DeepCool CH780 and LS720S/LS520S Zero Dark
DeepCool has introduced a heavily glass-clad case with an atypical system fan layout (with an emphasis on negative pressure) and affordable liquid coolers. These will be attractive for users who do not like lighted elements and for whom the highest possible cooling efficiency or the most attractive price/performance ratio is paramount. DeepCool’s new liquid CPU coolers have the prerequisites to score points in this respect.
Skrinka CH780
DeepCool kicked off its CES (2024) presence this year with the announcement of two new products. The first is the CH780 “panoramic” case with a very good view of the components. In addition to the tempered glass side panels, the front panel is also clear. Within its design you won’t find any fans or mounting positions for them. It is a flat glass panel without any perforations. The system fans are housed elsewhere. Namely, on a bracket that is oriented perpendicular to the front panel from the right side. These fans don’t draw in cooler air from the outside, but act as exhaust fans to get the heated air out of the case.
Since all three (140-millimeter, by the way) fans are oriented this way, the air circulation is characterized by negative pressure. Outside air is brought in through various joints along the case housing, e.g. from above or below. These are also where additional fans in 120 (6×), 140 (6×) or even 200 mm (4×) formats can be added as optional extras. There is no fan position on the rear panel and the layout of the case is a bit atypical overall.
DeepCool refers to it as a dual chamber case, where the motherboard, processor, memory and graphics card are installed from the left. Then on the right is the power supply (ATX) and inch-type storage. The “main” chamber is thus narrower, the CPU cooler should not be taller than 132 mm, and even the installation of a larger graphics card assumes vertical orientation. Length restrictions regarding the graphics card are practically non-existent in the DeepCool CH780 case. There are three mounting positions for liquid cooler radiators (ceiling, bottom, back panel) and all of them support large coolers up to 420 mm.
The front panel is also packed with connectors, with as many as five USB ports. Four are type A (3.2 gen. 1 standard) and one is type C (probably 3.2 gen. 2. We’ll check and clarify). The 3.5mm audio jack is only one, shared, which is perhaps a pity. From the front panel, then, a dedicated button also makes it possible to change the lighting modes of the fans.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is 179.99 EUR (black version) or 189.99 EUR for those interested in a white case with the WH designation (CH780 WH).
The LS720S and LS520S Zero Dark coolers
Also new from DeepCool are liquid CPU coolers, the LS720S Zero Dark (with three fans on a 360mm radiator) and the one-third shorter LS520S model, the LS520S Zero Dark.
They use the 4th generation DeepCool pump combined with the latest (and most efficient?) microchannel design inside the copper block. The radiators are aluminum and overall there is a shot at getting the most favorable price/performance ratio. The FK120 fans don’t use lighting and neither does the block housing (hence the Zero Dark), and the focus is on affordability. The LS720S Zero Dark should retail for no more than 104.99 EUR and the LS520S Zero Dark is about 15 EUR cheaper.
Both AMD (AM5 and AM4) and Intel (LGA 1700, LGA1200/LGA115x) platforms are supported, i.e. all current and some older ones.
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
The case has one of the best airflow/noise designs I have seen in this type of case. The side fans being exhaust by default make a lot of sense (both in terms of overall airflow and avoiding extra noises due to the intake side of the fans being put flush against the vents), plus the vents and fan mounts are much less obstructive than that of most competitors.