SilverStone Fortress FT05 90 Degree ATX Full Tower Review @ [H]

[Modred189]

Both black and silver FT05s use the same steel material and thickness for their side panels. The paint used however are indeed different. The black FT05 has a smoother, matte finish while silver version has rougher textured surface finish to mimic the sand-blasted surface on the aluminum "wrap-around" panels. We had to do this to silver FT05 to maintain its uniform look as smooth silver color paint would have showed up as a different shade, making the case two-tone.

Tony, thanks for all the feedback! I'm running 2 silverstone cases myself, and appreciate the company support around here.

 

[R3MF]

Is this case supplied with a PSU fan filter?

I don't appear to have one in the box, yet I'm sure I saw one in the pictures of a review somewhere online!

Disappointing if not, I kind of expect it as an FT02 user...

 

[Tony Ou]

Is this case supplied with a PSU fan filter?

I don't appear to have one in the box, yet I'm sure I saw one in the pictures of a review somewhere online!

Disappointing if not, I kind of expect it as an FT02 user...

PSU fan filter should be included in a bag as shown in Steve's review here at [H]. Maybe it got thrown around during transit and is stuck somewhere inside the case (it is magnetic)?

If you are sure the PSU filter is missing, please contact our branch office in your region for it.

 

[R3MF]

Cheers Tony, i'll check.

 

[Deleted member 82943]

this is probably stupid of me to ask, but is the mobo tray removable?

 

[Quartz-1]

Looking at the FT05, there's one element of the FT02 that I'll miss: the curved base. It makes moving the thing around on the carpet so much easier.

 

[DoubleTap]

I'm in the same position as you as in I have never tried one. In theory I understand why they are doing it like this. I thought that they were overthinking things when the very first 90 degree rotated case came out but after seeing some reviews and feedback, these things simply work best. Kyle Bennett has one and he swears by it. My case in my sig is also the best case I have ever used, and it's very lightweight

I have the FT03 which is a 90 degree mATX case.

By rotating the case, you can dramatically reduce the depth, especially in the smaller form factors. My case has a footprint very close to the size of a piece of letter paper. (slightly less deep, slightly wider). Not only that, but since the cable and ventilation all exit at the top, you could actually put the case in a corner and not have issues.

Convection is a non issue - you're not going to have any meaningful convection (hot air rising) in a modern computer with fans.

The real advantage is in the aesthetics - not having an ugly back panel with all the cables and connectors, as well as potentially unique form factors and different airflow constraints.

Some of the recent QC issues have me concerned but there is a good chance I'll end up buying this case because it's still not much bigger than the FT03 and I'll be able to run a full ATX board in it.

 

[hujjavv]

I am getting this case and was wondering if a Cooler Master TPC 812 cpu cooler will fit in it? Silverstone list the specs as 162mm height for cpu cooler and the TPC 812 is listed at 163mm? I've read that a Noctua NH-D14 will fit in the case, but the NH-D14 is listed at 160mm. So, 2mm of spare room, whereas, the TPC 812, according to the spec sheet is 1mm over?

 

[R3MF]

there is a male sata power connector coming from the bottom front of the case, on the inside, what is it for?

it doesn't appear to be mentioned in the manual?

 

[Pandur]

I got this case yesterday after reading several reviews, including this one. And I have to say there's a couple annoying things with this case:

1 - No damping for the 3.5" hdd mount, which means the Seagate I got in there is making my entire case vibrate/hum "nicely".

2 - Really poor space for cable management. If I hadn't removed the "monster" fans to install my H100i I wouldn't know where to run most of the cables in it. Would it have killed you to make the case 1-2 cm wider and put in some proper space for cable management? Oh and may I suggest moving the mounting holes for 240/280 radiators off towards the left panel instead of having them centered in the bottom panel?

3 - And does Silverstone have a QA department at all? The mirror on the front panel of my case is not centered, so it doesn't align with the vertical ridges on the rest of the front panel. The circuit board for the front panel connectors was not properly mounted, luckily I got that sorted while tucking the cables for the fan switches inside the enclosure.

I'd still say that overall I'm satisfied with this case. It's a proper upgrade from the FT-03 I had (which was cooking my GTX980). And once I get #1 sorted out I'll be happy using this case for a while. I'm hooked on the vertical setup in these cases. Now let's just hope Silverstone sorts out these small annoyances. Oh and maybe make it out of aluminium next time? Not just say you did but use steel anyway?

