Silverstone Tek Aluminum Tower Computer Case FT03B-MINI - Black

You looking to find the "Silverstone Tek Aluminum Tower Computer Case FT03B-MINI - Black" Good news! You can purchase Silverstone Tek Aluminum Tower Computer Case FT03B-MINI - Black with secure price and compare to view update price on this product. And deals on this product is available only for limited time.

Price: $129.50    

Product Feature

• Super mini footprint design with no cables and vents on four sides
• Ample space for CPU cooling (78mm in height)
• Elevated standoff for motherboard back side components
• Includes 140mm Air Penetrator fan and support entry level liquid cooling
• Support for two 2.5-Inch SSD/hard drives and one 3.5-Inch hard drive
• Mini-DTX / Mini-ITX motherboard & SFX PSU compatible
• Standard-length expansion cards support (10 inches)

Product Description

After releasing the ground breaking Fortress FT03 chassis in 2011, SilverStone engineers took on the challenge of making a smaller version to further increase the appeal of this unique computer form factor. Through intelligent planning and reengineering, the engineers were able to create the FT03-MINI, which improves on the simplistic design of the FT03 while reducing the size by 50%. Using 2.5mm thick, sand-blasted and anodized aluminum outer shells with no cable connectors and vents on all four sides to complement an efficient, organized layout, this chassis helps SilverStone to again set new standards in small form factor computers. The interior of the FT03-MINI utilizes SilverStone's unique stack effect cooling layout so a Mini-ITX motherboard is mounted in 90 degree rotation to take advantage of hot air's natural tendency to rise. The FT03-MINI can accommodate graphic cards up to 10-Inch, support one 3.5-Inch and two 2.5-Inch drives, and even entry-level liquid cooling can be installed to satisfy needs of enthusiasts. As the new small form factor chassis addition to the Fortress series, the FT03-MINI is truly a paradigm.

Silverstone Tek Aluminum Tower Computer Case FT03B-MINI - Black Review

I've been toying with this itx build for over a month now. I've modified the drive cage and DVD bracket to allow for a Push/Pull radiator setup at the bottom. By removing the DVD bracket, or simply folding/cutting a small flange on the bracket, you can fit a corsair H80 radiator with a normal 120mm pull fan on top, perhaps a 140mm pull if it has 120mm mounts. I'm using a 620 Kuhler, but I've measured and know other users with the H80 setup. You'll have approximately 90mm of headroom from the 140mm fan at the bottom of the case to the lowest memory module on your motherboard.

I have easily managed to place a full ATX power supply inside this case, allowing me to forego the restrictions of an SFX supply; e.g., limited selection, relatively noisey 80mm fan in sfx PSUs, etc. I placed a Seasonic X560 in this case without drilling or cutting anything (see user photos). SilverStone should have made some incredibly simple design decisions (removing a flange/adding screw holes) that would allow for ATX PSUs right out of the box. It's a simple user mod, however. My PSU measures W150 x L160 x H86 mm and does not impede on the video card.

Absolute max video card measurements:
--Metric--
Length: 257.12 mm, or, if you remove the fan filter clip at the bottom of the case, 263.5 mm
Height: 133.35 mm, or 152.4 mm if you remove the DVD bracket.
--Standard--
Length: 10 1/8", or 10 3/8" by removing fan filter clip
Height: 5 1/4", or 6" w/o DVD bracket

The panels are thick metal, and the steel frame is sturdy, no flexion under the weight of my ATX power supply.

The SilverStone Air Penetrator fans are not a quiet line of fans, especially true as they slightly increase RPM. If you're in pursuit of silence, I recommend replacing the stock 140mm AP fan.

It's a great case, fun to toy with, and will make you scratch your head as you figure a way to route wires and hoses without restricting airflow.

Again, locate my user pics on the Amazon product page, 8 in total with lots of notes. I'd buy the case again in a heartbeat, but I'm deducting 1 measly star for trying to persuade the use of an SFX power supply (their own), a simple oversight when it comes to cable length, and a stock 140mm fan that is noticeably audible if this case will be on your desk. Otherwise, this rests comfortably among the great ITX cases.

*UPDATE w/GPU Notes (11/5/2012)*
This case begs for a blower-style graphics card. I tried one of the coolest running GTX 660 Ti cards with dual open fans, Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 Ti GC. This design, combined with the non-ventilated side panel of the FT03-mini lead the card to reach 94C under gaming load. But that's not all. The fans are forced to run faster to maintain more normal temperatures, even at idle; this means the benefit of having large, quiet fans on your GFX card is moot, as they always run harder in this case. Under gaming load, the fans are maxed out and the case design amplifies the sound to highly annoying levels.

I switched this design out for a blower-style GTX 670 (EVGA GTX 670 FTW b/c it uses the 680 blower and PCB). Sound and Load temps were dramatically reduced. The entire pursuit of silence will be hamstrung by blower card, though some cards (my example) do have larger turbines and boards for better/quieter cooling.

*PICS of the two GFX cards installed are linked in the comments

Most of the consumer Reviews tell that the "Silverstone Tek Aluminum Tower Computer Case FT03B-MINI - Black" are high quality item. You can read each testimony from consumers to find out cons and pros from Silverstone Tek Aluminum Tower Computer Case FT03B-MINI - Black ...