Stylish HTPC - The Silverstone Grandia GD03 - reviewed by MetkuMods

SilverStone Grandia GD03

Stylish HTPC Case

Author:	Jouni 'Jipa' Vasama
Published:	07.09.2009
Manufacturer:	SilverStone
Product Group:	System enclosures
In English Suomeksi

Temperatures

Used hardware for the installation:

CPU: Intel C2Q Q9450 (2,66 GHz, 1,26 V, boxed cooler)
Motherboard: Abit IP35
Memory: Team Group 2*2 GB Dark Xtreem
Graphics: Sapphire HD4870
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB
PSU: SilverStone ST40NF
Case: Being tested...

For the temperature tests, both case fans, as well as the CPU cooler, were set to run at their maximum speed. For the load temperatures the setup was loaded with some gaming and Intel Burntest.

SilverStone Grandia GD03 HTPC Case Review

HTPC-cases never tend to achieve as good temperature readings as tower cases, and the GD03 makes no exception. The CPU temperature remains at reasonable 35/63 degrees, thanks to the both case fans being very close to the CPU socket. At the other end of the table, there's the HDD temperature. Now the HDD-temperatures are a never-ending argue, but seeing as the Spinpoint F1 1 TB drive isn't really the hottest running HDD out there, 38 C does seem pretty high. For comparison the Fortress FT01 scored a whopping eight degrees better on the HDD-temperature.

Overall then the GD03 does fairly well in the temperature test, but I also want to remind that the fans were running at 12 volts. Also with only one HDD there's plenty of room for airflow, but my recommendation would be to aim for the lower power consumption HDDs if you are planning on stuffing seven of them into the GD03.

Noise

SilverStone Grandia GD03 HTPC Case Review

Stock fan speed:

80 mm fan: 2400 RPM

The two 80 mm fans are branded to SilverStone, made by Globe Fan and are specified at relatively high 0,12 amps (1,44 W). The specified speed for these things is around 2050 RPM, but our test board measured them at 2400 RPM instead. For the size these move a lot of air, and unfortunately they also make lots of noise while moving it. Surely one can always use a fan controller, but with the temperatures we got with the fans at full speed, it doesn't look too good.

Then there's the hard drive noise. There are thin rubber strips on the main HDD-cage, but the hot-swap cages come hard mounted and the search sounds sound very clear. Overall then, the GD03 just isn't the case of choice for the silence enthusiasts. On the other hand this shouldn't come as a huge surprise as a computer with seven HDDs is never quiet.

Conclusion

PROS

CPU cooling

Room for long graphic cards

Can house 7 hard drives

Hot swap, if you need it

CONS

HDD cooling

Noisy

Silver Award!

After taking a thorough look at the GD03, I can't help but think how awesome choice this must be for those looking to build a combined HTPC/file server-rig. The thing is that when SilverStone makes quite literally dozens of different HTPC-models, they can afford to make such specialized choices. With the GD03, the choice seems to have been to maximize the amount of HDD-bays. Also the hot-swap drive bays seem to fall in the same category of making cases to a rather specific group of customers.

Overall the GD03 is a decent HTPC-case, it features the thick, classy front panel, but steel is used elsewhere. This choice seems the right way to go for me personally, as my HTPC would just get stacked with other AV-equipment and the lovely front bezel would be all I ever saw.

Unfortunately there are also some downsides. First and foremost there's the HDD cooling. There's room for two extra fans right in front of the main drive bay, but I just don't see how these will help when the front panel and door are so restrictive. All the air coming into the case through the front panel has to pass through an extremely narrow slit on the bottom of the front panel, and I just don't see any reasons for doing this.