 

[R3MF]

there is a male sata power connector coming from the bottom front of the case, on the inside, what is it for?
it doesn't appear to be mentioned in the manual?

It power the white LED that illuminates the logo.

just finished building, very nice case.

 

[hujjavv]

Ok. So, I understand the no response with my question about whether a TPC 812 will fit or not in the FT05. It's like, find out for yourself kind of thing. But, I have another question, and I am hoping that someone chimes in. I won't be installing a 120mm exhaust fan for the FT05 when I get this case. But, I was just wondering, down the road, if an exhaust fan will help in any way. My GPU is one that blows hot air inside the case, so an exhaust fan should aid in expelling that air out of the case, right? I know and read how Silverstone really touts the performance/design of their AP fans and vertical case, and even states that an exhaust fan is not needed or somehow disrupts or ruins the intended air flow of the case. How exactly does it do this? I mean, logic would point to an exhaust fan helping or aiding the flow of the default 180mm AP fans pushing air through case, right? I mean, if one thinks about it, the AP fans are pushing air, and the exhaust fan, if installed is pulling air, thus aiding in the flow. So, why does Silverstone say it disrupts the air flow? I mean, it's just unclear to me since I'm not an aerodynamics engineer. Is Silverstone saying I don't need an exhaust fan? Are they saying an exhaust fan will disrupt the intended airflow "design" of the case? Or are they saying both? Or, are they just saying some marketing mumbo-jumbo as an excuse as to why there is not an included exhaust fan?

 

[TroubleMagnet]

As designed with the two intake fans they create positive pressure in the case and the airflow is from bottom to top. If you add an exhaust fan you will likely get the air right next to it moving faster but are also more likely to create hot spot elsewhere in the case that the new fan is robbing airflow from. Plus you will be lowering the overall pressure in the case a bit too. Not a thermal engineer but when I worked in high end server design we didn't have both push and pull fans in same box either, usually just intake fans.

 

[amagus]

As designed with the two intake fans they create positive pressure in the case and the airflow is from bottom to top. If you add an exhaust fan you will likely get the air right next to it moving faster but are also more likely to create hot spot elsewhere in the case that the new fan is robbing airflow from. Plus you will be lowering the overall pressure in the case a bit too. Not a thermal engineer but when I worked in high end server design we didn't have both push and pull fans in same box either, usually just intake fans.

Wouldn't fans on the CPU cooler generate the same effect? Or is the case meant to be used with a large heatsink on the CPU with no dedicated fan on it?

 

[TroubleMagnet]

The CPU cooler fan(s) might have a similar effect but since they are still internal it shouldn't be as great. I think you could run some of the larger tower coolers without a fan in this case, not sure if they recommend it or not.

 

[hujjavv]

The CPU cooler fan(s) might have a similar effect but since they are still internal it shouldn't be as great. I think you could run some of the larger tower coolers without a fan in this case, not sure if they recommend it or not.

Thanks for chiming in, btw. Putting it in terms of "pressure" does put a better picture of how it is suppose to work in my head. But, not sure, if I can do anything about my cpu cooler. It's a TPC 812 and I am still awaiting if it will even fit in the case. I have two noctua fans in push-pull config with it. Will running it with just one fan be better? I am not sure if I want to run it with no fans at all. I feel like the cpu might get hotter in exchange for a positive pressurized case.

 

[Tony Ou]

Below is a page from our FT04's internal training file that should also help answer your question:

 

[hujjavv]

Below is a page from our FT04's internal training file that should also help answer your question:

Ok. Yeah. This is the visual I had in my mind. The air going straight through. But, it still doesn't visualize or explain why adding an exhaust fan disrupts the air-flow balance. Some have alluded to "Positive Pressure," and this explains it a little for me. But, I guess, I am just wishing that there is a better illustration/visual of how exactly the thermal and the airflow is traveling through the case with and without the exhaust fan. So, an illustration of the actual "air-flow" or "positive pressure" is what I think I want. Instead of the obvious giant arrows, which I think is already obvious without having a thermal engineer background. But, inside the case, what is happening? Visually?

UPDATE: Never mind, sort of. I just noticed that the topmost arrow is smaller in the second picture with the exhaust fan installed.

NEW QUESTION: What if the GPU has multiple fans blowing hot air inside the case? Does this affect the airflow design of the case?

