SilverStone Grandia GD07 Review: Centering and Serving Your Media
by Dustin Sklavos on April 29, 2012 1:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- HTPC
- SilverStone
Testing Methodology
For testing Mini-ITX cases, we use the following standardized testbed in stock and overclocked configurations to get a feel for how well the case handles heat and noise. Again, note that while the GD07 can technically fit a full-size ATX motherboard, it's not tall enough to allow for our testbed's tower cooler. Because of the discrepancies that would make for in testing, plus the fact that media center cases are often mini-ITX designs, we have chosen to use our mini-ITX testbed rather than going with a specialized (e.g. not something you can compare directly to our other cases) ATX build.
| Mini-ITX Test Configuration | |
| CPU |
Intel Core i3-2120 (65W TDP) |
| Motherboard | Zotac Z68ITX-A-E |
| Graphics Card |
Intel HD 2000 IGP Zotac GeForce GTS 450 Eco (dedicated) |
| Memory | 2x2GB Crucial Ballistix Smart Tracer DDR3-1600 |
| Drives |
Kingston SSDNow V+ 100 64GB SSD Samsung 5.25" BD-ROM/DVDRW Drive |
| Accessories | Corsair Link |
| CPU Cooler | SilverStone NT07-1156 with Cooler Master ThermalFusion 400 |
| Power Supply | SilverStone Strider Plus 750W 80 Plus Silver |
Each case is tested with just the Core i3's integrated graphics as well as with a discrete graphics card. The system is powered on and left idle for fifteen minutes, the thermal and acoustic results recorded, and then stressed by running four threads in Prime95 (in-place large FFTs) on the CPU, and OC Scanner (maximum load) is run when the dedicated GPU is installed. At the end of fiteen minutes, thermal and acoustic results are recorded. If the enclosure has a fan controller, these tests are repeated for each setting. Ambient temperature is also measured after the fifteen idle minutes but before the stress test and used to calculate the final reported results.
We try to maintain an ambient testing temperature of between 22C and 24C. Non-thermal test results aren't going to be directly comparable to the finest decimal point, but should be roughly comparable and give a broader idea of how the enclosure performs.
Thank You!
Before moving on, we'd like to thank the following vendors for providing us with the hardware used in our testbed.
- Thank you to Puget Systems for providing us with the Intel Core i3-2120.
- Thank you to Zotac for providing us with the Z68ITX-A-E motherboard and GeForce GTS 450 Eco.
- Thank you to Crucial for providing us with the Ballistix Smart Tracer memory.
- Thank you to Corsair for providing us with the Corsair Link kit.
- Thank you to Kingston for providing us with the SSDNow V+ 100 SSD.
- Thank you to CyberPower for providing us with the Samsung BD-ROM/DVD+/-RW drive.
- And thank you to SilverStone for providing us with the power supply and NT07-1156 heatsink/fan combo.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
37 Comments
View All Comments
pimogo - Tuesday, May 8, 2012 - link
Hi ChrisQuestion: in your build you included an h100, which is precisely what i'd like to do.. either that or the smaller h60. However, the reviewer here basically said that closed radiator systems were a no go due to the motherboard to sideboard constraints. Given that this case is fairly similar to the case you have, what gives? Is it then possible to install an h100 in a stock case or did you have to mod it?
Many thanks!
Chris Simmo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
I removed the fans on the inside, removed the filter and secured the 2 120mm fans on the outside with fan grills I pulled off dead PSU's. Due to the positive pressure design, I pointed the fans to bow air into the case. The CPU sits at 30c at idle and 65c under load. The GPU is at 40-43 under load.Chris Simmo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
I don't know if the post will let me put this in, but here are pics of my personal system.http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.248327595...
Chris Simmo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
Sorry, the GPU temp is at idle not load! I also made an extended Molex cable that comes off the PSU harness to the outside of the case. My entertainment unit has been modified with 2x140mm Bitfenix fans and a Zalman fan control to suck hot air away from the HTPC and receiver amp. I mod I highly recommend! I also find the corsair fans to loud and the corsair controller doesn't make them quiet enough, so use the MB headers and artic cooling PWM fans. I also replaced the fan in the PSU.I have pictures on face book, but the link I wanted to put got removed.
pimogo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
Thanks for the comprehensive response! So you have the 2 fans on the side for the Corsair which are themselves replacements--not the OEM fans? You found the OEM loud?If they're loud, i wonder if its worth going in that direction. I wonder if just a noctua slim cpu fan would not suffice. Btw how many fans in your case do you have total?
Thanks!
Chris Simmo - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - link
The fans are ok on their own most of the time, but on the outside they were a little louder. Since I build computers for a living, I have access to a fair few parts, and the Artic cooling ones have more blades, shifting more air at a lower speed. I think the H100 is worth it. No modifying of any structures is done thoughaudioman83 - Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - link
I'm selling one used-Like New at Amazon. I treated it with kid gloves. It's in perfect condition.