Fusing together a unique design and Mini-ITX form factor the FT03 chassis has gone compact for HTPC enthusiasts. We give it an indepth look to reveal its qualities.
Product on Review: FT03-Mini.
Manufacturer and Sponsor: SilverStone
MSRP: £100 inc.VAT (GBP)
It was only a matter of weeks ago that we were giving the FT03 a thorough examination and we definitely liked what we saw. The FT03 is now a mainstay in the mATX chassis market and deemed a firm favourite. Though the FT03 can entertain Mini-ITX, due to its size there it is surplus to requirements for many enthusiasts wanting to use this form factor and so SilverStone are back again with a variant that targets Mini-ITX and those wanting to build the most compact of computer systems – Enter the FT03-Mini.
Fusing together the looks and charm of the original the FT03-Mini has been reduced in size by a whopping 50%. The feature-set of the FT03-Mini has been rationalised to be accomodated by the reduced size of the chassis, with the aim of catering condensed, Mini-ITX systems. Can this smaller variant to the classic Fortress series impress us again? Let’s find out!
SilverStone’s take on FT03-Mini
After releasing the ground breaking Fortress FT03 chassis in 2011, SilverStone engineers took on the challenge of making a smaller version to further increase the appeal of this unique computer form factor. Through intelligent planning and reengineering, the engineers were able to create the FT03-MINI, which improves on the simplistic design of the FT03 while reducing the size by 50%. Using 2.5mm thick, sand-blasted and anodized aluminum outer shells with no cable connectors and vents on all four sides to complement an efficient, organized layout, this chassis helps SilverStone to again set new standards in small form factor computers.
The interior of the FT03-MINI utilizes SilverStone’s unique stack effect cooling layout so a Mini-ITX motherboard is mounted in 90 degree rotation to take advantage of hot air’s natural tendency to rise. The FT03-MINI can accommodate graphic cards up to 10”, support one 3.5” and two 2.5” drives, and even entry-level liquid cooling can be installed to satisfy needs of enthusiasts. As the new small form factor chassis addition to the Fortress series, the FT03-MINI is truly a paradigm.
The interior of the FT03-MINI utilizes SilverStone’s unique stack effect cooling layout so a Mini-ITX motherboard is mounted in 90 degree rotation to take advantage of hot air’s natural tendency to rise. The FT03-MINI can accommodate graphic cards up to 10”, support one 3.5” and two 2.5” drives, and even entry-level liquid cooling can be installed to satisfy needs of enthusiasts. As the new small form factor chassis addition to the Fortress series, the FT03-MINI is truly a paradigm.
Technical Specifications
Model No.
SST-FT03B-MINI (black)
SST-FT03S-MINI (silver)
Material
Aluminum outer shell, steel body
Motherboard
DTX, Mini-ITX
Drive Bay External
12.7mm Slot loading slim optical drive x 1
Drive Bay Internal
3.5” x 1 , 2.5”x2
Cooling System
Front — N/A
Rear — N/A
Side — N/A
Top — N/A
Bottom 1 x 140mm Air Penetrator fan, 1500rpm
Expansion Slot
2
Front I/O Port
USB 3.0 x 2
Audio x 1
MIC x 1
Power Supply
1 x Optional standard SFX
Clearance
Expansion Card – Compatible up to 10” long
Limitation of CPU cooler – 78mm
Limitation of PSU – SFX PSU
Net Weight
4.7kg
Dimension
188.9mm(W)x 397mm(H)x235.1mm(D)
SST-FT03B-MINI (black)
SST-FT03S-MINI (silver)
Material
Aluminum outer shell, steel body
Motherboard
DTX, Mini-ITX
Drive Bay External
12.7mm Slot loading slim optical drive x 1
Drive Bay Internal
3.5” x 1 , 2.5”x2
Cooling System
Front — N/A
Rear — N/A
Side — N/A
Top — N/A
Bottom 1 x 140mm Air Penetrator fan, 1500rpm
Expansion Slot
2
Front I/O Port
USB 3.0 x 2
Audio x 1
MIC x 1
Power Supply
1 x Optional standard SFX
Clearance
Expansion Card – Compatible up to 10” long
Limitation of CPU cooler – 78mm
Limitation of PSU – SFX PSU
Net Weight
4.7kg
Dimension
188.9mm(W)x 397mm(H)x235.1mm(D)
Packaging & First Look
FT03-Mini is presented in a similarly designed box to the FT03 but is obviously smaller due to the size difference. The front of the packaging features two depictions of the available colours for FT03-Mini – black and white. The sides of the box have information about the specifications whilst the back has an illustration of the case and major features highlighted.
