AMS eCube EG65D: Decent Performance, but Many Issues

AMS eCube EG65D: Noise Level

As we saw with the Shuttle, Biostar, and Soltek benchmarks, current Small Form Factor systems can hold their on when compared to the performance of full-size systems using the same chipsets. The AMS eCube also performs competitively compared to other 865 systems at stock speed, although there are no available overclocking options at all. However, unlike the other SFF systems we have tested, the eCube does seem to suffer from the additional heat of faster processors, 800FSB, dual-channel memory, and video cards with their own power connectors. The AMS never shut down in operation, but it did run hotter as reported in PCHealth. Some of the components in the AMS got too hot to touch. Since the cooling system was not particularly effective, we were interested in seeing how the AMS eCube actually measured in Noise level, since it did not seem particularly quiet either.

Most people choose the SFF systems for their small size, but they also want the almost contradictory quiet operation that comes with the best of the SFF computers. For that reason, we have been testing noise levels of all SFF systems in our recent reviews.

Like our other SFF sound level tests, measurements of the AMS EG65D were taken with the unit on a desk. To be consistent with earlier data, Sound Level was measured on all 4 sides, in the center of the side, 4” from the chassis. Our Sound Level meter can measure as low as 35db, using either A or C weighting with Fast or Slow Dynamic Response. We use A weighting and Fast response because they are most like how we actually experience sound as humans.

The AMS eCube EG65D was loaded as a user would likely set up a top-level SFF system. We installed a 3.0 P4, 1 GB DDR400 memory, Liteon combo CD burner/DVD, a floppy drive, and a 120Gb Maxtor Hard Drive. Since some users will likely use on-board Intel Extreme Graphics 2 video or a video card with no fan, we did not use our ATI Radeon 9800 PRO video card in the system for sound level measurements.




The AMS seemed subjectively louder than other SFF that we have recently reviewed, so the actual noise level measurements were not a surprise. AMS says they use a temperature-controlled turbine in their xross turbine fan, and we did not really hear any difference in noise level no matter what we set in the PCHealth section. The AMS is noisier than other SFF systems that we have tested. In fairness, it is still not objectionably noisy, but it is the noisiest SFF we have tested thus far. If quiet operation is a large concern, then you should choose another SFF.

Other SFF systems we have reviewed are much louder at the high fan-speed settings than the low. The AMS does not seem to have the same High and Low settings available on competing systems. Since the system appears to run rather hot, perhaps it was not possible to implement a low-level setting in the current design. We also wonder if the high temperatures we found in normal operation with a 3.0GHz P4 are partly responsible for the AMS decision not to provide overclocking on the eCube EG65D.