Hardware SilverStone Raven RVZ01 Review

I must say I'm very impressed... As the review says - this case just screams Steam box and the PCIe riser is a fantastic idea...

 

Fair to say that the Milo ML07 will be the same results (as AFAIK it's the same chassis) and I prefer the aesthetics of that over the Ravens styling.

I did actually double-take those CPU temps; very impressive little case!

 

Interesting chassis, epic cooling and capable of housing a fairly potent rig, even if it does seem a little on the large side for a iTX case. Whilst not wishing to appear too negative, I think the value score seems a bit high, considering the need for a £75 SFF PSU too (assuming you want to game on it).

I wonder if they're planning a similar layout mATX box?

 

I wonder too. Wish any good modder could say something about... xD

 

I still don't get how the risercard is working on the installed motherboard. Any pics of this?

 

This looks a nice case indeed. But I can't help wondering if it's less of an enclosure and more of a compact "mount" for components. There's an awful lot of holes in there and I'd be worried about the din if it was parked next to me on the desk.

Also, I'm sure it goes without saying, but potential buyers of small ITX cases should always be aware that using an AIO CPU cooler (if your case supports it) pretty much levels the playing field in terms of temperatures and isolates the CPU from the case, leaving you to wrestle with the GPU cooling instead.

 

I was just thinking this; how come no photo of fully kitted out case including G-card? Or does the riser insert just block off the lower section completely so not much to see?

 

reminds me of the Alienware X51. Apart from the proper PSU! I think this will at some point end up in my sitting room.

 

I find any criticism of the use of a SFX PSU extremely short sighted.

The use of SFX PSUs should be encouraged and applauded in ITX case design, and marked up accordingly. SFX PSUs, even in their current 450W form provide easily enough power for a single GPU gaming rig (I run a 3570K at 4.4Ghz, and an OC’d GTX 770)

They are so much lighter than a regular PSU, making your ITX case easily transportable (a reason people go ITX in the first place). Not forgetting of course, the main draw – their diminutive size, meaning space left for big GPUs or just smaller cases overall.

If anything, marks should be awarded for intelligently picking the PSU form factor that naturally matches the size of the motherboard. Sure, people might have to buy a new PSU, but then they’ll recoup whatever it is they get back from selling their old one, and have a lighter, smaller PSU to go with it.

Reviewers even mentioning it as a negative really doesn't help the issue. The Silverstone marketing team are going to look at this and go back to the design team and say 'we got marked down for the SFX PSU guys', and the next case will use an ATX PSU, and we'll be right back where we started, with no new SFX PSUs coming to market because people aren't buying them.

 

Indeed, they would have been fools to put a full size ATX PSU in there. An SFX PSU is exactly appropriate.

 

I don't think anyone is suggesting that it isn't appropriate - my only gripe was the value score, given the premium attached to SFF PSUs.

 

I'm surprised nobody has gone for TFX yet - that little big bigger than SFX but that allows for a bigger, quieter fan, more space for heatsinks/circuitry and still taking up a lot less space than an ATX supply.

 

That exactly (see here) - that's about the best piccies I could find of (a) a graphics card installed in the bracket and (b) a system installed in the case. I do like how the 2.5" drives mount to the back of the bracket though - very clever design...

I have to admit that this case is making me rethink my entire living room setup...

 

Just an FYI - if you have the ST45SF-G, its likely you have version 1. Version 2 has new firmware with much quieter fan profiles. Mine is virtually silent!

 

I didn't know that! I had read that they were noisy and there was warranty voiding going on with Noiseblocker fan replacements.

I was considering the non modular 450W for my ITX, but JRS has me worried on that one, my SG05 with 300W is fine.

 

I have the v2 of the ST45SF-G in my RVZ01 & don't have any noise issues. Have been using this setup for my HTPC since the case was available at Scan a few months back & really rate it. The only real noise I get is when I am stressing the Gigabyte 260X GPU with madvr.

A couple of internals of mine

 

interesting. was going for the FT03 for my next mITX build, but i might actually change my mind...


...now about that GPU riser thing. hows my 660Ti going to fit in there... love to see a pic.