SilverStone Unveils CS351 Micro-ATX Case Builds Intersecting NAS+Gaming Use-cases

[btarunr]

SilverStone today unveiled the CS351, a unique Micro-ATX case that lets you build a gaming or creation PC with hot-swappable storage, or a DIY NAS. This case is significantly larger than typical 5-bay NAS you find in the market, but that's because it packs room for a fully-fledged Micro-ATX setup, including room for a high-end triple-slot graphics card up to 36.8 cm in length. For creators, this means room for a top-grade Quadro RTX or Radeon PRO graphics card; for gamers it means room for any air-cooled RTX 3090 or RX 6900 XT.

The most striking feature has to be the five 3.5-inch hot-swappable lockable caddies, each with SATA 6 Gbps backplanes (optionally SAS 12 Gbps). The cage is ventilated from the inside with an 80 mm fan, and uses a 4-pin Molex input for power. Each of the 5 bays has an individual SATA 6 Gbps connection to your motherboard. Internal bays include one 2.5-inch mount, or the ability to mount up to seven 2.5-inch drives by eating into the room meant for graphics cards. Active ventilation includes three 40 mm rear exhausts, two 80 mm top exhausts, and an internal 80 mm conveyor for the 5-bay drive cage. Measuring 265 mm (W) x 209 mm (H) x 411 mm (D), the case weighs about 5 kg. The company didn't reveal pricing.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[TheLostSwede]

I really want to like this, but from a cooling standpoint, this is an awful case.

 

[Chaitanya]

I really want to like this, but from a cooling standpoint, this is an awful case.

Looks like they designed the case for -ve pressure with vents on side panels to pull cold air in.

 

[claes]

Really weird design. It’s got two 80mm fans above the pci slots in addition to the 3x40mm in the back

 

[Flanker]

Silverstone has been a bit too adventurous with their designs lately lol

 

[TheLostSwede]

Really weird design. It’s got two 80mm fans above the pci slots in addition to the 3x40mm in the back

They should've gone for an SFX PSU instead, so they could've fitted decent rear cooling.

 

[CheapMeat]

Is the hotswap bay really just molex? Not SATA? Why?

 

[MentalAcetylide]

I really want to like this, but from a cooling standpoint, this is an awful case.

Its definitely not a good case for those RTX 3000-series cards. Any kind of hardcore gaming is going to turn that thing into a space heater with one of those cards in it.

 

[Zubasa]

Is the hotswap bay really just molex? Not SATA? Why?

A molex connector has thicker pins and can carry more current than a SATA connector. It is safer when all those drives are only powered by one plug.

Its definitely not a good case for those RTX 3000-series cards. Any kind of hardcore gaming is going to turn that thing into a space heater with one of those cards in it.

That is what I find odd, why slap the word "gaming" on this case?
This looks like a decent NAS box with low power components that don't require much cooling.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Is the hotswap bay really just molex? Not SATA? Why?

Because it saved them $0.02...
I'm sure it's sourced from a third party anyhow.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

They should've gone for an SFX PSU instead, so they could've fitted decent rear cooling.

While I dont get why the industry is so hesitant to embrace SFX in the wake of dual GPU's death, I REALLY dont get why silverstone, one of the biggest makers of SFX PSUs and a pioneer in the steam machine style case, didnt use it here.

 

[AusWolf]

If it had at least one 120 mm fan mount for a small AIO, I would totally fall in love with this case.

 

[trsttte]

This looks terrible, really really bad, I love it how silverstone isn't afraid to come up with strange case designs, they work as often as they don't but at least they're willing to take the risk, A+ for effort

While I dont get why the industry is so hesitant to embrace SFX in the wake of dual GPU's death, I REALLY dont get why silverstone, one of the biggest makers of SFX PSUs and a pioneer in the steam machine style case, didnt use it here.

SFX psus are still more expensive and scarce, maybe when ATX12VO becomes common place and replaces the current standard we get more options and prices fall, but for now imo ATX is still the right choice.

 

[bug]

It's too big to be used as a NAS and too airflow unfriendly to be a gaming case. I think "fails at two jobs at once" is a more accurate description than "intersecting use-cases".

 

[claes]

If it had at least one 120 mm fan mount for a small AIO, I would totally fall in love with this case.

It’s weird, foregoing the strange 2x80mm bracket they probably could’ve fit a 140mm fan on the top, maybe even 180mm.

 

[AusWolf]

It’s weird, foregoing the strange 2x80mm bracket they probably could’ve fit a 140mm fan on the top, maybe even 180mm.

Now that you mentioned it, true.

 

[MentalAcetylide]

I propose some of you tech-savvy individuals get together and design a few air-flow cases(itx/mitx, atx, eatx) from the ground up. I bet you guys could do a much better job than the majority of these companies out there.

 

[Chrispy_]

I don't think it's for gaming.

GPU transcoding is about the best use I can think for it, though with only 40mm exhaust fans I think you'd need a blower-style cooler. NAS and 3.5" hot-swappable implies low-power, always on storage which is the opposite of an mATX desktop build with a dGPU and full-size ATX PSU.

Silverstone make some great cases. They also make some head-scratchingly weird shit that is either just garbage or it's so niche that we can't even identify the niche. My guess is that they are just re-using tooling and design the case around the tooling they already have rather than spending big bucks on brand new tooling for a brand new design.

 

[tripleclicker]

I propose some of you tech-savvy individuals get together and design a few air-flow cases(itx/mitx, atx, eatx) from the ground up. I bet you guys could do a much better job than the majority of these companies out there.

^^^THIS^^^

And open source it. It would be really cool.

 

[Caring1]

I don't think it's for gaming.

GPU transcoding is about the best use I can think for it, though with only 40mm exhaust fans I think you'd need a blower-style cooler. NAS and 3.5" hot-swappable implies low-power, always on storage which is the opposite of an mATX desktop build with a dGPU and full-size ATX PSU.

Silverstone make some great cases. They also make some head-scratchingly weird shit that is either just garbage or it's so niche that we can't even identify the niche. My guess is that they are just re-using tooling and design the case around the tooling they already have rather than spending big bucks on brand new tooling for a brand new design.

Silverstone and Shuttle, still living in the past trying to clear old stock.

 

[bug]

I propose some of you tech-savvy individuals get together and design a few air-flow cases(itx/mitx, atx, eatx) from the ground up. I bet you guys could do a much better job than the majority of these companies out there.

Pointless. There are plenty of proper designs out there already. It's just that users constantly demand "new" stuff, so manufacturers feel obligated to bastardize their products so they look different from what they looked a year before.
But in this case, this is just a misguided design. They tried something, failed and didn't have the balls to can the product.