Inside, FT03-Mini is covered in a clear plastic sheet and polystyrene holders are fixed to the top and bottom of the chassis to protect it whilst in transit.
Packaging for FT03-Mini
Taking the case out of its packaging we are met with something not that dissimilar to what we have already seen with the Fortress series. Being the smallest variant in the series the Mini is 50% smaller than the original FT03 and uses the same design of being taller than the conventional computer chassis.
SilverStone have kept with the minimalist appearance with FT03-Mini and it does look very sleek. Being a fan of the original FT03 I find it very appealing. The front has the SilverStone insignia and a slot loaded optical drive. The drive itself isn’t included just the mounting spot. The front and all other panels are 2.5mm thick sand-blasted and anodized aluminium – the finish, feel and quality is we expect from SilverStone, very good.
FT03-Mini continues to deliver elegance
On the next page we will explore the external elements of FT03-Mini.
Exterior
All of the panels on FT03-Mini are solid and have no significant features except for the front panel. These panels are 2.5mm thick and are removed with a firm pull – no screws are used. Unlike the original FT03 there is no plastic side vent – so the entire case retains a sleek, premium appearance.
The sides of FT03-Mini are solid
The top of the chassis is chiefly made up of a plastic grid, a key design element mirrored in the original FT03. This grid is vented to allow heat to exhaust from the rear I/O and dissipate up and out.
The top of FT03-Mini with removable ventilation cover
Accessing the front panel controls doesn’t require the removal of this ventilation panel; it does however allow us to gain a better overview of design tweaks made to accommodate the rear I/O, PSU and PCI-e slots. The front panel controls sit on a raised platform and feature the following:
• Power/Reset buttons with activity LEDs
• 2x USB 3.0 ports (via motherboard header)
• Headphone/Microphone jacks
Due to the orientation of FT03-Mini and the motherboard tray being rotated, the rear IO ports will appear at the top of the case and as a result at the top there are 2x PCI expansion slot covers with ventilation gaps and even more ventilation just beyond this section. On one side of the front panel connectivity is an area for the rear IO ports of the motherboard and on the other an opening for the PSU which incidentally needs to adhere to SFX form factor.Having the PSU mounted at the top of the case means that the power cable will need to route up to this spot.
Rear IO ports are found at the top of FT03-Mini
Taking a look at the underside of FT03-Mini there are 4x rubber feet positioned in the corners to prevent the case from slipping on smooth surfaces. In the very centre SilverStone have included a 1 x 140mm Air Penetrator fan rated at 1500 RPM. This fan is attached as an intake with the aim of driving airflow up and out through the top of the case.
The Air Penetrator has a plastic cover that is detachable by simply unclipping it from the housing. This cover contains a removable air filter, a critical inclusion as the build-up of dust through intake fans would be inevitable otherwise.
The underside of FT03-Mini with air filter cover
Air Penetrator 140mm fan (1200RPM) drives airflow
With a visual inspection of the external aspects now covered let’s move inside for a look at what features are found within.
Interior
As already mentioned, the panels on FT03-Mini are detached by holding onto the panel and firmly pulling away from the chassis, there are no screws holding them on.
With the panels removed a view inside is immediately available. If you haven’t already read, FT03-Mini is compatible with DTX/Mini-ITX only and due to the size this is fairly obvious. Though the inside is quite limited in terms of feature-set (when compared to mATX/ATX) with a form factor like Mini-ITX you are restricted by size anyway; the idea with this platform is to keep things to a minimum and the goal of the system builder is to design as compact a configuration as possible.
