Benchmarks - Thermal
Describing the cooling equipment that comes with a case just doesn’t cut it for us. We need to see how it actually performs to see if it is as effective as what the manufacturer’s say. We have hand-picked a full system, which we believe is the current system setup for the average user.| PC Mid-Tower Test Bed | |
Chaintech VNF3-250 |
 Click to enlarge. |
The thermal readings for the key components and points on the motherboard during operation were as follows. The numbers in each square represent the average ambient air temperature of that particular square inch of the case in degrees Celsius:
Click to enlarge.
We noticed how effective the CPU air duct was at helping to cool the heat sink fan as well as the CPU under it. The area above and around the CPU heat sink fan is about 1-2 degrees cooler, on average, compared to that of the PC-6070, and we safely assume the same compared to the original PC-60 case.
The side mounted blower fan also helped cool the area around the video card by moving warm air out through the back of the case. The temperatures here were decreased about 1-2 degrees on average also.
The most important improvement to the cooling system was the change to a 120mm fan at the front as an intake as well as the additional 80mm fan at the top of the case as an exhaust. Overall, the PC-60 Plus has an exceptional cooling system and it performs as well as some of those cases with 5-6 case fans. As we zero in on each critical system component, we predict the PC-60 Plus’s cooling system will have a positive effect on them as it did for the case’s ambient air temperature.
Take a look at the temperature readings of each critical component in our test rig.
Click to enlarge.
Our predictions were right - the temperatures of each critical component were 2-3 degrees cooler on average compared to the temperatures in previous case reviews. The CPU, heat sink fan, and video card especially ran much cooler due to the added air duct and blow fan.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
43 Comments
View All Comments
kevykev - Tuesday, July 26, 2005 - link
I used to be a huge Lian-Li fan but their cases are still stuck in the past. It is nearly impossible to find a mid-tower that actually includes 120mm fans for BOTH the intake and the exhaust. I mean come on... between required active chipset cooling, 80mm fans in PSU's usually, VGA coolers, yadda yadda yadda it is harder and harder to build a computer that doesn't sound like a blender on high. I am afraid that after a year of searching I can only conclude that the Antec Super Lanboy is the only way to go. You get dual 120's, and pair that with whatever psu that has a 120mm fan and Zalman CPU and VGA coolers and a honkin passive northbridge cooler you could quietly air-cool the most power hungry systems today, all with quiet and slow moving fans.drewski - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
yeah, the pc-60 has 2x80mm up front. i've got a pc-65b and really like it's simple look. i'm thinking of the TT Dream, though for my next system.http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?desc...
if only the side window didn't say ThermalTake!
L3p3rM355i4h - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
Well, at least anand isn't reviewing the riced out cases anymore, but this case doesn't seem to be anything special. My antec SOHO 1040 seems to basically do the same damn thing and its $50 cheaper with a decent 400 watt psu.tonyou - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
Actually Cooler Master's old ATCS cases had half of Lian-Li's so called, "innvoations" (extensively implemented thumb screws, removable mobo tray, blow holes) before Lian-Li started making aluminum cases.tonyou - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
crimsonson - Monday, February 28, 2005 - link
Lian-Li was once very innovative company. PC-60 was a forerunner to G5's case. They extensively implemented thumb screws, edgeless designs,removeable mobo trray, removeable HDD rack, system fan speed control, blow holes, etc.And this was several years ago - before G5 and TT [TT was dsigning alien looking case at that time]. Others tried to copy, but usually end up having the looks but not the guts of the PC60.Unfortunately other than the V1000, they have not done much. Given V1000 is a great case.
My current system is a PC60. It is a great case. Very quiet and very cool.
The V1000 is probably going to be my next case. Unless somebody comes up with a better case by then...
Deucer - Sunday, February 27, 2005 - link
Why can't case manufacturers take a hint...Build a classy looking case constructed of brushed aluminum. Incorperate tooless features(maybe just thumbscrews but at least all thumbscrews). Use less 120mm fans, not a bunch of loud 80mm fans. Don't put the front ports at the bottom of the case. Price the case around $100.
Who wouldn't buy that case? Is this harder than I think it is? Are we talking rocket science here? Would manufacturing the case I described be too expensive? Does the case I'm describing exist already and I'm missing it?
epiv - Sunday, February 27, 2005 - link
I actually really like Lian Li's Case. I love the design of the case. It is really easy to work with. I already have a PC 65 and PC 68. I am planing to get a V-series.IceWindius - Sunday, February 27, 2005 - link
Im sorry, but Lian Li's case designs are absolute crap. The only one that looked decent was the PC-68 that I had a few years ago.val - Sunday, February 27, 2005 - link
forget that i installed cross blade fan (30cm) in my cm stacker....