System Setup and Thermal Performance:
• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
• Motherboard: Asus P5K3 Deluxe
• HDD: Seagate ST3320620AS
• VGA: Nvidia 7950GT
• PSU: NorthQ Giant Connector 850W
In order to test the thermal performance of the case, we took temperature measurements while the system was powered and working placed on its motherboard box at the desktop and compared 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 Prime 95 and PcMark05 concurrently for one hour. The speed of the X-22 front and rear fans is set to about 75%.
| |
CPU |
Chipset |
Video card |
Hard disk |
Ambient |
Idle |
Load |
Idle |
Load |
Idle |
Load |
Idle |
Load |
Idle |
Load |
No case |
41 |
54 |
41 |
50 |
49 |
60 |
46 |
54 |
26 |
26 |
GMC X-22 |
43 |
55 |
44 |
56 |
53 |
67 |
40 |
49 |
28 |
31 |
The thermal performance of the X-22 is not going to break any records, but it can be considered to be very good for a case of this design and specifically for its price range. Although the ambient temperature inside the case rose by a few degrees over ambient, the CPU temperature was nearly unaffected. The VGA card and motherboard chipset took an impact, but still the temperature change was normal. The HDD temperatures were actually better inside the case since the drive receives direct cooling from the front intake fan. At 75% speed, both case fans are entirely silent as well.
