Benchmarking

When benchmarking the V6000A, we test the temperatures of key components including the actual CPU temperature, the actual temperature inside the heatsink, the temperatures of the DDR, Northbridge, Southbridge, HDD, PSU, and the ambient temperature inside the case all during normal operation. For a system to operate efficiently, the components need to stay at a specified temperature to avoid system crashes, or worse, hardware damage. A well-designed case should have an air flow system that is effective in keeping the hottest running components at a constant and stable temperature for optimal performance. During our testing, the PSU and CPU heatsink fans remained on to measure temperatures during normal system operations.

AOpen AK86-L
AMD Athlon64 3200+
OCZ PC3200 DDR x 2
Zalman CNPS7000 Copper
Seagate Barracuda 120GB SATA
ATI 9700Pro AGP8x
OCZ 520W PowerStream


Click to enlarge.


We took temperature readings of the components at 10 and 30 minutes of system operation time. In the previous articles, we included results of the two most recent cases that were reviewed. However, in light of our change in test bed, we will start a new board.

Thermaltake Damier V6000A
 System On-Time  CPU  Heatsink  HDD  DDR  Northbridge  Southbridge  Power Supply  System Ambient
10 35.2 21.6 29.1 29.1 33.5 27.1 23.8 23.2
30 43.6 28.4 30.2 30.1 33.9 28.4 26.4 25.8

The results show that the Athlon64 3200 runs a few degrees hotter than our previous test bed's Athlon MP 2100+. Our results show that the CPU was kept at a stable operating temperature, at 43.6 degrees, which is about 54 degrees Celsius below the Athlon 64 3200's maximum recommended operating temperature.

Though cooling is a major factor in choosing a good case, noise levels also affect the overall quality of the product. We test the noise level of the V6000A about 12" from the sealed case with the power supply and CPU fans turned off to reproduce the noise of the case alone. Since our test bed power supply and CPU heatsink fan were turned off, we were able to compare the Damier to the results of previous cases that we have tested.

 Case  dBA
Thermaltake Damier V6000A 53
Super Flower X-Mask 51
Lian Li PC-V1000 46
Opus Technologies MT-200 56
Thermaltake Xaser III Skull VM3000A 55

Though the V6000A had five fans, it was much quieter than the VM3000A, which had only four fans. Thermaltake decided to use variable speed fans with the V6000A as well as various models of fans, which all had different output ratings, instead of using all equally powerful fans throughout the chassis. This variance in output produced less noise, since only certain fans were required to operate at higher speeds than the others.

Installation Final Thought
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  • treadhed - Thursday, September 9, 2004 - link

    This case fukin blows. The option to have fan control, temp readouts, yada yada are not worth the trouble thermaltake makes hooking it all up. It uses power connecters for all of its sensor and control function wires, which can make it VERY confusing when plugging it in. On top of that I think I got a wire crossed and blew my powersupply, because it's not turning on any more. I've built hundreds of systems in many types of cases. That is definatly my worst experiance ever.

    This joker is freaking HEAVY too, I mean heavy to the point of being ridiculus.
  • treadhed - Friday, July 30, 2004 - link

    Mine just came in, and I'll say they could do without the thermaltake logo everywhere. The worst was the thermaltake "coolall your life" logo stamped on the plexi window, which I did not see when I was browsing cases. Out of every case I looed at when I was shopping around this one looked the most cooling efficient "out of the box", which is important when you really don't have time to spend monkeying around with modding a case plus making it heat efficient.

    This has it all it one package, the extra well placed fans plus the front temp readout and fan control. The front temp readout is what contributes to all of the wiring, but then again, any front temp and fan control readout you add to your case is going to contribute to alot of wiring, so that's really not a minus for this case.

    I'll post again after I've put my parts in.
  • sandorski - Monday, July 26, 2004 - link

    4 months ago I got a VM3000(skull) and am very pleased with it. I could live without the Light inset on the front(skulls on each end of the Thermtake name), which is quite gaudy when on, but overall it's a nice looking case IMO. However, despite that light, the front door on the Skull is relatively conservative, unlike what the front of this reviewed case looks like.

    The Toolless design is real nice as are the drive rails.

  • shuttleboi - Sunday, July 25, 2004 - link

    This is the most grotesque case I have ever seen in my life. Why can't PC makers take a cue from Apple's engineering team and produce aesthetically pleasing cases?

    To posters #4, 7, and 8 (and anyone else who bought this fugly case): get your eyes checked.
  • darklight0tr - Saturday, July 24, 2004 - link

    I actually like many of the Thermaltake designs. Sure, they are a bit outlandish, but I have found many of the current cases designs offered by manufacturers to be a bit boring. At least Thermaltake is attempting to add a bit of flare to their cases. I guess it just doesn't work for some.

    I plan on buying a WinGo V7000D for my next computer.
  • Dantzig - Saturday, July 24, 2004 - link

    Please review some classier looking cases. I didn't know cases this ugly existed until Anandtech started reviewing them! This one is almost as bad as the spiderman case.

    The cases don't have to be boring, but ones that don't look like a joke would be nice.
  • PuravSanghani - Friday, July 23, 2004 - link

    #5: That number in the summary was a typo and has been fixed. The actual temperature of the CPU after 30 minutes of system on time was 43.6 Degrees Celsius which is a safe 54 Degrees under the Athlon64 3200's 97 Degree maximum stated operating temperature.
  • skunkbuster - Friday, July 23, 2004 - link

    the word 'gaudy' comes to mind when i look at this thing.
  • skiboysteve - Friday, July 23, 2004 - link

    eyah i had to work out one of the plastic things to get my radeon in as well, very annoying to put your screw driver through the tiny opening after you take off the plastic thing.
  • dachkine - Friday, July 23, 2004 - link

    I've spent some long hours assembling my new computer using this case and even though the cables were a mess, I believe the worse thing is the PCI screwless mechanism.
    I have a Radeon 9800 and it was not possible to hold it it the plastic fixing thing.

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