 

[Tony Ou]

NEW QUESTION: What if the GPU has multiple fans blowing hot air inside the case? Does this affect the airflow design of the case?

Introducing a GPU that blows hot air inside the case will affect a little bit but overall airflow direction will not change because most air will still vent out eventually opposite the intake fans due to positive pressure. Either way, the FT05 should be able to provide better cooling performance than most cases even if you are using non-reference GPU cooling designs.

 

[FrgMstr]

I am still a big fan of mine, just cleaned an inch of dust off the bottom filters and it has only been a couple months since I did that. These things move a ton of air. The new models out do not have enough spinning and SSD storage room for me, but I am still a big fan of my "old" one.

 

[hujjavv]

Introducing a GPU that blows hot air inside the case will affect a little bit but overall airflow direction will not change because most air will still vent out eventually opposite the intake fans due to positive pressure. Either way, the FT05 should be able to provide better cooling performance than most cases even if you are using non-reference GPU cooling designs.

Thanks. I received my case earlier tonight and just got done switching components from my previous Fractal Design Define R4 case to the FT05 and already noticed lower temps by several degrees with the CPU and GPU when I had the fan speed setting on high. I've since put the fans on Medium, though, but haven't tested it when gaming. When I put the fan speed setting to Low, the fans stop spinning. Is this because I have the two AP180 fans on a 3-pin y-splitter cable connected to the motherboard? I was unclear of how to connect the fans, so, I just used a 3-pin Y-splitter cable to one of the 3-pin connectors on my motherboard. Anyway, HWMonitor is showing that the fans are spinning at 530rpm at idle but would go to 1000 or so rpm sometimes. Max speed setting though goes all the way above 6000rpm, which I am also confused about since these fans don't rev that high. Or do they?

Anyway, my quick impressions of switching components to the FT05 tonight:

1) took a lot of hours. Too embarrass to say exactly how many. lol.

2) space behind the motherboard is small. I had trouble fitting the back panel into place without it bowing. I, then, used one of the zip ties provided to secure the fat 24-pin cable to like one of the two cable tie things in the case. The back panel was able to slide through but there is still a little hump that is barely noticeable so I'll live with it. Just worried about taking it out again. lol.

3) never put together a small mini-itx case but I can imagine that the experience is similar to this case except maybe even worse because I wasn't really prepared for it,

4) I had to take out the CM TPC 812 cpu cooler to be able to really work with the case.

5) I then had to have the cpu power cable in place when placing the motherboard into the standoff so I can get the cpu power cable to run through the back of the case to the PSU without running out of cable length. There is no cutout for the cpu power cable but this way, or the way I did was to run it behind the motherboard, if that makes sense--using the small gap between the motherboard and the front of the case....

6) installing 2 x 3.5 harddrives on the hard drive cage was harder than expected

7) my Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming graphic cards scared me that it wouldn't fit. But, after a bit of finagling, it did just make it. Phew!!!!

8) the cover for the pci slot is also harder than expected to put back

9) my Cooler Master TPC 812 cpu cooler, which is listed as being 163mm tall also made it. But, it is probably the tallest cpu cooler you can get for this case without it touching the side panel. It's kinda funny to see the cpu cooler right up against the window. But, it's not touching it. so, phew again.

I think that's it. Otherwise, I love the size of this case. I wanted to get a smaller one that would fit an ATX build with the cpu cooler and graphics card that I have and this is probably one of the smaller ATX cases out there. Especially, for the size of the components installed. of course, with the sacrifice of storage and 5 1/4 bays..... but I think i will grab an external eSata drive, if I do need more storage in the future.

The included AP fans does work. As mentioned, I played a heavy duty game that would put my GPU at around 72-73 degrees and tonight, when I played it with the fan setting on high, the gpu was like at 63 degrees. And this is with the GPU running at 1505 Mhz OC and 7100 mhz memory OC. So, +100 on core and memory for the GTX 970 G1, which is already factory-OC'd. And, my CPU usually also hovers around 65 degrees with my previous case and the FT05 cooled it below 60, if I remember correctly.

So, even on high the AP fans I couldn't really hear. I have the Sabertooth z77 motherboard and I think it is the included 40mm fan on the IO section of this motherboard that I hear.

So, yeah, just be prepared for this case. Space tight case like a mini-ITX case but bigger.

