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Benchmark Results and Conclusion
We tested the Silverstone Precision PS15 with our Intel Core i9-7900X test platform. For comparison, we brought in the Bitfenix Enso Mesh, the NZXT H500i, Corsair's Carbide 275R, and the Cooler Master MasterBox Q500L to give you an idea of where this case stacks up against competitors of similar size and feature sets.
Registering 63 degrees Celsius over ambient temperature under load, the thermal performance of the Precision PS15 is about what you can expect from a compact chassis equipped with only a single 120mm exhaust fan. The poor thermal performance can easily be remedied as it is a direct result of the lack of an intake fan (or fans).
As you might expect, GPU temperatures were also higher than in competing cases. The lack of airflow in this chassis as shipped had an overall negative impact on its ability to remove the heat generated by our system components.
We recorded sound level readings with two off-the-shelf dB meters from two different angles. The single 120mm exhaust fan was almost inaudible at idle. Under load, sound output increased to 31.1dBA. The acoustic performance of the Precision PS15 was better than the majority of cases tested against, and dead even with the Cooler Master MasterBox Q500L and the NZXT H500i.
Cooling efficiency and noise levels are both ways to measure performance. Determining acoustic efficiency, also referred to as cooling-to-noise ratio, is a matter of averaging all five of our tests to determine a base value. By being significantly quieter, the Silverstone Precision PS15 scores a better ratio than the Bitfenix Enso Mesh
The overall value of this case is affected when the end user adds one or more intake fans to the system build, effectively adding to the cost of the case. But even though the added fan (or fans) will enhance cooling performance, that would introduce more system noise, negatively impacting its acoustic-efficiency rating. A best-case scenario (pardon the pun) would be reusing a 240mm all-in-one cooler you already own from previous build for better cooling performance without adding to the cost of your system build.
Bottom Line
The Silverstone Precision PS15 is a budget-friendly compact PC case that has all the benefits and drawbacks you'd expect to find in a case of this size and price. If desktop real estate is important, the PS15 is a solid choice. The same goes for price. At $60, this chassis (as well as the Cooler Master MasterBox Q500L) are low-price leaders in this class. The low price should leave room in your budget for an intake fan (or fans), but you may also have a solid spinner or two that you can carry over from a previous build. If that’s an option and your budget is tight, this case is easy to recommend.
Image Credits: Tom's Hardware
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