A cut-down version of Silencio 650 enters the fray. PURE is a silent mid-tower almost identical to the original but at a much more attractive price-point.
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Cooler Master
Street Price: £95 (At time of review)
There is no denying that in the silent case arena there is fierce competition from an assortment of contenders. Each of the computer case vendors are keen to show their worth in this ever popular segment and one such manufacturer has proved their prowess with the Silencio 650.
Cooler Master introduced the Silencio 650 and we were big fans of it when we reviewed it but unfortunately for Cooler Master others have brought to market cheaper alternatives which have to larger degree stolen the spotlight and this is where today’s product review comes in.
Silencio 650 PURE is based upon the original 650. It has the same slender design which brings with it professionalism and functionality. But gone are two noteworthy aspects which you will have to read further on to discover. These cut-backs have paved the way for a lower cost end-product which Cooler Master are hoping will help encourage avid system builders with a flair for silence. So join us as we take a close look at this new PURE variant.
Cooler Master on their Silencio 650 PURE
Silencio 650 Pure is an extremely silent mid-tower based on an elegant and classy design. It features understated looks and appeal that speak to wonderfully simplistic design elements with a flat diamond cut aluminum front door and clean lines. Silencio 650 Pure, focused on low operating noise despite its support for the latest and greatest hardware. It features two USB 3.0 Super Speed ports and SD card reader for a quicker access to file transfer. It’s also equipped with a fan controller, which manages the fan speed simply by sliding the switch. Thanks to sound absorbing foam mats covering the interior and specially designed air vents, the Silencio 650 Pure is able to keep noise to a minimum and maintain low system temperatures.
Technical Specifications
Available Color
Midnight Black
Material
Aluminum Alloy, Polymer, Steel
Dimension (W / H / D)
207 x 479 x 525.6mm / 8.1 x 18.8 x 20.7 inch
Weight
9.8 kg/ 21.6 lbs
M/B Type
microATX, ATX
5.25″ Drive Bay
3 (w/o the use of exposed 3.5″ drive bays)
3.5″ Drive Bay
7 (hidden)
2.5″ SATA HDD Drive Bay
3 (hidden; 2 converted from one 3.5” drive bay,1 by 3.5”-to-2.5” adapter)
I/O Panel
USB 3.0 x 2 (int.), USB 2.0 x 2 , Mic x 1, Audio x 1 (supports AC97 / HD Audio), SD card reader x 1
Expansion Slots
7+1
Cooling System
Top: 120/140mm fan x 1 (optional)
Front: 120mm fan x 2, 1200 RPM, 17 dBA (installed); or 140mm fan x 1 (optional)
Rear: 120mm fan x 1, 1200 RPM, 17 dBA (installed)
Bottom: 120mm fan x 1 (optional)
HDD cage: 120mm fan x 1 (optional; on the removable HDD cage)
Power Supply
Standard ATX PS2 / EPS 12V
Maximum Compatibility
VGA card length:
268mm / 10.5 inch (with HDD cage)
434mm / 17.1 inch (w/o the HDD cage)
CPU cooler height: 162mm / 6.3 inch
Midnight Black
Material
Aluminum Alloy, Polymer, Steel
Dimension (W / H / D)
207 x 479 x 525.6mm / 8.1 x 18.8 x 20.7 inch
Weight
9.8 kg/ 21.6 lbs
M/B Type
microATX, ATX
5.25″ Drive Bay
3 (w/o the use of exposed 3.5″ drive bays)
3.5″ Drive Bay
7 (hidden)
2.5″ SATA HDD Drive Bay
3 (hidden; 2 converted from one 3.5” drive bay,1 by 3.5”-to-2.5” adapter)
I/O Panel
USB 3.0 x 2 (int.), USB 2.0 x 2 , Mic x 1, Audio x 1 (supports AC97 / HD Audio), SD card reader x 1
Expansion Slots
7+1
Cooling System
Top: 120/140mm fan x 1 (optional)
Front: 120mm fan x 2, 1200 RPM, 17 dBA (installed); or 140mm fan x 1 (optional)
Rear: 120mm fan x 1, 1200 RPM, 17 dBA (installed)
Bottom: 120mm fan x 1 (optional)
HDD cage: 120mm fan x 1 (optional; on the removable HDD cage)
Power Supply
Standard ATX PS2 / EPS 12V
Maximum Compatibility
VGA card length:
268mm / 10.5 inch (with HDD cage)
434mm / 17.1 inch (w/o the HDD cage)
CPU cooler height: 162mm / 6.3 inch
Packaging & First Look
In a bid to keep the costs down, Cooler Master have given Silencio 650 PURE eco-friendly packaging – the original used flashy, coloured and more expensive packaging. The front shows a depiction of the case, whilst the rear has a schematic diagram showing various features and the sides have the technical specifications.
Inside, the case is protected with a clear sheet and held in place via dual polystyrene pillars.
