HEXUS.reviews :: Silverstone SG03 - WORLD EXCLUSIVE!

[R3MF]

Your welcome

There are four PCI slots down the bottom, the 5th is at the TOP of the chassis, see the rear pic for what I mean. This would give direct heat extraction from the CPU area.

Matt.

i point you towards this paragraph:
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=8438&page=4

At the top is what looks like a spare PCI plate that got lost on the way. Its purpose is to allow the fitting of an optional cross-flow fan, Silverstone's own FX121.

if you look at the picture of the rear of the case, you will see four mounting holes between the PSU and the mobo backplate, this is where the crossflow fan is mounted, not over the 5th blank PCI slot.

the review implies that the crossflow fan fits over the 5th blank PCI slot, which is something i did indeed suggest to SST, but as far as i know they have not implemented.

it could be that SST did implement this, but your picture doesn't show any mounting holes for the crossflow fan other than where it was originally intended; between the PSU and mobo backplate.

hope this helps.

p.s. any idea when scan will get stock of them?

[R3MF]

is it possible to swap the two side panels around?

e.g. if you were using an NT06, and therefore had the PSU facing inwards, you might prefer to have a solid panel rather than a ventilated panel on the left side in order to suppress noise.

[MD]

i point you towards this paragraph:
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=8438&page=4


if you look at the picture of the rear of the case, you will see four mounting holes between the PSU and the mobo backplate, this is where the crossflow fan is mounted, not over the 5th blank PCI slot.

the review implies that the crossflow fan fits over the 5th blank PCI slot, which is something i did indeed suggest to SST, but as far as i know they have not implemented.

You are correct I need to edit the editorial to reflect this, i was going off something I had been told but mis-understood. I remember the upper PCI plate was designed for thermal control of fans/CPU cooler - like they displayed at CES.

it could be that SST did implement this, but your picture doesn't show any mounting holes for the crossflow fan other than where it was originally intended; between the PSU and mobo backplate.

Pictures were taken yesterday, so they are as up to date as you are going to get

hope this helps.

p.s. any idea when scan will get stock of them?

Stock is expected sometime in April for all retailers, I would presume Scan will have this, but best to check with them directly in their forum, if they haven't got a date, or an order for one they can see if purchasing are interested.



Matt.

[MD]

is it possible to swap the two side panels around?

e.g. if you were using an NT06, and therefore had the PSU facing inwards, you might prefer to have a solid panel rather than a ventilated panel on the left side in order to suppress noise.

I just checked for you, this is not possible, the way the vent is mounted on the left panel means it is restricted by the motherboard mounting plate when you try to fit it on the other side.

matt.

[R3MF]

many thanks.

[MD]

You're welcome, like to think we follow up on reviews where we can

[chrestomanci]

Looks like a finky little case. Out of curiousity can you mount the PSU the other way around and use it to cool the CPU?

Not really. Modern PSU a designed to run hot, so the fans only run very slowly. They don't generate enough airflow to cool a CPU.

[chuckskull]

Not really. Modern PSU a designed to run hot, so the fans only run very slowly. They don't generate enough airflow to cool a CPU.

An energy effecient X2 or a low speed Core 2 could easily be cooled by a small amount of airflow, with any remotely good CPU cooler. Running passive isn't anything hard to do.

[this_is_gav]

And as the review states, mobile CPUs would be especially ideal. Core Duos are still doing the rounds, as well as the Core2Duo mobiles. Mine only has a tiny heatsink on it, and no fan exhausting - just the PSU fan. No intake or exhaust other than that. The cores are currently idling at 31 and 34c apparently.

[Gordy]

Of course, I knew I would have to do them, I just didn't get the chance with the various deadlines. Its not good news I am afraid, the way the panel is made would result in needing a thick beading round the edge or a fair amount of cutting to make it look 'good'

Here you go, click for a large version...

