Fractal’s newest PC case has a built-in airflow trick for your GPU
Image: Fractal Design
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld highlights Fractal Design’s new Pop 2 Air PC case, featuring a unique “GPU air guide” that directs airflow specifically to graphics cards for enhanced cooling performance.
- The airflow-focused enclosure includes full mesh panels, three pre-installed 120mm fans, and supports GPUs up to 416mm long with 360mm radiator compatibility.
- Available at Newegg starting at $90 for the standard version or $100 with RGB fans, making it an affordable option for builders prioritizing cooling.
Fractal Design is easily one of the most high-profile PC enclosure makers, popular with desktop builders for their functional yet stylish designs. We often feature them in our live PC builds on YouTube, and I’ve got a North case mounted under my desk as I type this. The company’s newest case, the Pop 2 Air, is all about airflow from top to bottom.
The Pop 2 Air inherits a lot of features from previous Fractal Design, um, designs, with full mesh on the front and top panels, triple LED-bedecked 120mm fans on the front, and space for 360mm radiator mounts. But I think this one’s a first for a Fractal case: a scoop-like feature at the front of the power supply shelf that Fractal calls a “GPU air guide” on its product page. This scoop directs incoming air right at the internal spot where GPUs are most often mounted. It’s a design touch I saw on a couple of cases at CES 2026, like the HAVN BF 360.
Fractal Design
Fractal’s case comes with three fans included, though there’s room for up to seven, including the rear 120mm. (You can also put two 140mm either front or top.) The Pop 2 Air also includes all of Fractal’s standard cable mounting hardware and creature comforts, like easily-removed panels and filters, toolless opening, and support for GPUs up to 416mm long.
It’s a little subdued compared to bigger and more bombastic designs, with no mention of support for vertical GPU mounts or rear-side motherboard ports. But the price reflects that—the case is available at Newegg, starting at just $90 for the standard black version with a steel or tempered glass side. Upgrading to RGB fans, with an extra option for a white case, bumps it up to just $100.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
