Today we inaugurate a series of articles about the famous SilverStone brand, starting with an analysis of its proprietary cooling solutions. Furthermore, we will present a series of cabinets each having different features, hence oriented to different user groups; we’ll also present during the analysis several interesting products, always of the same brand.

[VERSIONE ITALIANA]

Conclusion and a look to the future

We have arrived at the conclusion of this article. Undoubtedly it is useless to list again, or to present for the last time the reasons behind all our interest in this great brand, but we want to conclude with a consideration:

Since we are end users, what should a case manufacturer try to make?

Certainly they should try to satisfy the end-user to build unconventional solutions with non-repetitive and advanced technical features, and with an eye to the purchase price. Well, we have focused precisely on Silverstone because it’s one of the most satisfying brands regarding all these demands, with the important basic principle that is to provide products with excellent build quality.

What does the future hold? Just a few pictures, we recommend that you get seated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygokobAfAe4&feature=player_embedded#!

Here the smallest of Temjin series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9WGtaDUIiE&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o5xF49cWAo&feature=relmfu

Regarding the cabinet considered today, what can we say? Qualitatively to the top, with a nice retrò design but always elegant and functional, equipped with advanced design features from the point of view of temperature control, and finally at a price balanced to what they offer, when precisely compared to the features.

We start from TJ09S-W, which is equipped with a convenient removable bulkhead and a proprietary system for optimizing the air flow in the direction of the video cards. All excellent features, but we have to point out some points that we were not convinced:

- Cable management definitely needs to be improved; we recommend the adoption of the thick rear space, and cable management system of the last Silverstone Raven03.  In fact, large wires coming from the PSU, can even bend the right panel because of the small space available to accommodate them. We wonder why the designers didn’t avoid this problem. Anyway, just pass the wires off in the front, and you will not encounter this problem.

- Installation of hard drives "sui generis"; we wonder why the connectors are located on the left side panel. Obvious the reason is to make the disassembly easier, but fast-swap solutions could have been adopted, like for the servers, or like in the last simile and amazing Silverstone FT-02. However, just reverse the position and you will solve the problem.

- Presence of two unpaired fans above, you can’t mount radiators in the style of the corsair H100 240 x 120mm (length x height). It would be theoretically possible, but as it is not 100% compatible, we do not recommend it. Instead, 120mm x 120 mm(WxH) radiators are perfectly compatible, and recommended

The value for money is excellent and the price of 140€, considering the exceptional build quality, is very interesting. It will certainly be a good buy if you want a classic design cabinet in aluminum.

On the other hand, regarding the FT02, what we need to say? A wonderful example of what SilverStone is capable in the field of design, functionality, performance and layout, without mentioning the aesthetics that is very formidable. We do not add comments because it will be the subject of a next comprehensive review.,

Now we give a summary judgment also on the Mini-ITX Sugo SG08 enclosure, which also will be presented in an interesting review, soon. Even here we are before a flagship product that seems incapable to disappoint the audience. In fact, it comes with the best PSU for this power category, with the best fans around that grant an optimal ventilation, and it supports a good amount of hard drives . Despite this case is very small, it has an enviable height to grant compatibility with all the aftermarket coolers. The SilverStone Sugo SG08 can be defined as the most sublime, elegant and refined case in its category. Want more? We understand the need to go further and further, but in this case we cannot really complain.

With the FT01 on the other hand, we want to emphasize that the cooling solutions have been seriously treated by SilverStone. Its main feature is the presence of two 180mm fans that allow the adoption of a positive pressure system, well, what does it mean? This solution allowed us to keep the HR02 macho in passive configuration even overclocking a CPU i7 920 up to 3.2 GHz, at temperatures lower than many other non-passive heatsinks around! Absolutely spectacular. And it’s bundled with comfortable and removable anti-dust filters, maximum support for the latest generation graphics cards, good cable management, good disks support, optimal temperatures, and finally excellent build quality, combined with a very low noise emission (

The last but not the least, the famous Raven RV03: aesthetically pleasing, although we know that it can be a subjective assessment, it has a rigid structure, except perhaps a feeling of too plastic-oriented, ''but'' with an excellent overall quality. We noticed also some internal small painting imperfections. Very remarkable the total amount and quality of the bundled fans, especially the 2 AP181, and many other 120mm fans accessories. Another interesting thing is the benefit of a truly exemplary cable management system, which we hope will become an absolute standard in the case industry. Really good management of hard disks, even if by force of circumstances, however, there isn’t a fast-swap and tool-less system; compactness is significant, because it’s just a Mid-Tower, and finally it presents an economical MSRP. The overall feeling is to have got a high-end case, however, except for the front of hard plastic that still has a very modern look.

Now we go to the final evaluation

We thank SilverStone for the received samples, precisely the TJ09S-W and SG08.

Trinca Matteo, Leonardo Angelini, Xtremehardware.it Staff