Testing

Methodology

Processor	AMD AM2 6000+ Dual Core
Motherboard	Biostar TA690G AM2
RAM	Corsair XMS2 6400 2GB (2x1GB)
HDD	Maxtor DiamondMax 20 80GB SATA
Power supply	Jeantech Storm 700w
Graphics card	Onboard - ATI Xpress 1250 series

We use a unique strength test that is a little simplistic and all it requires is my weight on the top and observing the bending etc. that the case exhibits. The ‘test’ is explained more here.

For the temperature and noise output testing, we use the same PSU in every test and observe the noise output and give you a relative reading on our scale.

The temperature results are taken from the ambient temperature of the case, the CPU and the chipset. We now also test the temperature of the HDD under a full low-level scan via SMART. All of these results are taken without a graphics card (our motherboard has on-board). The temperatures are taken at load and at idle for the processor using OCCT to load the cores. The stock AMD heatsink is used with Arctic Silver 5 with an AM2 6000+ CPU at stock underneath.

Ambient temperature is 19C.

Results

Data readout

Click to enlarge

When you power on the case for the first time, the data display lights up with a blue glow. You get three dials and temperature readout in the middle. The top dial is for 12v and 5v voltages, and it displays their current value in a particularly obtuse manner. Surely it would have been easier to just display the actual voltage rather than some strange linear/logarithmic speedo-style readout? These readings are actually quite accurate, well… within about 0.2v of BIOS results. The temperature readout is strangely tagged as ‘TMPE1’ which is in the manual pictures too; I can only assume the Apevia staff managed to mistype ‘TEMP1’ and then print the manual along with the case PCB.

Another dial is for the RPM duty cycle of the fans connected to the molex. It reads the % speed of the fan, which is probably quite difficult to read when you have two fans with different speeds connected, but we’ll look past this. Considering as the fans are powered through vanilla molex, there is no third PWM cable, meaning this readout is wrong. What it does show is where you have set the fan speed knob to. It instantly updates when you twist the fan speed knob, although pretty useless as it won’t tell you if the fans have stopped (I tested this) and will display a mis-leading rotating fan logo instead. It should be noted that it is possible to turn off the fans completely with the fan control knob, which is actually pretty useful albeit dangerous for hot machines, as you could turn the fans off when you are watching a DVD for example.

The final and most random addition to this data panel is the ‘voice unit’ dial which allows you to ‘monitor dynamic audio gain and gain reduction levels’. Regardless of what that actually means, it simply reads the power of the audio signal on the HD Audio cable and displays the volume. It has a ‘red’ area where you are apparently going to run into distortion; considering the vast array of varying headsets, speakers and audio cards, this dials results aren’t that useful.

Of use on this dial, in my opinion, is the temperature readout which is by Apevia’s backward logic, the smallest part of the display. Then you’ll find that you can only really read what the display is showing if you are directly in front of it, especially if you are using the case in a bright room. Even if you have the case on desk level, you’ll have to bend down in order to read it, which renders it useless. Using something like SpeedFan allows you to change fan speed, check their actual RPM values, read actual voltages to double-decimal values and read actual core temperatures, all without craning your neck down to the case readout level.

Results

The results for the standing test were better than I expected as the case managed to achieve a 2 out of 3 meaning that it started to strain a little under foot, but will still be perfectly capable of carting around your LAN PC.

For temperatures, the case actually performs pretty well. At full speed, the fans aren’t particularly noisy, but they are clearly audible meaning that this case can’t be mulnaz certified. The testing was done with the fans at full power, but it would be easy to find the sweet spot between performance and noise, although that means that fan speed knob will be used once and then be a set-and-forget feature.

With a bit of cable management and an extra 120mm fans at the front you’d probably see these temperatures fall by a degree or so, which might be of importance to someone who either desires a chilly PC, or lower noise levels.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge