Puget Systems Serenity Pro Review: The stealth ninja of performance desktops

Puget Systems’ Serenity Pro is really called considering it’s “extremely quiet,” based on the firm. The Serenity line is optimized for extra-quiet procedure, employing these solutions because Gelid’s Tranquillo Rev2 quiet cooling program, a case coated with sound-dampening foam, along with a unique “quiet case fans upgrade,” that replaces stock fans with extra-quiet ones.

In additional words, this program is a lot like the stealth ninja of performance desktops.

Our review model, that costs $ 2660 because configured, sports a third-generation Intel Core i7-3770K processor, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, plus an Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 images card. The Serenity Pro also offers 2 difficult drives—a 240GB Intel 335 Series SSD, along with a 2TB Western Digital HDD. The program comes with Blu-ray burner, a wireless networking card, plus CyberLink PowerDVD 12 Ultra, plus runs a 64-bit adaptation of Windows 8 Pro.

Performance

The Serenity Pro is the quickest PC we’ve tested about WorldBench 8 to date. In the WB8 benchmark tests, the program scores 121 from 100, meaning it’s 21 % quicker than the testing model (that sports a third-generation Intel i5 processor). It’s equally regarding 4 % quicker than the second-fastest WB8 PC, the Digital Storm Aventum (that scored 116 from 100 about WB8).

So yeah, the Serenity Pro is an good total performer.

The program additionally conducted perfectly inside individual tests: inside the PCMark 7 efficiency test, the Serenity Pro scored 5730. By comparison, the Aventum scored 4937, when the testing model scored 4638. In the sound encoding test, the Serenity Pro was truly the only computer we’ve tested which broke 220 seconds, encoding sound inside merely 193.6 seconds. By comparison, the Aventum took 214.7 seconds to encode the same clip, when the testing model took 202 seconds.

Puget Systems tailored this Serenity build for digital photography modifying. The WinBench Photoshop benchmark results reflect great performance for photograph modifying. The 51.6 score for GPU accelerated effects is the greatest score for any program to date, because is the 224 for total image modifying.

The Serenity Pro additionally conducted very effectively about the images tests. In the Dirt Showdown test, the Serenity Pro managed 140.7 frames per 2nd (1366 by 768 pixel resolution, maximum-quality settings), whilst the Aventum managed only 129.5 fps found on the same test.

Also, when the Serenity Pro isn’t the speediest starter (it takes around 27.1 seconds to commence up), it’s quicker than its competitors. The Aventum, for illustration, takes a whopping 48.2 seconds to start, when the testing model takes a less-than-impressive 31.5 seconds.

Design & Interior

The Serenity Pro comes packaged inside a big Antec P183 V3 tower. This tower has a gunmetal-gray brushed metal finish found on the front plate, plus both sides, plus attributes a locking front door which covers the optical drive, force plus reset buttons, as well as the card reader bay—just just in case that’s significant to we. The front door, whenever secured, leaves 3 USB 3.0 ports plus microphone plus headphone jacks open.

The Serenity Pro’s case is appealing, when a small big for the program. The front metal plate has Antec’s logo embossed inside the upper appropriate corner, plus Puget Systems’ Serenity logo painted inside the lower appropriate corner. The door qualities parallelogram-shaped vents over the appropriate side. If you open the door, the front of the program is all diagonally-slashed plastic vents. Below, you’ll additionally be capable to access the system’s energy plus reset buttons, Blu-ray optical drive, plus 12-in-1 card reader bay with extra USB 3.0 port.

Both sides of the Serenity Pro’s case are strong brushed metal. The top of the tower is strong, conserve for a chevron-shaped vent close to the back (by that peeks a fan). The back of the program is where nearly all of the ports are found, about both the motherboard as well as the images card.

The motherboard has six USB ports (4 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0), a combination mouse/keyboard PS/2 port, a DisplayPort, an HDMI out, a S/PDIF out, a DVI out, a VGA out, Gigabit Ethernet, plus help for 7.1 surround sound. The images card has 2 DVI outs, an HDMI out, along with a DisplayPort, plus under the images card there are 4 more USB ports (2 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0) in addition to an eSATA port. The Serenity Pro has a total of 10 USB 3.0 ports plus 4 USB 2.0 ports.

The left side of the Serenity Pro’s case slides off conveniently, once you take out 2 thumbscrews. Inside, the tower is roomy plus uncluttered. Wires plus wires are neatly tucked into black mesh tubing, along with a quiet Gelid Solutions Tranquillo Rev2 cooling program takes up a moderate amount of area.

For upgraders, here’s what’s open plus (relatively) accessible: 2 PCI slots, 1 PCIe x16 slot, 1 PCIe x1 slot, 2 RAM slots (dual channel), plus 2 3.5-inch bays. There furthermore appears to be 2 clear 5.25-inch bays below the system’s optical drive, however, these come packed with foam.

There are 2 clear plus accessible PCI slots, plus 1 clear PCIe x16 slot plus 1 clear PCIe x1 slot. There additionally appears to be 2 clear 5.25-inch drive bays below the system’s optical drive, though these come packed with foam. For

The Bottom Line

The advantageous information is the fact that the stealth ninja of performance desktops is equal components stealth plus ninja—the Serenity Pro is both super-quiet plus an great total performer. The bad information is the fact that stealth ninja-ness is a bit expensive, though it won’t totally break a bank.

There’s not much to complain regarding with all the Serenity Pro. It’s a awesome performer, it’s quiet, plus it’s convenient to upgrade. The tower is a bit big for the components inside it, however, maybe which only adds to the system’s quietness. If you’re seeking a discerning powerhouse (there are no flashy LEDs or plexiglass panels inside this system), the Serenity Pro usually tiptoe its technique into the heart (plus beneath the desk).

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