New Silverstone FT02

Project Ferrari 250 GT California (75%)
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RE: Project Ferrari 250 GT California

Oh, hell yeah - for all the Tifosi out there!

Very nicely done, love the knock-off spinners and perforated upholstery as well as the quarter-panel vent.

Can't wait to see more of this one!
 
Does anyone have an idea whether all of the silver FT02 cases on Amazon should have been upgraded to USB3.0 and better fans by now? I'm more concerned about the fans, although USB3.0 is nice too at some point.

The black cases have been upgraded in a stealth upgrade, as the reviews say, but the silver ones don't have as many reviews, and there's a separate listing for FT02S-W-USB3.0. Although in the normal FT02S-W listing, the most recent review states that the person "thinks" it's a USB3.0 case due to the "blue"-colored USB sockets... Could anyone with the newer USB3.0 cases confirm this vs. older Silverstone FT02s with USB2.0 sockets, please?
 
I bought my Black FT02B from amazon back in Late Feb 2012, came with USB3 & Air Penetrator fans installed.
 
Right, the black ones I don't have an issue with. It's the silver ones that are confusing, as they've added a separate listing for a FT02S-W-USB3.0 model... So there are TWO listings for silver FT02 with a window, one of which is $20 more expensive. Since then though, there's a review in the older silver FT02 listing, claiming blue USB3.0 ports. Talked to Amazon, and of course they just stick to page descriptions, so not helpful!
 
Sorry I can't be more helpful, the full model number of the the black one I got (which came with USB3 and Air Penetrator fans) is: SST-FT02B-USB3.0 (black).

By that logic, I would presume the SST-FT02S-USB3.0 also should come with USB3 and Air Penetrators. Same goes for SST-FT02S-W-USB3.0 (silver + window). I believe the key designator is "USB3.0" which should come with the fans you're concerned about. The USB3 version has been released for a while now, the stock should have changed over if I had to guess.

I recommend you verify this by contacting Silverstone directly or whoever has a silver one here that can confirm. The shipping box shows it as well.
 
Yeah, I'm just trying to decide if Amazon has some old stock FT02s that they are selling for $20 less than the USB3.0 versions... Hence why they have 2 listings with different prices. It's an expensive case already, so trying to save where I can! The black version is listed as simply FT02-BW, but it is the updated version at this point.
 
Vittra said:
http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=242&area=en

Take a look at the specifications tab, it should be safe to assume the $20 cheaper one without the USB3.0 designation will indeed come with USB2 only.
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Logically, yes - if Amazon and some other resellers followed these rules of labeling their products consistently. However, the black case from Amazon is labeled with its original USB2.0 model name and yet is the updated version. Apparently the same can be the case for the silver version. Well, the only way to see is to test it... I guess the fans should be the same in both versions at this point, and I can live without USB3.0 for $20 less.

edit: I've just ordered the cheaper case - will see in a few days what it is when it arrives!
 
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Hello.

And first of all sorry for my English.

I have some questions about the FT02 before I get into this purchase.

This is for a version without window.

I is that it supports 165mn for the cpu but I can not seem to find something better than the dark rock 2 that is 166 . Think you can pass it? version 2 or advanced.

Otherwise it is best to report noise / performance pwm who can return.(macho? true spirit 120 or other?)


Then I saw that the FT02 can accept cards girls 12 inch. it is 12 inches with the bottom fan?

I have a little doubt because of the 12.2 inch sentence if we remove the filter.

So a sapphire 7970 dual 11-inch x can pass by keeping three fan bottom?


again sorry for my English and thank you very much.
 
The GPU length issue is easily answerable, hadesjack. On SilverStone's website for the FT02 (the URL's a couple of posts up) there's a picture of an ATI Radeon 5970 installed in one with the bottom fans in place, and the 5970 is 12" long. It doesn't have much clearance between it and the fans, but it fits...so anything shorter than that should be just fine.

That said, since I'm curious: the bottom fans by default are intake, correct? How is this affected by video cards that blow hot air out both ends, such as the Radeon 6990? Does it seriously screw with case temperatures?
 
