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MP3 RECORDINGS
Sound Recordings of Comparative Systems
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HOW TO LISTEN & COMPARE
These recordings were made
with a high resolution, studio quality, digital recording system and are
intended to represent a quick snapshot of what we heard during the review.
Two recordings of each noise level were made, one from a distance of one
meter, and another from one foot away.
The one meter recording is
intended to give you an idea of how the subject of this review sound in
actual use — one meter is a reasonable typical distance between a
computer or computer component and your ear. The recording contains stretches
of ambient noise that you can use to judge the relative loudness of the
subject. For best results, set your volume control so that the ambient
noise is just barely audible. Be aware that very quiet subjects may not
be audible — if we couldn't hear it from one meter, chances are we
couldn't record it either!
The one foot recording is
designed to bring out the fine details of the noise. Use this recording
with caution! Although more detailed, it may not represent how the subject
sounds in actual use. It is best to listen to this recording after you
have listened to the one meter recording.
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CONCLUSIONS
The HD135 is flawed by poor airflow design, badly executed vents, and as is
so common with Zalman, poor stock fans. Zalman's decision to use a pair of thin,
low pressure, noisy, 80mm fans without providing mounting points for any other
fans is disappointing. Many of the vents look perfectly capable of accepting
a 120mm fan, if there was only an easy way of mounting one. As our quick experiment
proved, the problem with the HD135 isn't a lack of airflow vents; it's the means
of pulling air through them that's missing.
The placement of the stock fans is almost as bad as the choice of fan.
Whoever decided that the intake should be on top and the exhaust on the bottom
(behind the power supply???) could not have been communicating with the engineer
who placed intake vents all over the place. It would have been much better (and
probably simpler) to sacrifice some drive bays so that a properly mounted (and
quiet) 120mm fan could be used to generate conventional front-to-back airflow.
The HD135 suffocates because its lungs are weak, not because it's being choked.
The HD135 will probably find its biggest fans in the DIY community, who are
willing and able to address its flaws in stock form. Its selling points are
simple: Great styling, a sleek profile, and enough space to work with. There
is a lot of potential in this case, but it will take skill to bring it out.
Those who don't want to spend time with it are advised to find a better out-of-the-box
experience elsewhere.
Many thanks to Zalman
for supplying the HD135
sample.
* * *
Articles of Related Interest
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MoDT Mismatch: AOpen i945GTt-VFA & Silverstone
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Antec NSK2400 Media PC Case
Cases: Basics and Recommendations
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this article in the SPCR Forums.
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