Customer Reviews

SilverStone SG05B Mini-ITX/DTX Motherboard Plastic Front Panel Case (Black)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This compact Silverstone case has many nice features. I like the second PCI card slot which allowed me to install both cards which came with my TV tuner (the second card plugs into the first, as my mini ITX motherboard has only one PCI express slot). However, there is one feature I could live without. The case only supports a slim optical (notebook) drive. I would have preferred a similar model supporting a standard desktop optical drive, even if it meant the case needed to be slightly larger. Use of a notebook optical drive requires an adapter be screwed onto the back of the optical drive. Silverstone's included IDE adapter was of no use in building a state-of-the-art system using Intel's latest media series mini-ITX motherboard DH57JG, which has no IDE drive support. My search for a SATA adapter led me to order from a Hong Kong supplier (search for "Laptop Notebook Slim CD DVD-Rom Drive to SATA Adapter"). The first adapter I received worked, but didn't fit in my case because it was too large, using a desktop-sized PCB. Since the end of the slim ODD doesn't extend past the end of the Silverstone bracket that holds it, you need an adapter with a small notebook ODD sized adapter. Back to Hong Kong for reorder. Get one which is 102mmx13mm. Second adapter I received was the right size but arrived with minor damage, so I had to ask for another one. With shipping time from Hong Kong, it will be nearly two extra months before I finally finish building my system. Silverstone could save the aggravation by including a SATA adapter with the case- they aren't that expensive (less than $10).

I have owned this case for 6 months. It is a good case for what it is designed for. I use it as an HTPC case. It is tall for this purpose and will not fit in many racks. I will be converting it to an 8TB server shortly. The case has tons of room; although, only 2 bays. I will modify it and get another two drives vertical without much fuss. Beware of the DVD slim slot; good if you don't mind the laptop drives. The LED light on the front is VERY bright. This case has excellent cooling with 80mm fan in the front and vent holes all around. Has a very good power supply for an mini-itx. The price has come down. Silverstone makes good products.

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My first impression upon unpacking this case: IT IS BIG! I was expecting a smaller mini-cube size based
on the photos here on Amazon, it's my fault that I didn't check the dimensions more carefully. This case
measures 8.75" x 7" x 10.9" (W,H,D). The large 120mm fan up front might account for the larger size.

I'm using this case with a Foxconn G41S-K mini-DTX LGA775 board, which has a PCI-E x1 slot (useful for
a TV tuner), and also a full-sized PCI-E x16 slot for a video card.

It seems that mini-DTX motherboards are fading from popularity, which is a shame because they offer 2 slots,
instead of 1 slot that you get on a mini-ITX board.

The power supply is a quality 300-watt unit made by FSP, and features a quiet 80mm fan and energy-efficient
80Plus certification. The power supply is standard SFX size, so it should be easy to get a replacement a few
years down the line. Some mini-cube cases use proprietary power supplies that can be difficult to find...

I am using a 'GearGrip Micro LT' nylon carrying strap, and it works great.

The design, paint job, fit and finish are all excellent, this is a really nice little case!

Loaded case with ITX motherboard, SSD and a HDD. There isn't much space left. The weakest part is the front power button switch.

This case is great but is really showing its age. I know this is a small form factor case and it does that job very well, but for over $100 it really should have more modern features. You will need your tool kit for this case including the hard drive, optical drive, and expansion card slots require screws. Cable management is also tricky. The optical tray looks like it has places to feed cables through and being able to put the cables up there would really help streamline the case, but these slots are too small for anything but the SATA power and data cables. Also with so much top and side ventilation it would have been nice if they included a couple of fan mounting holes. The front 120 mm fan is great pulling plenty of air and is barely audible. The shell of the case is attractive but is too easy to bend especially on the top grill (mine already has a slight but noticeable wave appearance). You have to take the case apart to install the motherboard (took me over an hour to completely build out the case). It really would not have been too hard to make a motherboard tray mounted on the bottom. Other reviews have mentioned the bright blue LED power light. Unfortunately, it is way too bright a simple switch or dimmer could have turned this flaw into a really nice touch. The front fan mesh is a great idea but requires that you remove the front bezel to get to it making cleaning difficult. The front IO panel is clean and simple with 2 USB 2 ports a mic and headphone jack but again for the price USB 3 would have been appreciated.

Overall this is one of the best small form factor cases on the market. It is the perfect size for my application - small enough to fit where I want it, but big enough to allow for future expansion. I love the 300 Watt 80 plus certified PSU and dual full size 9 inch expansion slots. With a few tweaks Silverstone could really take this case to the next level.

Case is fine for me, but just be aware that it comes with a 2x10 power connector. My motherboard (Intel 525) required a 12x2, so I ended up having to buy an adapter.

Case is basically a cheapo, but it looks good and is well ventilated. There was enough room inside for a single drive, but there was good clearance from the mobo to the PSU.

I bought this case specifically for an htpc. It fits great with a core i5 650 with a good amount of space surrounding the cpu. The wires were a stored out of the way with a few wire ties. Very compact little case. There is also enough room for a 2u video card on the side of the mb/case. I am currently using onboard video so this space is vacant for now.

The lights on the front were a little bright so I pulled the hd light cable off the mb so that I don't have to watch it flash. The light on the front is bright as well and I plan on putting something over it to cover it.

Over all this was exactly what I thought it would be. Little larger than most devices, not as pretty as a ps3, wii, or an xbox 360 but highly functional. I'll try to post pictures when I get a chance.

Awesome Mini-ITX case! Everything comes apart easily. Assembly was a breeze. Temps are just amazing from such a small case. The included power supply is handling an overclocked i3-530, hd, DVD burner, 4gb of tracer ram, two 120mm fans, and a HIS Radeon HD 5770 1gb with ease! The Cooler Master GeminII S fit with no issues! The case has holes so you can mount the power supply upside-down if you want.

The case cover is a pain, but I don't see any way to improve it.

The people complaining about the power supply cable length need a new hobby. I found the length just about right. Cable management and airflow are vital in these small cases and you need the length to make the management as stealthy as possible.

My build:
Silverstone SG05 mini-ITX case
ECS H55H-I motherboard
Intel i3-530 overclocked to 3.5ghz
Cooler Master GeminII S
4GB (2x2gb) Crucial Tracer DDR3-1333
WD black edition notebook hard drive
HIS 5770 1gb
Samsung slim DVDRW
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bi