The Define R4 is a giant compared to this case. Lol.

 

[hujjavv]

Just wanted to go back to and update my post from yesterday after spending a dat with the FT05.

A few of things I learned has fixed the nagging issues I faced when I first put the case together.

1) the steel thing that covers the PCI slots I thought was awkward to put back. But, I've since noticed that the handle bars have holes where the screwdriver can then fit straight down to tighten or loosen the screws. Instead of trying of doing it from an angle because of those bars, which are like handle bars on top of the case....

3) removing the slim-dvd plastic bay cover on the back of the motherboard made a difference in being able to have more space for routing/tucking in the cables. Since I am not using a DVD, this was ok, for me.

4) tucking the case cables for the hdd/reset/power/silverstone front logo light and so on underneath the SSD's (I am occupying all 2 of the slots available) just gave that much more, even if they're just the width of those wires for the fat 24-pin power cable to sit flusher against the motherboard tray.

5) those 2 changes above, along with carefully rerouting my cables has enabled the back side panel to now fit without any hump or force pushing it out from the cables.

6) so, basically careful cable routing to try to use every millimeter of space behind the motherboard was a challenge but, thankfully not impossible. Or, at least, not without any extra expense. I thought I was going to have to buy one of those individually braided 24-pin cables to be able to fit the side panel without bulging, even if slightly.

7) the HDD cage is still difficult to put back after one removes it. it's not even because the PSU cables dangling down are on the way, as much as the the HDD cage itself is just difficult to maneuver into place. it's like there is only one angle one cane take to make it fit.

So, yeah, a challenge to build but with careful cable routing and time, it is possible to fit everything back there.

 

[R3MF]

PSU fan filter should be included in a bag as shown in Steve's review here at [H]. Maybe it got thrown around during transit and is stuck somewhere inside the case (it is magnetic)?

If you are sure the PSU filter is missing, please contact our branch office in your region for it.

fan filter was indeed stuck to the underside of the case, thanks.

not much room behind the tray for cables, but great case, sigged.

 

[Wotryp]

It beatiful!

 

[exilelrrp]

FT02 is a way,way better case than this ugly FT05 design, seems like SilverStone is slacking bigtime!

I mean it just seems like SilverStone gave up? after the FT02 and the TJ11

Sorry, all the latest show case from SilverStone are weak in design and built quality! as a major fan I'm very disappointed.

 

[gdourado]

I am looking more into this case, and have a few questions:
- In regard to CPU coolers, the limit, according to the silverstone site is 162mm in height.
What is the best solution to cool the CPU in this case?
I was thinking about the Phanteks PH-TC14PE.
But it would only fit without fans. With the positive pressure of the FT05 and the 180mm air penetrators, what's your thoughts on running the Phanteks fanless?
Any better cooling sugestions?
 
- Some reviews mention the sub par cable management space.
I wouldn't run 3 1/2 hdds, so that cage would be out.
Also, I was thinking about changing my EVO 840 SSD to a Sandisk X300s M.2, so I would not put drives on the rear of the motherboard tray, and I would not need to run sata and sata power cables.
I have a full modular EVGA G2 PSu and the individual sleeved cable kit, so I would run the 24 pin cable, CPU cable and 4 VGA cables for SLI.
How would cable management be in this scenario?
 
Thanks for helping out.
Cheers!

 

[hujjavv]

FT02 is a way,way better case than this ugly FT05 design, seems like SilverStone is slacking bigtime!

I mean it just seems like SilverStone gave up? after the FT02 and the TJ11

Sorry, all the latest show case from SilverStone are weak in design and built quality! as a major fan I'm very disappointed.

What do you mean by build quality? do you mean the gaps? like the gaps between the side panel and the front of the case? Never own the ft02 but from the pictures, there are gaps between the top and the side panel where the top cover lifts off. The ft05 has fixed this issue. Not to mention shrunk the ft02 down to a compact, sort of, just a box with a stupid (in a good way) and aggressive looking grill at the top to showcase the feature of the case. the ft02 on the other hand has a more traditional conservative approach to the top grill/vents.

anyway, i am happy enough with the ft05. i chalk up the gap on the side panel as manufacturing imprecision. the curve of the earth or something like that.