The packaging for PURE is recyclable
Staying with the styling of the original design, PURE adopts an elegant approach to case design. The name alludes to pursuing low noise levels and as a result the side panels have no ventilation or window. The front is very much the same and the top has closed off areas too. The minimalist aesthetics are very popular in hardware communities and Cooler Master have done a great job in this regard. There are no differences between 650 and the new PURE version from an external viewpoint.
650 PURE looks very much like the standard 650
Elegance and minimalism are the design traits
Exterior
At the front of PURE there is a large diamond cut door which looks and feels very smooth. This door can pivot from either side but by default pivots from the left.
Around the back, there is a space at the bottom for mounting the PSU and then seven PCI expansion slot covers which are solid – no cut-outs, since this is primarily a silent computer case. There is also a vertically aligned cover for mounting a device which perhaps doesn’t require PCI connectivity. Above this there is a 120mm rear exhaust fan and dual circular rubber grommets for cabling/tubing.
The front and back of PURE
With the front door open we can see that our case has foam padding on the inside to prevent any noise from escaping. There are a total of three 5.25” drive bay covers and in the lower region sit two 120mm cooling fans which operated at 1200RPM. These can be swapped out for a single 140mm fan. Covering these fans is a removable cover which has an integrated dust filter.
Herein lies one of the differences between the original 650 and 650 PURE – the HDD docking station has been removed from above the cooling fans. This allows Cooler Master to deliver PURE at a lower price-point compared to the original.
A look behind the door
Up at the top of PURE are the front panel controls which have a handy sliding cover. Pulling this cover back reveals the following:
• 2x USB 3.0 ports (via internal motherboard header)
• 2x USB 2.0 ports
• Headphone and microphone jacks
• Fan on/off switch
• Fan speed switch
• Power/reset buttons
• SD card slot reader
The front panel connectivity is again an area which sees a change compared to the original Silencio 650 – the OS switch button has been replaced by a fan on/off switch instead. This again helps to bring the costs down.
The front panel controls with handy features
Exterior (Continued)
Further back from the front of PURE is another sliding cover, this cover helps to section off a perforated mesh area which can house a 120mm cooling fan though Cooler Master do not include one. These sliding covers are extremely useful in keeping dust and dirt out of the system and they also help to reduce noise levels by isolating hums and whines.
The top of PURE with sliding cover and ventilation for a 120mm cooling fan
On the underside of the case are four rubber feet which help to prevent the case from slipping – especially when it is placed on smooth surfaces. In the middle is a large dust filter which covers a bottom fan spot and the PSU area. This cover can be easily removed without having to turn the case on its side.
The underside with large removable dust filter
Interior
Both the side panels on PURE have dual thumbscrews holding them in place and both have insulating foam attached to them to help assist with the noise damping, this is a few mm thick.
Insulation foam on either side panel
Casting our eye over the internal layout of PURE, nothing has really changed compared to the original Silencio 650 – we have support for M-ATX and ATX form factors and an assortment of cable management, installation options all powder coated black.
An overview of PURE
Behind the motherboard tray
Moving in for a closer look we come to the PSU area to start with. This region has been given rubber padding which we are pleased to see. The underside has a removable dust filter which covers the PSU area and also a 120mm cooling fan spot right beside it.
The PSU region with anti-vibration padding
At the back of PURE there are seven PCI expansion slot covers – each have the thumbscrews for easy removal but Cooler Master haven’t given these covers any ventilation since this case prides itself in being a silent solution.
To the immediate left of these covers is a vertically aligned PCI expansion slot for an additional device which perhaps doesn’t need PCI connectivity.
Multiple GPU capabilities
Interior (Continued)
Further up, above the PCI slots is a 120mm rear exhaust fan which is capable of up to 1200RPM. There is an additional spot for adding in another 120mm cooling fan in the roof of the case and some insulation foam for helping to keep those noise levels to an absolute minimum.
A 120mm rear exhaust cooling fan
Over on the other side of the case there are three 5.25” drive bays, each of them have been given the tool-free design treatment which uses a handy latch for securing the drive into place. We have seen this on many other Cooler Master cases before.
Tool-free mechanism for installing optical drives
Beneath this is a plethora of HDD storage options which are separated into two cages – the upper cage just like Silencio 650 can be completely taken out. The lower cage can also be taken out if so desired. These cages can entertain both 3.5” and 2.5” drives – 7x 3.5” and 3x 2.5” via bracket adapters – more on this a little later.
Behind these cages are the dual 120mm cooling fans which bring cool air into the system as intakes. Both fans are 1200RPM and can be managed via the fan controller at the top of the case.
Lots of options for HDD storage
Installation
The installation stage of a case review is important as it helps to establish any pitfalls, thankfully there are none with PURE. Installation was very easy thanks to the space inside the chassis and cable management options. The tool-free design helps to speed up the process too. As you can see, the PURE handled our ATX test system with ease.