Redshirt #24 said:
That said, since I'm curious: the bottom fans by default are intake, correct? How is this affected by video cards that blow hot air out both ends, such as the Radeon 6990? Does it seriously screw with case temperatures?
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Dual GPU cards like the 6990 that are long and expel hot air out both ends don't work well in the FT02. Not only does the 6990 run hotter since the 180mm fan underneath it is forcing the hot air back onto the card but it can damage the fan over prolonged use, especially if you run the 6990's fan at high speeds under load. I had a 6990 in my previous FT02 and it wasn't long before the AP181 fan underneath the GPU started making a clicking sound.
 
If I'm interpreting it correctly, you're looking for a CPU heatsink/fan that will fit in the FT02 (i.e. shorter than 165mm), which should cover a fair chunk of heatsinks out there. It might be more of a general cooling question; that said, without knowing what you're planning to put under it, something like the TRUE Spirit 120 is probably a good place to start. You might want to take a look through [H]'s review section, though, to get a better idea of your options.
 
hello.

My goal is to have as little noise as possible without it heating up too.

I asked for this if the dark rock could spend 166mn despite these because it is very good at it.


There is room with foam or 166 is illusory?

thank you.
 
Basically, I wouldn't risk it if it's over 165mm...if it touches the side panel in any way, you could get vibration noises and so on.
 
I have no idea why anyone would put a tower cooler in this enclosure. It's practically designed for something like a Corsair H60.
 
Got me a deal on a pre-owned FT-02.
Got all my stuff transferred out of my old Lian Li V1100 & put into this monster.
I can't believe how quiet it is compared to my old rig.
Haven't run any tests to check temps yet.
The only thing I don't like about it is its' size...WOW! It's tough to slide it under the desk. Maybe I need to mod some LL wheels onto it?
Oh...BTW...I got a Noctua NH-D14 in it! ;)
 
IdiotInCharge said:
I have no idea why anyone would put a tower cooler in this enclosure. It's practically designed for something like a Corsair H60.
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??? How so? Because it has a 120mm fan hole?

Most people knock this case for its watercooling ability. I personally find it pretty equivalent to any other case either way.
 
If they ever update the FT02, I'd like to see a hinge swing up top panel "door" to access the top ports while keeping the 90 degree rotated Mobo and unibody foot.
 
JayJapanB said:
??? How so? Because it has a 120mm fan hole?

Most people knock this case for its watercooling ability. I personally find it pretty equivalent to any other case either way.
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It's perfect for that class of integrated water-coolers, which really isn't 'water-cooling' as generally understood.

It's not just that there's a 120mm exhaust, but that there's 3x180mm intakes and that 120mm mount is the only built-in exhaust, meaning that unless you use fully exhausting GPUs, which you should with this enclosure, most of that intake pressure is pushing up against that one exhaust. It means that an H60 in an FT-02 will probably outperform an H80 in a Cooler Master or Corsair enclosure.
 
Neo Zuko said:
If they ever update the FT02, I'd like to see a hinge swing up top panel "door" to access the top ports while keeping the 90 degree rotated Mobo and unibody foot.
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Add an 8th expasion slot and we have a winner!

Throw in the AP182 updated fans as well.
 
I don't understand why it isn't an 8 slot case... it would be such a simple change, look at the goddamn sheet metal used. :( It's so blatantly obvious that's how it should be that I've been tempted to mod in another slot on my own.
 
stratosrally said:
Add an 8th expasion slot and we have a winner!

Throw in the AP182 updated fans as well.
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A revamp of the drive swapping mechanisms that reviewers have mentioned would help too, and better fit of the 5.25" bay covers as well, they look chintzy even in the pictures.

The 8th expansion slot would just be icing on the cake; sadly, it's very, very difficult to find boards that have proper PCIe spacing for three GPUs with a spare slot in-between each.
 
