Silverstone FT02S Fortress Aluminum Mid-Tower Chassis Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I wanted a case that would be both quiet and keep my overclocked components cool.So far this case has been excellent in both regards.

For those who may not be familiar with Silverstone's new case designs, this case is unique.Instead of the motherboard being vertical and plugging everything into the back of a case, this one has the motherboard mounted horizontally and you plug everything into the top.This provides allot of benefits, but is very different from almost every other case on the market.In short, the FT02's strengths are also it's weaknesses - depending on how you look at it.

I've been building PCs since 1990.This isn't a simple case for an inexperienced builder.The FT02 requires forethought, planning, and careful execution to get the most out of it.I highly recommend that anyone considering this case go to SilverStone's web site and read the manual first.The manual does a very good job of explaining clearance for components and how to install everything.

What's good:
1. Runs Quiet and Cool: Outside air comes in through the bottom and is exhausted out the top.This allows for natural heat convection.
2. Airflow: There are 3 180mm fans on the bottom of the case that blow air up, and 1 120mm fan on the top for exhaust.There are 3 switches under the top panel, 1 for each fan, that can be set to low or high.Personally I have all 4 fans controlled through the fan connectors on my motherboard so I leave the switches on high.
3. Keeps the Dust Out: This case employs positive pressure and filters to keep dust out.3 180mm fans blow air in and only 1 120mm fan blows air out.The 3 180mm fans on the bottom each have their own intake filter.When more air is coming in than going out, we call that "positive pressure" because the air pressure inside the case is greater than the pressure outside the case.Most cases have more air going out than coming in which results in negative pressure inside the case.The main downside to negative pressure is that air is drawn into the case from every crack, orifice, seam, etc., and none of those entrance points have filters.The result is that dust gets into the case.Whereas with positive pressure, air only goes out through cracks, orifices, etc.The only air that comes into this case is through the 3 180mm fans with their filters.To keep this case performing well, remember to clean the filters regularly.It would've been nice if the filters were accessible without taking a side panel off.
4. 5 Vibration Damped 3.5" Hard Drive Cages: There are 5 hot-swap drive bays.Each comes with a plastic cage to mount a drive and uses rubber grommets to minimize vibration.1 of the 5 bays comes with a SilverStone CP05 SATA II hot-swap connector.For the other 4 you just use cables as normal.SilverStone offers the CP05 hot-swap connector separately if you want the other bays to be swappable - they tend to run for $5-$10 which seems reasonable.To some folks, plastic drive cages may be a bad thing, but I prefer plastic.They dampen vibration and they'll never scratch the drives, unlike aluminum and steel drive cages.Many servers from the likes of HP, Dell, and IBM also use plastic drive cages.

