NZXT Source 210 Elite Case Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. NZXT Source 210 Elite: Exterior4. NZXT Source 210: Interior and Installation5. Testing Methodology and Performance6. Closing Thoughts7. View All Pages

To test the NZXT Source 210 Elite we will be using an AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition CPU in conjunction with one of the finest motherboards available on the market, the Asus Crosshair V Formula.  To cool the CPU we will be using a DeepCool Ice Matrix 400.

Test System

Chassis: NZXT Source 210 Elite
Processor: AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
Motherboard: Asus Crosshair V Forumla
Cooler: DeepCool Ice Matrix 400
Memory: 4GB Kingston HyperX Genesis DDR3
Storage: Mushkin Chronos 240GB
Power Supply: Thermaltake Tough Power XT 750W
Graphics Card (for thermal tests): AMD Radeon HD 6790
Graphics Card (for noise tests): HIS Radeon HD 5550 Silence (passive)

Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Everest Ultimate Edition
Prime 95
Furmark

For our temperature tests, we used Prime95 and Furmark to load the system for 15 minutes and then recorded our results.  We then restarted the system and left it idling at the desktop for 15 minutes before recording the idle results.  The ambient temperature was maintained at 20c for the duration of the tests.

The temperatures recorded at stock settings were quite reasonable.  When the system was overclocked, the load temperature increased significantly and we can't help feeling that this is partially down to the lack of an intake fan in the chassis.

For our noise level tests we replaced the AMD Radeon HD 6790 graphics card with a passively cooled HIS Radeon HD 5550 Silence.  We also turned off the CPU fan momentarily so we could be sure that the noise generated was only from the case fans.

We recorded a noise level of 39.9 dBA in our tests which is quite loud indeed.  Some of the noise generated seems to be down to vibrations as there is no vibration suppression in the case but the fans themselves are also quite noisy.  We would have preferred to see NZXT using slower spinning fans with some sort of vibration dampening on this case.

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