HDPLEX H5 Fanless Computer Case Review

Test Results And Conclusion

How We Tested The HDPlex H5

Today's review is going to break the mold when it comes to testing. Since the H5 is a relatively unique case compared to other case we have tested, we will test it in several configurations. To maintain consistent data between all of the cases we've tested, the first testing configuration consists of our usual reference platform setup, with one minor change. Since the H5 isn't designed to work with a CPU cooler other than its own passive cooler, there's not a lot of room in the case for any sort of air or water cooler. That said, the Noctua NH-L12 that we usually use for reviews doesn't fit in the H5. We'll use the well-reviewed Reeven Brontes in its place since it's the best match for the NH-L12 in terms of performance.

For the second testing configuration, we'll test how well the H5's passive CPU cooler works with our hardware, except for the CPU cooler and GPU. Since our GTX 970 exceeds the GPU cooling system's TDP limit of 95W, we've switched it out with a compact GTX 950.

The final testing configuration comes by way of HDPLEX. Since we didn't have enough hardware to completely demonstrate all of the capabilities of the H5, they sent us another case filled with hardware to help with the review and testing. Since we had another H5 full of hardware on hand for the review, we decided to put it to the test as well since it would give us another data point and therefore more insight into the case's performance.

Here are the hardware specifications for each of the testing configurations.

As with all previous tests, noise is measured .5m from the case's front corner, on the side that opens. The numbers are corrected to the 1m industry standard—used by many loudspeaker and fan manufacturers—by subtracting six decibels.

Since this is a passively cooled case, it takes quite a while to heat up to its maximum temperature. And since we like brutally testing hardware that is given to us to review, we decided to run our full load test on this case for a full 24 hours to make sure the temperatures had reached their maximum. Finally, as is usual for compact case testing, the ambient air temperature for each of the tests was carefully maintained at approximately 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 degrees Fahrenheit) for the duration of the test.

Test Results

Today's test results will feature separate results for each of the three different hardware test configurations (the specifications of each of the different testing configurations can be found in the table above).

Despite the hardware changes between the different configurations, the H5 performed consistently. Although we didn't have any overheating issues, the H5 did run consistently hotter than most of the other cases we've tested up until now. However, such results are somewhat expected from a case designed to be passively cooled. And since most users won't be asking this case to deal with a punishing, 24/7, 100 percent workload, the H5 ought to run quite a bit cooler under normal working conditions. 

Finally, it's worth noting that these benchmarks were run with the case sitting in an open-air environment, on top of a table, with unfettered access to the air in the room. While the H5 performed very well in this situation, it remains untested as to how it would perform stuffed inside of something like an entertainment center, where it has other passively cooled electronics to compete with for cool air, and where the fresh air supply is heavily restricted.

As you might have expected, the H5 gets a whole lot quieter when you remove the large noisy fans from the equation. For the second and third test configurations, the only thing left in the case to make noise was the fan on the power supply. Even then, the H5 was so quiet that my meter wasn't sensitive enough to detect any sound coming from it at a distance of 0.5m. I ended up having to halve the distance to the case to get any measureable noise reading, and even then it was still just barely above my meter's 32-dBA minimum. Still, if you're not willing to settle for anything other than absolute silence, HDPLEX offers a number of fanless 12V DC power supply options, so you can achieve total silence.

The H5 is terribly inefficient when you try to air cool the components inside of it, but then again, it wasn't designed to be used in that manner. When used properly however, the case does become much more efficient. If you're wondering about the significant difference between the second and third configurations, the third configuration gets a bit of an efficiency boost because SilverStone's SFX PSU turned out to be just a bit quieter than the one from be quiet! used in the second test configuration.

Unfortunately for the H5, its $288 price tag (combined with the way we calculate the value of a case) prevents it from winning an award based on its calculated value alone. That said, by design the H5 is very much a premium case geared towards a niche market, so a pure performance-value win wasn't exactly expected.  

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Chris Miconi is an Associate Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware,covering Cases. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.