RV02 Questions

[v0rtic3s]

Wondering if anyone has any input on the RV02 case, just recently featured by Kyle as his build, in which he basically suggests it's the best air cooling case to-date.

Currently using a HAF932, and I'm wondering: despite the nature physics of hot air rising, how much cooler can one expect to get on air, even with the RV02's set-up?

I'm interested in the case, but despite the "hot air rises" truth of physics, with the amount of strict front-to-rear airflow and high pressure with the Antec 1200 (which I also have) it just makes me wonder how much more the RV02 can really do still being based on air.

Some seem to swear by it, so I don't know.

My temps in HWMonitor are as follows in both the HAF932 and Antec 1200 (there's almost no difference between the two cases):
TMPIN0 - 37C
TMPIN1 - 32C
TIMPIN2 - 43C
Core 0 - 43C
Core 1 - 39C
Core 2 - 47C
Core 3 - 39C
GPU - 46C (idle, fan @55%) 75-80C (fan @ 77-80%)
Assembly - 35C
(there are all higher-end temps)

On the following system: Core i7 950 (3.07), Gigabyte UD-5 X58, 6GB Corsair Dominator, GTX 480, Prolimatech Mega Shadow (CPU Cooler).

So, my two questions are this:

1) Will the Prolimatech Mega Shadow actually fit in this case?
(RV02 measures 8 3/4 wide, but that's for the entire case; the cooler & mobo combined comes out 8" from the inside of my HAF932 as it is)

2) How much cooler could I really expect to get on air than my current temps?

3) Can you switch out the bottom fans for faster 120mm fans, and would it have the same effect?

My temps for air, especially in the summer, are good. Plus, the PCI-E cables for the GPU seem to always block one of the fans in the RV02.

Edit: Extra question: what's the real difference between this and the Silverstone FT02?
They look like the same exact set-up.

 

[bloop]

just the action of bottom to top ventilation's action on vid cards will reduce your temps. if you have card(s) that vent back into the case this air will be quickly evac'ed, and if your card vents out of the back, the rising air will push it out faster.

 

[FaRKle0079]

1) Will the Prolimatech Mega Shadow actually fit in this case?
(RV02 measures 8 3/4 wide, but that's for the entire case; the cooler & mobo combined comes out 8" from the inside of my HAF932 as it is)

Easily.

2) How much cooler could I really expect to get on air than my current temps?

If you've got your 932 set up optimally you probably won't see a huge difference in temps.

3) Can you switch out the bottom fans for faster 120mm fans, and would it have the same effect?

Yes, the 180mm mounts also have holes for 120mm fans. I don't know why you'd want to do this though as it would reduce the effectiveness of the original design and cost you more money. The stock cooling is fantastic. If you're planning on swapping the fans out I wouldn't bother going from the 932 to the RV02.

My temps for air, especially in the summer, are good. Plus, the PCI-E cables for the GPU seem to always block one of the fans in the RV02.

The cables can be routed to minimize this, not to mention that they don't really have an effect when over the fans due to their small size and cyndrilical cross section.

Edit: Extra question: what's the real difference between this and the Silverstone FT02?
They look like the same exact set-up.

The FT02 has an aluminum unibody encompasing the front and back of the case. This unibody provides a very large foot at the bottom which would prevent any issues when placing the case over carpeting. The FT02 also has a different HDD cage that can accomodate 5 drives. The RV02 has 8 PCI expansion slots while the FT02 only has 7. The FT02 also has QD tool-less drive mounts.

 

[cn06]

Here's a review that has temp comparisons for popular cases like the FT02, RV02, HAF X, HAF 912, CM 690 II, Antec 1200, etc.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/09/27/cooler-master-haf-912-plus-review/2

 

[v0rtic3s]

- Well, I've no plans on swapping fans, was just curious. I know that the stock set-up of this case is to make it most efficient for it's design.

- As for my HAF932 set-up, I suppose it's "ideal" in the respect that my cable management is good, nothing blocking airflow etc. However, due to the "sloppy" airflow (as "high airflow" as the HAF932 might be), I'm hoping to get better temps, as well as a quieter set-up.

Currently, my HAF932 is the four 120mm side intake, one rear exhaust, one 120mm top exhaust, PSU mounted on top.

- Regarding the temps that I listed, do you think I could achieve better temps with the RV02?

Oh, and it's the RV02-BW I'd be going with, which I'm not sure has any major differences, but I think it's what Kyle and others are now using. Same case, I see no difference.

