Completed Build, Performance, and Conclusion
The completed build is pretty tidy, though I wish there had been a way to hide the cables at the bottom of the motherboard (whether or not this bothers you really depends on how picky you are). There is a little bit of cable mess visible from behind the PSU shroud, as it only entends a little over half the width of the case floor.
The back of the finished build is very clean, thanks in part to the metal cable cover in the middle. With some extra care this can be look nearly as nice from the rear as the front, and my OCD in cable organization is rewarded by a clear glass back panel! If you don't like organizing cables, the glass back might be a turn-off, but I obviously liked it.
Performance Results
CPU temps are very good, though still in the middle of the pack in this group.
GPU temps are a few degrees above average, but nothing to worry about.
Noise levels were the highest I've recorded with my current test setup. This is the result of a heavily vented design, mixed with front fans that do not offer speed control. The idle noise of more than 40 dB was noticable in a room with a 34 dB noise floor, and load noise from the CPU and GPU coolers was not masked at all. Quiet components and a fan controller would need to be used to control sound output with the 570X, but I wasn't expecting much more from a glass-sided case like this.
Conclusion
The Crystal Series 570X is a beautiful case with excellent cooling performance thanks to the triple 120 mm intake fans. Noise levels are higher than average, and this was due to the stock fans running at full speed. The case offers full control of RGB lighting effects from the top panel, but there is no fan speed control. This was really my only complaint, and forgiven due to the MSRP being lower than I expected for a tempered-glass design like this (more on this in a moment).
Strengths
- Beautiful, mostly glass exterior
- Very high build quality
- Full compliment of dust filters
- Nice lighting effects with full control
- Finished build looks great from all sides
Weaknesses
- Vented, glass design does not mask component noise
- No fan controller
The 570X looks like a case that would retail for over $200, and I guessed $249.99 when I first looked it over. The actual MSRP of $179.99 is impressive in my book, and this is every bit the premium enclosure to justify that price.
Case looks nice, blah blah
Case looks nice, blah blah blah blah, but two gripes which are not aimed at this case specifically, but in cases in general:
1. lack of support for an optical drive.
2. PSU filter that comes out hte side instead of the back.
I get it, this case has that glass panel, so an optical drive is impractical, but what if the panel swung on a pivot so you could open that optical drive? Or if the glass panel had the option to be shorter to accomodate an optical drive?
Also, I probably have one of the very few cases that has the psu filter that slides out the side – the Antec 1100
Optical drives are clearly
Optical drives are clearly considered on the way out. I have one in my computer, can’t remember the last time I used it.
+1
I don’t know when I used
+1
I don’t know when I used my last either…
My current build is based on
My current build is based on NZXT440, no optical drive. I was concerned that it would be a hindrance, bit in the last six months, I haven’t had the need to use an optical drive. Long live broadband!
I know it is for airflow, but
I know it is for airflow, but the grill area on top of the pcie slots and the grill like slot covers really make the back of the case look ugly to me when looking through the side panel.
This is the first PC case
This is the first PC case I’ve seen in a while that visually impressed me. Would be a great case for someone who wants to show off a high end build (wherever people actually do that). Those noise levels are pretty high though.
PSU shroud is too short, has
PSU shroud is too short, has no holes in it for wires and there is no fans speed controller like I have on my Corsair 600. It is nice to have the RGB controller on the top IO, animation speed, color and mode are available. However fan speed and illumination brightness have been ignored. These are not PWM fans!
Just saying.
Hey Sebastian,
How about the
Hey Sebastian,
How about the Raijintek Paean Dual-Compartment Chassis with Tempered Glass next? It is glass and aluminium and is relatively inexpensive, and from the pics it looks awesome. They mention both test bench applications and aluminium, so it is really up my alley.
Thanks
I didn’t think Raijintek was
I didn't think Raijintek was distributed in the U.S., but I see they are sold by Newegg. I'll see if they are interested in sending out any samples.
Awesome. Thanks so much for
Awesome. Thanks so much for trying.
A great case that I cannot
A great case that I cannot use. I live in a motorhome and travel much of the time. Glass is a no-no!