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Test Results - Configuration #1 (HD 4870)
Case with test system installed (HD 4870). |
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System Measurements (HD 4870)
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System State
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Idle
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CPU + GPU Load
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Active System Fans
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none
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none
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top, rear, side @9V
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side @12V
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top, rear @12V
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SPL@1m
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22 dBA
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25 dBA
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26 dBA
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27 dBA
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27 dBA
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CPU Temp
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32°C
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51°C
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45°C
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46°C
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47°C
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SB Temp
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47°C
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58°C
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47°C
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46°C
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52°C
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HD Temp
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38°C
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38°C
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37°C
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37°C
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38°C
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GPU Temp
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73°C
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85°C
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82°C
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81°C
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83°C
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GPU Fan
Speed
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870 RPM
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1420 RPM
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1340 RPM
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1340 RPM
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1360 RPM
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CPU fan set to 100% speed.
Ambient temperature: 24°C.
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First we tested the system both at idle and on full load with none of the system
fans on. On load there was increase in CPU temperature of about 20°C and
a rise in the Southbridge and GPU temperature of more than 10°C. The graphics
card fan also sped up by 550 RPM, resulting in a 3 dBA increase in noise.
Then we tested with top and rear fans at full speed, followed by the side fan
only at full speed. Both configurations added 2 dBA to system noise, improved
the CPU temperature by a moderate amount and caused a reduction in GPU fan speed.
However the side fan generated a far lower Southbridge temperature as it actively
cooling the area around the video card, while the top and rear fans simply helped
exhaust. Running all three fans at 9V seemed to be the best compromise, as it
was slightly quieter yet delivered almost identical thermal results to the system
with only the side fan operating at full speed.
The system measured 26 dBA@1m with the HD 4870 configuration. |
The overall acoustics of all the configurations tested with active
system fans could be described as loud, but with a smooth character. The noise
was mostly broadband, lacking tonality, whining, and vibration-induced effects.
It was fairly impressive for a gaming machine.
Comparisons
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HD 4870 Configuration Comparison (Load)
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Case
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Raven 2*
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Antec 1200*
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SS Fortress
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Inwin Maelstrom
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Active System Fans
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bottoms @low, top @9V
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top, rears @low
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top, rear, front @6V
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top, rear, side @9V
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SPL@1m
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23 dBA
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25~26 dBA
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25~26 dBA
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26 dBA
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CPU Temp
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47°C
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46°C
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54°C
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43°C
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SB Temp
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43°C
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49°C
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60°C
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45°C
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HD Temp
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31°C
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31°C
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35°C
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GPU Temp
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80°C
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85°C
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82°C
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80°C
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GPU Fan
Speed
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1170 RPM
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1760 RPM
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1340 RPM
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CPU fan set to 100% speed, 9V for Raven 2, Fortress.
All temperature results adjusted to 22°C ambient.
*Antec 1200 tested with Antec CP-850, Raven 2 tested with Seasonic X650,
others with Cooler Master Silent Pro M700W.
All temperature results adjusted to 22°C ambient.
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Compared to other large cases housing the same test configuration (except for
the power supply in some cases), the Maelstrom performs very well, posting the
lowest CPU temperature and the second lowest Southbridge temperature while maintaining
a moderate noise level. Though the sight of a large fan on a side panel punched
full of holes may scream 'loud,' on a high-end system with a hot graphics card,
sealing the entire panel off does very little for noise and would undoubtedly
result in poorer cooling.
To get significantly better results, you really need to ditch the conventional
tower design. The Raven 2,
with its rotated motherboard tray and large 18cm fans is easily the coolest
and quietest of the bunch.
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