Customer Reviews

SilverStone Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Uni-Body Frame Computer Case with Window CS-FT02B-W (Black)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First thing you'll notice with this case is the price-- but don't let this be the barrier; if you can afford it, you just might find it worth every penny (like me)!

Pros:
- Rotated 90 degree motherboard format (ports come out the top) is genius that takes advantage of the natural flow of heat
- 3 Huge 180mm fans (with filters) blow so much air out the top, while still keeping the noise level down
- U-shaped stands let me put the case on carpet without worrying about the bottom fans
- Great working space inside
- For those who have read the hard drive enclosures being flimsy, while they are made of plastic, mine were not flimsy at all. They clicked into place nicely and were unmoveable once locked
- Looks better in person. My components looked better too inside this case.
- It's extremely quiet

Cons:
- It was pretty heavy (obviously a tradeoff with the size). Height and width doesn't seem to be an issue for me, but I can imagine how the length could be for some (check specs- it virtually is a full size tower on it's side)
- Top drive bay was tight with the wires attached
- You have to remove the side of the case to get to the 3 filters at the bottom
- While the top is not really that hard to remove, I reckon it can be improved
- I've been able to make it clean with a non-modular PSU (I think), but it may take more patience to get the cable arranged well at the back due to the limited space. This is better for me though rather than making the case wider.
- No USB 3 port at the front (I don't blame them as I think the motherboard port is not standard yet)

Considerations:
- It's a GREAT air-cooled case out of the box. I've read that while water cooling is doable, there are other cases that can do that better if your intent is to water cool.
- Make sure you're comfortable with the dimensions
- Because the ports come out at the top, there's a maximum limit for the length of the plug before you're unable to close the top cover. Make sure to check that this is ok for you.
- 7 expansion slots

While I'm far from being an expert on cases, I would say this is one AWESOME case. If you're looking for the best air-cooled case out there and can live with the cons/considerations, stop looking, you've found it.

--Btw, I ordered mine 9/28/2010 and it shipped with the new AP181 fans already!

I've built around 10 computers now, and this is by far the best case I've ever used. I have had a couple of Lian-Li cases, which I believe are the best out there in terms of durability and build quality. However, I had to order this in order to fit an oversized ATX board. I purchased the ASUS Rampage III Extreme mobo, which did not fit many of the standard cases. This case, however, rotates the mobo 90 degrees, so the ports are out the top of the computer.

This helps in several ways:

1. Heat rises out the top more easily. I am running two GeForce 460's in SLI, which helps significantly with the cooling. I have a Cooler Master 212 heat sink for the proc as well which blows the hot air directly upwards, further helping to dissipate heat.
2. Cords are much easier to manage. The cords poke straight out the top and have a cover, so the entire computer looks tidy. You can leave the computer out in the open and not worry about a mess of cords.
3. Easier installation. The rotated mobo allows for a little additional room for installation of parts. It even allows me to put my extra long video cards in, with space to spare. My video cards are almost 8" in length.

A few additional notes:
1. Case is REALLY heavy. Lifting it in and out from under a desk is a bit of a chore, since there are rubber feet below the case that grip carpet and hardwood flooring.
2. The case has (3) 120mm fans on the bottom to aid in blowing the air upwards. It also provides for positive pressure within the case to help reduce dust and hot air. Not sure how well this will function long term, but it seems like a good idea.
3. Case is very large. Its more like a full tower on its side.

Flat out, I believe this is the best case out there right now. If you don't mind how long and heavy it is, it is great for enthusiasts. Highly recommended.

This case is totally awesome. Very solid construction and well worth every dollar I paid for it. The three fans on the bottom keep everything cool inside. The case rotates the motherboard 90 degrees, which give easier access and does a better job at allowing the air from the bottom fans to pass over keeping things nice and cool.

I really hesitated before throwing down the extra $$ to buy this case... Now that the SilverStone Raven RV02E case is out with essentially the same functionality (penetrator fans, hard drive mounting, etc.), I thought "hey, why not just buy that and save the extra $60?". I am SO glad I held out and bought this bad boy.

I went to fry's and checked out the RV02 (they didn't have the FT02), and while it's nice, the plastic-y chassis doesn't hold a candle to the beautiful, textured aluminum... The other reviewers are right when they say that this thing is just really really lovely. Get it. It's awesome.

Excellent Case: Best I have used so far by far!! Pricey but the quality and ease of build was worth the extra cost. This is for top quality builds. Yes! You can put in the HD 5970 extra long video card(s) as long as you remove the bottom fan guard in the middle fan. It is awesome with cooling as heat rises. It also has very low fan noise due to its low RPM fans that move a lot of heat without a lot of sound. It is also sound dampened with easy to access fan filters. Just love this case!!

The best case i've ever owned hands down. Sturdy, epic airflow inside. Does everything it was designed to do.
Case looks even better when its sitting next to you. If your on the edge between price and the "is it worth it" question.
It is absolutely worth it!

My only gripe, is on the left panel the sound proofing makes cable management a little snug, you wont be able to fit your modular sata/molex cable on the hard drives (if you have a lot, I have 5)
The CP-05's are pretty necessary with a lot of drives.

My gripe aside, its a fantastic case. I'd buy it again if i needed another case.

I absolutely love this case and don't have much to add to the good things that everybody else has been saying (as well as the well-known minor issues).

