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Maximum thermal performance – fans noise-normalized to 38.9 dBA
This set of tests is designed to appeal to those who love quietly running PCs, with both system fans and the CPU fan noise normalized to 38.9 dBA. Consider this a measure of the case’s thermal efficiency when noise levels are set to run quietly. This first set of benchmarks examines CPU performance.
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With our first noise-normalized test, which stresses only the CPU, Montech’s King 45 Pro was not one of our best performers. That’s simply a result of its intake fans being focused on GPU temperatures, rather than CPU temperatures.
For the second noise-normalized test, we again stress the CPU – but we also stress the MSI RTX 4070Ti Super in this case, adding another roughly 295W of thermals to the mix. Let’s first look at the GPU’s temperatures, as that’s what this case is designed to excel at.
With a result of only 61.8 degrees Celsius, Montech’s King 45 Pro has the best GPU temperature we’ve recorded thus far. The CPU’s performance isn’t as impressive, as is to be expected based on our earlier result, but it’s still more than sufficient for anyone using this case for gaming, as it’s intended.
If you’re looking for the best efficiency with an air cooler, this case might not be for you. Users of liquid coolers, which we expect most overclockers would use, won’t be impacted as much by this configuration, though.
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Maximum Noise Levels
I measured the noise levels with my sound meter from one meter away from Montech’s King 45 Pro case, with the pre-installed AX and RX120 Pro fans running at their maximum RPM speeds, resulting in a measurement of 45.1 dBA. While this isn’t a low volume level per se, it is quieter than many competing cases on the market.
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Maximum thermal performance – fans at full speed
Our noise-normalized results are designed for folks who prefer silence, but what if you don’t mind additional noise and just care about maximum performance?
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In contrast to the earlier noise-normalized results, Montech’s King 45 Pro does much better in this CPU-only stress test when the system fans are allowed to operate at full speed. While the result is technically at the lower end of our chart, it’s also less than 8W away from our best result.
This doesn’t hold true when the heat of a GPU is also added, with CPU power consumption dropping by about 14W – cooling an average of 277W.
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GPU temperatures are where this case shines - measuring only 61.8 degrees C, tied (within margin of error) for the best result with Montech’s HS02 Pro case.
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Conclusion
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Montech’s King 45 Pro has a sleek, minimalistic aesthetic and is designed to provide the best possible GPU temperatures, offering up the coolest results we’ve seen by incorporating three bottom intake fans at an angle. It isn’t quite as effective when it comes to CPU thermals, but that won’t be as much of an issue if you’re using a liquid cooler (AIO).
If you like Montech’s King 45 Pro, it can be purchased for US$119.99. On a budget? The non-pro version of this case, incorporating fans with slightly less airflow, is $20 cheaper at only US$99.99.
While I like the fact that Montech is doing different things with the general fish bowl concept narrowing the case width I'd rather see cooling innovation. Make the HS01 longer and they could design it to have a front intake similar to the super expensive Corsair AIR 5400. I've always thought it was silly that when 5.25" bays started getting dropped they didn't re-engineer the space instead of immediately making cases shorter though I suppose less material is more margin.
