Operation in installed state
For our measurements, we use a mid-sized midi case, in this case the new LF-01B from Chieftec, which will be released in the next few days and was currently in the test lab anyway. Advantage of this sample: It’s a rather small case, where we could most likely measure the effects of possible heating by such a potent card, and the hardware was already installed. However, we turned down or even disconnected the case fans for this very special test use (see table), only the CPU cooler runs normally via the motherboard control. We want to take Gigabyte at its word and test the temperature behavior in the closed case.
| Gigabyte 7970 SOC Windforce 5X | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Core i7 2500K @4.5 GHz |
| Cooler | Xilence M612 Pro |
| Memory | 2 x 4 GB Kingston Value DDR3 1333 |
| Mainboard | Gigabyte Z68X UD5-B3 |
| Housing | Chieftec LF-01B |
| Power supply unit | Chieftec Nitro 2 550 Watt |
| Case fan front | 800 rpm (regulated) |
| Case fan cover | deactivated |
| Case fan back panel | 800 rpm (regulated) |
| Optional sidewall fan | 1. Measurement without fan 2. Measurement with fan |
| Operating system and drivers | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Catalyst 12.6 WHQL |
| Test software | Furmark, OCCT |
We first measure without the side fan. While the internal temperatures only rise very slowly at the beginning and the CPU temperature remains almost untouched, the side panel with the two small 12cm openings heats up quite decently over the course of half an hour.
This is remedied by a very quiet fan, which we also only run at 7 volts. This is already enough to extract the waste heat so effectively that the side panel doesn’t get warmer than 35°C in the center above the graphics card even after 30 minutes and the case’s inner temperature only rises by 6 Kelvin from 22°C (room temperature) to 28°C. Not only can one live with this, but it is downright amazing that this design can realize very good warm air dissipation similar to the DHE principle – always provided that the casing plays along. A large side panel opening like in the Enermax Fulmo GT would of course be the absolute ideal case, even without a fan. At least we were able to avoid an exaggerated airflow in the case.
It is still better to live with a fan. That’s the way it is:
We also recorded the operation under full load in the video here, and the performance turns out a bit quieter than in the open setup despite the side panel opening. Again, the already known stress test Furmark was measured.
Interim summary
The attenuation of the noise level due to the relatively open case is rather marginal, but the sound impression is a bit duller than in the open setup. The cooling is still adequate, the volume not sensational but just bearable. What works well is operating in an overclocked state, because the heat dissipation really works very purposefully and effectively.
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