Enclosures Linux Reviews & Articles

There have been 89 Linux hardware reviews and benchmark articles on Phoronix for enclosures. Separately, check out our news section for related product news.

Most people would agree that SilverStone cases are great. In fact, many of our most favorite computer cases over the past five years have come from SilverStone Technology, including the very wonderful Temjin TJ10, the incredibly small Sugo, Raven RV02, and most recently the Fortress FT02, among others. The only issue that most computer enthusiasts and system builders gripe with regarding SilverStone enclosures is their price-tag, which usually don't come cheap. For example, the TJ10 that has been on the market now for some three years still sells for nearly $300 USD. While those cases are often worth the price, one of the newest ATX cases from this seven-year-old manufacturer sells for just $50 USD, so we decided to check it out. In this review, we are exploring the SilverStone Precision PS05B.

When testing out new hardware at Phoronix the systems are often running in an open environment atop a table rather than nestled away within an ATX case. While cases like the Raven RV02 and Fortress FT02 are wonderful to work with and use, when routinely swapping out hardware whether it's graphics cards or motherboards, it can be time consuming having to open up the chassis each time, remove any screws, pull out the existing hardware, and then install the new hardware. Running the hardware simply off its own cardboard box is often the quickest and most efficient path, but each system can occupy a lot of table space and lead to a rather cluttered work area. Fortunately, Lian Li has introduced a new ATX test bench called the PC-T60 that is designed for those enthusiasts or professionals that are frequently swapping out PC hardware.

Back in November we reviewed the SilverStone Raven RV02 and found it to be an amazing computer case. It finally was superior to the Temjin TJ10 that was a favorite for years, but now SilverStone has pushed the limits of their designs and innovation even further. We now have our hands on the SilverStone Fortress FT02, which does inherit some traits from the Raven chassis, but it is simply one amazing enclosure. The Fortress FT02 may cost more than $200 USD, but read on to learn more about this exceptionally designed ATX / SSI CEB chassis.

While we have a passion for Linux benchmarking, drivers, and delivering all sorts of performance metrics on Phoronix, once in a while it's enjoyable taking a break from that usual spin to look at other hardware components. In particular, checking out the latest computer cases from SilverStone Technology is usually the preferred choice. SilverStone has been around for seven years now yet they continue putting out some of the best and most innovative products on the market, with cases, power supplies, coolers, and other products. Their computer cases are among the best and the Temjin TJ10 and Raven RV02 have been personal favorites but they have dozens of other enclosures that range from low-profile SFF boxes to large towers. Back in October the Grandia GD03 was reviewed, but SilverStone has since sent out the Grandia GD04 to be tested, which is the focus of today's review.

Earlier this year we reviewed the SilverStone Raven RV01 and loved this high-end computer chassis. We did not think it was quite superior to the SilverStone Temjin TJ10 that has been our favorite for years, but now SilverStone is out with the Raven RV02. Are there enough improvements in the RV02 to see if it can finally surpass the Temjin TJ10 as our favorite? Actually, yes.

SilverStone is one of the brands we enjoy testing for computer cases as they always seem to drive innovations into their products from the Sugo to the Raven to their very impressive Temjin series. One of the SilverStone product lines that we had not reviewed up to this point was the Grandia series of HTPC enclosures, but that changed when we tested out the SilverStone Grandia GD03. The GD03 is an ATX enclosure that integrates dual hot-swappable HDD bays, an aluminum front panel, and a design to deliver quite yet cool performance.

Back in 2005 we had reviewed the SilverStone Sugo SG01 and found this innovative small form factor chassis with its unique design to be very impressive and a wonderful case for gamers and computer enthusiasts. There were a few areas with the case's design that was not perfect, but SilverStone had then introduced the SG01W Evolution model complete with a case window and a few internal improvements. Pushing forward to 2007, there was then the Sugo SG03 that had the same basic layout as the SG01 but was rotated so that it would stand vertically. This was, yet another, excellent SilverStone chassis to work with and was wonderful in almost every aspect. A year later, after initially only being available in the Asian countries, we got our hands on the Sugo SG02-F, which was a budget version of the SG01. Last year we then reviewed the Sugo SG04, which built upon the SG03 and was still another great chassis. What though do we have to look at from SilerStone this year when it comes to the Sugo series? You guessed it, the SG05. The SG05 (and the already launched SG06) are radically different from the earlier Sugo enclosures in that they are for micro ITX systems rather than micro ATX.