 

[hujjavv]

I am looking more into this case, and have a few questions:
- In regard to CPU coolers, the limit, according to the silverstone site is 162mm in height.
What is the best solution to cool the CPU in this case?
I was thinking about the Phanteks PH-TC14PE.
But it would only fit without fans. With the positive pressure of the FT05 and the 180mm air penetrators, what's your thoughts on running the Phanteks fanless?
Any better cooling sugestions?
 
- Some reviews mention the sub par cable management space.
I wouldn't run 3 1/2 hdds, so that cage would be out.
Also, I was thinking about changing my EVO 840 SSD to a Sandisk X300s M.2, so I would not put drives on the rear of the motherboard tray, and I would not need to run sata and sata power cables.
I have a full modular EVGA G2 PSu and the individual sleeved cable kit, so I would run the 24 pin cable, CPU cable and 4 VGA cables for SLI.
How would cable management be in this scenario?
 
Thanks for helping out.
Cheers!

I was able to fit a Cooler Master TPC 812 which is listed at 163mm tall on their website inside the FTO5 (w/ window). It looks very close to the window but it is not touching it. So, basically, 163mm is probably the tallest cpu cooler one can fit inside the FT05. It had me worried at first since I also saw that Silverstone listed cpu cooler height as 162mm and my cpu cooler is 163mm. glad that all worked out, though.

the phantek is listed at 160mm without fans so that should fit ok. maybe, get a smaller fan? a 120mm one maybe? I am not sure about running the cpu cooler without fans. i'm sure that it will run warmer than without fans. but, the warmer temps, depending on your cpu and whether or not you are oc-ing will probably still be within safe operating temps by a lot. i guess, also depends on your ambient temps.... but as far as how the case is thermally designed, the 180mm AP fans are not magic fans or is the 90 degree motherboard a magical thermal solution. the airflow is a lot better in this case. but, airflow is also not the end all be all. basically, i got this case for the airflow and the compact size and that it is made most of aluminum. of course, there are drawbacks to this. nitpicking things i observe. but, happy with it for the most part.

you also shouldn't have any problems with individually sleeved cables since i got mine to fit and i am using the fat stock 24 pin cable and also using both ssd slots at the back of the motherboard. i read somewhere else about ft05 cable management and basically took their advice to route some of the case cables under the ssd. but, since you're not using any ssd's, then, it doesn't apply. careful cable management is key. also, if you're not using a slim-slot loading dvd, the bay cover for it can be removed to have more space.

 

[Ramses]

Still not leaving the FT02..

Neat case though.

 

[exilelrrp]

Still not leaving the FT02..

Neat case though.

I won't even think about selling my FT02 / TJ07 ....I have'em in storage.

I'm still waiting for a future SilverStone Jaw Droppin' Case!

 

[R3MF]

FT02 is a way,way better case than this ugly FT05 design, seems like SilverStone is slacking bigtime!

I mean it just seems like SilverStone gave up? after the FT02 and the TJ11

Sorry, all the latest show case from SilverStone are weak in design and built quality! as a major fan I'm very disappointed.

i have both, and i disagree.

 

[hujjavv]

So day 6 update of this case.

Love the case:

I did have to remove the mobo again to get the case cables under the motherboard, along with the cpu power cable. lol. It was dangling along the bottom front of the case and although it's hard to see with the window and it didn't really bother me--I was removing the motherboard again anyway to install ULNA fan adapters to my 2 push-pull notch fans. Thankfully, I didn't have to takeout the cooler to do this. So, basically, just shoved those cables underneath the motherboard for an even cleaner front case. my noctua fans now run at 900 rpm's instead of 1300 rpm's. although, they're still not as quite as I wish they would be. This is probably due to the location of these fans being at the top and exhausting air right to where I sit next to the pc (the pc being on the floor, left hand side of desk).

I also disable Q-fan control on my motherboard (sabertooth z77) so that the 2 180mm fans are now controlled via the fan controller. Before, when I had Q-fan control enabled, if I switched the fans to low, the 2 180mm fans would not spin. I did notice that if I did put load into the system that the fans did kick in. Sort of like some of the newer gpu's where the fans are off below a certain temperature threshold. But, since this is a positive-pressure case where the fans air flow keeps the dust out, having the fans off at idle would negate that. So, by disabling Q-fan in the bios, I can now run the 180mm fans at low all the time (around 700 rpm). And of course, if needed, I can adjust the fan settings to medium (900 rpm) and to high (1100 rpm)....

