This is my current case. I only had two minor issues with the build. The first being the space available at the top of the case due to my wanting to install my secondary HDD in the 2nd drive bay (SSD is attached to the bottom of the case, makes for a very clean and cool interior, easy to overclock). The second issue was the lack of space behind the motherboard tray for extra PSU cording. I either need to upgrade to a SLI setup or switch to a Modular PSU for my next upgrade. I also love how the inside looks, black and red on white is a very pleasing color combination.
I have the previous version of this case, and it is wonderful. Being able to fit a Micro ATX board in there is great, especially considering the case is relatively small. Even at full load, I barely hear any noise coming out of there. The only complaint I have is that cable management is a little tough in places (as seen in some of the photos in this article) and there is no windowed version.
Great follow-up! I know you don't like to revisit past reviews, but this mini-review shows that it can be worth while in certain circumstances.
You mentioned two changes for the "new" PS-07, thicker steel and better fans. Do these changes apply to both the black and white PS-07 models? (I believe that there was a difference in fan quality between the white and black models)
Do you know if the TJ-08e is also being updated with a thicker steel design?
me to.. I'd like to see one of the DVD/Blu-Ray makers come out with a White model though.. preferably like the old Panasonic slot loading (tray-less) models.
I know that for testing purposes a big and hot GPU is more usefull thank any small one. but for any real-use scenario for people wanting a silent+small+fast system (in that order), installing one mid-range GPU from the current 28nm generations would be a lot better.
just get any of them with a dual-fan open-air cooler and be happy, as this layout is FAR more silent than any blower-like cooler used in high-end GPUs. They also consume around 110W of power on average if you use vsync to limit the refresh rate (the 140~150W values are only on the most stressfull tests, something we do not do on the real-world for very long), so it will not throw too much heat in the chassis.
I have a pretty crowded Micro-ATX case, just installed a Zotac GTX660 (the smallest possible) and it seems to be dead-silent - but I believe that any Radeon7870 with dual fans would be as silent as this one. Of course there is some noise on the system, but it is absolutely easier on the ears than the sound of coolers from the past.
I know this doesn't apply to benchmarking, but I wanted to share some thoughts on micro-atx builds. I see no reasons to go full ATX other than "bragging rights".
One of the GPUs used in testing was a GT 450 which is an ~ 100W midrange card. (For thermal testing being obsolete isn't a problem and maintaining hardware continuity in testing is valuable.)
Good point, DanNeely! I was looking only at the gtx560 results! I believe the gt450 is really similar to gtx660 in thermal output! of course the performance delta is a world of difference, but I believe gpus with real-world draw around 100W are the perfect companions to micro-atx cases. and right now this class is really high-performing-midrange.
The one gripe I have regarding these "snow white" cases is not actually with the cases at all, but with (what seems to be) ALL of the optical disc drive manufacturers - I've not yet found one where the ODD fascia was not some shade of "beige". I know it's a minor gripe, but if there were an ODD OEM that made a "pure white" fascia for their DVD & BluRay drives, even at a premium, with this kind of build, I would not buy anything else.
"At the same time, they ignore the industry trends toward CLCs"
That's a good thing, you make it sound like a bad thing. Closed loop coolers are a fad, and a bad one at that.
CLC cool no better than a good heatpipe dual tower heatsink, their pumps are louder than they should be, the pumps can fail and they eventually leak.
You talk about silverstone cases being overly complicated, to which I agree with, but why would you want to complicate it further with a CLC that is liable to failure?
A custom loop is the only proper way to do water cooling and this is one case I wouldn't even consider for such a purpose, but if it were for compact SLI and air, this case is a top choice.
I think the one thing that seems to go missing here is the discussion of the actual dimensions of these Micro-ATX cases. The fact of the matter is that some "Micro-ATX" cases are the size of some smaller ATX cases, and that to me is just silly. Take the 350D that Dustin lauded. It's dimensions from NE are listed as 17.7" x 8.3" x 17.3" while the Temjin TJ08-E is 15.16" x 8.27" x 14.72". That's a big difference in size. Heck, there are some popular mini-ITX cases that are bigger than Temjin TJ08-E (I'm looking at you BitFenix Prodigy). What's the point of getting a SFF case when its just as big as a regular case? This is why I think the Temjin TJ08-E still, to this day, wears the crown as the best mATX case out there. It can take the most powerful GPUs and the biggest CPU Air Coolers out there, and fit it into a very well laid out and compact case. I got my Noctua DH14 in this thing just fine with 2 SSDs, 1 3.5" HDD, 2 Blu-Ray players, a 7950 and a custom sound card. And it still cools like a beast. You can't get that with these other guys unless you want a case that is almost the same size as a mid-tower.