Besides SilverStone, Cooler Master, and Antec, another leading computer enclosure manufacturer is Lian Li, which is a brand well known among computer enthusiasts for building some of the best and most unique computer cases that have ever hit the markets. One of the most recent products introduced by Lian Li is the PC-A05N, which may be sized very small, but has a unique layout with its back-to-front design. Rather than pulling air into the chassis from the front and exhausting it at the rear, the Lian Li PC-A05N is designed to pull in the fresh air from the back of the ATX chassis and then the exhaust is at the front, which Lian Li engineers claim will deliver dramatically better performance.

While at Phoronix we mostly focus on Linux hardware compatibility and hardware that can be stressed using our flagship testing software, we always enjoy taking a break from our usual Linux benchmarking routine to look at SilverStone cases. SilverStone has been around for just six years but they constantly drive innovation into their wide assortment of computer enclosures with many different series for fitting the needs of HTPC, desktop, small form factor, and traditional tower customers. One of the newest lineups for SilverStone is the Precision series, which strives to be a precision crafted enclosure with classic styling. In this review we are looking at the SilverStone Precision PS02 to see how it compares to the Temjin TJ10, Kublai KL03, Fortress FT01, Raven RV01, and other SilverStone products that have met our praise.

Back in December we looked at the SilverStone Fortress FT01. While we have seen many remarkable cases from SilverStone over the years like the Temjin TJ10 and Sugo, the Fortress series was a brand new line-up and introduced several innovations into this $200 USD enclosure. The Fortress FT01 ended up being an excellent case and had received our Phoronix Editor's Choice Award. Besides the new Fortress series, SilverStone has also introduced the Raven series. We have already reviewed the SilverStone Raven Mouse, but now there is a Raven chassis. This chassis is really like nothing else we have ever seen before, so read on as we explore the Raven RV01.

For those not interested in a sleek computer enclosure like the SilverStone Temjin TJ10, a humongous chassis like the Cooler Master ATCS 840 EATX, or a professional-oriented chassis like the SilverStone Fortress FT01, there is the Sunbeam Acrylic UFO Cube Case. The Sunbeam Acrylic UFO Cube Case is a do-it-yourself case that is made almost entirely of acrylic and will allow you to show off all of the hardware you have installed.

Earlier this year we had looked at the Cooler Master CSX Gargoyle chassis, which was a limited-edition custom-painted chassis that came from their Customize Style Experience (CSX) group. With the CSX Gargoyle selling for over $1,000 USD, it's not economical for most computer enthusiasts or gamers. However, if you are looking for another well-designed Cooler Master chassis that will not set you back nearly as much, there is their new ATCS 840 EATX chassis. The ATCS 840 only costs about $250, but it provides a plethora of room and features.

For the past sixteen months it's been difficult for us to find an ATX computer enclosure that beats the SilverStone Temjin TJ10 in terms of its build quality, design, and functionality, but SilverStone may have finally set a new precedent for desktop enclosures with the introduction of the Fortress FT01. This ATX chassis consists of a uni-body frame with origins that can be traced back to the Temjin TJ07, but with better cooling performance, dual 180mm fans, and a number of new features. It's with great pride that today we review the SilverStone Fortress FT01.

It has been a while since last looking at a Thermaltake chassis at Phoronix, but today we have our hands on the Spedo Advance Chassis. This full tower chassis is made of SECC steel and has seven 5.25" drive bays, but perhaps what is more unique is its dual 230mm fans, 140mm fan, and three 120mm fans (with room for another two). In addition, the Spedo Advance Chassis has an Advance Thermal Chamber 3, Cable Routing Management 3, an HDD relocation canister, and other features designed to satisfy the needs of the most stringent gamers and computer enthusiasts.

Last year we had looked at the SilverStone Sugo SG03 and found it to be a phenomenal successor to the Sugo SG01 Evolution and it had went on to receive our Editor's Choice Award. Since the release of the SG03, SilverStone had decided to release the Sugo SG02 in the United States, which was a budget version of the SG01 and their most affordable chassis to date. Now though SilverStone has made a few improvements to the SG03 design and they have released the Sugo SG04. The SG04 takes the same design as the SG03 but it improves the cooling potential of the case, adds a case handle, and improves a few other aspects of this case. In this article we are looking at the SilverStone SST-SG04B-H as well as the SilverStone NT06 Evolution heatsink.

