From PCMAG · Thomas Soderstrom · · 2m
How We Test PC Cases
PCMag explains their standardized method for testing PC cases' thermal and acoustic performance.
In brief
PCMag explains their standardized method for testing PC cases' thermal and acoustic performance. PCMag uses fixed hardware, thermal loads, and sound measurements to objectively compare PC cases. Originally reported by PCMAG.
Custom PC building often starts with the PC case
The PC case, or chassis, is a core component that defines what fits inside, cooling efficiency, and noise levels.
The Test Components: A Standardized Hardware Baseline
We evaluate thermal energy dissipation and system noise using a fixed set of components for each test.
The Processor: Intel Core i7-13700K
We lock down the Intel Core i7-13700K at 4.4GHz (P-cores) and 4.2GHz (E-cores) throughout thermal tests.
The Graphics Card: GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Verto
We use PNY's GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Verto for its high thermal output and triple-slot-width design.
The Power Supplies: Two Cooler Master Choices
We use Cooler Master's GX III Gold 850 for ATX cases and V 1100 SFX Platinum for small form factor cases.
The CPU Cooler: Corsair iCue H100i RGB Pro XT
Most cases use the Corsair iCue H100i RGB Pro XT 240mm closed-loop cooler for thermal efficiency.
SSD Storage: MSI Spatium M470
We use MSI's Spatium M470 1TB M.2 drive as our standard boot drive across all tests.
Motherboards: Asus Boards for Each Form Factor
We use Asus' ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero for ATX and EATX cases, and Prime Z790M-Plus for Mini-ITX.
Configuring the Test PC: Locking Clocks
We lock CPU clocks at 4.4GHz (P-cores) and 4.2GHz (E-cores) with 1.24V core voltage for consistent thermal loads.
Configuring the Test PC: Fan Curves
We force all CPU, GPU, and chassis fans to run at 100% fixed duty cycle to isolate airflow characteristics.
Thermal Testing: 60 Minutes, Maximum Load
We run thermal benchmarks for 60 minutes using Prime95 and Furmark to measure CPU and GPU temperatures.
Acoustic/Sound Pressure Level Testing
We measure sound pressure levels at 0.25 meters with a Galaxy Audio CheckMate CM-140 sound meter.
The Bottom Line: Turning Data Into Advice
Standardized testing helps compare cases by cooling efficiency and noise control for buyers.
What it means
PCMag uses fixed hardware, thermal loads, and sound measurements to objectively compare PC cases.