With the positive pressure using the RV02, I'm hoping to get the best cooling possible for the longevity of my hardware, and possibly quieter performance. Kyle stated in his review of his set-up that's is the best air cooled set-up of anything out there, pretty much, so that says a lot coming from him.

Any further feedback/opinions?

 

[FaRKle0079]

I'm not sure your temps would change all that much, but I can pretty much guarantee the noise will be lower. If you're running stock CM fans or louder the RV02 even on "high" won't be as loud as your 932 while maintaining the same temps. Also, dust management is much better on the RV02 than the 932 if that means much to you.

 

[v0rtic3s]

Yeah, I'm assuming that my set-up would definitely be quieter, which is a nice advantage.

Dust management, yeah, that's always a nice thing as well.

Temps... well, I know there's only so much that can be done with air cooling, and my temps in both the Antec 1200 and HAF932 have been relatively exactly the same, for some odd reason. The HAF932 actually runs a bit warmer by a few degrees sometimes, and I believe it's due to the "messy" airflow.

I'm not expecting a huge difference, but I would assume that there would be some noticeable difference, in light of Kyle's review and other reviews that have stated the RV02 has absolute superiority in the realm of air cooling.

I don't know, would expecting at least a few degrees difference in temps be expecting too much?

I'd think with the positive/high pressure airflow, there would definitely be some difference.

I've seen some comparisons to other cases, though they don't always show the RV02 coming out over other cases, while some other comparisons do. That's what made me wonder whether or not it was really just more of a "novelty" that didn't really prove the concept. After reading Kyle's review, however, in which he states that apparently it does so well that he'll be using it for all builds, even non-Fermi, that's a pretty big statement and I've always trusted his opinions on things more than that of others.

I'm not sure your temps would change all that much, but I can pretty much guarantee the noise will be lower. If you're running stock CM fans or louder the RV02 even on "high" won't be as loud as your 932 while maintaining the same temps. Also, dust management is much better on the RV02 than the 932 if that means much to you.

P.S.
I see you're using the FT02B yourself. Getting great temps, I'm assuming then? Perhaps better than mine, if you can make somewhat of a comparison?
Or perhaps, what's your opinion on the cooling you're getting now, as opposed to what ever you used before?

 

[FaRKle0079]

The FT02 and RV02 are very similar in dimensions internally, to the point where they're considered the same. I'm getting great temps, but then again I've moved to water cooling. When I did have aircooling though the temps were the best you can get with air. I had a Cogage Arrow with two San Ace H1011 fans on my CPU and the stock cooler on my 5870. I wholeheartedly believe the FT/RV02 are the pinnacle of air cooled cases at the moment. The HAF might match them, but does so with a lot more noise and poor dust management.

Compared to your temps above my CPU cores averaged 42C idle and around 83C full load with an ambient temp of 30C. This was back when I had the Arrow and San Ace fans on it. CPU specs below in my sig.

 

[v0rtic3s]

The FT02 and RV02 are very similar in dimensions internally, to the point where they're considered the same. I'm getting great temps, but then again I've moved to water cooling. When I did have aircooling though the temps were the best you can get with air. I had a Cogage Arrow with two San Ace H1011 fans on my CPU and the stock cooler on my 5870. I wholeheartedly believe the FT/RV02 are the pinnacle of air cooled cases at the moment. The HAF might match them, but does so with a lot more noise and poor dust management.

Compared to your temps above my CPU cores averaged 42C idle and around 83C full load with an ambient temp of 30C. This was back when I had the Arrow and San Ace fans on it. CPU specs below in my sig.

Some great feedback, thanks!

If your cooling is even as good, if not better, than the HAF but with less noise, then that's reason enough for me, on top of Kyle's review.

I cant imagine my CPU hitting 83C under load (never come close to that now with the Mega Shadow cooler), and if anything would think that my current temps should get even better, from what I'm hearing. Maybe even my GPU a bit, if not at least keep it quieter when I have to up the fan more.

I have read some small "issues" with some component alignment, such as the mobo and PSU being a little weird in alignment, and some issues with the power button being DOA and/or to "touchy", and some who've stated that the leads for the buttons haven't reached the pins on their mobos for the buttons, but hopefully those things wont come into play to be a problem.

 

[FaRKle0079]

I cant imagine my CPU hitting 83C under load (never come close to that now with the Mega Shadow cooler), and if anything would think that my current temps should get even better, from what I'm hearing. Maybe even my GPU a bit, if not at least keep it quieter when I have to up the fan more.

You also need to remember how hot my ambient temp was/is. Suddenly 83C doesn't seem all that bad.