There is a very good reason for no other mention at this time, we had hoped for a NT06 lite but this didn't turn up, so we could only test at stock for the time being. We hope to recieve one soon and are keen to take a look at it and will publish our opinions then as that and the intel cooler are the only two we know of that fit at this time.

Matt.

Thanks by the look of the picture it would be possible to replace the grill with something a bit more attractive at least.

It's too close to the back of the side panel for something like a window.

I wish silverstone would do a version without it as I definitely get one. With the grill its 50/50

[lost eden]

I had been dieing to see how SilverStone solved the hard drive problem! Kudos to them for the solution! Of course it'd be fun trying to use a single dual-channel IDE cable to stretch from one drive across to the other, but I suppose we should all be using SATA these days (unless somebody reeeealy wants SCIS U 320 in this thing...).

How much clearance is there between the bottom-most expansio slot & the rear of the 2 hard drives? Room enough for big double-slot coolers or not?

And a question that I'm sure has been asked, or if not should have - does it look like there's space for a dual 120mm radiator up front? Or would it foul on the motherboard (the board in the review seems to have the 24-pin power connector jutting up right in the way).

And I have to be another to vote against the side vent. Whilst I agree that for cooling it's a great idea, it just looks a bit like Optimus Prime has had a go at it. If they just used all-over perforated sheet like the front of a G5 Mac or Lian-Li V series it would look a lot better, not need for that fugly bezel.

Can't wait to see people start modding these things & cramming in insane amounts of hardware & cooling

[MD]

Thanks by the look of the picture it would be possible to replace the grill with something a bit more attractive at least.

It's too close to the back of the side panel for something like a window.

I wish silverstone would do a version without it as I definitely get one. With the grill its 50/50

Like we say in the editorial, without it it would be far too warm...

[MD]

I had been dieing to see how SilverStone solved the hard drive problem! Kudos to them for the solution!

Glad we have allieved your desperation.

Of course it'd be fun trying to use a single dual-channel IDE cable to stretch from one drive across to the other,

Not sure how - not long enough - would be fun

but I suppose we should all be using SATA these days (unless somebody reeeealy wants SCIS U 320 in this thing...).

Indeed

How much clearance is there between the bottom-most expansio slot & the rear of the 2 hard drives? Room enough for big double-slot coolers or not?

There should be JUST enough room, the Model on show at CeBIT was running Quad SLI but they were 7950GX2's I beleive.

And a question that I'm sure has been asked, or if not should have - does it look like there's space for a dual 120mm radiator up front? Or would it foul on the motherboard (the board in the review seems to have the 24-pin power connector jutting up right in the way).

I don't think it would foul up the motherboard as such, but in my option it wouldn't fit. Even is the Power wasn't where it was on an end users board.

And I have to be another to vote against the side vent. Whilst I agree that for cooling it's a great idea, it just looks a bit like Optimus Prime has had a go at it. If they just used all-over perforated sheet like the front of a G5 Mac or Lian-Li V series it would look a lot better, not need for that fugly bezel.

Its overbearing for sure, but I suppose they only had a VERY small space to work in.

Can't wait to see people start modding these things & cramming in insane amounts of hardware & cooling

You don't need to mod it to fit in insane hardware, but the modding side might be quite limited, watercooling wolud be some feat imo.

[Gordy]

Like we say in the editorial, without it it would be far too warm...

If it needs a grill there at least stamp the side panel with a grill don't add the monstrosity that they have done to it.

A simple little grill where the psu goes would be just as effective and look a lot better. Look at the one on the lian li v600 for example.

[YorkieBen]

we've had SG01, and SG03

where is SG02

I do like Silverstone cases (got a TJ06).

[MD]

If it needs a grill there at least stamp the side panel with a grill don't add the monstrosity that they have done to it.

A simple little grill where the psu goes would be just as effective and look a lot better. Look at the one on the lian li v600 for example.

I am actually thinking vents cut into the panels would have been nicer, anything from 1 - 2 inches in length with curved ends.

Of course each person has a different perspective on things and the light weight of the SG03 might be one of the reasons things might have been done the way they have been.