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TESTING
System Configuration:
Measurement and Analysis Tools
- CPUBurn
processor stress software.
- FurMark
stability test to stress the integrated GPU.
- GPU-Z to
monitor GPU temperatures and fan speed.
- SpeedFan
to monitor system temperatures and fan speeds.
- Seasonic
Power Angel AC power meter, used to measure the power consumption
of the system.
System temperatures and noise levels were recorded with SpeedFan and GPU-Z
at idle and on load using 4 instances of CPUBurn to stress the CPU and FurMark
with the Xtreme Burn option to stress the GPU.
The Maelstrom with our test system installed inside. |
Stock Fan Measurements
Noise and speed measurements were made of one of the three 12cm fans in our
foam harness as per our standard
fan testing methodology. The 22cm intake, due to its rather unique design,
was left mounted on the side panel of the case. Its diameter is 22cm, but its
corners measure 18.4cm across while the mounting holes are separated by 17cm.
The 12cm fan is a fairly standard looking 7 blade fan with ceramic
bearings. |
The 22cm intake fan has 11 straight blades and sleeve bearings. |
|
Fan Measurements
|
|
Fan Voltage
|
12cm CeraDyna FD1212-A3133E
|
22cm Inwin DFS223012H (mounted on side panel)
|
|
Fan Speed
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SPL@1m
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Fan Speed
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SPL@1m
|
|
12V
|
1170 RPM
|
16~17 dBA
|
640 RPM
|
24 dBA
|
|
9V
|
920 RPM
|
13 dBA
|
560 RPM
|
20 dBA
|
|
7V
|
720 RPM
|
11 dBA
|
390 RPM
|
16 dBA
|
|
Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle left/rear
of fan
|
|
Fan Measurements (mounted in system)
|
|
Fan Voltage
|
top
exhaust (12cm)
|
rear exhaust (12cm)
|
front intake (12cm)
|
side intake (22cm)
|
|
12V
|
17~18 dBA
|
20 dBA
|
31 dBA
|
24 dBA
|
|
9V
|
14 dBA
|
14 dBA
|
25 dBA
|
20 dBA
|
|
7V
|
12 dBA
|
11~12 dBA
|
20 dBA
|
16 dBA
|
|
Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle left/front
of case side panel
|
The 12cm fans are fairly quiet, buzzy at 12V, mostly smooth and benign at 9V,
and inaudible at 7V from one meter away in our foam harness. They are slightly
louder when mounted in the rear/top positions even though they are further away
from the mic as we measure the distance from the center of the left side panel.
The front intake is considerably louder as it is both closer to the mic and
impeded by an air filter. The 22cm fan sounds very smooth and has surprisingly
very little bearing chatter which is usually a problem for extremely large models.
Baseline Noise
Noise measurements were made of the case with the rear, top and side fans supplied
at various voltages in various configurations. The air cavity resonances inside
a case amplify fan noise, as do any vibrations transferred from the fans into
the case, so these measurements can be regarded as the baseline SPL levels for
the Maelstrom and stock fans. The intake fan was not used in our baseline tests
as the case has plenty of ventilation and a large side fan. It is unlikely the
front fan would make much a difference in cooling the system (except perhaps
the hard drive) and given its location, it would be the loudest yet least beneficial
of the stock fans.
|
Baseline Noise Level
|
|
Fan Voltage
|
SPL@1m
|
|
top & rear
exhaust (12cm)
|
side intake (22cm)
|
|
off
|
7V
|
16 dBA
|
|
9V
|
20 dBA
|
|
12V
|
24 dBA
|
|
7V
|
off
|
14 dBA
|
|
9V
|
17 dBA
|
|
12V
|
23 dBA
|
|
7V
|
7V
|
17~18 dBA
|
|
9V
|
20 dBA
|
|
12V
|
24 dBA
|
|
9V
|
7V
|
20 dBA
|
|
9V
|
21 dBA
|
|
12V
|
25 dBA
|
|
12V
|
7V
|
24 dBA
|
|
9V
|
25 dBA
|
|
12V
|
26 dBA
|
|
Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle left/front
of case.
|
As the large intake fan is arguably the case's most interesting feature, we
will be pitting it against the 12cm fans on the top and rear together during
thermal testing to see which is more beneficial. In terms of noise, the pair
of 12cm fans are quieter than the 22cm on the side panel.
The case measured 21 dBA@1m with the top, rear, and side fans @9V. |
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