Hardware Aerocool Dead Silence Cube Review

Well yea the mic i linked to has a noise floor of around 10/12 dBA, but you don't need to go much lower than that as even cases marketed as being silent/quiet such as the Nanoxia Deep Silence 1 push out around 22dBA @ 1M

EDIT: Just to add you are spot on when you say about taking a pinch of salt with manufacturers claims for noise, a similar fan to the one you mention the BlackSilentPro is the NB-eLoop with a rating of 8dBA when in fact its closer to 14dBA.

 

Ok built my PC into the case now.

Few things which I'm going to bring up immediately.

If you are installing a modular PSU (Corsair AX850 in my case) you may want to invest in a rubber mallet, because it is an unbelievably tight fit. Took me nearly 2 hours to get the damn thing into position with the cables installed.

And, I'm not even going to bother taking it into work to get a reading on the stock fans, as they are ridiculously loud (louder than the fans that come stock with the Corsair H50/70), and reducing the fan speed just makes things worse.

Edit:

Also discovered that if you have have a 240mm rad in the top with the fans in push / pull you cannot set them up as intake, because then the top panel cannot be locked into place as it pushes a tab of plastic into the fan blades.

 

Thanks for the review - I bought this very case on the strength of it and, having lived with it for a little while, I thought I'd share some observations.

The PCI bracket lock is actually pretty sturdy, and the best example of a single locking bracket I've seen - they're often poorly implemented on OEM PCs and the like. I also disagree that the front I/O cables are too long - they are almost perfect for routing around the edges to keep them out of sight of the window, although I do agree that they should have been sleeved - that ought to be a minimum standard on all windowed cases.

I didn't find the side panels difficult to remove, but I did share your mild irritation at the lack of handle or finger hole, or whatever, when trying to remove the solid roof panel; until it dawned on me that I could just poke it from underneath.

I don't know if they have changed the spec since the review date but, contrary to what the review states, the front external drive cages can be removed separately. So you can fit a longer GFX card without losing your optical drive, although if you plan on fitting a 240mm radiator in the roof, you will be limited to 30mm thickness if you want to keep your DVD drive.

The DS Cube's aircooling prowess isn't all that - but then the rear 120mm fan is crap, and the front mounted 200mm fan isn't great (but is very quiet); although you'll definitely have to change it if you plan on mounting a 200mm rad behind the front fascia.

Overall though, I love this case - the fit and finish is very pleasing and, with a little thought, it's possible to build a very tidy and compact system inside. I'm tempted to get back into watercooling and throw a couple of rads in there.