Super Flower X-Mask: Mild-Mannered or Superhero?
by Purav Sanghani on May 20, 2004 12:05 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Benchmarking
When benchmarking the X-Mask, we test the temperatures of key components including the actual CPU temperature, the actual temperature inside the heatsink, the temperatures of the DDR, Northbridge, Southbridge, HDD, PSU, and the ambient temperature inside the case, all during normal operation. During our testing, the PSU and CPU heatsink fans remain on to measure temperatures during normal system operations.Gigabyte GA-7VRX |
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The thermal readings for the key components and points on the motherboard during operation were as follows:
Super Flower X-Mask | |||||||||
System On-Time | CPU | Heatsink | HDD | DDR | Northbridge | Southbridge | Power Supply (TTGI) |
Power Supply (Atlas) |
System Ambient |
10 | 54.3 | 37.5 | 28.1 | 34.5 | 39.9 | 38.8 | 26.2 | 26.6 | 32.8 |
30 | 55.9 | 38.4 | 29.5 | 36.1 | 40.5 | 40.1 | 27.1 | 27.7 | 34.2 |
Lian Li PC-V1000 | ||||||||
System On-Time | CPU | Heatsink | HDD | DDR | Northbridge | Southbridge | Power Supply (TTGI) |
System Ambient |
10 | 50.1 | 31.2 | 24.3 | 33.2 | 35.6 | 34.5 | 25.1 | 25.4 |
30 | 51.3 | 33.1 | 25.1 | 35.1 | 36.8 | 35.9 | 27.5 | 26.6 |
Opus Technologies, Inc. MT-200 | ||||||||
System On-Time | CPU | Heatsink | HDD | DDR | Northbridge | Southbridge | Power Supply (TTGI) |
System Ambient |
10 | 52.5 | 37.5 | 28.8 | 34.3 | 39.1 | 39.3 | 29.3 | 29.7 |
30 | 53.7 | 39.0 | 29.5 | 36.8 | 40.2 | 39.9 | 31.2 | 30.4 |
The X-Mask performed at about the level of the NZXT Guardian. The temperatures were a bit higher due to the placement of the case fans. The X-Mask lacked the fans on the backside of the case, which the Guardian had, yet the X-Mask did have twin 80mm fans at the front of the chassis to cool the HDDs.
Since the X-Mask lacked the back side fans, we found that in many of the other cases where we predicted the noise levels to be much lower than the competition. We measured the noise level of the X-Mask 12" away from the closed chassis with the power supply fan turned off. Take a look at our results.
Case | dBA |
Super Flower X-Mask | 51 |
Lian Li PC-V1000 | 46 |
Opus Technologies MT-200 | 56 |
NZXT Guardian | 49 |
Ahanix Black Knight X195 | 50 |
As you can see, the X-Mask performed at the same level as the Guardian and the Ahanix Black Knight. This is mainly due to the number of fans in each chassis.
21 Comments
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Gromis - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
Have to agree with #2 here, enough with the crap-ass, ugly, expensive, NOISY cases. Bring some publicity to actually functional offerings - take CompuCase LX-6A19 for example, or one of it's many clones such as Antec SLK3700AMB. I mean, who in their right mind would put a system with 5 80mm case fans in addition to CPU, GPU and PSU fans on their desk? The only case I can think of, is someone completely stone deaf, and therefore unconcerned about the roar all the fans are making.CitizenKain - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
Yikes, I wouldn't wish that case on my worst enemy. That Raidmax you linked to is almost as bad. Sticking a bunch of plastic on an Antec 1000 series doesn't make a attractive case.jrphoenix - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
Purav,Good review, very thorough! I wouldn't buy this case (not my favorite design) but, good reveiw none the less.
Keep reviewing the pre-mod cases... the comments from those above make me laugh :) So "affected" because they aren't seeing their desired beige or silver box (and I do mean "box").
If you are taking requests for reviews.... I would like to see another review of an Opus Technologies case: http://www.opustek.com/main/product/case/case_list...
The terminator has a very unique cooling design that I would like to hear more about (the last Opus case looked solid)
or
http://raidmax.com/products/products_display.php?p...
Silver color :) This case was originally designed almost identical to the Alienware case before they were sued (you can still see the shape of the alienware under the moldings). Supposedly directron is going to be selling the case for $150+ (I want to know why so much, what's so special).
Good job!
araczynski - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
I agree that its not something for me either, but I think only becuase the spider design looks too 'analog', i think if it was a big rougher around the edges, perhaps more mechanized in appearance, little meaner, perhaps even tribal, in general the look most modders seem to strive for today, then it would have looked more appealing, but as it stands it seems more childish then anything, but hey, if you're a spiderman fan, i'm sure you're drooling, so who knows.Phiro - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
OK, even I agree it's not that great.The "placement" of the HD led irritates me - it indicates some jackass marketing flack took a normal case and said "hey let's put a spider-esque print on the front, snap in a custom light and call it a spiderman case!
Novaoblivion - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
All I can say is that is the uglyest case ever.nastyemu25 - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
heinousif someone i knew had this case i'd push them over and stomp on their throat
Gunbuster - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
The "mask" looks more like Strongbad than Spider ManPollock - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
Who would honestly base a case on Spiderman?Operandi - Friday, May 21, 2004 - link
#1IDK, that guardian thing they reviewed awhile back gives it a run for its money.
Seriously though, enough with the sh!ty cases already. I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say nobody wants to read reviews on cases like that.