If Silverstone were to update the FT02 one of the best improvements they could do is making the drive cage user removable with screws instead of rivets so that the case becomes easily water-cooled with a full length 3.180 radiator with no mods outside of removing the fan filters. And it wouldn't hurt if they made those plastic housings for the fan filters easier to take out as well.
 
burningrave101 said:
If Silverstone were to update the FT02 one of the best improvements they could do is making the drive cage user removable with screws instead of rivets so that the case becomes easily water-cooled with a full length 3.180 radiator with no mods outside of removing the fan filters. And it wouldn't hurt if they made those plastic housings for the fan filters easier to take out as well.
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This!
Also, remove all plastic and make it aluminium. The whole case aluminium. Tweak the drive cage so it is less prone to vibrations and make the led's white.
I would drop $500 on a revision then :D
 
It's not just that there's a 120mm exhaust, but that there's 3x180mm intakes and that 120mm mount is the only built-in exhaust, meaning that unless you use fully exhausting GPUs, which you should with this enclosure, most of that intake pressure is pushing up against that one exhaust. It means that an H60 in an FT-02 will probably outperform an H80 in a Cooler Master or Corsair enclosure.
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You know the PCI slot covers and the top of the case next to them is vented right? All the air coming from the 180mm fans does not only exit via the 120mm exhaust fan...
 
I have a question. The FT02 along with the PC-X2000FN can both take a 60mm wide 420mm RAD (3x140mm), but your main air flow is also the RAD exhaust path, so the heat goes right over the parts again. How much better temp performance wise is it to get a case that has a 360 RAD exhaust up top separately from the main mobo intakes/case air flow or a case that has a separate area for the RADs like the TJ11? Or does it not matter at all?

The reason I ask here is that I'd rather have a smaller case like the first two I mentioned and the FT02 has been watercooled left and right. Plus the PC-X2000FN is basically the FT02 on its side with 3x140 intakes cooling the mobo directly with two exhausts (120mm mobo exhaust and a separate 140mm Drive compartment exhaust). So very much akin to the FT02s cooling design. However I could rock a big TJ11 case if there are temp advantages worth the size. Plus the TJ11 has room for up to 3 large RADs and i am going for silence, but I'm not sure how much it matters with my simple single GPU/CPU only loop that I have planned.

Early parts list include XSPCs Raystorm universal GPU and Raystorm CPU blocks, or the Swiftech equivalents. They will be cooling a 3770K CPU and a MSI 680 Lightning. A MCP655 pump and some sort of reservoir. And the best rad brand make currently available but I'm still researching that. I assume that a slightly more open airflow RAD would be better for the FT02/PC-X2000FN, considering that it also doubles for the main case airflow and the loop is a relatively simple small one.
 
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FaRKle0079 said:
You know the PCI slot covers and the top of the case next to them is vented right? All the air coming from the 180mm fans does not only exit via the 120mm exhaust fan...
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Just like any other case, yes, but the point is that the FT-02 has one of the highest intake airflows of any stock case on the market, while literally being set up for an integrated water-cooler and OEM-style fully exhausting GPU coolers.

That's what makes it special- if you want to water-cool, Corsair and Coolermaster are waiting for your order.
 
M4573R said:
Has anyone had any experience with comparing MSI Twin Frozr temps in the vertical orientation to the standard? I'm worried about the heat pipes since they would all be vertical.
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I'm running crossfire 7950 Twin Frozr III cards in this case and the temps are good. As others have said, the heat pipes run horizontal in this case so they work fine. The heatsink fins run vertical and work with the airflow direction.

Not all heatpipe coolers will work though. The Asus DirectCU cards have the opposite orientation as the Twin Frozr; it's heatpipes run vertical while the fins are horizontal. Since the heatpipes have to work against gravity and the horizontal fins block airflow, the DirectCU isn't going to get cooled effectively.

Keep in mind the type of heatpipe also matters; sintered powder heatpipes (like on the Twin Frozr) aren't as effected by gravity as groove wick heatpipes. I think the DirectCU might also use the grooved wick heatpipe but I'm not 100% sure.

Anyways, you'll be OK with any Twin Frozr card in this case, I'd just take extra care to allow airflow through the unused PCI slots, since you won't be getting as much exhaust compared to using a blower-style card.
 
FaRKle0079 said:
Disagreed. Watercooling the FT02 was just as easy as my TJ07 was. Quieter than my TJ07 was too.
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Just as easy as another Silverstone case? Sure. Optimal in any sense of the word? Absolutely not. The FT-02 is a premiere air cooling enclosure; for reference, look here.

