Benchmarking - Thermal
To test the case’s ability to keep temperatures of key components in check, we installed our standard micro ATX test bed, using a MadDog Sure Power 550 watt power supply, along with a CD/DVD combo drive into the top 5.25” bay.
For the same reasons as the X-QPack, it was both difficult and somewhat pointless to do an inch-by-inch analysis of ambient air temperatures, but after leaving the system running for a while and waiting for our thermometers to settle, we recorded the exhaust air at 33.7 degrees Celsius from the 60mm fan, and 34.2 degrees from the power supply exhaust. The SG01 was tested in a room with an ambient temperature of 23.0 degrees, which means that this case certainly didn’t keep the components as cool as competing cases, but it wasn’t letting dangerously hot either. Keep in mind that the figure of the 60mm fan exhaust is the one to use when considering the ambient air temperature inside the case, as the extra heat generated by the power supply is not a factor. Here’s a look at how the SG01 did at keeping the components cool in comparison to our previous reviewed Aspire Micro ATX case:
All in all, these aren’t terrible numbers, given the case’s size, and the hard drive especially is being kept nice and cool. However, the video card is a full five degrees warmer in this case than in the X-QPack under full load, and the CPU is also not having as much warm air taken away from it. Unfortunately, this is all simply the end result of a decision to only use a single small exhaust case fan, and if it wasn’t for the four-fan power supply, these numbers might have been quite a bit worse.
To test the case’s ability to keep temperatures of key components in check, we installed our standard micro ATX test bed, using a MadDog Sure Power 550 watt power supply, along with a CD/DVD combo drive into the top 5.25” bay.
| HTPC Micro ATX Test Bed | |
| DFI K8M800 MLV AMD Athlon 64 3200+ OCZ PC3200 512MB DDR x 2 Zalman CNPS7000 Copper Western Digital IDE Hard Disk Sapphire 9800XT AGP8x |
 Click to enlarge. |
For the same reasons as the X-QPack, it was both difficult and somewhat pointless to do an inch-by-inch analysis of ambient air temperatures, but after leaving the system running for a while and waiting for our thermometers to settle, we recorded the exhaust air at 33.7 degrees Celsius from the 60mm fan, and 34.2 degrees from the power supply exhaust. The SG01 was tested in a room with an ambient temperature of 23.0 degrees, which means that this case certainly didn’t keep the components as cool as competing cases, but it wasn’t letting dangerously hot either. Keep in mind that the figure of the 60mm fan exhaust is the one to use when considering the ambient air temperature inside the case, as the extra heat generated by the power supply is not a factor. Here’s a look at how the SG01 did at keeping the components cool in comparison to our previous reviewed Aspire Micro ATX case:
| Component Temperatures | ||
| SG01 | X-QPack | |
| Exhaust Air | 33.7 C | 28.3 C |
| CPU | 34 / 47 C | 32 / 44 C |
| GPU | 53 / 69 C | 49 / 64 C |
| HDD | 29 C | 30 C |
| Northbridge | 36 C | 34 C |
| Power Supply | 32 C | 32 C |
All in all, these aren’t terrible numbers, given the case’s size, and the hard drive especially is being kept nice and cool. However, the video card is a full five degrees warmer in this case than in the X-QPack under full load, and the CPU is also not having as much warm air taken away from it. Unfortunately, this is all simply the end result of a decision to only use a single small exhaust case fan, and if it wasn’t for the four-fan power supply, these numbers might have been quite a bit worse.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
18 Comments
View All Comments
Tamale - Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - link
exactly!cryptonomicon - Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - link
reminds me of lian-lisegagenesis - Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - link
But the final words say it all. Despite the nifty ideas like the hard drive cage with a fan (hard drives burning up would worry me most in a HTPC) and the ability to use a normal sized power supply... the noise would kill this off my list instantly. A noisy computer is one thing, but the whine from smaller fans really aggrivate me. I'll give them the fact its probably exceedingly difficult to put 120mm fans in a HTPC case, but I'll be damned if the thing is louder than my TT Armour.imaheadcase - Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - link
Its a good thing actully that it uses a real power supply. The fail rate on Shuttle SFF power supply is VERY high, i currently have mine hooked up to a regular power supply (case cover off of course) because power supply failed.Just get a new PS you say? The cheapest one is about $60. a hundred more you can get a NEW SFF case/PS/Mobo. Its a vicious cycle. :(
Im just going to transfer CPU/RAM/Video card to a midtower case and be done with it.
just1ed - Sunday, November 11, 2007 - link
Hi imaheadcase,I'm interested to know how you modded a normal ATX to Shuttle's XPC PSU. They have some non standard heads. My XPC's PSU blew and I'm not interested in replacing it with another expensive PSU that might die in the near future.
BigSky - Friday, September 15, 2006 - link
I can't run a video card in my SS51G that requires an external power source. The wimpy 200W Shuttle PS can't do the job. I'm too cheap to spring for a new PS but have plenty of ATX PSs laying around and was thinking of doing what you did to power the Shuttle with an ATX PS. I see that the motherboard uses a 4 pin connector like the standard one for a peripheral vice the square 4 pin cable on most motherboards. Should I make an adapter from the ATX PS's square 4 pin to connector to the Shuttle MB 4 pin connector vice using one of the peripheral power leads? Seems this would be better from a power mgmt perspective. I don't understand if this ATX power lead is independent of the peripheral leads.bmartin1984@verizon.net
Thanks.
ProphetCHRIS - Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - link
The problem of the manufacturers is just that they have to built these cases for "average" people. You can surely put own low-noise fans inside and it wont go off in flames. I have built once this kind of case with an old Lian Li. I put dampening material inside and only one fan. Sure it was a little warmer than normal cases but I operated it 24/7 for two years.I am sure this case has much potential with just a little help...
Tamale - Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - link
aye.. but should a $150 case need any help? ;)