Product News & Reviews

SilverStone Fortress FT02 Chassis Review

Final Words and Conclusion

Summary

SilverStone Fortress FT02 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets

Conclusions

Strong Points

* Top-notch quality with aluminum exterior, with rear, bottom and front panels made with the same aluminum sheet.
* Motherboard installed rotated 90º, improving thermal dissipation.
* Hole for accessing the backplate from the CPU cooler on the motherboard tray.
* Holes for routing cables on the motherboard tray with rubber covers.
* Clips for fastening zip-lock ties.
* The two USB ports are far away from each other, allowing you to install two “fat” devices at the same time.
* Air filters on the bottom fans.
* Speed controller for the bottom fans.
* Foam for reducing the noise produced by the PC everywhere.
* Screwless mechanisms for fastening drives.
* One hot-swap bay for hard disk drives.
* Supports the installation of radiators from certain liquid cooling solutions on the bottom.
* Sturdy construction.
* No sharp edges where you could cut yourself while building your PC.

* Too expensive.
* No eSATA port
* No thumbscrews for fastening expansion cards.

SilverStone Raven RV02B-W Case Review @ Hardware Secrets

Conclusions

SilverStone
Raven RV02 is a full-tower case targeted to the enthusiast that wants a
high-quality high-end full-tower case and liked the concept of the
motherboard being 90º rotated but doesn’t want to pay more than USD 200
on a high-end case. Here is a summary of what we found about this
product.

Strong Points

• Innovative design where the motherboard is rotated 90º so the rear part of the motherboard is available on the top of the case, improving thermal management and also making it easier to install and remove cables from the PC.
• Top-notch quality.
• Individual speed controllers for the three internal fans accessible from the top panel.
• Dust filters for the internal fans and for the power supply fan.
• Anti-vibration mechanisms for the hard disk drives.
• Support for one 2.5” disk drive.
• Far better priced that Raven RV01, providing a good cost/benefit ratio for the enthusiast user.

In summary, we think SilverStone hit bull’s eye with Raven RV02. It
brings the innovative design introduced with Raven RV01 but at a more
affordable price. At USD 180 it is still an expensive case, but in our
opinion it is worth every penny of it (compare to the outrageous USD
250 price tag RV01 had when it was first introduced – being, by the
way, the reason we didn’t recommend RV01 at the time). The only real
problem with this case is its reduced number of hard disk drive bays
(three or four, if you use the adaptor that comes with it).

SilverStone Sugo SG05 Review @ Hardwarezone

Conclusion:

Despite the efforts of companies like AOpen and Shuttle, the small form factor (SFF) PC segment has never really taken off in a big way - at least in the DIY market. Big OEM vendors like HP and Dell have had some success selling small desktop systems but these are pre-built ones that differ from the customization offered by SFF models targeted at enthusiasts.

SilverStone too has been relatively new to the scene, with the first of its SFF oriented Sugo series debuting in 2005. The goal as ever for such SFF enclosures has been to maintain the form factor while expanding the possibilities that one can outfit it internally. For instance, even high-end or even dual graphics cards could be supported in this chassis. Unlike Shuttle who has its own custom motherboard and CPU cooler integrated in its SFF chassis, SilverStone has stuck to just designing and building the chassis alone.

Even though the small form factor enthusiast PC is a rather niche market, it's always great to see more choices available besides the usual names like AOpen and Shuttle. SilverStone's Sugo SG05 is the company's smallest yet.

While the goal of allowing consumers the flexibility of adding their own components is commendable, the implementation in SilverStone's latest venture into the mini-ITX segment, the SG05 is less than inspired. Getting the slim optical drive required for the SG05 for example, may not be as easy as dishing out more cash. We believe that it's likely that retail outlets will end up bundling the optical drive along with the SG05 for convenience's sake.

The other major issue has been the cable management. SilverStone could probably improve this aspect, with shorter cables or even pre-routed cables. Since the orientation of the drive cage is fixed, there's no reason why this can't be done. It could have saved us quite a bit of time during installation, particularly since the SG05 is anything but tool-free.

Besides these issues, the ventilation aspect appears to be well-done, with a large and quiet 120mm fan to pull the air into the chassis. The small included power supply also looks efficient and capable enough to support a decent, mid-range system. Finally, priced at around US$99, it's not prohibitively expensive, considering you're getting a PSU along with the chassis. For those who have been mulling over the idea of a custom SFF PC, the Sugo SG05 will require some effort to make it work but once done, it should be humming along cool and quiet.

