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TESTING
System Configuration:
Measurement and Analysis Tools
- CPUBurn
K7
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.
Stock Fan Measurements
|
Stock Fan Noise Level
|
|
Fan Voltage
|
Rear Fan Speed
|
Front Fan Speed
|
Combined SPL
|
|
12V
|
850 RPM
|
890 RPM
|
18 dBA
|
|
9V
|
660 RPM
|
700 RPM
|
14 dBA
|
|
7V
|
520 RPM
|
570 RPM
|
12 dBA
|
Another pleasant surprise is the noise level of the included fans. They are
low speed varieties with a maximum speed of about 900 RPM. The noise they generate is smooth, though there is some clicking coming from the bearings. This noise
is annoying in the open or in our anechoic chamber, but tucked away inside the
padded case, it wasn't audible unless we put our ears right up against
it. For silent PC neophytes, leaving the fans at maximum speed would be acceptable — they sound smooth and unobtrusive.
Test Results - Configuration #1 (IGP)
Case with test system installed (integrated graphics). |
|
System Measurements (IGP)
|
|
State
|
Idle
|
Full CPU + GPU Load
|
|
System Fan Speeds
|
7V
|
12V
|
|
Hard Drive
Placement
|
On Floor
|
In Cage
|
|
Noise Level
|
15 dBA
|
17~18 dBA
|
20 dBA
|
|
CPU Temp
|
31°C
|
32°C
|
55°C
|
54°C
|
|
SB Temp
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
38°C
|
37°C
|
|
HD Temp
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
|
Ambient temperature: 22°C
CPU fan at 9V.
|
Housing a system with a 125W CPU, quality CPU cooler, and integrated graphics,
the Sileo 500 performed fairly well given the level of noise that leaked through.
With the CPU fan set to a static 9V, the noise level of the system measured
20 dBA in its stock configuration. Slowing down the system fans to 7V resulted
in a 2~3 dBA reduction. Removing the hard drive cage and placing the drive on
the foam-covered floor resulted in an additional 2~3 dBA improvement. Our WD
Black drive is fairly high in vibration, and the plastic sleds used
to dampen it just wasn't enough — the drive made a measurable impact on
noise. Fortunately, the acoustics of the system were very smooth and benign
no matter what fan speeds were utilized or where the hard drive was mounted.
At idle, all the recorded temperatures were in the low 30's, whether the drive
cage was removed or not. On full load, the CPU temperature reached 55°C,
the southbridge temperature hit 38°C and the hard drive temperature remained
unchanged. Increasing the system fan speeds from 7V to 12V had a negligible
effect on temperature — it seems that a 300 RPM difference in fan speed
is not enough to make a measurable impact on our system configuration.
|
Sileo 500 vs. P183: Full Load (IGP)
|
|
State
|
Sileo 500
|
Antec P183
|
|
Rear / Front
Fan Speed
|
12V / 12V
|
Low / N/A
|
|
Noise Level
|
20 dBA
|
19~20 dBA
|
|
CPU Temp
|
54°C
|
50°C
|
|
SB Temp
|
37°C
|
38°C
|
|
HD Temp
|
33°C
|
37°C
|
|
Ambient temperature: 22°C
CPU fan at 9V.
|
The Sileo 500, with both system fans at full speed generates about the same
amount of noise as the Antec P183
with its rear fan set to low. The presence of the faster spinning Antec TriCool
fan results in the P183's lower CPU temperature while the Sileo 500's front
fan gives it an advantage in hard drive temperature.
| Help support this site, buy the Cooler Master Sileo 500 Silent Case, 10 Bays, 7 Slots, mATX/ATX, No PSU, Black from one of our affiliate retailers! |
|