A view inside FT03-Mini
All panels removed – great quality and finish
The build quality is as to be expected with SilverStone; very good. The finish on all elements of the interior is exceptionally good.
SilverStone have designed a removable HDD cage to sit directly opposite the motherboard. This cage will accommodate 2x 2.5” drives (SSD) and 1x 3.5” drive. To install a drive the cage must be removed – 6 screws hold it in place.
It will be interesting to see how well cable management can be executed within this chassis since there aren’t many options to place the cables.
HDD cage can house 2.5” and 3.5” drives
In the next section of our review we will be installing our test system inside FT03-Mini.
Installation
Observing an empty case only provides a rough overview and touches on what the case might be like, so in an effort to present a complete review of FT03-Mini we have installed our Mini-ITX system within this case. This will help to identify both strong and weak points and assist with delivering a thorough analysis.
Due to the size of FT03-Mini the installation process must be performed in a certain order. The first thing to do is remove the HDD cage so that the motherboard can be placed onto the tray and fixed down.
Installing the motherboard first is the initial step
The next thing to do is attach the PSU which has to be SFX form factor. Pictured and used for the installation is SilverStone ST45SF – a 450W SFX PSU, perfect for powering the most demanding of Mini-ITX systems. The PSU sits directly opposite the motherboard – due to lack of ventilation in the area where this is installed there is no PSU air filter available.
SFX form factor PSU required – SilverStone ST45SF
Installing a HDD is easy but does require the removal of the cage. The cage separates out into two compartments, one for the 3.5” and the larger for 2.5” drives. Both are attached via screws provided.
2.5” and 3.5” HDD installation
With some careful manipulation and a few cable ties at the ready; the cables can be managed in an orderly fashion. There isn’t a great deal of space in this department but it is possible to have the inside reasonably tidy and nothing obstructing the airflow. Be prepared to spend a little longer than you would usually.
The ideal place to store unwanted cables from the PSU is behind the HDD cage as pictured. I left the PSU cables separate just in case a graphics card needs to be added later on (its handy to have these cables free for such an instance).
Cables can be arranged behind the HDD cage
A clean and tidy system
Clearance – CPU, GPU, Cable Management
Clearance is an important factor even with such a small form factor as Mini-ITX, in fact this subject is probably one of the key areas that system builders with this platform seek to know.
Looking at the CPU cooler clearance inside FT03-Mini there is approximately 90mm, the Cooler Master branded ZOTAC heatsink is around 40mm in height. This is spacious and allows for quite a number of well-known CPU coolers including such coolers like Noctua NH-L12 and Zalman CNPS8900 Extreme.
CPU cooler clearance for well-known low profile favourites
Being exactly 10″ in length the NVIDIA GTX 680 just about fits inside FT03-Mini but the AMD HD7970 (being slightly bigger) does not. What this means is that there is quite a wide selection of GPUs to select, from the smaller high-end graphics cards like NVIDIA GTX 670, to the slightly bigger and more powerful GTX 680. Available, there is approximately 10” in total graphics card length which is quite surprising for such a compact case, you can easily house quite a powerful system inside this case.
Support for graphics cards up to 10” in length
Behind the HDD cage where most of the cables will sit there is just under 2cm of clearance – allowing you to store unwanted cables behind here.
Clearance behind the HDD cage for cables – just under 2cm
Thermal Performance Testing
**Due to this being our first Mini-ITX case review we are fairly limited in terms of comparisons. This page will be updated though pending future reviews.**
Inside FT03-Mini there is just one pre-installed cooling fan positioned at bottom of the case, configured as an intake fan this 140mm Air Penetrator will drive airflow up and out through the top of the case singlehandedly so it’s important that it is up to the job. This fan operates at 1200RPM.
To discover the thermal performance of the FT03-Mini I will record idle temperatures after 20 minutes from a cold boot. I will then stress the system and temperatures will again be monitored after 30 minutes have elapsed.