THANK YOU, so glad to see someone else finally mention this. So tired of all the mATX cases that are no smaller than regular ATX and reviewers not even mentioning it. There IS a reason we are looking at cases like this at all - because we want something small! I realized awhile ago what Dustin mentioned, I only need an mATX board, one video card, and one SSD and HDD to have a complete and powerful system, and the regular ATX towers are just a huge waste of space. I'm sure many people have similarly simple systems nowadays so I don't understand why mATX is not more popular, or why manufacturers insist on continuing to make them so big. I love that this case is the size that it is and I wouldn't want any bigger for any future builds.
Your right the 350D is bigger.. it could have easily been the size of the Temjin if they'd wanted it that way but than it wouldn't be able to fit all of Corsair's CLC options which is what they had in mind. But when you compare it to their other cases it's easy to fall in love with it. Like the Temjin I believe it sits at the top of the pack but for very different reasons.
Silverstone can improve a lot on the Temjin design though..it's far from perfect, so the fact that it sits at the top with the 350D is a feat in itself. I don't think it needs to factor in CLCs right now. Their still a nitch market meant for enthusiasts. Plus that would add to the size of the case. No .. just make it easier to work with, and do something about the SSD placement. and it will continue to be one of the best cases on the market.
I had the corsair 350D but I returned it because it was just as big as some ATX cases out there. Also, I had a problem with its noise coming from the internal fans, as well as the ventilated top.
In my opinion, the 350D is geared towards a very small niche market, to fill the needs of enthusiasts who are looking to water cool their m-atx system. This is the reason why it's selling so well, because there are no other m-atx cases to fill this very small segment market. I am not one of those enthusiasts; I simply couldn't justify spending another $150+ for a wc setup when a good air cooler keeps my system quiet and cool without adding more noise or powerdraw.
One gripe about the Temjin is actually the location of the ssd. Because it is at the bottom of the case you have to have the sata cable on your psu to be long enough to cover the length from the ssd all the way to the DVD drive if you have one. It was simply impossible for my 400w psu to extend that far so I had to put the ssd in the hard drive cage to make it work. Other than this small gripe, it is a fantastic case with very solid build, and the little attention to details such as the air cooler support makes this my favorite case to date.
It's interesting that you should say that rh. I moved my parts from a Temjin to the 350D after Anandtech reviewed the case. Most of the time I can't even hear it running and it is quieter than the Temjin /w it's 180mm fan.
I tend to use power supplies by Corsair/PC Power and Cooling and Cooler MasterS series that all use ribbon cables that were long enough for the bottom SSD. It's simply a pain is all and I landed up doing exactly what you did when I moved to a bigger SSD.
You didn't note the horrid number of screws for the Temjin and the fact that you should really get as many things as you can all in before mounting that MB. Those are minor things though.. from the back end for the installer. Once set up the case is great.
I also have the original version of this case from early 2012, I really love it. The install isn't the simplest ever, but it's doable. I like the dedicated spot for an SSD at the bottom. I have no need for the HDD cage so taking it out really frees up space. I had an issue with my power cable orientation with the HDD directly on top of the SSD, so I put it in a 5.25" bay instead. A little tight but works fine. The system is cool and quiet and the perfect size. Also looks great. Highly recommend it!
Although I have to say - as great as the PS07 is, I would strongly consider the Line-M if building today. It's only $36 on Amazon and seems nearly equally good (2x120mm fans, small, room for large video cards, bottom 2.5" mount), and possibly more straightforward to install in. The case seems to be a rebirth of the Cooler Master Elite 341. It really checks all the boxes for a small mATX case, and it's cheap. Dustin says it's a "good case, but not a great one," however looking back at his review his only complaints in the conclusion are no top vent and not a lot of cable management. Those are pretty minor complaints for something that costs less than half of the PS07.
That said I love the SilverStone and you probably can't go wrong with either. I'm sure many people appreciate the SilverStone's inverted layout and dual front intake fans to help with the use of tower coolers, and the price is good. But the Line-M sure seems like a steal.
The N200 looks okay but still a bit unnecessarily deep.
PS07: 8.27 " W x 14.73" H x 15.75" D Line-M: 7.29" W x 14.37" H x 15.74" D N200: 7.95" W x 14.9" H x 17.52" D
The Line-M has the best dimensions here. The PS07 is slightly wider and taller but maintains the same short depth. The N200 is nearly 2" deeper. What's so nice about the Line-M/PS07 dimensions is that they keep it extremely compact but still have the space for a large video card and modest tower cooler if you want it.
CLC is a fad that will die out just as soon as people realize it's ridiculous to put a water cooler on chips that increasingly cannot overclock reliably for reasons that are NOT at all about heat production and/or not about heat being reliably transferred by the heatspreader.