EVGA X58 Classified Review @ Anandtech

We are proud to present the EVGA X58 Classified
motherboard our Gold Editors' Choice award. We debated heavily amongst
each other during the award process as the conveyance of this award for
a motherboard with such single-minded focus on overclocking concerned
us. Yet, that single mindedness by EVGA to develop and release a
motherboard specifically for the overclocking community is what won us
over in the end. In a market full of competitors all trying to outdo
each other with the same basic X58 blueprint, it is refreshing for a
manufacturer to step outside of the box and take a chance on a unique
product. Yes, this motherboard is expensive and over the top in many
ways, but you get what you pay for in this case. The EVGA
X58 Classified is truly an outstanding product from both usability and
engineering viewpoints. In addition, it also perfectly fits its market
niche along with having some of the best customer support and service
in the business. If your passion is subzero cooling, then we would
stake our jobs on the simple fact that no currently available X58
motherboard is going to beat the EVGA X58 Classified for outright CPU
clocking potential. The board is simply that good.

Now for the rest of us who utilize air- or water-cooling. You may
find a slight advantage with the X58 Classified in terms of reduced
system voltages and memory clocks over the mainstream motherboards. In
reality, the gains are very small when you compare final overclock
limits. Cooling is still king as always, and no board is going to
bestow a magical 3GHz overclock upon you if your cooling is not worthy.

The i7's integrated memory controller takes a lot of the onus away
from board level engineering until you really start to push very high
QPI frequencies. Under a 4.5GHz CPU core speed it's difficult to
discern any real differences between any of the enthusiast level boards
in outright overclocking potential. It is when you get to the fringe of
overclocking where a couple of nifty Classified BIOS functions that
extend signaling margins really come into play. It's using these
additional functions that has enabled us to benchmark our 920 D0
processor at QPI frequencies over 4.3Ghz under full eight thread loads.
Couple the BIOS tweaks along with the subzero boot up workarounds and
it is very difficult to look elsewhere when considering another X58
board designed for overclocking.

If we have to gripe (and we enjoy it at times), it has to be that
the stock board cooling requires the end-user to supply their own fan
before the board is really suitable to be used inside a PC case when
overclocking. A 40mm fan in the retail package would not have broken
the bank and would certainly earn the solution a few extra points. One
also has to consider if adding the NF200 has brought anything
worthwhile into the mix. Based upon our comparative benchmarks in the
preview article, we would have to say no at this point, although it
could help increase clock rates slightly.

The non-NF200
version is $50 less and based on the same board design and features. It
should provide improved 3D scores in most setups but the jury is out on
overclocking compared its big bother right now. Obviously, there is no
getting around the cost of either board, as you simply must be in a
different frame of mind to spend this much on a motherboard. However,
having had the chance to use it, if you asked us if we would buy one
we'd emphatically say yes. Simply because it is the only X58 board we
have used that can truly bring out the maximum unhindered overclocking
potential of the Intel Core i7. If that's what you're all about then
look no further than the X58 Classified. It really is something special.

Silverstone ST60F 600 Watt Modular Power Supply Review

(Multimeter
Results)

*Voltages
are at a 'Max Load' for a typical gaming computer, running Orthos,
Sisoft Sandra Hard Drive benchmark and 3DMark06 CPU Test 1 and 2 / Deep
Freeze HDR test, and read with a Multi-Meter.

Capacitor
Brands:

Primary:
Excellent

Secondary:
Great

Primary:
Nippon-Chemicon

Secondary:
Teapo

Voltage Results:

+The
results were excellent for this power supply, the results being well
within range.  The voltages budged a bit when transitioning
from an idle state to a load state, but still remained quite strong.

Stability Results:

+Everything ran fine during testing, the system was
stable and performed the tests as expected. 

Fan Speed Impressions:

+During the tests,
the fan speed did not vary much, being nearly silent in idle mode. A
few whirring sounds could be heard, but they were not annoying.
Nice!

Installation:

+
Installation of this power supply went well.  No issues fitting
inside the test system's case.  The modular cables helped a lot
in keeping the inside of the case neat and tidy.  The velcro
straps and zip ties that were included could be helpful, but I did
not feel that they were necessary in my case.

Conclusion:

This power supply would be
ideal for anyone looking to build a multi core gaming /
workstation system with
two video cards.  It is Crossfire X Certified for up to two ATI
Radeon 4870's, which is fantastic. The amount of
available power connectors is adequate and up to date. The fan is also
very quiet
and is great to find in a 600 watt class power supply. SilverStone
power supplies used to be a little noisy in the fan department, but
that has changed.  At around $80 after a rebate, it is a nicely priced power supply.  If there was no
rebate, this power supply would come in at around $100, which is
still a great deal.  Overall, this is an excellent power supply that
offers great performance for the price and should be purchased by anyone
looking for a nicely priced quiet PSU with high efficiency, great output
performance, and
build quality.

