide compatiblity with water cooling systems and AiOs. For our review we have used a Fractal Design Kelvin S24 without any issue, thanks to the removable top fram. This mounting system is very simple.
The Fractal Design Core 500 sells for 59.99 Euro. In our opinion, the price is appropriate and it reflects the quality as well as the bundle of the product. In the end we can say that Core 500 really impressed us. Despite its small size and a rather low price, this case offers plenty of space even for entry-level or mid-range gaming systems which are equipped with either mini-ITX video cards such as the GTX960 or the R9 Nano. Fractal Design Core 500 receives
4.5 out of 5 stars.