At this point, CLC is the new "in-thing," but eventually there'll be a move back to standard heatsinks and fans. This reminds me of how "everyone" was making aluminum cases, then the market contracted down to only a couple of players. Because it was the fad for a while.
I've found that the Temjin (and I assume the PS07 since their very similar) both work well with modular Power Supplies that use cables that are ribboned rather than sleeved. That makes cable management so much easier.
I looked and didn't find one; but you guys REALLY need a sound meter that goes below 30db. I'm not sure where to find it, but it's gotta exist somewhere.
You would probably not only have to find a meter that goes below 30db but also a special room to measure in. Even wind outside or the ac turning on could swamp a sub 30db signal.
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29 Comments
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cragAT - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
This is my current case. I only had two minor issues with the build. The first being the space available at the top of the case due to my wanting to install my secondary HDD in the 2nd drive bay (SSD is attached to the bottom of the case, makes for a very clean and cool interior, easy to overclock). The second issue was the lack of space behind the motherboard tray for extra PSU cording. I either need to upgrade to a SLI setup or switch to a Modular PSU for my next upgrade. I also love how the inside looks, black and red on white is a very pleasing color combination.themie - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
alrighttrburnham - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
I have the previous version of this case, and it is wonderful. Being able to fit a Micro ATX board in there is great, especially considering the case is relatively small. Even at full load, I barely hear any noise coming out of there. The only complaint I have is that cable management is a little tough in places (as seen in some of the photos in this article) and there is no windowed version.jabro - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
Great follow-up! I know you don't like to revisit past reviews, but this mini-review shows that it can be worth while in certain circumstances.You mentioned two changes for the "new" PS-07, thicker steel and better fans. Do these changes apply to both the black and white PS-07 models? (I believe that there was a difference in fan quality between the white and black models)
Do you know if the TJ-08e is also being updated with a thicker steel design?
emilyhex - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
Looks great, I like the white.just4U - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
me to.. I'd like to see one of the DVD/Blu-Ray makers come out with a White model though.. preferably like the old Panasonic slot loading (tray-less) models.bobbozzo - Sunday, September 22, 2013 - link
Even if you found a white drive, it probably would have a different finish (less glossy, ...)marc1000 - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
I know that for testing purposes a big and hot GPU is more usefull thank any small one. but for any real-use scenario for people wanting a silent+small+fast system (in that order), installing one mid-range GPU from the current 28nm generations would be a lot better.just get any of them with a dual-fan open-air cooler and be happy, as this layout is FAR more silent than any blower-like cooler used in high-end GPUs. They also consume around 110W of power on average if you use vsync to limit the refresh rate (the 140~150W values are only on the most stressfull tests, something we do not do on the real-world for very long), so it will not throw too much heat in the chassis.
I have a pretty crowded Micro-ATX case, just installed a Zotac GTX660 (the smallest possible) and it seems to be dead-silent - but I believe that any Radeon7870 with dual fans would be as silent as this one. Of course there is some noise on the system, but it is absolutely easier on the ears than the sound of coolers from the past.
I know this doesn't apply to benchmarking, but I wanted to share some thoughts on micro-atx builds. I see no reasons to go full ATX other than "bragging rights".
DanNeely - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
One of the GPUs used in testing was a GT 450 which is an ~ 100W midrange card. (For thermal testing being obsolete isn't a problem and maintaining hardware continuity in testing is valuable.)marc1000 - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
Good point, DanNeely! I was looking only at the gtx560 results! I believe the gt450 is really similar to gtx660 in thermal output! of course the performance delta is a world of difference, but I believe gpus with real-world draw around 100W are the perfect companions to micro-atx cases. and right now this class is really high-performing-midrange.http://anandtech.com/bench/product/609?vs=660
Travis Jackson - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
The one gripe I have regarding these "snow white" cases is not actually with the cases at all, but with (what seems to be) ALL of the optical disc drive manufacturers - I've not yet found one where the ODD fascia was not some shade of "beige".I know it's a minor gripe, but if there were an ODD OEM that made a "pure white" fascia for their DVD & BluRay drives, even at a premium, with this kind of build, I would not buy anything else.
meacupla - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
"At the same time, they ignore the industry trends toward CLCs"That's a good thing, you make it sound like a bad thing. Closed loop coolers are a fad, and a bad one at that.
CLC cool no better than a good heatpipe dual tower heatsink, their pumps are louder than they should be, the pumps can fail and they eventually leak.
You talk about silverstone cases being overly complicated, to which I agree with, but why would you want to complicate it further with a CLC that is liable to failure?
A custom loop is the only proper way to do water cooling and this is one case I wouldn't even consider for such a purpose, but if it were for compact SLI and air, this case is a top choice.
