Benchmarking
When benchmarking the Guardian, 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. For a system to operate efficiently, the components need to stay at a specified temperature to avoid system crashes, or worse, hardware damage. A well designed case should have an air flow system that is effective in keeping the hottest running components at a constant and stable temperature for optimal performance. 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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We took temperature readings of the components at 10 and 30 minutes of system operation time. Compare the results to our past 2 case reviews as shown below.
| NZXT Guardian | ||||||||
| System On-Time | CPU | Heatsink | HDD | DDR | Northbridge | Southbridge | Power Supply | System Ambient |
| 10 | 53.4 | 36.7 | 30.5 | 37.1 | 40.2 | 39.9 | 29.8 | 31.9 |
| 30 | 55.3 | 37.5 | 33.2 | 38.5 | 41.8 | 41.2 | 31.9 | 35.1 |
| Ahanix Black Knight X195 | ||||||||
| System On-Time | CPU | Heatsink | HDD | DDR | Northbridge | Southbridge | Power Supply | System Ambient |
| 10 | 51.9 | 35.3 | 25.3 | 35.1 | 38.4 | 39.1 | 29.2 | 28.2 |
| 30 | 52.5 | 36.2 | 26.1 | 38.4 | 40.0 | 39.9 | 30.8 | 29.6 |
| Lian Li PC-6070 | ||||||||
| System On-Time | CPU | Heatsink | HDD | DDR | Northbridge | Southbridge | Power Supply | System Ambient |
| 10 | 52.5 | 36.8 | 26.2 | 35.3 | 39.9 | 39.7 | 29.4 | 30.2 |
| 30 | 53.8 | 37.7 | 26.9 | 39.5 | 41.6 | 40.2 | 31.6 | 33.4 |
The benchmark results show that the temperatures of all of the key components ran much higher than the Ahanix X195 and Lian Li's PC-6070. We assumed that this was due to there being only two included 80mm case fans. The hard drive temperatures were also much warmer than the other two models. Both the PC-6070 and the X195 had intake fans at the front of the case directly in front of the hard drive bays that directed air at the hard drive bays. To keep temperatures lower, more fans can be purchased and installed in the provided spaces.
Though cooling is a major factor in choosing a good case, noise levels also affect the overall quality of the product. We test the noise level of the Guardian about 12" from the sealed case with the power supply and CPU fans turned off to reproduce the noise of the case alone.
| Case | dBA |
| NZXT Guardian | 49 |
| Ahanix Black Knight X195 | 50 |
| Lian Li PC-6070 | 44 |
| SilverStone Nimiz Temjin III | 53 |
| Kingwin KT-424 Aluminum | 48 |
The Guardian performed better than the X195 and the SilverStone TJ03 in our noise tests, mainly due to fewer included case fans. Adding more fans would also add to the noise levels, but would greatly improve system cooling. Users will have to consider this trade off when looking at the NZXT Guardian.
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segagenesis - Tuesday, July 6, 2004 - link
OK design, terrible exterior (I wont say worst!). I think we dubbed this case the "Transformer Case" at the shop.firtol88 - Wednesday, April 7, 2004 - link
:o :o :o OMFG ROLFMAO!!!!17'5 50 1337!!!
:| ????????
TrogdorJW - Tuesday, April 6, 2004 - link
The problem with case mods is that they just emphasize the geekiness of the owner/creator. At least when you do it yourself, you're being a true geek and not just some poser. Personally, I like my cases to have as few lights as possible and to be quiet. Of course, my computers are all in the living room, which has something to do with my tastes. If you're watching some show on TV, you don't want to hear the whine of the fans and power supplies. Even more important, when it's bed time and you're stuck sleeping on the couch (hey, it happens), its really hard to fall asleep with glowing cases illuminating the room, and the data-centeresque turbine whine doesn't help either.Basically, that Lian Li kicked ass over this.
GonzoDaGr8 - Tuesday, April 6, 2004 - link
Icewind....Nice case pal. Nice case.Icewind - Tuesday, April 6, 2004 - link
Yeah, if I was 10 years old, I might be going insane to have that for a case, but seeings how im pretty seasoned case modder, I must laugh. The thing just reaks of quality!Not.
I'll show you how its done right.....
http://www.cp4g.com/bryce/
Operandi - Tuesday, April 6, 2004 - link
"NZXT incorporated good looks and performance in the Guardian."hahah, I'm sorry but this thing is anything but "good looking".. Am I the only one sick of these increadbly cheap and tacky looking cases? I used to think Thermaltake cases look like *&%@ till i saw this thing...
Lets get some reviews of cooler masters, silverstones, or Lian Li's...
Praeludium - Monday, April 5, 2004 - link
You know, I have a plain metallic grey Antec 1080 server case, and I game just fine.I do have a red neon fan in there, but I don't even see that because the door it's installed in is facing away from me. Am I just destined for prosaic attitudes already at the tender age of seventeen? Or am I just too unimaginative to case mod?
I dunno anymore.
retrospooty - Monday, April 5, 2004 - link
LOL !It looks like one of those old transformers from the 1980's ... Only uglier
medfly - Monday, April 5, 2004 - link
/aolyeah that thing is butt ugly!
aol/
Verdant - Monday, April 5, 2004 - link
i'm going to go ahead and say it...its ugly