For the purpose of accurate analysis the idle and load temperatures for CPU and motherboard will be recorded and the range between idle and load will be calculated to determine how efficient cooling is.
NOTE: Ambient temperature is 20C
System Components
CPU AMD E-350 APU
Motherboard ZOTAC ZOTAC E350-ITX WiFi
Graphics Integrated (AMD Radeon™ HD 6310)
Memory 4GB 1066MHz SODIMM DDR3[/url]
HDD Kingston HyperX 240GB
PSU SilverStone ST45SF
Motherboard ZOTAC ZOTAC E350-ITX WiFi
Graphics Integrated (AMD Radeon™ HD 6310)
Memory 4GB 1066MHz SODIMM DDR3[/url]
HDD Kingston HyperX 240GB
PSU SilverStone ST45SF
Noise
Due to the limitations that engineering such a compact case brings there isn’t much space for air cooling, SilverStone have opted for a single cooling fan and have placed it in the best possible spot for maximum cooling potential. The problem of having just one cooling fan is that this fan needs to spin fast in order to push heat out of the case – 800RPM will not suffice. The Air Penetrator spins at 1200RPM+ and as a result is noticeable.
The icing on the cake would have been to have a simple fan controller for this fan allowing for 700-800RPM on low setting and then 1200RPM+ for high setting – having the low setting would then bring down noise levels when the system is only performing menial tasks and high setting when generating more heat. Some food for thought – and of course you can add in your own fan controller.
Conclusion
We recently had the pleasure of taking a look at the Fortress FT03, a now infamous computer case with a unique design built for mATX systems. Today we have been taking a look at the sibling to FT03 – some would even call it “the baby” of the Fortress Series. We were very impressed by the original FT03 so how does the Mini version shape up?
We have to give credence for the build quality; this is indeed one of the highlights of this case. Inside and outside FT03-Mini has certainly been given the special treatment. The materials used are high in quality and design has been executed with precision -this is one area that SilverStone are experts at.
The unique design continues with the Mini. Outside the case has a portrait resemblance, oozing style whilst inside the motherboard tray has been rotated to retain that distinctive design that the Fortress series is well known for. Space is tight inside but then the intention is fundamentally aimed at compact system builders wanting to base their system around Mini-ITX. I was surprised to discover that FT03-Mini can accommodate graphics cards with a maximum length of 10” which includes the new NVIDIA GTX 680. In turn, this means that high-end kit can be assembled inside this chassis – combine a graphics card like the GTX 680 with a Mini-ITX Z68 motherboard and SSD and you have yourself a mini-powerhouse capable of delivering raw power.
Even if a chassis is labelled ‘Mini-ITX’, it does not necessarily follow that the chassis is actually small. The external dimensions of the FT03-Mini are genuinely small, with a footprint only a little larger than a 140mm fan; other Mini-ITX chassis are more akin in size to full tower cases when it comes to the space they take on your desk. Rather than add expansive cooling capacity and unlimited graphics card space, SilverStone have used a ‘small is beautiful approach’ with associated limitations.
FT03-Mini is currently listed at £100inc. VAT, representing a premium price for small form factor chassis. Taking craftsmanship and the thickness of the aluminium panels into consideration, we can understand this case being slightly higher in price. Furthermore, innovation in design never comes cheap; retaining build quality and overall ethos of the Fortress within these restrictions and hitting the price point they have is an achievement
SilverStone have done it again, the FT03-Mini ticks all the boxes for those wanting to down-size. On offer is build quality on another level and a sleek design that will look great whether next to the TV or desk. FT03-Mini comes highly recommended by Vortez and attains our prestigious gold award.
Pros
+ Exceptional build quality and construction
+ Unique design sets it apart
+ Choice of black/white
+ Panels are easily removed
+ Houses high-end kit (long graphics cards, SSDs)
Cons
– Cost
– Fan controller would have been useful
+ Exceptional build quality and construction
+ Unique design sets it apart
+ Choice of black/white
+ Panels are easily removed
+ Houses high-end kit (long graphics cards, SSDs)
Cons
– Cost
– Fan controller would have been useful
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
