Benchmark Comparisons
To get as meaningful a comparison as possible between the different cases, we installed the same set of hardware into each one. Our new standard ATX test bed is as follows.
With the new test bed comes some new measurements, so we have compiled the results of all the heat and noise testing into two charts now. The only case in this particular roundup that came with an adjustable-speed fan was the Antec Overture II, and that was tested with the fan set to medium. The GPU Amb. column refers to a sensor located on our 6600GT video card that's not directly on the GPU core; the MOSFETs column refers to the motherboard sensor located near the voltage regulators, and the System column refers to the temperature of the air coming out of the unit's main rear exhaust vents. If there were more than one fan, the highest temperature was used.
So, what's exactly the best way to interpret these results? First off, we just want to state that all of these cases are remarkably quiet. But even so, one case stands out: the Mstation not only delivers some of the lowest noise levels, but consequently also the highest temperatures. Subjectively speaking, the HT-1100 was even quieter from the front side than even what these numbers can illustrate, as the meter only went up half a decibel from our ambient noise floor when we turned the PSU to "quiet mode". The case was simply barely audible, and a perfect reminder of what all case manufacturers should strive for, especially in an environment like the HTPC application.
Unfortunately, while quietness is certainly wonderful, we simply can't recommend running components at temperatures this high, day in and day out. A GPU getting to 93 degrees centigrade is approaching water's boiling point, and while our rthdribl demo continued to run without artifacts at this temperature, the GPU's life could be substantially reduced if running in this warm of an environment for too long.
The next quietest case was the Overture, thanks for the most part to the huge 120mm fan keeping the PSU extra cool. The great news is that the components were still very cool in this case as well - it tied with the PC-800 for the coolest CPU under load; the PC-800 has a fan situated directly above the CPU heatsink.
Subjectively, the Lian-Li was just barely louder than the Tenor, which itself was just barely louder than the Overture. Unfortunately, the PC-800's noise was due to the higher pitch of its two main exhaust fans. However, with the dedicated top-mounted fan, it did pull off very nice CPU temperatures that were quite a bit lower than the Tenor's. The temperatures were, overall, very cool in the Lian Li, but not on the hard drive, which was up against the edge and received little to no air flow. If hard drive life is exceptionally important, the Tenor and Overture deserve recognition as they kept the drive's temperature particularly low.
To get as meaningful a comparison as possible between the different cases, we installed the same set of hardware into each one. Our new standard ATX test bed is as follows.
| ATX Test Bed | |
| DFI LanParty UT 915P-T12 Pentium 4 530 Prescott 3.0ghz OCZ 512MB DDR2 x 2 Thermaltake Golden Orb II Seagate 120gb SATA - or - Maxtor 80gb IDE Hard Drive Chaintech Geforce 6600GT MSI DVD-CD/R/RW Combo drive - or - Other 5¼" Optical Drive |
 |
With the new test bed comes some new measurements, so we have compiled the results of all the heat and noise testing into two charts now. The only case in this particular roundup that came with an adjustable-speed fan was the Antec Overture II, and that was tested with the fan set to medium. The GPU Amb. column refers to a sensor located on our 6600GT video card that's not directly on the GPU core; the MOSFETs column refers to the motherboard sensor located near the voltage regulators, and the System column refers to the temperature of the air coming out of the unit's main rear exhaust vents. If there were more than one fan, the highest temperature was used.
| Heat Comparison Chart | ||||||||
| Case | Component Temperatures (in degrees Celsius) |
Exhaust Air Temperature (in degrees Celsius) |
||||||
| ( Idle / Full Load ) | ||||||||
| CPU | GPU | GPU Amb. | Chipset | MOSFETs | HDD | System | PSU | |
| Mstation | 34 / 60 | 53 / 93 | 48 / 69 | 38 / 44 | 42 / 58 | 28 / 32 | 27.8 / 29.6 | 24.7 / 36.5 |
| Overture II | 30 / 49 | 45 / 82 | 41 / 59 | 34 / 39 | 32 / 46 | 26 / 31 | 27.8 / 31.7 | 27.1 / 27.5 |
| PC-800B | 29 / 50 | 45 / 83 | 40 / 60 | 33 / 40 | 32 / 45 | 29 / 50 | 25.3 / 29.4 | 31.2 / 37.1 |
| Tenor | 35 / 56 | 47 / 83 | 42 / 60 | 37 / 44 | 36 / 52 | 26 / 30 | 29.5 / 34.7 | 30.5 / 40.9 |
| Noise Measurements | |
| Case | 6" from Front, Subjective rating, 12" from above |
| Mstation | 41db , 2/10, 44db |
| Overture II | 42db , 3/10, 47db |
| PC-800B | 46db, 4/10, 55db |
| Tenor | 46db, 4/10, 53db |
So, what's exactly the best way to interpret these results? First off, we just want to state that all of these cases are remarkably quiet. But even so, one case stands out: the Mstation not only delivers some of the lowest noise levels, but consequently also the highest temperatures. Subjectively speaking, the HT-1100 was even quieter from the front side than even what these numbers can illustrate, as the meter only went up half a decibel from our ambient noise floor when we turned the PSU to "quiet mode". The case was simply barely audible, and a perfect reminder of what all case manufacturers should strive for, especially in an environment like the HTPC application.