Pros +

-Excellent power output

-Three Year Warranty

-Fan is quiet at typical loads

-Fully modular cabling

-Offered at a reasonable price

Cons -

-Could offer more 6+2 pin power connectors.

Techaddicts.net
would like to give this power supply the Editors' Choice Award!

SilverStone Fortress FT01B-W Review

Grading

Functionality (40%): I have never been
to fond of Mid
Tower chassis. I really like to have the extra room that a Full Tower
offers, allowing the user to do what they want without the constraints.
I was actually a little surprised that I was able to fit the Quad SLI
setup in the FT01 as easily as I was. Once I had finished wiring the
FT01 for the Quad SLI configuration, I was very pleased that I was
actually able to get all those wires out of sight. The FT01 showed that
it had a complete grasp on the cooling side with the positive pressure
design, while making my job of keeping the system clean easier.
Unfortunately the task of cleaning the filters in the case isn't going
to be something so easily done. The top and lower filters will require
some disassembly to access the filters, which will be a bit more
challenging with hardware installed in the chassis. The added option of
having your hard drives hot swappable is another great feature that
isn't very common. The limitation I hit with the CPU coolers is another
area that you will want to watch. Just remember that if your cooler
extends past the upper edge of the motherboard, you might have a
problem with clearance. Silverstone has done a great job at giving us a
case that does have its added benefits, while at the same time, it does
have a few quirks. Overall, I think the FT01 has earned a 9 here.

Value (20%): The Silverstone FT01 can be had for
around $199 - $230 US (with or without window). Honestly, you will get
what you pay for when it comes to high-end cases. The Silverstone FT01
is by no means the most expensive mid tower chassis on the market, but
it does fall in that high-end area with other known manufactures like
Lian-Li and Zalman. Having had my hands on several Mid Tower chassis
over the years, I feel that sometimes, it's necessary to spend a little
extra to get the quality and performance you want in a chassis.  We
will give it an 8.5 for value.

Aesthetics (40% of final score): The
Silverstone Fortress FT01 is an absolutely amazing looking chassis.
With the design styling taking after the original TJ07 chassis,
Silverstone gave the FT01 a little more pronounced definition in the
lines of the case. Everything seems to flow from one panel to the next.
Although the mixture of the anodized brushed aluminum panels, and the
matte finish of the main chassis might not be an exact match, I do feel
Silverstone did an excellent job at fitting the two processes together
in one design. Adding to the the look is the black powder coated
internals of the chassis. The FT01 is simply screaming for a hardcore
system to be installed. Although I would have liked to seen the top
fans mesh grill match the fronts, and would have liked to seen the
front I/O ports handled a little differently. I feel the Silverstone
FT01 warrants a solid 9.5 for aesthetics.

Summary:The
Silverstone Fortress FT01 is a well built and designed chassis. It
offers large cooling fans that will affectively cool your hardware
without the insane noise levels. The unique uni-body design of the
chassis gives it a great look as well as offering a solid platform to
build from. The chassis is available in four different options and will
be sure to please anyone looking to build an outstanding Mid Tower PC.
We wouldn't expect anything less from Silverstone.

SilverStone Treasure Series TS01B Review

#960 - SilverStone TS01 2.5" HDD Enclosure

User Rating: / 4

PoorBest 

Written by Rodney Reynolds

Wednesday, 11 June 2008

digg_title = "#960 - SilverStone TS01 2.5" HDD Enclosure"; var sburl9960 = window.location.href; var sbtitle9960 = document.title;digg_title = "#960 - SilverStone TS01 2.5" HDD Enclosure"; var sbtitle9960=encodeURIComponent("#960 - SilverStone TS01 2.5" HDD Enclosure"); var sburl9960=decodeURI("http://www.3dgameman.com/content/view/12761/"); sburl9960=sburl9960.replace(/amp;/g, "");sburl9960=encodeURIComponent(sburl9960); "The SilverStone TS01 2.5" HDD Enclosure is all aluminum, weights 85g, supports 2.5” SATA HDDs, is compatible with USB2 and supports all current operating systems. This enclosure is very compact but well constructed so it's very sturdy. Watch the video to find out more." ~3dGameMan.com Video Review by 3dGameMan.com   3GM Video Review #960 Manufacturer: SilverStone Provided by: SilverStone Model: TS01 2.5" HDD Enclosure Rating: KICKASS

Sunbeamtech Automaton Case Review

Conclusion

Sunbeam has another great looking case to add to
their line up with the Automaton.  It's clean lines really do credit to the
design team that put it together.  Aesthetically, I think the Automaton rates an
easy 9 in most anyone's book. 

