Aerocool Dead Silence DS200 Review

You can see the Aerocool Dead Silence DS200 isn't especially bulky as it has two optical drive bays, rather than three, and around the back there are seven expansion slots when many cases have eight or nine.

While you can install an ATX motherboard in this case you will find it is a bit of a squeeze and there is no chance of going large with an E-ATX board.

From a cosmetic point of view the DS200 looks rather smart. There is a large radius on the corner with the USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports and control buttons arranged on the top where they are easy to reach. It isn't immediately apparent what the circular gizmo in the top panel does. The small LCD in the centre displays the temperature reported by a sensor that you stick in your preferred location inside the case.

You use the four buttons to switch between degrees C and F, to change the colour of the display and to control the speed of the fans inside the case. You”ll see more of that feature when we get inside the case.

The top panel of the case is interesting as you can swap out the solid coloured panel for a perforated panel that delivers greater airflow. This is likely to be of keen interest if you choose to install a radiator in the roof of the case.

It might not be clear from the photos that Aerocool has used a variety of materials for the construction of the DS200. The case and two side panels are made from 0.8mm steel while the top, front and bottom panels are plastic which sounds a bit tacky but in fact is nothing of the sort.

This is reflected in Aerocool's curious description where they say the panels are ‘leather coated'. This is slightly far fetched but isn't as mad as it sounds as the surface of the panels feel a bit like stroking a thin leather jacket!

It's a curious sensation, somewhat like the realisation that a brightly coloured Haribo sweet is squidgy or that Gazpacho soup is not hot as you might expect but is actually cold. Weird but good.

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