MonsterLabo The First

[Darksaber]

The MonsterLabo The First is a sleek, compact chassis that is designed for passive operation, while still letting you use decent hardware. With broad compatibility for motherboards and graphics cards, this may well be the first time you can utilize a high-end GPU for absolutely silent gaming.

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[TheLostSwede]

Wow, I really feel sorry for the reviewer, this looks like a nightmare to build and I have tested some really odd SFF cases/barebones over the years.

 

[InVasMani]

Impressive combination stuff for the form factor to all run passively and perform at a higher degree, but I'll agree looks like a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to cram all the bits in pieces together into that small case though at least it's accessible it looks from pretty much any angle.

 

[Chrispy_]

That looks interesting to build, dare I even say fun?

I wish they offered this in two fin-density options though. The gaps between those fins are really designed for fully-passive (which is dumb and pointless outside of an anechoic chamber or sound recording booth). Even a very slow and quiet 600rpm fan could easily push air through a stack with double the density and it would comfortably unlock better CPU and GPU options.

 

[Vya Domus]

That fan is horribly obstructed by the PSU, I doubt it manages to move any real volume of air.

 

[huguberhart]

That looks interesting to build, dare I even say fun?

I wish they offered this in two fin-density options though. The gaps between those fins are really designed for fully-passive (which is dumb and pointless outside of an anechoic chamber or sound recording booth). Even a very slow and quiet 600rpm fan could easily push air through a stack with double the density and it would comfortably unlock better CPU and GPU options.

The cost of bringing such a solution to market considering the demand.. SFF being a niche still, I would guess. But it is a cool thought because I love this forma factor and the MonsterLabo custom solution is brilliant in my honest opinion. The way the riser is utilized. Last tiem I saw a passive case the chip blocks had a sort of a clamp solution. I like that the backpanel has the extensions like Corsair One to the GPU outputs.
I've always liked the Baby Tower design and I really like the way new Xbox looks and this case reminds me of it.

That fan is horribly obstructed by the PSU, I doubt it manages to move any real volume of air.

The way this uses "of the shelf" parts for very specialized product is a plus tho. Now the TFX or 1U slim PSUs are kinda available and I wonder if it could be used in this case.

 

[nemesis.ie]

Is this crying out for Zen 3/RDNA2? Would that be an Xbox on steroids and still quiet?

 

[Mescalamba]

Would be worth sacrificing a bit of "no noise" for either dual fan setup (pull-push) or fans with more pressure.

Still those temps are impressive for one Noctua..

 

[Vya Domus]

I never really understood the need for fully passive systems, who needs a PC to be that quite ? Since I went and bought AIOs for my CPU and GPU which I can run at very low RPMs I realized something quite odd, that even if the fan noise is basically gone everything else isn't, like faint electrical buzzing, coil whine or ambient noise. You'll always hear something ... unless you live in a bunker and every electrical appliance is in another room.

 

[Chrispy_]

I never really understood the need for fully passive systems, who needs a PC to be that quite ? Since I went and bought AIOs for my CPU and GPU which I can run at very low RPMs I realized something quite odd, that even if the fan noise is basically gone everything else isn't, like faint electrical buzzing, coil whine or ambient noise. You'll always hear something ... unless you live in a bunker and every electrical appliance is in another room.

You never go full passive. The room you are in has a noise floor and it makes sense to set fan RPMs to match but not exceed that noise floor. Anything less is a complete waste of cooling potential.

Like you say, even a fully passive system is not silent - but I have a 'silent' 120W 5700XT that makes noise in my living room. It actually makes ~30dBA of noise, but sitting on the sofa it's less than the background noise of the fridge from the next room, the leaves rustling in the wind outside, and various humming sounds from my boiler cupboard three rooms away - so 'silent' in this case is just 'below ambient noise floor'.

 

[Brusfantomet]

I never really understood the need for fully passive systems, who needs a PC to be that quite ? Since I went and bought AIOs for my CPU and GPU which I can run at very low RPMs I realized something quite odd, that even if the fan noise is basically gone everything else isn't, like faint electrical buzzing, coil whine or ambient noise. You'll always hear something ... unless you live in a bunker and every electrical appliance is in another room.

An important distinction when it comes to acceptable noise levels are that they are individual.

Unlike Chrispy_ I like passive cooled systems, but that is mostly for HTPC use.

I currently have 2 HTPCs one in the combined living room/kitchen. ( A8-7600 APU) This is cooled with a single 120 MM fan at ca 600 rpm, on a hyper 212. The fridge compressor is much louder than the single fan. Thing is, if it’s a quiet section in a film/series I will still hear the fan.

The second one is uses a streamcom FC8 Alpha, this system has NO moving parts, at all. This is placed in a separate TV/Hi-Fi room, which does mean that I can enjoy the complete silence when the system is running.

The MonsterLabo is actualy priced comparatively to the FC8 Alpha.
Where the FC8 has a 120W external laptop power supply with a 12V to 5V DC to DC coveter to avoid fans on the power supply, the cooling fins on that case are pretty maxed out cooling a 45W AMD 2400G.
Looking at the temperature readings for the review the MonterLabo shuld have no trouble with a similar AMD APU, or a 95W part with a better GPU. One would need a passive or semi passive PSU for that complete silence bliss.

Also note that adding a 3.5 “ HDD in a chassis like this is a bit silly, as the disk will be the loudest component by far, negating the sacrifices one makes in the quest for silent computing (the proper solution is a file server/NAS somewhere else in your dwelling)

 

[Caring1]

Lose and loose, two different meanings, yet often interchanged.

 

[Gadgety]

Every time I see MonsterLabo I can't help but remember Calyos crowdfunding project which went belly up. I also wonder how MonsterLabo arranged their funding, and how they did this without crowdfunding.

 

[Eduard]

I never really understood the need for fully passive systems, who needs a PC to be that quite ? Since I went and bought AIOs for my CPU and GPU which I can run at very low RPMs I realized something quite odd, that even if the fan noise is basically gone everything else isn't, like faint electrical buzzing, coil whine or ambient noise. You'll always hear something ... unless you live in a bunker and every electrical appliance is in another room.

The case being completely closed on all sides, it blocks away all electrical noises. It is possible to hear something if you lean from above in front of the top cover. So the case is in 60-70cm from me on the table and I can't hear any noise from it (even approaching my ear from the side). I have a top hat on it with the 20cm Noctua fan. It also stays completely silent with low noise adapter (up to 550-600 RPM). I have many other ambient noises, but it is very satisfying to reduce those ones you can ☺

That looks interesting to build, dare I even say fun?
I wish they offered this in two fin-density options though. The gaps between those fins are really designed for fully-passive (which is dumb and pointless outside of an anechoic chamber or sound recording booth). Even a very slow and quiet 600rpm fan could easily push air through a stack with double the density and it would comfortably unlock better CPU and GPU options.

It was very fun to plan and assemble in this case! But it is not for everybody. I spent at least 3 hours the first time.
I would be very glad to have the option with more dense fin stack! Having 9700k and 1080Ti in it don't leave me with the passive option ☺

 

[argon]

Nice, they sell XboX case's NOW!