In regards to the case's feel, it never had a rock
solid feel however, this needs to be put in the proper context of the Sunbeam
Automaton weighing just a hair over 5 kg.  You can't have lightweight and
something that can double as a bar stool at once.  At the same time with so much
sculpted body work on this midtower, the Automaton wasn't too large to carry
around but it certainly wouldn't be my first pick for a LAN box out of fear of
damage to the outer shell.

Aside from that however, it's hard to find fault with
the Automaton as a desktop chassis.  I would have liked to have seen a removable
motherboard tray but must admit the case had plenty of working room inside to
get parts installed and cables routed with ease.  The three 120mm fans provide
excellent ventilation and never were the source of any displeasure from their
sound signature.  Sunbeam has done a nice job with their Automaton case and the
$120 price point feels right or it.  Let alone anything that looks like the Alien
gets cool points right off.  If the looks are right up your alley and you're in
need, the Sunbeam Automaton is sure to be a case you will enjoy for
years.

Pros:

• Great looks

• Super lightweight

• Plenty of ventilation

• Practical layout

• Roomy

• Quiet operation

Cons:

• Lacks a sturdy feel

• No removable motherboard tray

• No hard drive activity lamp??

SilverStone Fortress FT01B-W Review

The SilverStone FT01 is one of the nicest cases I have used to date and
has found a new home on my desk. The attention to detail that
SilverStone has taken with this case is above and beyond the norm and
the case itself simply looks gorgeous.

Starting with the exterior, the uni-body design is certainly a winner
and gives the chassis a sleek look that others simply can't match. The
black anodized brushed aluminum, both inside and out, are done to
perfection. If black isn't your color, you can also pick up the FT01 in
silver, both with and without a side panel window.

The window on our review sample is nice and only shows off the meat of
your hardware. After all, who wants to see your hard drive rack and
expansion bays anyway?

Around back, a free-flowing 120mm exhaust fan helps to move warm air
outside of the case. A top-mounted 180mm intake fan also helps in this
process, while another 180mm intake fan up front supplies cool air from
outside and is directed over the hard drive rack. This fan
configuration creates positive air pressure inside to optimize cooling
performance.

It seems that bottom-mounted power supplies are all the rage, and the
FT01 follows that trend. I like how SilverStone gives the end user
flexibility with how they choose to mount their power supply. You can
either have the traditional intake fan facing up or down. If facing
down, the air vent at the bottom of the case allows fresh air to come
in from under the case, cool the power supply components and go out the
back of the case. This method doesn't affect the airflow inside the
case one bit.

A modular power supply will go a long way to help reduce cable clutter
from unused cables. Unfortunately I didn't have a modular unit on hand
and opted to remove the three bottom hard drive racks and store my
spare cables in that area.

SilverStone included seven removable vented slot covers specifically
designed with the positive pressure system in mind. They also
thoughtfully provided holes for your screwdriver when interacting with
your add-in cards. Two rubber-edged holes are also present at the top
of the back bezel for running watercooling tubing should you happen to
watercool your system.

A total of seven hard drives can be used in the FT01, and you could
even make them hot-swappable using SilverStone's optional adapter.
Actually mounting your hard drive does require screws, so the system is
not totally tool-less. SilverStone has included rubber grommets in each
bay to keep vibrations to a minimum.

The five 5 1/4" drive bays, however, are tool-less and the system seems to work pretty well.

With two large 180mm fans, one might expect some noise, but that is not the case. All three of the case fans are whisper-quiet.

I only found a few real issues with the FT01; the first being the hard
drive rack. The SATA power connectors extend out a bit and make it
difficult to use a single power supply strand, as the side panel
interferes with the cables when they bulge out. I ended up having to
use two separate cable strands and am only using three hard drives. If
I was using all seven bays, I would think some right-angle connectors
would be required for clearance. Also, with most or all drive bays in
use, this would certainly cut down on how much (cool) air would reach
the rest of your hardware.

Another area of concern is the fan filters. The front one is fine, but
the filter in the top rear fan seems really difficult to remove, and
even more so with a case full of hardware.

As of writing, the SilverStone FT01 retails for $229.99 as configured
here today. This is a bit on the expensive side, but if you want
quality, you have to pay for it.

OCIA.net has awarded the SilverStone FT01 our Seal of Approval.