For testing the CPU, I used default clocks at default voltages as well as OC'd to 250x10 at stock voltages. To load both cores of the CPU is ran the latest version of Orthos for 30 minutes. To test the GPU, I also ran stock OC'(525/800) video card settings. To stress the system I ran Rthdribl v1.2 Demo (Real-time High Dynamic Range Image-Based Lighting) to load the video card as much as possible for 30 minutes. Room temp was kept between 23-24c throughout testing.

All temperatures for the GPU were taken using the latest NVIDIA control panel drivers and all readings for the CPU were taken using DFI Smart Guardian also with the latest drivers. Idle temperatures were taken in both sets of tests after the system sat idle in Windows for 30 minutes.

Seeing as this case is advertised as a quiet solution, I conducted all of the tests at the lowest fan setting. This is the fan speed where I considered the system quiet enough to where I couldn't hear the system fans.

Test Rig:

- DFI LanParty UT NF4 Ultra D
- AMD A64 4200 X2
- OCZ Platinum PC3700
- XFX 7900GT
- Lite-On Optics
- WD SATA 80 Gig
- Xclio Great Power 650

Compared Cooling:

- AMD stock HSF
- XFX stock 7900GT HSF
- Swiftech MCW60 W/MCW-Ramcool

Test results:



From looking at the test results you can see that the Swiftech Quiet Power P180 offers a huge improvement over stock cooling while keeping noise levels down to a bare minimum, even with the system overclocked.

Usage, Findings & Conclusion

Installing my system into the Quiet Power P180 chassis couldn't have been easier or more straight forward. Installing the water block is basically the same as replacing a standard HSF on a non water cooled system. Swiftech has done all of the hard work for you in advance. I've had my system running in the Quiet Power for about a month now and have not had the slightest problem. I'm totally satisfied with the system the way it was shipped, setup and delivered.

There are only a few small complaints with this chassis. Two of them are with the chassis and one with the fans shipped with the case. The first problem I have is with the position of the rear exhaust fan and it not letting me install my Karajan Audio for my DFI LanParty board. But as I stated earlier, this is a problem with many other cases as well and not just Antec. The next thing I would like to see corrected is the restrictive front air intake grills. Depending on your system and if you OC or not, the lack of cool fresh air coming into the case could, in the long run, cause problems. Remember that heat kills. My last complaint is with the installed fans. Although they are of high quality and are speed adjustable, not having the ability to adjust the fan speeds from the outside the case makes the adjustment option totally useless in my opinion. Having to stop what you're doing to open the case, adjust the fan speed and then close the case back up is a simple waste of time. They may work out just fine for those types that set and forget, but I don't fit that category and I don't know of anyone like that either, at least not the type of person interested in water cooling their computer.

There is one little suggestion I'd like to offer Swiftech while I'm at it, and that would be to take the case to the next level and pre-mod it with a few water tube pass-through holes on the rear of the case like I pictured earlier. Who knows, they might just come in handy some day.

So if you're in the market for a new case and noise levels and cooling performance are important to you, the Swiftech Quiet Power P180 is worth a serious look. The case looks great and would be at home in your living room as a HTPC or your office and it offers great cooling performance at extremely low noise levels.

OCIA.net has awarded the Swiftech Quiet Power P180 Barebones liquid cooled chassis our seal of approval.



Thanks to Swiftech for supplying us with this review unit.