The last time we looked at a SilverStone Lascala chassis was back in 2006 when reviewing the SilverStone LC20M, which boasted an aluminum front panel, plenty of room for storing extra hard drives, and even a VFD panel with IR receiver. We are back today though with the Lascala series as we explore the LC13-E, which promises next-generation cooling performance, a highly compatible chassis layout, magnificent front panel design, and at a price that most can afford.

Earlier this year we had looked at the Cooler Master Cosmos S, which was a very nice EATX chassis and had taken the Cosmos 1000 to the next level. While we were not most fond of the Cosmos S aesthetics, the Cooler Master case we are looking at today is unlike any other we have ever reviewed. The case we are looking at is the CSX Limited Edition Gargoyle.

The Sugo SG02-F is described as their most affordable case yet and it offers an improved layout over the original SG01. Unlike the revolutionary differences between the SG01 and SG03, the SG02-F is just an evolution of the SG01 design with expanded support for graphics cards and is composed of a steel body. Thanks to these design improvements, this SFF case is capable of handling long graphics cards such as the NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600 and GeForce 8800 Ultra. The SG02-F is quite similar to the original SG02 except for turning from aluminum to steel construction and some other enhancements. With a price tag under $80 USD, does this case still deliver on the features and exceptional build quality we have become to know and love from this high-end manufacturer or have they cut too many corners to achieve this pricing?

It's been a while since last reviewing a computer chassis from NZXT (November 2006 with the NZXT Zero), but today we have our hands on NZXT's newest chassis, the Tempest. NZXT describes this mid-tower steel chassis as being the "airflow king" with four 120mm fans and two 140mm fans, in addition to being ready for a dual radiator setup for water-cooling. NZXT has also taken this case a step further by accommodating eight hard drive mounts and room for an extended ATX motherboard, all inside this case that measures in at 211 x 512 x 562 mm. We first viewed the Tempest back at CES 2008, and in this review we'll tell you what we think of this newest NZXT creation.

Last September we had our first encounter with the SilverStone Kublai series when reviewing the Kublai KL02. We found that the Kublai series, which is targeted at economically minded consumers, had inherited many traits from SilverStone's flagship Temjin series while costing much less. The build quality of the KL02 chassis was excellent for being a $150 case and it ended up receiving our approval. Following the success of the Kublai KL01 and KL02 cases, SilverStone has released the KL03 as another steel and aluminum chassis, but this time it comes with support for Extended ATX motherboards. In this review, we are looking at the SilverStone Kublai KL03 as we fill it up with dual AMD quad-core Barcelona processors and other high-end hardware.

Back in August we looked at the Cooler Master Cosmos 1000, which was a very well designed EATX chassis that ultimately received our Editor's Choice Award for its excellent build quality, stylish design, and its feature-set. Just a few days ago, however, Cooler Master had unleashed the Cosmos S chassis. The Cosmos S RC-1100 is based upon the Cosmos design, but features a new racing theme, touch-sensitive panel, and various other improvements. The RC-1100 is meant to be the "Sports" version of the Cosmos 1000. In this review, we're looking at the Cooler Master Cosmos S as we load it up with an Intel 5400 EATX server motherboard and other high-end server hardware to see how this case really performs.

Home theater PCs are a growing market. More and more people are looking for a device that can drive their entire home theater. For many, the HTPC is the solution; however, most do not want a clunky computer intruding into their living room. Who wants a Cooler Master Cosmos towering over everything in their living room? Thus over the years, many companies have offered PC cases designed specifically for the task of housing a Home Theater PC. We've looked at other HTPC cases in the past, such as the SilverStone Milo series and the Lascala LC20M, but today we will look at the Antec Veris Fusion Black 430, which is also referred to as the Fusion Black v2.

