CasesReviews

SilverStone’s VT01 – TJ07-esque uSFF!

Recently, I looked at SilverStone’s VT02 – a subtle Mini-STX case along the lines of the ASRock DeskMini styling. Aftermarket cases for the M-STX form factor aren’t exactly common, but SilverStone does have two compatible models in the range – today’s review is of the VT01, the cheaper sibling to the VT02. Inspired by the SilverStone TJ07 – an iconic (albeit huge) case of years gone, the VT01 is an ultra small case for the SFF generation. Built entirely from SECC steel, the VT01 isn’t exactly a pure descendant of the TJ07, but it does offer great value and a …

Read more…

Feature

Forum Feature: SENTRY 2.0

In a semi-regular series, we will have a short look at various projects and one-off builds in the forum. This is not a paid promotion in any way, just a selection of cool stuff we like! Hot on the heels of the first generation Sentry, the Dr Zaber team has taken it upon themselves to update the concept. Taking feedback into account from the first production run, as well as crowdsourcing more, the team has stepped it up a notch (or three) in design and execution.   For most in the SFF community, the Sentry needs no introduction. However, for …

Read more…

CasesReviews

Streacom’s DA2 – Versatility

It’s no secret that the majority of go-to cases found within our community are from the Indie scene, designed by fans and enthusiasts. Whilst Streacom may not be officially part of this Indie grouping, they are indeed a small bunch of enthusiasts determined to do something different in amongst the mainstream “SFF” offerings. Mentioning SFF by name in their mission statement, it seems the company has their eyes in the right place. With this, the team at Streacom decided to create something to compete with the SFF stalwarts, with design decisions focused on space efficiency. We had our first eyes …

Read more…

Announcements

Lazer3D Launches the HT5 – and a Giveaway!

We looked at Lazer3D’s HT5 case a short while ago, and it came away with a fantastic rating. The case is now available for purchase at Overclockers UK and via Lazer3D.com! For more info on the launch, click here. With the launch, let’s give one away! The review sample unit that Lazer3D sent to SFF Network is up for grabs – including the one-off laser etched faceplate. To enter, all you need to do is comment in the forum thread (click here) – let us know which of the Lazer3D products is your favourite – the LZ7, the HT5 or …

Read more…

CasesReviews

Lazer3D’s CG7 Cravo – Flexibility

Initially known as Project Gregory in the SFF Network forums, the CG7 is touted as a flexible, customisable, SFF chassis with so many options to choose from it boggles the mind. Instead of offering a single setup, options, be it at time of purchase, or via included components, mean that your CG7 will be different from any other. Two configurations are available – Mini-ITX with a TFX power supply, or Flex-ATX (i.e not full width M-ATX) with a DC-DC power supply option. We’ll look more into both below. The important aspect here is that this is an indie case with …

Read more…

CasesReviews

Lazer3D’s HT5 – HTPC with Lasers.. Sorta

Indie cases, the major driver of our community forum and niche, come in many shapes and sizes (preferably small). Lazer3D recently approached me to try a couple of their products that are in final development – the HT5 and the CG7. Whilst the CG7 is due to launch in November, the HT5 has a September launch. Guess which one we’ll look at first? Aiming squarely at the premium HTPC market, the HT5 offers a customisable chassis with various material finishes. Wood finishes? Yes please! Let’s have a look at how far the acrylic case market has come in the past …

Read more…

News

Exclusive First Access: Chimera’s Mach One Case

SFF Network’s COMPUTEX 2018 coverage is sponsored by SilverStone, who’s celebrating 15 years of innovation in SFF and beyond. Click here to check out their website and to learn more about their latest products. Recently, there has been a teaser thread posted in the forum by PlayfulPhoenix (Joshua) regarding a new Chimera product, which would be the first new addition to the Chimera Industries product portfolio beyond the Cerberus. Interest was high, with people trying to figure out what this product was, how small it was, and the like. During Computex 2018, SFF Network was granted exclusive first access to the …

Read more…

News

Streacom Launches the DA2

Press Release: When a new post is marked a such, the content is copied verbatim from the company’s release, and does not necessarily reflect the views of Small Form Factor Network or Minutiae LLC.   We are pleased to announce the DA2 ……. in short Its a compact ITX case designed to strike a balance between size and compatibility, allowing high performance components to fit comfortably in a small form factor space. The Concept Whilst there are compact cases on the market that do a great job of cramming high performance components into a super tiny space, they tend to focus on …

Read more…

CS280
CS280
CasesReviews

Silverstone CS280 Reviewed – DIY NAS Made Easier

  We would like to thank SilverStone for providing us with review sample of their CS280 8-Bay 2.5″ NAS chassis. Without their generosity, this case review would not be possible. At CES 2018, Silverstone had a large number of 40 liter+ cases on display (which we chose not to cover). Unfortunately for us, the ITX market was largely ignored at their suite. Save for a certain power-supply that we’re pretty eager to get our hands on, there wasn’t much for us to cover …although there are rumors that we may see something special at Computex 2018. What we didn’t see …

Read more…

News

Impactics DMono is a Passive Thin-ITX Chassis

Breathing life back into the Thin-ITX form factor is the Impactics DMono, designed for Gigabyte variants of Thin-ITX. This appears to be your typical Mac-Mini inspired Thin-ITX chassis, but with one twist – there are no fans! Built from a CNC aluminium baseplate and a 5mm thick extrusion for the sides, front and back, and supports 35W Intel 115x processors. The whole shebang weights in a 2.65 KG, not unexpected considering the sheer mass needed to absorb the wattage of the CPU. There are four variants, being a black and silver variant, and subvariants of these two which change the location …

Read more…