Addtronics W8500 WTX Workstation/Server Tower Case

The Test

For full details on how we tested, please read AnandTech's case testing methodology.

Our Addtronics W8500 evaluation sample featured a 92mm intake fan mounted in front of the internal 3.5" bays and an 80mm exhaust fan at the rear of the case, adjacent to the CPU.

Maximum sustained temperatures were very close to the other cases we've tested in this class, the Supermicro SC750-A and the Enlight EN-8950, both excellent cases in all respects, but especially as far as cooling goes. Ambient temperature was identical to the SC750-A and a few degrees higher than the EN-8950. CPU temperature was also right in line with the Enlight, even though that case features 2 exhaust fans adjacent to the CPU. Once again, we've found that a good heatsink and fan make the biggest difference as far as CPU temperature goes. Finally, with a fan directly on the hard drive, the W8500 was a full 5 degrees cooler than the Supermicro and 7 degrees cooler than the Enlight.

Once again, CPU temperature has generally shown to be most dependent on having a high quality heatsink and fan in AnandTech's testing.

Going by average temperatures alone, the W8500 was the coolest overall case we've tested so far - in any class. This includes beating out the Supermicro SC750-A and the Enlight EN-8950 Server Case, both excellent cases in all respects, but especially as far as cooling goes. And the best part about it is that the W8500 still has room for 7 more fans.