SilverStone FT03 Mini Review: We'll Make You Fun Size
by Dustin Sklavos on May 22, 2012 1:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Mini ITX
- SilverStone
Conclusion: You Already Know If You Want It
Honestly, you probably already knew whether or not you were interested in the SilverStone FT03 Mini from the moment you looked at it. There are plenty of Mini-ITX cases out there, but none of them look like this one, so what the review is really about is answering questions and determining whether or not it has personality to go along with its looks. I'm happy to report that it does.
I liked the FT03 to begin with, and the FT03 Mini is in many ways a direct improvement on that design. In addition to shrinking the form factor, SilverStone fixed one of the main problems: the side panels. There's also no more bottom fan filter falling off, and assembly is actually much simpler in the FT03 Mini than it was in the FT03 proper. The engineers did their homework and came back with something not only improved, but I think shrinking to the Mini-ITX spec actually serves the design better. Aesthetically it's more interesting by being smaller, and physically it allows SilverStone to go down to a single 140mm intake fan in the bottom doing all the work.
The funny thing is that in the process, SilverStone continues to prove that you don't need to throw six fans at every problem when one or two smartly placed fans will do the job. The aforementioned FT02 and TJ08-E along with Lian Li's PC-90 are evidence enough of that. I've been increasingly of the opinion that the low-front-intake-to-top-back-exhaust design, however popular, is inefficient. Tiny wind tunnels like the FT03 Mini seem to prove that.
If you're interested in the FT03 Mini, hopefully this review assuages any concerns you might have about it. Assembly is relatively easy apart from the slightly unusual mounting for the drive cages, and thermal performance and acoustics are both excellent. It's at least as good as it looks if not better, and SilverStone's engineers are showing real progress in their designs. Taken as a whole, that makes the FT03 Mini Bronze Editor's Choice award material.
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ikjadoon - Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - link
http://www.maingear.com/custom/desktops/potenza/ga...This might help...but it's just one shot. :(
terragb - Thursday, May 24, 2012 - link
They are using a CPU water cooler in that shot which makes it look like there is much more space than there is with an air cooler.terragb - Thursday, May 24, 2012 - link
Hey friends,So I know I'm a bit late to the party but I'm actually using the FT03-Mini right now with an i7-3770 and a GTX 680.
For the record, assembly with a 680 becomes a completely different situation. Yes, there is physically enough room inside the case for the 680 but actually getting it in place is very difficult. I had to follow a completely different assembly order than recommended and actually had to unscrew the front grill/port cover/mounting bracket from the GPU to squeeze it in and then screw the front grill back in place with it lodged inside the case.
I have pictures of the build that I need to find time to upload but I'll try and answer questions if anyone has any.
mcbowler - Friday, May 25, 2012 - link
So how do you like the set up? This seams ideal to me.terragb - Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - link
I'm really happy with it. I really like the unique vertical orientation of the case. I'm still seeing how hot the video card runs since its definitely a little airflow starved given the GPU intake fan is only a few millimeters from the side panel of the case.ggathagan - Saturday, May 26, 2012 - link
That's odd.Is the 680 a reference-based design or does it have a custom cooler like the MSI Twin Frozr?
I used an EVGA GTX670, which is the same size as their 680 as both are reference design. I didn't have to do anything to the GPU.
Yes, it's tight, but you can get the GPU in after everything else is installed and running.
I did some testing with the built-in graphics before installing the 670.
When I installed the card, I didn't have to do any more than take off the panel with the optical drive slot.
And it didn't take any kind of forcing.
That GPU size struck me as almost being made for the case.
terragb - Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - link
Its an allegedly reference Galaxy GTX 680. Honestly if it were only a few millimeters shorter it would have fit in without all the effort.Salem - Friday, June 15, 2012 - link
I'm about to order everything, but when it comes to CPU cooler, I just realized there doesn't appear to be any room for the radiator from the Corsair H60 on the bottom while having a 10" video card like the GTX680 or 670. Does this sound right to you? How are you cooling your CPU?I have a spare Noctua C14, but there's no way that'll work in this thing.
methudman6 - Friday, May 25, 2012 - link
Where the heck can I buy this in the US? I can find only one Canadian retailer online called Sundial Micro.ggathagan - Saturday, May 26, 2012 - link
Sundial is where my friend bought his.They're in California, not Canada.
CA as domain name is Canada. As an address, it's California
Got it quick, and the whole process was trouble-free.