Installation is hassle free
Cable management is easy to control
In terms of HDD installation options, there are a number – Cooler Master provide a set of HDD brackets which can be fitted to either side of a 3.5” drive. These slip into the cages without any problems.
There are also some adapters which help to house 2.5” drives if you have SSDs which you want to install – screws need to be applied to the underside if so.
Different options for HDD storage installation
Clearance – CPU Cooler, GPU, WC, Cable Management
Clearance in certain areas within a computer chassis are vital for system builders as it helps to identify any hardware constraints. With PURE being the same dimensions and design as the original, nothing has changed in terms of clearance options…
First up is the CPU cooler clearance; pictured is Noctua NH-U12P which is 158mm in total height, PURE can accommodate up to 165-168mm in height so this includes Noctua NH-D14, Thermalright Silver Arrow and Alpenfohn K2 which are all 160mm in height.
650 can accommodate big CPU coolers
Graphics card clearance inside PURE offers two options; with or without the HDD cage. With the HDD cage installed inside the chassis as pictured, there is 10.5” of space for a card such as HD7970. With the HDD cage removed there is additional space to be had – up to 17.1” covering all graphics cards currently on the market.
Clearance for long graphics cards
650 can entertain a single 240mm water-cooling radiator at the front of the chassis but unfortunately this means that any storage is lost – which is useless to most system builders.
Finally behind the motherboard tray there is 1.5cm of clearance to assist with cable management. The tray is also concave in certain areas to help even more with arranging cables behind the system. With such clearance, we are able to maintain a clean and tidy system inside PURE.
1.5cm of clearance behind the motherboard tray
Thermal Performance Testing
Inside PURE there are three pre-installed cooling fans positioned in key airflow positions. The 3x 120mm fans are configured to push air across the system from the front and out through the back.
To discover the thermal performance of the PURE we will record idle temperatures after 20 minutes from a cold boot. We will then stress the system and temperatures will again be monitored after 30 minutes have elapsed.
For the purpose of accurate analysis the idle and load temperatures for CPU and GPU will be recorded and the range between idle and load will be calculated to determine how efficient cooling is. Fan controller is set to ‘high-mode’.
NOTE: Ambient temperature is 20C
System Components
CPU AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8GHz
Motherboard ASUS M4A89TD PRO
Graphics NVIDIA GTX 480 (Different from card pictured)
Memory 4GB Kingston HyperX DDR3
HDD Samsung Spinpoint 500GB SATA-II
PSU FSP AURUM GOLD 650M
Motherboard ASUS M4A89TD PRO
Graphics NVIDIA GTX 480 (Different from card pictured)
Memory 4GB Kingston HyperX DDR3
HDD Samsung Spinpoint 500GB SATA-II
PSU FSP AURUM GOLD 650M
Noise
As a fundamental, Cooler Master have designed PURE to be a silent case and in this regard it certainly achieves this goal. Both at low and high speeds the noise levels are barely audible thanks to the cooling fans and design of the case with its foam insulation.
Conclusion
Many who have seen the Silencio 650 or even read our review of it will wonder where the differences are between the original case and this new PURE variant. Indeed, we were even puzzled when we first cast our eyes over it – the only differences you will find are the lack of OS switch and HDD docking. Without these features Cooler Master are able to deliver a more affordable product in this new PURE option.
PURE encapsulates the elegance and professional styling of a silent case. For those who are wanting something discreet then this will be right down your street and we are pleased to say that the build quality is also very good too. We encountered no problems during the installation of our test rig into PURE and we were even surprised at how easy it was thanks to the tool-free features and space.
One particular aspect which we really like are the sliding covers which help to close off the front panel controls and the top ventilation. This not only helps with noise damping but also assists in alleviating dust build-up – a common annoyance to any enthusiast.
PURE may not be on the shelves as we publish this review but it should be around £15 cheaper compared to the original Silencio 650, placing it approximately £95 in the UK. This makes Cooler Master’s silent representative a much more attractive proposition but there is still the threat of competitors which lurk nearby at the same and in some cases lower cost.
Cooler Master are to be admired for their decision to cut-back on the original Silencio 650 and bring to market a cheaper alternative but which still carries with it a multitude of strong-points. We liked the original 650 but we love the PURE because of its lower price-point!
Pros
+ Looks elegant and professional
+ Great build quality
+ Two-speed fan controller
+ SD card reader
+ Sliding covers for top sections
+ Cut-down price compared to original
Cons
– Front radiator support would mean no HDDs
– Still some cheaper popular rival silent cases
+ Looks elegant and professional
+ Great build quality
+ Two-speed fan controller
+ SD card reader
+ Sliding covers for top sections
+ Cut-down price compared to original
Cons
– Front radiator support would mean no HDDs
– Still some cheaper popular rival silent cases
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
