Four 10-Slot Cases For Four-Way SLI, Tested And Reviewed

Name: Test Settings - Four 10-Slot Cases For Four-Way SLI, Tested And Reviewed
Author: Thomas Soderstrom

by Thomas Soderstrom November 17, 2011 at 10:00 PM

Test Settings

Test System Configuration
CPU	Intel Core i7-980X Extreme: LGA 1366, 3.33 GHz, 12 MB Shared L3 Cache Overclocked to 4.00 GHz (40 x 100 MHz), 1.30 V
CPU Cooler	Rosewill Fort120
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD9: Intel X58 Express Chipset, LGA 1366, BIOS F3 (05/28/2010)
RAM	Kingston KHX16000D3ULT1K3/6GX (6 GB), DDR3-2000 at DDR3-1333 CAS 7-7-7-20
Graphics	4 x GeForce GTX 580: 772 MHz GPU, GDDR5-4008, SLI
Hard Drive	Western Digital Velociraptor WD3000HLFS, 300 GB, 10 000 RPM, SATA 3Gb/s, 16 MB cache
Sound	Integrated HD Audio
Network	Integrated Gigabit Networking
Power	Antec High Current Pro HCP-1200 ATX12V v2.3, EPS12V, 80 PLUS Gold
Software
OS	Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce 280.26 WHQL
Chipset	Intel INF 9.2.0.1019

Gigabyte’s X58A-UD9 provides the top-end CPU and four-way SLI support we needed to fully evaluate each case’s cooling and noise-blocking performance. A lack of front-panel USB 3.0 support is its only weakness, though the company and several competitors are currently launching newer boards to address that issue.

The Antec High Current Pro HCP-1200’s eight 30 A, 12 V rails provide ample power for our four GeForce GTX 580 graphics cards and overclocked Core i7-980X CPU.

Benchmark Configuration
Prime95 v25.8	64-bit executable, Small FFTs, Seven-threads
3DMark 11	Version: 1.0.1.0, Extreme Preset, Graphics Test 1, Looped
RealTemp 3.40	Average of maximum core readings at full CPU load
Galaxy CM-140 SPL Meter	Tested at 1/4 m, corrected to 1 m (-12 db), dB(A) weighting

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Summary

About the author

Thomas Soderstrom @hardware_tom

Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.

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tarekwm 6 years ago

4 way sli is too damn excessive! but anyway nice builds
metallifux 6 years ago

The enermax looks like a carbon copy of the CoolerMaster CM 690 II Advanced
de5_Roy 6 years ago

damn those cases look huge, in a good way.
i am pretty sure i could live in the top ~~apartment~~ compartment of the azza case. it has in built cooling, water supply if one is using water cooling, a bottom grill window and so on. ;D
joytech22 6 years ago

I just wish I could find the Azza Fusion 4000. >:\

I could really take advantage of the dual mobo feature.
Just stick a i5-i7 Mini-ITX system in the top for thin clients, servers for gaming at lans etc..

Then use the more powerful bottom system with a KVM switch and use whichever you want for whatever task you intend to perform.

That's what I would do anyway.. I might get thumbed down but that's my use.
pro-gamer 6 years ago

wow!!! azza 4000 is best solution for four way sli/cfx
ksampanna 6 years ago

I know it's not a cpu/graphic card review, but come on ... 980X & 4 580s beg for performance numbers
Dacatak 6 years ago

I would also love to see some benchmarks for those four 580s.
DRosencraft 6 years ago

Does anyone actually know a place in the US you can get the Azza? I can't seem to find one.
buzznut 6 years ago

I think the Enermax case is really sharp. The Thor isn't bad looking but the Armor is god awful. I don't like the aesthetics of the Azza case, but I bet the top portion could be put to use as a housing for a pretty wicked water cooling setup! That's what I'd do anyway.
Anonymous 6 years ago

The toms guys are without ideas. Why not make a competition looking for de pc cheapest-fastest?
Spaniard
metallifux 6 years ago

Anonymous said:

I think the Enermax case is really sharp. The Thor isn't bad looking but the Armor is god awful. I don't like the aesthetics of the Azza case, but I bet the top portion could be put to use as a housing for a pretty wicked water cooling setup! That's what I'd do anyway.

carbon copy of the CoolerMaster CM 690 II Advanced

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=18722
Crashman 6 years ago

metallifuxThe enermax looks like a carbon copy of the CoolerMaster CM 690 II Advanced
Only the looks

metallifuxcarbon copy of the CoolerMaster CM 690 II Advanced http://www.pccasegear.com/index.ph [...] s_id=18722
Great, I'd love to see you put two power supplies and a 9-10 slot configuration in the 8-slot single PSU case!

SpanihardThe toms guys are without ideas. Why not make a competition looking for de pc cheapest-fastest?Spaniard
If you'd actually READ any of the previous Tom's Hardware case roundups, you'd know that your suggestion is a rather old idea.
darkstar845 6 years ago

Just a question, can the antec 1200w PSU handle all four GTX 580 at full load?
joytech22 6 years ago

darkstar845Just a question, can the antec 1200w PSU handle all four GTX 580 at full load?

I'm pretty sure it would.
They would draw maybe 200-250W each?
blibba 6 years ago

Can we get some full load temps on the quad SLI?
CaedenV 6 years ago

darkstar845Just a question, can the antec 1200w PSU handle all four GTX 580 at full load?

200W for CPU, mobo, ram, HDD and fans, which should be enough for a good build, but not enough for a large RAID array or anything

Rally Toms? No performance charts for Quad SLI? And what about running Quad SLI on a new SB-E with all of those beautiful PCIe Lanes to spare! Nothing would make my day quite like seeing how sadly my single 570 stacks up to 4X580 lol.

Also, as I said in the initial case review; those are all beautiful cases except for the Thermaltake... just what where they thinking?
CaedenV 6 years ago

LOL, I guess I should not have used the less than and more than signs in my post above! I meant to say that the 580's take a little less than 250W, meaning you have roughly 1000W for graphics, leaving 200W for the rest of the system
lockhrt999 6 years ago

metallifuxcarbon copy of the CoolerMaster CM 690 II Advanced http://www.pccasegear.com/index.ph [...] s_id=18722

I was going to say the same thing.
spookyman 6 years ago

Why would I spend $1000 for an old processor?

How about seeing the Sandy Bridge-E setup? That would seem more appropriate for a modern quad sli set up.
upgrade_1977 6 years ago

Bought the 10-slot Armor+ last year & been loving it ever since. Best case I ever had. I want to get another one for my next build.

PROS: Things I do love about this case:
1. It's built solid
2. Plenty of room, easy to build in (it's huge!!)
3. Love how the door open's, so easy, works flawless
4. wanted 10 slot case for future upgrades
5. vents in the front keep out the dust very well, and easy to clean
6. PSU support bar so PSU doesn't flex your case (not that it would, thick metal)
7. plenty of storage (drawer on top, and in front, + I added one)
8. Love the usb ports, power (reset is too small) on top, perfect place, easy to access.
9. ect. ect. ect.

CONS: There are a few things about it that I don't like:
1. The side window, I prefer a plain window so I can see inside.
2. Don't like the card latches, pulled mine off.
3. Wish there were more holes in the m.b. tray for cpu backplate and wire routing.
4. Would have been nice to have Watercooling slots near the bottom (i drilled mine)

But these are only negatives for me, other people might like these features.

Again, this is the best case i've ever had. And I am planning on getting another one. My next build I am gonna take my time building, and I'm planning on modding the crap out of this case. Just waiting till tax time to roll around again. Anyways, anyone interested here is a video of my system and my gaming room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zfs97z5zOk