Apex MI-008: A Cheap Quiet mini-ITX Case?

TESTING

System Components:

• Intel D945GCLF2 motherboard - 945GC Express chipset, embedded Atom 330 processor (dual core 1.6Ghz)
• Corsair XMS2 memory - 1GB, DDR2-800, 128MB allocated to video memory
• Seagate Momentus 5400.3 notebook hard drive - 160 GB, 5400RPM, SATA
• Allied AL-8250SFX SFX power supply
• Apex MI-008 mini-ITX case
• Yate Loon D12SL-12 120mm case fan - undervolted to 5V (1350 RPM at 12V)
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 operating system
• Intel 14.32 graphics driver

Measurement and Analysis Tools

• Prime95 processor stress software.
• ATITool artifact scanner to stress the integrated GPU.
• QuickTime Alternative to decode Quicktime.
• Cyberlink PowerDVD to play H264/VC1 video.
• SpeedFan to monitor temperature and fan speeds.
• Seasonic Power Angel AC power meter, used to measure the power consumption of the system.
• Custom-built, four-channel variable DC power supply, used to regulate the CPU fan speed.

Video Playback Test Suite

720p | 25fps | ~6mbps

Dark Knight: Dark Knight Trailer 3 is a 720p clip encoded in H.264 inside an Apple Quicktime container.

1080p | 24fps | ~10mbps

Rush Hour: Rush Hour 3 Trailer 1 is a 1080p clip encoded in H.264 inside an Apple Quicktime container.

TEST RESULTS

Power Consumption

Compared to the 80Plus Seasonic SS-300SFD, the stock power unit consumes about 5W more at most loads. Compared to the HFX Micro and its picoPSU, the gap widens to 8-10W. Nothing surprising here: Stock power supplies are rarely that efficient, especially at the low end of the spectrum. (For more test data regarding the Intel D945GCLF2, please refer to our mCubed HFX Micro review.)

So is it worth it to change the power supply? Well if you have a more efficient one handy you might as well, but if you don't, then you have to consider whether it's worth your time and/or money. From a purely financial point of view, consider this: if this particular system was run with the stock power supply instead of a picoPSU and power brick 24-7, it would put a $5.16 CDN dent into SPCR lab's electric bill after one year — it would take many years before we would re-coup the cost of a picoPSU. Electricity rates vary from region to region, so check your rate and do some quick math. Of course, if you're seeking to be as green as possible with your IT gear, then the savings in electricity is probably more important than the money saved. However, the embedded energy in the stock PSU or recycling it complicates the environmental picture.

The Allied power supply was surprisingly quiet, more so than the Seasonic SS-300SFD, our sample of which has a rickety fan. We anticipated in advance that the stock unit would be too loud and planned on using the Seasonic instead. As it turns out, not only is the Allied power supply quieter, the Seasonic has a protruding fan that interferes with the metal guide that sits between the power supply and the I/O panel. That made the decision to leave the power supply be an easy one.