What could be bad depending on your situation:
1. Top Panel Clearance: Because everything plugs into the top of the case, there's a perforated top panel that covers all of the ports.If you have any cables that use an adapter (like a VGA to DVI adapter), there may not be enough clearance between the port and the top panel.This wasn't an issue for me.Having said that, I really like being able to pop the top cover off and have easy access to see and work with the ports rather than pulling my case away from the wall and awkwardly fumbling with trying to see and connect cables and ports.
2. Door On the Right Side: Since this case mounts the motherboard differently, the primary access into the case is from the right side panel instead of the left side. For me, this meant re-locating the case so I wouldn't have to jump through hoops to get inside it, but it wasn't a big deal for me.
3. Cable Management: The case is designed to route cables behind the motherboard, but the clearance from the motherboard tray to the left side panel is a little tight.So it took a little extra effort to position the cables flat.In my case, the left panel bulges out ever-so-slightly.I don't notice it and neither has anyone who's seen it.So while I like the cable management, I do with they'd provided an extra 3/8" - 1/2" of clearance to accommodate thicker and/or stiffer cables.
4. 5.25" Drive Length: Because of the motherboard position and SilverStone's need to try to keep the size of this case reasonable, there's limited clearance for the length of 5.25" devices like DVD drives.It wasn't a problem for me, but it's possible there are some long 5.25" devices that won't fit in this case.
5. Top Panel Ports: Microphone, Headphones, and 2 USB connectors, but no FireWire port(s).Personally I would've liked a FireWire port on the top, but it's not that big of a deal.
6. Ground Clearance: Because the primary air comes from the bottom, the case has about 1" of ground clearance on the bottom.So the air intake may be obstructed if you plan on putting this case on thick carpet.I have it on a platform, so it wasn't an issue for me.
7. Case Depth:24" from front to back, which is allot, but keep in mind that most full tower cases run 20" deep or more, so it's not ridiculous.I don't mind the depth, but this may be a problem in some situations.Note that the power supply intake in the rear of the case will prevent one from pushing the case right up against something in the rear.However if you have a power supply like mine which doesn't have a side intake, it's a good thing because you can push the case to within 1/2" of a wall or desk or whatever.Since this case has no ports in the back and my power supply happens to not have a side intake, I like being able to push case right up against the wall.
8. Hybrid Aluminum & Steel: Just so you know, this case has both steel and aluminum construction.It's not an all-aluminum case.This isn't a LAN-party case by any means - it's way too big and heavy for that.I'm happy with that because all-aluminum cases tend to be noisier and are more easily damaged, and my case stays home.Apparently the uni-body aluminum that they advertise is only talking about a single piece of aluminum that makes up the front, bottom, and back of the case.The top of the case is sheathed in thin-gauge aluminum, and the 5.25" drive bay covers are made of brushed aluminum.Everything else is steel, including the side panels and the motherboard tray.
9. Side Panels: Each side panel attaches via 2 thumbscrews on the top of the case under the top panel.I would've preferred if they had designed a latching mechanism to quickly and easily remove and secure the side panels.This can be inconvenient if you're someone who's constantly going into their case.The top panel itself is fixed via 4 snap-in connectors and works fine.

The bad:
1. Fit & Finish: I expected a little more from a SilverStone case that costs this much.The 5.25" drive bay covers are brushed aluminum and appear different than the front of the case making the front have a bit of a 2-toned look.They're both silver: just different shades.The seams between the 5.25" drive bay covers and the front of the case were slightly uneven, but I fixed that by loosening the screws and repositioning the 5.25" covers.The seams between the top cover and the case could be better. My case has no blemishes.Overall I'm satisfied.If I had it to do over again, I might have opted for the black version of this case - the FTO2B.

I would've liked to give 4.5 stars, but since that's not an option, I'll give it 5.It does what it does very well and I'm very happy with it.It's worth repeating the FT02's strengths are also it's weaknesses.The great noise and airflow characteristics, by necessity, mean that many things considered normal for a case have to be handled differently with the FT02.It isn't the absolute quietest case out there, nor does it have the absolute best airflow/cooling properties, but it manages to be excellent in both of those areas which is very rare.Trust me - I've used full tower cases from CoolerMaster, Thermaltake, Lian Li, etc.So far, no other case has come close to being this quiet while keeping my overclocked components this cool.

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Product Description:
Combining two of SilverStone's most distinctive computer chassis breakthroughs - the unibody construction of the Temjin TJ07, introduced in 2005, and the 90-degrees rotated motherboard mount of the RAVEN RV01 from 2008 - the Fortress FT02 advances both chassis construction and thermodynamics in a dynamic, streamlined design. With the Fortress FT02, SilverStone engineers have combined the rigidity of unibody construction with the unparalleled cooling layout of the RAVEN chassis, adding a hot-swappable hard drive cage and an acoustically padded interior for maximum versatility. The result is increased structural strength, increased storage capacity, and whisper-quiet operation. Available in black and silver colors, its elegant outer shell is perfectly accentuated by the U-shaped unibody aluminum frame that not only provides unique styling, but also functional purpose. The bottom gap from the frame to the main body actually serves as the main air intake area for its three massive 180mm fans, making it even suitable for use on carpeted surfaces. For professionals and enthusiasts looking to build a silent workstation or gaming machine with maximum performance, there is no better than the SilverStone Fortress FT02.

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