On low the 180mm fans are quite and my 2 noctua cpu cooler fans are actually louder. Probably since they are higher and closer to me without noise-dampening materials to dampen the sound. I also have the sabertooth z77 with those 2 tiny system fans, so, those fans basically drown out the AP180 fans at low settings. On medium, the AP fans are more audible and are probably at the threshold of how loud I want the PC to be. But, since these fans are so powerful, medium should suffice for my needs when gaming, etc.

So, I managed those cables which is a chore and a challenge with this case. Quited as much as I could my cpu fans since these fans will be the loudest due to their position in the case by using ULNA adapters. And, I've figured out how to run the 2 180mm fans at low settings without it not spinning.

I am now trying to figure out the best way to put back the side panel of the case with the window without it leaving a noticeable gap. And I sort of figured this out, too, by putting more pressure on the other side opposite of where the PSU and HDD cage sits. This brings me up to my latest observation about the Fortress FT05. I do not have a manufacturing defect that is leaving a noticeable gap on the side panel enabling me to see the logo light through that gap. I think this is a design flaw from Silverstone in designing the HDD cage. I think the HDD cage is protruding a little bit towards the outer and beyond the side panels. I know this because the sound dampening foam on the side panel has indents of the HDD cage. Like an HDD cage footprint. So, as feared, the HDD cage is pressing up against the side panel. And, the gap that I notice on the opposite side is from the pressure of the HDD cage pressing up on the side panel when I put the side panel back on. I have to put the side panel back on with more pressure to the right side to even distribute the panel and lessen that gap. I have done this. So, yeah,basically, my question is:

1) What is up with the HDD cage protruding out and pressing on the side panel, dude?*

*by dude, I mean Silverstone Rep or Designer

PS--love the case still, though. So compact and solid from the aluminum just as I wanted from a pc case. Also love the top grill. Plain sides and wham, that grill! good job there. But, I have questions about the HDD cage. I need them but they are pressing up against the side panel creating gaps between the front of the case and the side panel, which is even exacerbated by the lit up logo seen through the gap.

 

[exilelrrp]

i have both, and i disagree.

Hold on, you have both the FT02 and the FT05...lol...what a major upgrade you did there buddy

I stand with my opinion on the FT05 and you can stand with your opinion on that.......it's an opinion nothing more.

 

[Compddd]

I have an FT02 but plan on getting an FT05 because it's more compact. The FT02 is too big.

 

[DoubleTap]

The way SSD prices are going, I've been planning on going SSD only anyway. I have mechanical drives in my system, but most of the time they are sleeping and unused except for archiving. I could easily live with 2-3 medium to large SSDs and some network storage for the family.

The only other case I find tempting is the Razer H440 - mostly because I'm a bit of a sucker for green

 

[Compddd]

If I get a heatsink that touches the side door of the FT05, will it make the case vibrate more since the heatsink will have a fan attached to it and the heatsink will be touching the side door of the case?

 

[adudeinblue]

If I get a heatsink that touches the side door of the FT05, will it make the case vibrate more since the heatsink will have a fan attached to it and the heatsink will be touching the side door of the case?

Are you trying to fit a D15 in there? I'm considering this case with a D15 and I read Techspot's review and under the comment section, the reviewer answered a commenter that the D15 would fit, and also that the side panels are foam platted (non window version). I'm not certain how that would deal with touching a hot sink.

 

[R3MF]

Hold on, you have both the FT02 and the FT05...lol...what a major upgrade you did there buddy

I stand with my opinion on the FT05 and you can stand with your opinion on that.......it's an opinion nothing more.

compact. compact. compact.

I always hated the enormous stack of redundant 5.25" drive bays, and have no need for more than two 3.5" drives.

FT05 is just as well built, cools just as well, but is as small as some mATX cases and looks better to boot.

Win win. I shall look forward to reusing the FT02 in future, great case, but i'm happy with its (true) successor.

 

[Quartz-1]

FT05 is just as well built, cools just as well, but is as small as some mATX cases and looks better to boot.

Correct me if I'm mistaken but is not access behind the CPU (for cooler backplates) much better too?

 

[R3MF]

Correct me if I'm mistaken but is not access behind the CPU (for cooler backplates) much better too?

its a bigger cut-out, and therefore less likely to obstruct cooler backplates when mounted.

not much depth behind the tray for cables tho, no better or worse than the ft02 in this regard.