[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The Aerocool Dead Silence (or simply DS) is a unique computer case, not following any known form factor. It is not a mid-tower case, nor it is an SFF one. It is described as a “cube gaming case,” but it is actually a case compatible only with microATX (and smaller) motherboards, where the motherboard is installed horizontally. Let’s take a good look at it.
Figures 1 and 2 show the case. It comes in black/white, black, white, black/red, black/blue, or black/green color schemes, with two versions: with or without a transparent window on the left panel.
Figure 1: Aerocool Dead Silence case
Figure 2: Aerocool Dead Silence case
Let’s take a closer look at the case in the next pages.
[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]
The front panel of the Aerocool Dead Silence is made of white, soft-touch plastic, with black borders, as shown in Figure 3. It has one 5.25” and one 3.5” external bay.
Figure 3: front panel
The front panel can be easily removed by just pulling it. Behind it, you will find an opening with a 200 mm fan installed (model A2020L12, 500 rpm, 35.4 cfm, 19.5 dBA, 3.6 W). This panel also supports an optional 120 mm or 140 mm fan, if you choose to replace the original one.
Figure 4: front panel removed
[nextpage title=”The Top Panel”]
The top panel has a big, white, solid, removable cover, that can be replaced with a meshed cover that comes with the product if you intend to install fans at the top panel. Figures 5 and 6 show the top panel with both covers.
Figure 5: top panel with solid cover
Figure 6: top panel with meshed cover
Figure 7 shows the top panel with the cover removed. Here you can see it has room for two 120 mm or 140 mm fans, or a radiator up to 280 mm long.
Figure 7: cover removed
The buttons, LEDs, and connectors are placed at the sides of the top panel, as shown in Figure 8. There are the audio connectors, HDD activity LED, reset and power buttons, two USB 2.0 ports, and two USB 3.0 ports. The power LED is located inside the power button.
Figure 8: buttons, LEDs, and connectors
[nextpage title=”The Bottom and Rear Panels”]
The bottom panel of the Dead Silence has no openings for additional fans. However, it has a removable air filter for the power supply fan, as shown in Figure 10.
Figure 9: bottom panel
Figure 10: removable air filter
The rear panel of the Aerocool Dead Silence is painted in black. The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.
The product comes with a 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel (model A1225L12, 900 rpm, 36.4 cfm, 21.5 dBA, 1.44 W). There are two holes with 18 mm in diameter, covered with rubber covers, to install hoses for an external liquid cooling system.
The case has four expansion slots with removable meshed covers. It has a very practical mechanism to hold the expansion cards: to release them, simply remove the thumbscrew above the slots and slide up the cover. To hold the cards (and slot covers) in place, just slide the mechanism down and fasten the thumbscrew.
Figure 11: rear panel
Let’s now take a look inside the Aerocool Dead Silence.
[nextpage title=”Inside the Aerocool Dead Silence”]
Each panel is attached to the chassis using two black thumbscrews.
The case have internally two “floors”. At the “first floor” you will find the power supply compartement and the internal drive bays, while the motherboard tray separates both “floors.” The motherboard tray gives no access to the backplate of the CPU cooler.
The case supports microATX and Mini-ITX motherboards.
Figure 12: overall look
Figure 13: overall look
You can install CPU coolers up to 7.3” (190 mm) tall. As we mentioned before, you can install one or two 120 mm or 140 mm fans at the top panel, or a radiator up to 280 mm long. However, in order to install a 240 mm or 280 mm long radiator, you will have to remove the external drive cages.
The Aerocool Dead Silence supports video cards up to 12.6” (320 mm) long, but if you video card is longer than 10.0” (255 mm), you may have to remove the external 3.5” bay.
Figure 14: overall look
The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case, under the motherboard tray. It may be installed with its fan facing up or down, pulling air from inside or outside the case. As shown before, there is an air filter for the power supply fan in the bottom panel.
You will be able to fit power supplies up to 6.3” (160 mm) deep.
There is no support for additional fans at the bottom panel of the case.
Figure 15: power supply compartment
[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]
The Aerocool Dead Silence has one 5.25” and one 3.5” external bay, where the devices are held using conventional screws. These bays can be removed in order to leave more space for long video cards or a radiator on the top panel. Figure 16 shows those external bays.
Figure 16: disk drive bays
Next to the power supply compartment, there are two 3.5”/2.5” internal bays, located in a cage with two drawers, shown in Figures 17 and 18. These drawers support 3.5” drives with no need for screws, using an anti-vibration mechanism. However, 2.5” drives must be attached to the drawers using regular screws.
Figure 17: two 3.5”/2.5” bays
Figure 18: drawer
At the side of the power supply compartment there are two drawers for 2.5” drives. To install a drive in these drawers, you must first screw four rubber guides to the drive, which also help to avoid vibrations.
Figure 19: two 2.5” bays
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the Aerocool Dead Silence include:
- Style: cube
- Application: microATX and smaller form factors
- Material: zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
- Power supply: does not come with the product
- Available colors: black/white, black, white, black/red, black/blue, and black/green
- Side panel: transparent window at the left panel optional
- Dimensions: 16.2 x 10.4 x 15.0 inches (411 x 265 x 381 mm) (H x W x D)
- Net weight: 15 lbs (6.8 kg)
- Bays: two internal 2.5” bays, two internal 3.5”/2.5” bays, one external 3.5” bay, and one external 5.25″ bay
- Expansion slots: four
- Maximum video card length: 12.6” (320 mm)
- Maximum CPU cooler height: 7.5” (190 mm)
- Fans: one 120 mm fan (model A1225L12, 900 rpm, 36.4 cfm, 21.5 dBA, 1.44 W) on the rear panel and one 200 mm fan (model A2020L12, 500 rpm, 35.4 cfm, 19.5 dBA, 3.6 W) on the front panel
- Optional fans: two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the top panel
- Extra Features: air filter for power supply fan
- More Information: https://www.aerocool.us
- Average Price in the U.S.*: USD 110.00
* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The Aerocool Dead Silence is different from most cases because of the horizontal motherboard position. This is a great feature, as heavy components such as CPU coolers and video cards will not stress or bend the motherboard. And it is a relatively compact case where you can build a high-end desktop computer.
Strong Points
- Great design
- Good construction quality
- Horizontal motherboard mounting
- Good ventilation
- Changeable top panel
- Air filter for the power supply
- Supports tall CPU coolers
- Supports long video cards
Weak Points
- Supports only two 3.5” drives, which may be a limitation for some hard-core users
- Do not support standard ATX motherboards
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