Fractal North GPU clearance: 300 mm or 325 mm with a front radiator?

Data reviewed November 7, 2026 · By Weerasak

Document-based guide · Methodology and limits

Quick answer

The original North lists 355 mm with front fans and 300 mm with a front 360 mm radiator. Fractal Support also shows 355 − 30 = 325 mm for its example. Compare the two documented bases; neither figure verifies your actual fan and radiator stack.

Which length should I compare before ordering?

Identify the case first. North and North XL are different enclosures. The figures here cover the original cases with a horizontal GPU; check the actual manual for Momentum, RC, or other revisions. Look up the complete graphics card’s length, including its cooler, not another board’s dimension.

Published references, not universal radiator limits
Case	Front fans	Front radiator reference	Support example with 30 mm body
North	355 mm	300 mm (360 mm radiator)	325 mm
North XL	413 mm	380 mm (420 mm radiator)	383 mm

Upgrade preflight · local check

Compare your card in both front layouts

See the published references first. If you know the radiator body thickness and can match Fractal’s support drawing, add that separate estimate.

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Why the two numbers are not interchangeable

The product table gives a ready-to-compare length for a named layout. The support article subtracts the radiator body from a front-fan baseline for its illustrated arrangement. It is not a second deduction from the product-table radiator number.

Listed reference margin = configured reference − GPU length.
Support-method estimate = front-fan limit − radiator body thickness.

Example: a 320 mm card is 20 mm beyond the North’s 300 mm radiator reference, yet is 5 mm shorter than the 325 mm support calculation. Verify the installed layout before acting on the longer number. We have not measured either build.

Planning scenarios, not tested hardware combinations
Case and hypothetical card	Front-fan margin	Radiator-reference margin	Support-estimate margin
North: 320 mm card, 30 mm radiator body	35 mm	-20 mm	5 mm
North: 295 mm card, 30 mm radiator body	60 mm	5 mm	30 mm
North XL: 382 mm card, 30 mm radiator body	31 mm	-2 mm	1 mm

Keep the GPU, cooler, or case?

Keeping the case and cooler: compare shorter exact card variants. If possible, measure along the card’s path to the nearest installed obstruction, not the width of the case or the radiator’s nominal fan size.
Keeping the GPU and case: check supported top cooler sizes and RAM/board clearance before moving the radiator. A front 360 or 420 unit does not automatically fit the top.
Keeping the radiator and GPU: confirm the fan side, end tanks, tube exits and bracket position. North XL’s support example starts with stock fans on the opposite side of the bracket from the radiator; other layouts can change the intrusion.

Check room to insert the card and seat its power connector. On the mesh North, the side-fan bracket can also affect card width. If the references disagree for your layout, send the case revision, cooler drawing and card length to Fractal before ordering.

Going vertical? The Flex 2 bracket changes the length budget again. This page compares horizontal reference layouts only.

Sources and review scope

Manufacturer documents checked November 7, 2026. This guide does not represent hands-on testing of these hardware combinations. Recheck the exact model's manual when configuring your build.