Six Low-Noise, Performance-Oriented Cases, Tested

[Crashman]

We recently illustrated the features of our six low-noise cases, and today we get to find out how those features help them perform. We provide further detail on the hardware installation process before delving into heat and noise comparisons.

Six Low-Noise, Performance-Oriented Cases, Tested : Read more

 

[Tamz_msc]

i7 2600K at 34.5 GHz?

 

[Guest]

the rv03 is out at less $$$ you guys should do a rv02-E vs rv03 round in the cooling side and thats because the rv03 has more fans

 

[dragonsqrrl]

Using a SilverStone Fortress Series FT02B-W here. Basically identical interior design, except in my opinion the exterior is more aesthetically pleasing. Glad to confirm the excellent cooling characteristics.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163161&cm_re=ft02_b-_-11-163-161-_-Product

Another big plus with the Fortress 2 is the inclusion of sound dampening foam on every panel, but to be entirely honest with you, due to the open nature of the case, I'm really not sure how much sound it's actually dampening.

 

[henryvalz]

34.5 Ghz...

Hell, yes! About time, pushing those extreme overclocks!

 

[Gamer-girl]

I think there needs to be info on how much space there is for graphics cards.

 

[xmaswraith]

34.5 gigahertz? 34.5 gigahertz? Great Scott!

Marty, I'm sorry. But the only power source capable of generating 34.5 gigahertz of electricity is a bolt of lightning... (begin back to the future theme song!)

 

[JOSHSKORN]

[citation][nom]henryvalz[/nom]34.5 Ghz...Hell, yes! About time, pushing those extreme overclocks![/citation]
I bet they were overclocking from Pluto.

 

[killerclick]

[citation][nom]JOSHSKORN[/nom]I bet they were overclocking from Pluto.[/citation]

Didn't you watch the news? Astronomers sent a dwarf in a rocket to remove Pluto so it doesn't exist anymore.

 

[Luay]

RV-03 pushes more air and cools better than the 02, but it's also louder.

 

[madsbs]

Yet, as a gaming case, the Raven 2 Evolution may not fulfill the aesthetic or storage needs of some computing professionals

 

[madsbs]

"Yet, as a gaming case, the Raven 2 Evolution may not fulfill the aesthetic or storage needs of some computing professionals"

This conclusion makes no sense. Why do "computing professional gamers" need storage.
And further the case holds 5 HDDs. That's 1 SSD + 4x2TB of storage.

 

[srgess]

35.4ghz with silent operation ! Wondering if it can play crysis !

 

[Guest]

Sonata - top mounted PSU = no go, especially for semi passive ones.

Fractal or Raven? This is harder one.

 

[VirtualMirage]

The specs on page one for the Fractal Design Define XL are wrong. The intake fan is 140mm, not 120mm. There is room for 2 140mm intake fans plus a 120mm intake fan. The specs list incorrectly shows it as one 120mm fan with an alternative for three 120mm fans.

 

[Petey1013]

[citation][nom]madsbs[/nom]"Yet, as a gaming case, the Raven 2 Evolution may not fulfill the aesthetic or storage needs of some computing professionals"This conclusion makes no sense. Why do "computing professional gamers" need storage. And further the case holds 5 HDDs. That's 1 SSD + 4x2TB of storage.[/citation]


You mean 5x2TB. It holds 5 HDDs and a SSD.

Also, the FT02, although more expensive, should have been used due to the extra sound dampening material.

 

[randomstar]

Anyone remember the Silio case? is it still in production? Quiet, insulated, cools well.

 

[Guest]

This is unusual for Tom's...an inconclusive review on poorly chosen hardware.

 

[verbalizer]

I do not particularly care for ANY of these cases, thanks anyways..

 

[chesteracorgi]

I'd rate the Bitfinix, Lian Li and Silverstone for having the best aesthetics. Antec's design placing the PSU at the top is anachronistic: heating the top of the case. Silverstone's idiosyncratic design produces the best cooling at the price of more noise. None of these cases give me a second thought about going with the Corsair 600T.

 

[marraco]

I would love an article about how to "make it yourself".

Do a case with good electromagnetic and noise insulation. With good cooling.

What materials are better? Is electromagnetic insulation that important? (so, is necessary a conductive -metallic- case?)

how do you solve the precise location of backward holes (for motherboard, and boards).

how do you make the holes for different form factors (hint: there are standards)

etc. there is a lot to talk. You can make a cheap case much better than the trademark garbage sold.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

I would think that hardcore gamers and enthusiasts would not be too concerned about noise because a lot of games can get quite loud.

 

[davewolfgang]

This is unusual for Tom's...an inconclusive review on poorly chosen hardware.

-100

Please read the article - Tom's asked the manufactures to send it what THEY were "pushing" as the low-sound cases (i.e. what the manufacturers were "pushing" as low-sound).

But as was found, one that wasn't even being pushed as low-sound, ended up being the lowest.


Now I think they should've ran the comparison with the newest AMD Jet Engine..... ;-)

 

[Max1s]

There are still alot of $60 cases that I think look much better, and with a $20 fan upgrade, will probably perform just as well...

 

[mattmock]

[citation][nom]Luay[/nom]RV-03 pushes more air and cools better than the 02, but it's also louder.[/citation]
The problem with the rv03 is the 180cm limit on the PSU. My Enermax 1050w wouldn't fit.