Antec Performance One P280 enclosure review

Temperature and noise levels with the CPU over-clocked to 4.4GHz.

For these tests the system was set to run a CPU multiplier of 44 giving a resultant CPU frequency of 4.4GHz. RAM was set at its rated speed of 1600MHz with RAM rated timings of 8.8.8.24, and also the BLCK frequency was locked at 100MHz. A fixed CPU vcore voltage of 1.18V was selected, which is stable on this particular CPU, and EIST and all CPU C power saving states were also left enabled.

For these tests the system was allowed to idle at the Windows 7 desktop for a duration of 20 minutes, and the peak temperatures measured were used for the results. Ambient room temperature was measured at 21c.

Thereafter the system was loaded by running the AIDA64 system stability test, which loads the CPU, RAM, and HDD. This test was run for a duration of 20 minutes, and the measured ambient room temperature was measured at 21c. Finally Far Cry 2 demo was run to load the GPU, and the maximum measured temperature was used in the results. This test was run for 20 minutes.

CPU temperature

It’s pretty much the same story with our over-clock. At idle both enclosures are even, although when the system is loaded the 900 offers marginally better cooling performance.

System temperature

Once again the Antec 900 offers slightly better cooling performance. The maximum system temperature measured for the Antec P280 was at low fan speed, but I would not consider 34c a high system temperature, so the P280 is performing well in this test.

GPU temperature

Just like in the previous GPU test, the 900 has a side fan blowing cool air directly onto the graphics card, which ensures it was bound to win this test. Having said that, the Antec P280 is still making a good job of keeping the GPU temperature under control.

HDD temperature

Nothing really changes here from the tests run with the CPU at stock speed, and I wouldn’t have expected them to change a lot. The P280 is keeping the HDD cool, even with the low fan speed selected.

 

Noise levels with the CPU over-clocked to 4.4GHz

For these tests, a Tecpel DSL-330 sound level meter was mounted on a bracket 5cm from the top front of both our test enclosures, and sound level measurements were taken during the temperature tests above.

I would have expected the noise levels to increase when the system is over-clocked and this is certainly the case, but they haven’t risen by a much, and the Antec P280 is still very quiet on the low fan speed setting.

Summary

Even when over-clocking the CPU, the Antec P280 can still keep the system running cool, and with very low noise levels, excellent.

 

This concludes our review. To read the final thoughts and conclusion, click the link below….

 

• Temperature and noise levels at stock speeds
• Final thoughts and the Conclusion