GMC Noblesse K-2 Ebony Case

System Setup and Thermal Performance

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 @ 3.5GHz (Stock cooler)
• Motherboard: Asus P5K-VM @ 500MHz FSB
• HDD: Seagate ST3500630AS
• VGA: Sparkle 9600GT
• PSU: NorthQ Black Magic Flex 650W

In order to test the thermal performance of the case, we took temperature measurements while the system was running, placed on its motherboard box at the desktop and compare them with the readings we got when the system was installed inside the case, fully assembled. We used two external thermal sensors to take readings from the video card (back of the chipset) and ambient temperature. The chipset and CPU temperature readings are taken from the motherboard sensors. Finally, the hard disk drive temperature reading is taken from the internal HDD sensor, via the speedfan utility.

Idle readings were taken after the system was left at the windows desktop for 10 minutes.  Load readings were taken after running PC Mark Vantage for one hour. The stock fans of the GMC Noblesse K-2 are running at their maximum speed.

	CPU		Chipset		Video card		Hard disk		Ambient
	Idle	Load	Idle	Load	Idle	Load	Idle	Load	Idle	Load
No Case	41	60	48	58	56	67	40	45	24	24
GMC Noblesse K-2 Ebony	49	69	55	67	60	84	41	46	27	30

Keeping in mind that the K-2 Ebony is primarily designed to be a tower HTPC case, its thermal performance is relatively good. Even though the fans are running at their maximum speed they are still on the slow side, but they also are almost silent. This case should be able to keep all but the most powerful PC systems cool enough, but if you are installing a power-hungry system we highly recommend replacing the stock fans with faster counterparts.