There are plenty of cases that are better for watercooling than the FT-02 and RV-02. To be honest, I'm not really sure why anyone would try.
 
The FT-02 is a premiere air cooling enclosure; for reference, look here.

There are plenty of cases that are better for watercooling than the FT-02 and RV-02. To be honest, I'm not really sure why anyone would try.
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Sounds like you aren't very privy to 180mm radiators. I used to be of your opinion, till the 180mm radiators came out. Saying that the FT02 is only good for aircooling is really limiting your thinking to inside the box. Back when I had the first version of the FT02 I always wished they had a radiator for the 180mm fans because I saw how awesome of a water cooling case it could be.

What are your metrics for "better?" If it's radiator surface area then no case from CM or Corsair beats the FT02. A dual-180mm radiator has more surface area than a quad 120mm radiator. For me "better" entails the most radiator surface area, positive pressure (unless you like dust...), intake filtration, and adaquete aircooling for the components that might benefit from it. In those regards my FT02 handily beats out my inverted ATX TJ07 (and all CM/Corsair cases too).
 
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Taken to the extreme, any case is a great case for watercooling. The concept I'm having trouble with here is just exactly why you'd want to build a system that'd need a a 2x180mm radiator to cool, and then want to dump all of that exhaust heat back into the system, with only a 120mm fan to push it out?

Wouldn't you want to use a system where you could take in more airflow through filters (and yes, I am a firm believer in positive airflow with filters) than the radiator/180mm fan setup pushes out as an exhaust?

Given that a system generating enough heat to need such a setup would probably include at least three GPUs, it's quite hard for me to imagine wanting to run all of that heat back past them, unless of course you put other exhausts in the system, such as mounting fans on the plexiglass, or perhaps in a drive bay.

I guess another point would be to just use the radiator externally with just about any enclosure, especially since such a system isn't likely to be portable.
 
If I were going to switch to WCing my FT02 (which I one day may, if I don't end up selling my machine completely... depends on finances) I'd do a 3x180 rad, shroud it so it breathes out the front, and reverse the airflow in the remainder of the case so it flows in from the top and out the front.

A 3x5.25" bay adapter with 120mm fan in the topmost front bays and two mesh covers on bottom -- the fans on the rad should be strong enough to take care of themselves, but I want proper intake and exhaust for the motherboard "compartment".

I realize this config is more than a little odd, but it suits my needs and should offer downright insane performance. I'd have to relocate the internal drives and wouldn't have an optical... but I haven't used an optical drive in about five years, and there's a ton of dead space under the PSU where you could easily put a drive rack.

Modifications would be fairly easy to undo, too. Just put the front drive rack back in, pop a few rivets back in. No problem.

The thought of how much the damn thing would weigh, as well as the cost of blocks and a 3x180 rad, is what's really stopping me. I bet it'd be close to 100 lbs.
 
The concept I'm having trouble with here is just exactly why you'd want to build a system that'd need a a 2x180mm radiator to cool, and then want to dump all of that exhaust heat back into the system, with only a 120mm fan to push it out?
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Water cooling and "need" based arguments don't mix. By the same token, why use water cooling at all? You can OC damn near as well with air cooling and it's a whole lot cheaper. Moot point.

Now "want" based arguments: The more surface area I have the more cooling power I can use while keeping the noise lower.

Also, the 180mm fans direct air out the top quite well. WAYYY back in this thread I tested adding a 2nd 120mm fan over the PCI expansion slot area to test if the hot air needed more help in exiting the chassis and found that it didn't affect temperatures one bit.

Wouldn't you want to use a system where you could take in more airflow through filters (and yes, I am a firm believer in positive airflow with filters) than the radiator/180mm fan setup pushes out as an exhaust?
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Who makes this case? I haven't seen any. I suppose if you ran your rad fans god-awful slow then this could be achieved. All the cases out there draw the air in over other heat producing components before they get to the radiator. If I'm spending the $ to go water cooled I want the radiator to get the most benefit since I'm not overclocking a southbridge on the motherboard or other component that will get adequately cooled anyways.

I guess another point would be to just use the radiator externally with just about any enclosure, especially since such a system isn't likely to be portable.
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But that would make this whole case argument irrelevant! =P
 
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