Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 Case Review
By Gabriel Torres on February 27, 2013

Introduction

Hardware Secrets Golden Award

Nanoxia is releasing its second mid-tower case, the Deep Silence 2 (also known as DS2), targeted to silent computing. We’ve already reviewed the Deep Silence 1, which received our Golden Award. Let’s see if the new version also deserves our recommendation. 

Like the previous version, the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 is available in four color choices: black, silver, white, and anthracite. We reviewed the black model.

The first thing you will notice on the Deep Silence 2 is that although it is a relatively short case, it is very deep, therefore allowing you to install very long video cards.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 1: Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 case

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 2: Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 case

Differently from the Deep Silence 1, which has a place for you to install a 120 mm fan on its left panel, both side panels of the Deep Silence 2 are solid.

The Front Panel

The front panel of the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 has a door with a magnetic latch. This door opens from left to right in an unchangeable configuration. One of the main concerns with cases that have a door is regarding the position of their buttons and connectors; some manufacturers place them behind the door, which is a major nuisance. On this case, the buttons and connectors are located on the top panel; however, the case has two analog fan controllers located right below the bottom-most 5.25” bay, and thus behind the front door. You can install up to three fans to each controller. The DS1 also had two analog fan controllers available on the front panel, but they were located above the top-most 5.25” bay. As you can see in Figure 4, the front door has a sheet of foam in order to reduce the computer’s noise level.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 3: Front panel

The Deep Silence 2 has three external 5.25” bays with meshed covers and air filters, the same configuration used with the Deep Silence 1. The bottom-most 5.25” bay comes with an adapter to allow you to install an external 3.5” device. The frame comes with a bezel to allow this installation as well.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 4: Front door opened

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 5: The fan controllers

One major difference between the Deep Silence 1 and the Deep Silence 2 is that the DS1 had a second door covering the front fans, a feature not available on the DS2. The DS2 still comes with two 120 mm Deep Silence fans (1,300 rpm, 60.1 cfm, 14.2 dBA) on its front panel, using an air filter, and it allows two additional 120 mm fans to be installed on top of the two existing fans.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 6: Front fans

The front panel has a dampening material, as you can see in Figure 7.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 7: Dampening material on the front panel

The Top, Bottom, and Rear Panels

The top panel of the Nanoxia Deep Silence 1 had a venting “chimney,” which was replaced with a mesh supporting the installation of two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans on the Deep Silence 2. The openings for these fans come closed with a dampening material.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 8: Top panel

The case comes with two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and the traditional audio jacks located on the front portion of the top panel. The USB 3.0 ports use an internal connector. The DS1 had one additional USB 2.0 port.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 9: Buttons and connectors

The bottom panel of the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 has a single air filter that covers both the power supply and the bottom fans.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 10: Bottom panel

The rear panel and the interior of the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 are painted in the same color as the exterior of the case – black, in our sample.

On the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.

The product comes with another 120 mm Deep Silence fan (1,300 rpm, 60.1 cfm, 14.2 dBA) installed on its rear panel.

There are seven expansion slots with vented covers, another major difference between the DS2 and the DS1, which had eight slots.

There are four holes protected with rubber covers for hoses of liquid cooling systems, each with 0.9” (22 mm) in diameter.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 11: Rear panel

Let’s now take a look inside the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2.

Inside the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2

Both panels are attached to the chassis using black, metallic thumbscrews. Both side panels have dampening material on their inner side. The material used on the left panel is different from the one used on the right panel. See Figures 12 and 13.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 12: Dampening material on the left panel

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 13: Dampening material on the right panel

The motherboard tray has a huge cutout for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case, several holes with rubber covers for you to route cables behind it, and several clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties. Even though it is a mid-tower case, the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 supports E-ATX motherboards, due to its extra depth.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 14: Overall look

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 15: A view behind the motherboard tray

In Figure 16, we get another overall look inside the case. Notice how there is dampening material on the top panel. Expansion cards are fastened using black, metallic thumbscrews. The Deep Silence 2 supports video cards up to 13.6” (345 mm) long on its default configuration or up to 14.6” (370 mm) if the bracket for installing internal fans is removed. It is possible to install CPU coolers up to 6.5” (165 mm) tall.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 16: Overall look

You can install two 120 mm fans on the bracket that comes attached to the hard drive cage. See Figure 17. This feature was not available on the DS1.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 17: Place for installing two internal 120 mm fans

The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. It can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. As shown before, there is an air filter for the power supply fan.

The case supports the installation of a 120 mm or 140 mm fan on its bottom panel. As previously shown, the bottom air filter also covers the mesh for this optional fan.

On the case’s default configuration, you can install power supplies up to 14.2” (360 mm) deep. If you install a bottom 120 mm fan, this clearance is reduced to 7.1” (180 mm), while if you install a bottom 140 mm fan you can only fit power supplies up to 6.7” (170 mm) deep.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 18: Power supply compartment

The Disk Drive Bays

The Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 has three external 5.25” bays and seven internal 3.5”/2.5” bays in a cage. The case has tool-less installation mechanisms for 5.25” devices, but 3.5” and 2.5” devices must be installed using regular screws. The Deep Silence 1 came with eight 3.5”/2.5” bays inside three cages, allowing you to move and/or remove cages as needed, a feature not provided with the Deep Silence 2.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 19: The disk drive bays

Each 3.5”/2.5” bay is actually a small drawer; they come with rubber rings to reduce the vibration and noise produced by 3.5” hard disk drives.

Nanoxia Deep Silence 2
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Figure 20: One of the 3.5”/2.5” bays

Main Specifications

The main specifications for the Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 include:

Conclusions

The Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 is an excellent option for its price, making it a terrific case for users who want a silent computer on a case full of additional features. You won’t regret buying it.

Strong Points

Weak Points

Originally at http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Nanoxia-Deep-Silence-2-Case-Review/1739

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