I do want to add that this case now comes standard with USB 3.0 support for the top panel connectors, and the 3x180mm fans are now Silverstone's Air Penetrator fans (which have received almost nothing but rave reviews). I'm only saying this because if you watch/read any online reviews for this case from when it first came out, the top panel only had USB 2.0 and less-good 180mm fans in the bottom. Also, the Air Penetrator fans don't have those screw-on fan grills that the other fans had.

I was pleasantly surprised when I received my FT02 to find out that both of these upgrades are standard now and decided to write this review in case anyone was on the fence because of those things.

After spending a fair few $$$'s on components for a new custom built gaming rig, I have to admit, I skimped slightly on the case... Bad move, especially when running an SLI setup and overclocked CPU (GTX 560Ti's and i5 @ 4.7Ghz).

Started suffering BSOD/crashes nearly every day. At first I didn't know what the issue was so tried uninstalling/installing different programmes and removing/disabling certain hardware components to try and pin-point the problem. Nothing. I finally decided to removed the side of my case... BINGO. No crashes. No BSOD. No hanging.

Simply, my rig was overheating.

After scouring the net for a few weeks and reading reviews for different cases, I decided on the Silverstone Fortress.

It's a large aluminium case with a side window and minimalist design. Nothing unique there. What is unique, however, is the internal layout/design. All components are fitted at a 90 degree angle. So whereas your GPU and mobo I/O, sockets and connections would usually sit at the rear of the case, in the Fortress they sit along the roof.

The reason for this layout is in the positioning of the `Air Penetrator Fans'. Three 180mm fans lay horizontal on the floor of the case blasting heat away from your components. The roof of the case houses only a single 120mm extractor fan but the whole roof of the case is one large grille to let air out.

Does it work? I've not had a single BSOD/crash since installing my components in this case and according to 'MSI Afterburner' my GPU's running temp whilst idle are 28oC - 30oC and under load they do not exceed 65oC.

Is this the best air cooled case available? The numerous awards and reviews say so and as an owner of the Fortress I'd have to agree.

You should seriously consider purchasing this case if running an SLI rig or overclocking (or both like me).

Some people say I downgraded from a Corsair 800D to a Silverstone FT02. However I think the design and efficiency of this case play as much a role as personal preference. I no longer maintain a custom water-cooled system so the features of the 800D didn't cater to my wants nearly as much. Although I enjoyed the extremely large 800D, and enjoyed the amount of space available to me, I also saw that much of that space wasn't being used. There was a lot of negative space for an air only system and felt the need for a more efficient air system.

The build quality is extremely impressive. It is clear that everything was well thought out and the criticism Silverstone received from their previous cases played out and they made appropriate changes. Underneath the thick steel is a noise dampening foam that does its job quite well. The fans at the bottom may seem small, and make the rest of case look small as well, however upon arrival it is easy to not that the case is an appropriate size. Not too small and not to large that you can't set it on your desk either. I was initially worried about the placement of the PSU. However, if done right, the PSU and sleeved cables can compliment the overall look of the interior.

I had planned to use my Corsair H80 in a push only, however the radiator hits the fan switch connections so a pull or a push/pull is required.
One thing I noted, was that some people complained about the lack of room at the very top ODD/ROM Bay. I can definitely see some older drives not fitting, but both my Samsung SH-B123L and my ASUS DRW-24B1ST fit with no problem. All I did was use right angle power and SATA connectors.
The front fan underneath the HDD's is one of my favorite features because, well it keeps all six HDD's cool. This was a problem in my last Silverstone case, having several drives fail from heat despite forward and rear fans near them.
I also enjoy the Motherboard Rotation. The case temperature overall is noticeably different, for the better of course. Across the board I have noticed approximately 1-4 degrees Celsius difference, dependent on where the temp is taken and the load. The primary reason I like the motherboard rotation though is that there is no more large video card "Drooping." Whether aesthetic or not, I like the vertical position my ASUS Matrix GTX 580 is in.

My complaints are mostly minor, although I have one major.
-The drive bay covers are flimsy in nature. They aren't any different from the last Silverstone case I had. Because they are secured by screws, they can be angled a bit up or down, and are just overall cheesy in my opinion. Once again this is just a small complaint that in no way takes away from the value of the case.
-The case is definitely expensive for a mid-tower. However the space allocated is extremely efficient and well used.
-The space behind the motherboard tray is about a half inch. 9/16" or 5/8" would have made for an extremely comfortable cable management space. You should definitely plan out and think about how you want to route your cables throughout your case.
--My Largest complaint is that there are only seven expansion slots and that the sixth HDD bay extends further out. Depending on the board you are using, and the video cards as well, you may be limited to one Three-Slot video card.

I know this case was designed with reference cards in mind, in that they take air from the rear and push it up and out of the case, So I knew this when I got the case. However in their next revision I think either the HDD bay can be moved closer to the front of the case or there should be an eighth expansion slot. I'm sure if I were to change my motherboard to one that wasn't offset by a PCIE x1, then seven slots would be plenty. Even with the way the set up is now, I can still throw in a two-slot video card. Either way, the moral of the story is plan, research, debate, and compromise.

...and a real pleasure to build in. Lots of room! Great airflow, and very, very quiet. Plus it looks superb.