Unfortunately, while quietness is certainly wonderful, we simply can't recommend running components at temperatures this high, day in and day out. A GPU getting to 93 degrees centigrade is approaching water's boiling point, and while our rthdribl demo continued to run without artifacts at this temperature, the GPU's life could be substantially reduced if running in this warm of an environment for too long.
The next quietest case was the Overture, thanks for the most part to the huge 120mm fan keeping the PSU extra cool. The great news is that the components were still very cool in this case as well - it tied with the PC-800 for the coolest CPU under load; the PC-800 has a fan situated directly above the CPU heatsink.
Subjectively, the Lian-Li was just barely louder than the Tenor, which itself was just barely louder than the Overture. Unfortunately, the PC-800's noise was due to the higher pitch of its two main exhaust fans. However, with the dedicated top-mounted fan, it did pull off very nice CPU temperatures that were quite a bit lower than the Tenor's. The temperatures were, overall, very cool in the Lian Li, but not on the hard drive, which was up against the edge and received little to no air flow. If hard drive life is exceptionally important, the Tenor and Overture deserve recognition as they kept the drive's temperature particularly low.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
26 Comments
View All Comments
BigandSlimey - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
These guys http://www.atechfabrication.com/products/HTPC_case...">http://www.atechfabrication.com/products/HTPC_case... have been designing their cases in conjunction with the HTPC guru's at avsforum. I'd suggest anyone planning to build a HTPC to go to http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=...">http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=... and do some reading, there's a lot to consider.I'm also surprised at your omission of the Ahanix cases http://www.ahanix.com/ahanix_product_list.asp?cid=...">http://www.ahanix.com/ahanix_product_list.asp?cid=... which IMO look a lot better than any of the options on your article.
See also: http://www.origenae.com/products_htpc.htm">http://www.origenae.com/products_htpc.htm
http://www.silverstonetek.com/product-case.htm">http://www.silverstonetek.com/product-case.htm
ceefka - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
Those Origenae look very nice. I meant the X15 in my earlier comment. This one will cost around 500 bucks. Expensive, but very pretty.lukecon - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
All well and good on the review love AnandTech's review but I think you guys forgot something - The TV tuner in your system - I mean it is a Home Theater PC.Tamale - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
The tuner shouldn't really pose any additional problems with a particular case, and the 6600GT we use gets as hot or even hotter than most video cards with built-in tuners.Perhaps the cooling in an HTPC would be changed dramatically though if another expansion card is also in the system.. hmm.. I'll have to think about that one. Thanks for the comment.
BigLan - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
Actually, tuners can get pretty toasty, maybe not as hot as a video card, but they don't have active cooling on them. An MCE-500 dual tuner stuck in the last slot with no airflow could be a problem.If you are adding a soundcard as well, it can also impede airflow which exacerbates the problem.
tkr2099 - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
Very nice review! I'm planning on building a HTPC this holiday season, so this review could not have come at a better time. Thank you, Anandtech, for another extremely well written and helpful review!tayhimself - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
IMO Silverstone especially and less so Ahanix are specialized HTPC vendors. Either you didnt know this, didnt bother to do research, or didnt get a free sample from them. None of which is a terribly good thing.AFAIK no 3R systems cases have been available in North America since about 3 years ago when newegg carried a few. Theyre a Korean manufacturer of quality cases that are quite popular in Australia (I'm in Canada FYI).
Also, why the POS power supply along with the lousy thermaltake heatsink with a hot P4 system? Not too many people are building HTPCs with P4s, and they tend to use better components than Mad Dog and ThermalTake (no offense to the *bling* obsessed).
The measurements dont jive with the subjective measurements as a 9 dB difference between the loudest and quietest is almost twice as loud.
A poor review, that doesnt belong on AT. I could probably write a better review and I've never done one before.
MPE - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
I could probably write a better review and I've never done one before.Cop out - not to mention inconsequential, immature, ad hominem, and probably false.
tayhimself - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
ad hominem? Go to http://dictionary.com">dictionary.comceefka - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link
Isn't that just perfect? If you can get these temperature numbers with P4, you know that a 90nm s939 is going to do just fine.There are so many cases to chose from. Even with built in LCD screens (not cheap btw). Maybe AT can inlcude HTPC's in their entry/mid-range/high-end reviews and builds. On the other hand, this could be a totally different category by itself. You'd also have the opportunity to chose platform.
This brings forth the next question: How long before Apple makes a Home-Pod, HTPC based on Mac ingrediënts. They should be able to make/develop one by now.