Acoustic Testing
Now we are going to get into to actual testing of the case. As usually, the noise testing is done 1 meter away from the case while it is idle and full load with the stock AMD CPU cooler and AMD 6850 reference card. Obviously not optimal equipment for a low noise system, but that is kinda of the point.
The SilverStone TJ04-EW manages to fall right in the middle of the cases I have tested so far. It is neither the loudest, nor the quietest in either category. There is one thing the test does not show and that is the type of sound. Some PC cases create a high pitched whine, the TJ04-EW has a low mellow hum. Its like comparing a 3.2 liter V4 to a 6.0 liter V8. Yeah the noise is just as loud, but one is much easier on the ears.
Cooling Efficiency
Then we have the only other think a case needs to do which is keeping your system cool. I will be putting the TJ04-EW through the paces and will measure three important heat sources: CPU, GPU, and motherboard. Lets see how it does when at full load and the heat is on.
Much like the BitFenix Outlaw, the TJ04-EW seems great at idle with only the GPU being a little too hot. When switching to a full load scenario, the GPU suffocates which brings its heat up. I think the design of the case having no ventilation is working against it here. On the same note, I think this issue could be easily corrected with a single extra fan in the bottom of the case.
Final Thoughts
I think this case was designed just for me since it fits right into my personal preferences for a case. It is a simple, sleek, and elegant design with unique features to make working with it easy. It uses the space it has available exceptionally well. Everything about the case itself is sturdy from the steel frame to the large power/reset buttons. They even have the little click sound I love in a push button, letting you know that you’ve hit the button correctly.
This case has two very minor annoyances that I can’t really consider weaknesses. I can say without a doubt the HDD cage design makes installation time consuming. To install and remove HDDs can be confusing the first few times. As mentioned, it seems that liquid cooling was not factored into this case till the last minute. I really can’t be sure, but I did attempt to find official details from SilverStone’s product page for the TJ04-E with no results.
Though I am fairly sure a dual fan cooler will fit the top of the case, I am not 100% certain. Considering the lack of rubber grommets for tubes and two half dollar sized push-outs, it just doesn’t seem like SilverStone considered liquid cooling for this case in its design. This is a non-issue for most people, but with all the other options offered, I don’t see why consideration for liquid cooling was not on the checklist.
There is a lot to consider when picking out a PC case and the SilverStone TJ04-EW (W for window) delivers on most of them. Options, space, large GPU support, ridiculous number of HDD slots, strong build quality, all purpose design and more and all at $149.99 MSRP. I gladly recommend this case to anyone shopping in this price range, but I also recommend you get an extra high pressure fan or two. I don’t think anyone can be disappointed with the TJ04-EW once seen with their own eyes. It really is that good.
Pros:
- Sleek, Elegant Design
- Extensive Hard Drive Space
- Great Wire Management
- Surprisingly Spacious Interior
Cons:
- Water Cooling not well thought out
- Hard drive cages can be time consuming to work with
Overall Result: 9.25/10.0
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