Water cooling used to be a very daunting task for all but the most experienced enthusiasts. It required time, dedication, and knowledge of many different types of components, and installing them in an orderly, professional matter was a very time consuming process. Many have simply jumped ship, including me, and returned to air-based cooling solutions over the past years. But nowadays, water cooling is becoming more and more accessible. Just about every vendor involved in the cooling business provides all-in-one systems, 5.25" bay contraptions, and integrated case solutions. Today we have Gigabyte's 3D Mercury integrated water-cooling case for review. The 3D Mercury is built around Gigabyte's 3D Galaxy water cooling system but is built into a large chassis that is compatible with even Extended ATX motherboards.

Back during Computex Taipei 2007, David Lin had found the Kublai series among the many cases at SilverStone's booth. At that time the Kublai series wasn't officially announced so at first it wasn't know if David just had too much to drink at the previous night's party (like in the past at Computex Taipei) or whether the Kublai was actually a great find. Well, since then the Kublai series was officially announced as a cheaper alternative to the Temjin series while providing adequate cooling and quietness that computer enthusiasts have come to expect from SilverStone. At hand today we have the SilverStone Kublai KL02, which is one of the two cases currently making up this new ATX tower series.

Last year we reviewed the SilverStone Temjin TJ09, which was an incredible EATX chassis and the best that we had seen all year. Well, half way through 2007 at Computex Taipei we caught our first glimpse of the Temjin TJ10 and now in August we finally have our hands on this beautiful-looking computer enclosure. The Temjin TJ10 takes the winning TJ09 design but incorporates several improvements. What are these changes for the TJ10 and is this case worth the $320+ price tag? We'll tell you in the world's first review of the SilverStone TJ10-BW.

Over the years of looking at SilverStone products we have seen a wide variety of cases and with all of them they've sported top-notch construction, excellent designs with useful features, and with each new model their products only seem to get better. Two of the SilverStone cases we looked at recently were the Temjin TJ09 and the Sugo SG03 SFF. The SilverStone TJ09 chassis was the best ATX case we'd seen all of last year and we are looking forward to seeing if this year's Temjin TJ10 can continue in that success. Meanwhile, the Sugo SG03 is what we had called the "SG01 on steroids and it's a sexy yet functional micro ATX chassis", which remains one of the best micro ATX cases to date. Anyways, enough with the past. Today we managed to get our hands on SilverStone's latest micro ATX product, which is the Milo ML02. The SilverStone Milo ML02 is the successor to the Milo ML01 that we looked at this past September. The Milo ML01 was a great package, but the ML02 is rebuilt almost from the ground up and extends support for DTX and ITX motherboards. Continue on as we look at this well-designed MoDT (Mobile on Desktop) chassis with an extremely slim profile, fanless power supply, and integrated LCD panel.

In 2004 Cooler Master released its Stacker STC-T01, considered a legend and pioneer of case design. Its unprecedented 11 drive bays, dual power supply mounts, build quality, and simple but elegant design gave users a level of flexibility and working space, which destroyed copycats down the road. Among these copycats were the Raidmax Katana, Xion Stacker, and Thermaltake Armor; the Armor was the most successful of them. However, it still lagged behind the original Stacker in almost all aspects. But this is all ancient history. Three years later, Cooler Master has unveiled its new flagship chassis, the Cooler Master Cosmos 1000. You would expect it to be just another no holds barred ultimate performance chassis, but Cooler Master defines this case as "Performance Meets Silence." It seems like Cooler Master has upped the ante this time...

The SilverStone Sugo SG03 is a SG01 on steroids and it's a sexy yet functional micro ATX chassis. You could also say the SilverStone Sugo SG03 is the Temjin TJ09 of micro ATX cases. There are a few minor details with the case that are obviously inherited from the original Sugo and the Sugo Evolution, but as a whole this is an all-new and very exciting case.

Prior to the SilverStone Sugo SG03 introduction, we have decided to look at the SilverStone Sugo SG01W. The SG01W is similar to the Sugo SG01 and SG01 Evolution, but the W signifies a model with two windows! Now with the SG01W you have the excellent attributes of the SG01 Evolution while having two windows for showing off your hardware as well as the innards of this chassis. Along with the Sugo SG01W we will be looking at the SilverStone Element ST50EF-Plus SC power supply.

The SilverStone Temjin TJ09 is a beautiful chassis that offers a unique cooling design and can accommodate Extended ATX SSI motherboards. Simply put, the SilverStone Temjin TJ09 is the best ATX/EATX case we have seen in 2006 and SilverStone engineers certainly deserve props for this marvelous creation.