So this kind of case is for a very specific application. Either you have a love for the past and want to put your monitor on top of your computer like it's 1998, you like the look of your desk job PC while at home, or you are building this to use in an entertainment center.
Assuming it's the latter, this case gets the job done with a few big caveats everyone considering the case should consider carefully before buying.
Keep in mind, I'm reviewing the SST-GD09B-USA "USA-NEWEST" version of the case.
Pros:
-Metal/build is high quality and doesn't have a lot of give/flex to it. Case feels very solid.
-USB 3.0 and HD Audio ports up front, not behind a cover
-Has a 5.25" external drive bay, if you're into that sort of thing, also not behind a cover
-Dust covers on all the 120mm fan mount points
-Cross bar and drive cage remove relatively easily for easier access during motherboard installation
-Good amount of tie down points for wrangling cables
-2.5"/SSD mount point
-PSU can mount to take advantage of fresh air intake
-Can install 120mm AIO for CPU cooler if installed in front 120mm fan mount on left side of case (PSU no deeper than 140mm)
-4 x 120mm fans (sides), 2 x 80mm fans (rear)
-Can fit graphics cards up to 12" or so (~305mm), so it can accommodate all but the beefiest of cards. Be sure to verify your card length before assuming it will fit.
-Has a horizontal I/O above the PCIe slots for installation of additional I/O ports or... maybe a GPU w/ a riser? (Although that would make literally no sense in a case with no window)
Cons:
-The design of the case does NOT allow for 240mm radiators to be installed for AIOs. The motherboard mounts in a way that prevents you from mounting a 240mm rad w/ fans to the right side of the case, and the left 2 x 120mm fan mounts prevents it because the PSU installs over one of the 120mm fan mounts
-You can fit standard size PSUs, but depth is really limited to 140mm especially if you plan to use a 120mm AIO for your CPU cooler. Ironically, in many cases, modular PSU's are more limited due to the placement of the modular plugs on the PSU I/O. Non-modular PSU's you can probably fit a 150-160mm if you orient it so that the where the cables come out of the PSU is closer to the middle of the case. Be sure to size your PSU appropriately for your cooling setup.
-Drive cage limits size of air coolers. I recommend installing a 120mm AIO as that frees up some space for the drive cage.
-Airflow options are limited. PSU can be used to exhaust air from inside the case, or it can be isolated and draw air from the left rear fan mount. 2 x 80mm fans can be mounted on the right side of the case, above the motherboard I/O, which put them near the 2 x 120mm fans on the right, limiting the cooling potential for the case as they would exhaust a lot of the fresh air before it reached the videocard or other components on the left side of the case.
-Cable management can be a challenge, thanks to the nature of an HTPC case. Lots of tie down points, but the only space for cables is along the front side of the case. Also, the USB3.0 front panel header cable is RIDICULOUSLY long, it could be half the length and still reach anywhere on an ATX motherboard, which just takes up space unnecessarily.
-Has no window or other way to view internal components without opening the case, no optional top cover with a window for purchase from SilverStone.
-Black case has silver/bare metal screws to secure cover, silver covers for PCIe slots (a con for me, maybe not for you, personal preference here all the way).
Conclusion:
This case accomplished my goal of building an HTPC that will fit in my friend's entertainment center. The installation of the 120mm AIO really helped with cooling and airflow in the case, and if you need to it will leave room for the drive cage and even a deep 5.25" drive (although most blu-ray drives nowadays don't overhang the drive cage, and if they do they don't by much). Not a lot of places to mount a hard drive, but really, in an HTPC, you shouldn't be doing a lot of media storage in this thing. This case is perfect for a high performance built with all M.2 SSD storage so you don't need to worry about traditional 3.5" drives. That will allow you to remove the drive cage and increase airflow. Speaking of airflow, this case can be challenging. There are 4 x 120mm fans, 2 on the left and 2 on the right, and 2 x 80mm at the rear of the case above the motherboard I/O. I opted to install 2 x 120mm on the right as intakes, installed the 120mm AIO radiator on the left front 120mm fan mount exhausting, and then mounted the PSU with the fan on the inside of the case exhausting out the back (the PSU blocks the left rear 120mm fan mount). I then installed rigid dust covers over the 80mm fan mounts (there are none included) and opted to not install 80mm fans at all. This resulted in decent cross-case airflow (right to left) and kept my 120mm radiator at reasonable temperatures under load. Also 80mm fans, even "quiet" one, are usually audible and annoying and have a penchant to die more frequently in my experience, so I was happy to leave them off. Can always be added later if the need arises.
All-in-all a good experience and I'd recommend this case to anyone who isn't looking to install a 240mm AIO and won't be doing any crazy overclocking, etc.
| Brand | SilverStone Technology |
|---|---|
| Item model number | SST-GD09B-USA |
| Item Weight | 9.26 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 17.32 x 14.09 x 6.69 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 17.32 x 14.09 x 6.69 inches |
| Color | GD09B-USA |
| Manufacturer | Silverstone -- Dropship |
| ASIN | B07MGKJB29 |
| Date First Available | December 1, 2018 |
