Performance
Test System Configuration |
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|---|---|---|
| Motherboard | ASUS Sabertooth Z77 | |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-3770K @ 4.2GHz | |
| CPU Cooler | Intel BXXTS100H | |
| Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws-X 8GB (F3-12800CL7D-8GBXH) | |
| Memory Speed and Timings | 1,600MHz, 7-8-7-24-2N | |
| Graphics Card | Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 OC | |
| Storage | 120GB SanDisk Extreme SSD | |
| Optical Drive | Pioneer DVR-S19LBK DVD Writer | |
| Power Supply | Corsair HX1050W | |
We're using the PC-V700 as an opportunity to introduce a new chassis test platform. Our old Intel X58 configuration has been retired, and in its place we've brought in a Z77 platform that consists of an ASUS Sabertooth motherboard, an Intel Core i7-3770K processor overclocked to a modest 4.2GHz and cooled by an Intel BXXTS100H cooler, 8GB of high-performance G.Skill Ripjaws-X memory and a factory-overclocked Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 graphics card.
To find out how well the chassis can cool this particular configuration, we record the CPU temperature when idle, and once again after a 15-minute stint of the intensive Prime95 stress test is applied to all cores. To get an idea of GPU cooling performance, we record GPU temperature when idle, and once again after 15 minutes of running Aliens vs. Predator. Last but not least, we also record chassis noise by using a PCE-318 noise meter to take readings when idle and while running Aliens vs. Predator.
All chassis will be tested only with the standard manufacturer-supplied fans (all of which are set to 'silent' in the ASUS BIOS or low-speed using a fan controller is present), and to take into account the fluctuating ambient temperature, our graphs depict the delta temperature - that's actual CPU/GPU temperature minus the ambient. For the record, room temperature while testing the Lian Li PC-V700 was recorded as 21.5ºC.
Our overclocked Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge processor is running on the warm side at 78ºC under load, but the numbers are well within the limits and there appears to be decent airflow throughout the chassis.
GPU temperature, meanwhile, is testament to the efficiency of AMD's latest Radeon architecture and Sapphire's custom Dual-X cooler; an actual temperature of 62ºC while gaming is, in GPU terms, nice and cool.
On the whole, the PC-V700 is very well built, but Lian Li could do more in terms of soundproofing. We consider a reading of under 35 decibels to be suitably quiet, so our test configuration in the PC-V700 is best described as clearly audible when idle, and a little on the loud side under loud. Lian Li includes plenty of rubber mounts as part of the bundle for hard-disk installation, so drive vibration can be reduced, but the chassis doesn't do a lot to minimise fan noise.