Protocol
We’ve updated our test protocol in order to test the qualities of our cases. We’ll be assessing the performance of the different models according to three criteria:
- Insulation
- Original ventilation noise
- Air flow
Here, the configuration changes; you’ll find the details a little further down. As for the software, the CPU will run on PowerMax while the graphics card will run on Furmark, both simultaneously. Note that the CPU ventilation is forced to 50%, while the graphics card will run at 50%.
In addition, in order to limit temperature variations linked to frequency/consumption variations, we clip the graphics card curve at 1800 MHz, the original boost frequency of the ASUS RTX 3050 Strix.
A warm-up period of 8 to 9 minutes is applied before two 2-minute averaging sessions. The tests were run one after the other, without interruption, in order to observe the variation in component temperature as a function of the speed of the case’s fans. A delta is then applied: component temperature subtracted from ambient temperature.
As far as adding ventilation is concerned, we chose to integrate two fans. The first, a Fractal Design Silent Series, is an exhaust from the rear. The second is a red Thermaltake Riing 14 mounted at the bottom as intake, in front of the power supply cover.
Configuration:
-
- Motherboard: NZXT N7 Z790
- CPU: Intel Core i5 14600KF
- Graphics card: ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3050
- Heatsink: Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
- Power supply : NZXT C1000 Gold