Raidmax Wind Storm Review

Testing:

Testing System:

Testing the Windstorm consists upon two internal environments – idle, and as fully stressed as can be. The CPU, video card’s GPU, hard drive sensor, and motherboard chipset temperatures are the main temperatures I measured. The case will be left idling under Windows Vista for the lowest possible temperatures, while Prime95, ATITool, and HDTune stress the system afterwards for the scenario of maximum heat output. The CPU fan is set to 100%, and video card fan is left to throttle on it’s own. The competition is the three-fanned Hiper Osiris, and three-fanned NZXT Zero 2, sporting room for seven fans. Also compared are the temperatures achieved with the system sitting out in the open.

• Processor: Intel Q9450 Core 2 Quad 333x8
• Motherboard: Gigabyte X48-DS4
• Memory: Mushkin XP2 Redline 8000 2 x 2GB 5-5-5-12
• Video Card(s): HIS 3870 512mb
• Power Supply: Mushkin 800 watt Modular power supply
• Hard Drive: Samsung 750GB SATA
• OS: Windows Vista Ultimate

Comparison Cases:

• NZXT Zero 2
• Hiper Osiris
• Open Air

The CPU temperatures are both disappointing; with idle being five degrees away from the second highest results. GPU temperatures redeem this case, idle falling into the mean, and load pulling ahead to first place. Hard drive and chipset temperatures both pull farther ahead than the competition. Perhaps the fan placement didn't favor the low profile Intel heat sink. The Wind Storm faired pretty well to the competition.