Rosewill Line-M Case Review: Wherefore Art Thou Micro-ATX?
by Dustin Sklavos on February 26, 2013 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- MicroATX
- Rosewill
Noise and Thermal Testing
When I moved onto testing the Rosewill Line-M, I actually had a funny feeling it would turn out to be a pretty solid performer. Noise levels were entirely at the mercy of Rosewill's fan choices (and those fan choices are pretty lackluster, admittedly), but the way airflow moves through the enclosure is very direct and neat. You don't need a lot of fans to get good cooling, you just need a couple of them, smartly placed.
All you really need are two well-placed 120mm fans and you have a solid performer. The Line-M produces excellent thermal results in our stock testing, although the SSD does absorb at least a little bit of heat from the bottom of the chassis.
Unfortunately, you really pay in a major way in noise. To Rosewill's credit, the character of the Line-M's noise isn't actually too bad, mostly a low-pitched hum. The problem is that the two fans included are both conventional 3-pin, voltage-controlled fans. If you use a motherboard with good fan control you can probably mitigate this, but running at full bore they definitely make themselves known.
With such solid thermal results for our stock testbed, I was eager to see if the Line-M would still be able to hold up when placed under the stress of our overclocked system.
Once again, the Rosewill Line-M is able to produce very competitive performance. Enthusiasts looking to build an overclocked machine on the cheap may actually want to eyeball this case if only because its stock cooling configuration is so efficient.
While idle noise is still pretty bad, load noise is actually mitigated somewhat by the case's excellent airflow. Even with a decent mess of cabling around that front fan, air flows smoothly and freely through the Line-M.
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Retrophe - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
Not a bad case. Would be fun to mod with a small window, sound deadening and better fans.Nice review as always.
Oh and nice wiring job Paul!
iTzSnypah - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
If you casually look at cases on newegg by number of reviews (and thus purchases), all the top reviewed cases have LED fans. AKA people are attracted to bright lights.It's weird though as the Rosewill's Line (ATX version) is offered in both LED and non-LED versions.
My only gripe with this case besides it's price is that I hate stacked side fan vents, I would much rather have horizontal ones.
DanNeely - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
The non-LED version is probably intended for the same (business) customers who want the padlock loop on the back. It's a trivial alternative to let them target two markets at once.ahar - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
I think the title would make more sense if wherefore meant where.beemeup - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
Yeah, wherefore means "why" and not "where" as most people would think.It's a very deceptive word.
Silverkinggames - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
Really? So when Shakespeare wrote "Wherefore art thou Romeo?" Juliet was asking Why he was named Romeo and not where Romeo is? I understand this is a tech site but you may want to expand your knowledge some to understand the reference of the title.A5 - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
Yes, asking "why" he is Romeo is EXACTLY what she was doing.If he were not Romeo Monatgue, their relationship would not have any barriers or complications.
You should really learn the material before making fun of other people for not knowing it. Even the most basic reading of it would have taught you this.
thermopyle2 - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
Actually, Juliet wasn't asking why he was named Romeo, but why he IS Romeo. Basically her question was about why Romeo had to be who he is, instead of somebody not in a family hers opposed. "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" was a lament about her heart's poor choices, and the family he unfortunately belonged to.http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/262200.html
adityanag - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
"I understand this is a tech site but you may want to expand your knowledge some to understand the reference of the title. "Indeed.. you might even want to read Romeo & Juliet. It is why, not where.
This line made me laugh out loud. Silverkinggames, there is an expression that is extremely apt: "Hoist by his own petard"
:D
Sweepster - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
Type in wherefore in Google and you get:Adverb
For what reason: "she took an ill turn, but wherefore I cannot say".
As a result of which: "truly he cared for me, wherefore I title him with all respect".
Synonyms
why
So I believe an apology is in order here.