Piano Man - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
I think the one thing that seems to go missing here is the discussion of the actual dimensions of these Micro-ATX cases. The fact of the matter is that some "Micro-ATX" cases are the size of some smaller ATX cases, and that to me is just silly. Take the 350D that Dustin lauded. It's dimensions from NE are listed as 17.7" x 8.3" x 17.3" while the Temjin TJ08-E is 15.16" x 8.27" x 14.72". That's a big difference in size. Heck, there are some popular mini-ITX cases that are bigger than Temjin TJ08-E (I'm looking at you BitFenix Prodigy). What's the point of getting a SFF case when its just as big as a regular case? This is why I think the Temjin TJ08-E still, to this day, wears the crown as the best mATX case out there. It can take the most powerful GPUs and the biggest CPU Air Coolers out there, and fit it into a very well laid out and compact case. I got my Noctua DH14 in this thing just fine with 2 SSDs, 1 3.5" HDD, 2 Blu-Ray players, a 7950 and a custom sound card. And it still cools like a beast. You can't get that with these other guys unless you want a case that is almost the same size as a mid-tower.antef - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
THANK YOU, so glad to see someone else finally mention this. So tired of all the mATX cases that are no smaller than regular ATX and reviewers not even mentioning it. There IS a reason we are looking at cases like this at all - because we want something small! I realized awhile ago what Dustin mentioned, I only need an mATX board, one video card, and one SSD and HDD to have a complete and powerful system, and the regular ATX towers are just a huge waste of space. I'm sure many people have similarly simple systems nowadays so I don't understand why mATX is not more popular, or why manufacturers insist on continuing to make them so big. I love that this case is the size that it is and I wouldn't want any bigger for any future builds.just4U - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
Your right the 350D is bigger.. it could have easily been the size of the Temjin if they'd wanted it that way but than it wouldn't be able to fit all of Corsair's CLC options which is what they had in mind. But when you compare it to their other cases it's easy to fall in love with it. Like the Temjin I believe it sits at the top of the pack but for very different reasons.Silverstone can improve a lot on the Temjin design though..it's far from perfect, so the fact that it sits at the top with the 350D is a feat in itself. I don't think it needs to factor in CLCs right now. Their still a nitch market meant for enthusiasts. Plus that would add to the size of the case. No .. just make it easier to work with, and do something about the SSD placement. and it will continue to be one of the best cases on the market.
rhskeks - Sunday, September 22, 2013 - link
I had the corsair 350D but I returned it because it was just as big as some ATX cases out there. Also, I had a problem with its noise coming from the internal fans, as well as the ventilated top.In my opinion, the 350D is geared towards a very small niche market, to fill the needs of enthusiasts who are looking to water cool their m-atx system. This is the reason why it's selling so well, because there are no other m-atx cases to fill this very small segment market. I am not one of those enthusiasts; I simply couldn't justify spending another $150+ for a wc setup when a good air cooler keeps my system quiet and cool without adding more noise or powerdraw.
One gripe about the Temjin is actually the location of the ssd. Because it is at the bottom of the case you have to have the sata cable on your psu to be long enough to cover the length from the ssd all the way to the DVD drive if you have one. It was simply impossible for my 400w psu to extend that far so I had to put the ssd in the hard drive cage to make it work. Other than this small gripe, it is a fantastic case with very solid build, and the little attention to details such as the air cooler support makes this my favorite case to date.
just4U - Sunday, September 22, 2013 - link
It's interesting that you should say that rh. I moved my parts from a Temjin to the 350D after Anandtech reviewed the case. Most of the time I can't even hear it running and it is quieter than the Temjin /w it's 180mm fan.I tend to use power supplies by Corsair/PC Power and Cooling and Cooler MasterS series that all use ribbon cables that were long enough for the bottom SSD. It's simply a pain is all and I landed up doing exactly what you did when I moved to a bigger SSD.
You didn't note the horrid number of screws for the Temjin and the fact that you should really get as many things as you can all in before mounting that MB. Those are minor things though.. from the back end for the installer. Once set up the case is great.
bji - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link
Minor grammar nit - the second sentence should read:"There are a tremendous number of cases ..."
Cases are countable, so you use "number". "amount" is for uncountable things, so you'd say:
"There is a tremendous amount of water in my basement".
antef - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
I also have the original version of this case from early 2012, I really love it. The install isn't the simplest ever, but it's doable. I like the dedicated spot for an SSD at the bottom. I have no need for the HDD cage so taking it out really frees up space. I had an issue with my power cable orientation with the HDD directly on top of the SSD, so I put it in a 5.25" bay instead. A little tight but works fine. The system is cool and quiet and the perfect size. Also looks great. Highly recommend it!antef - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
Although I have to say - as great as the PS07 is, I would strongly consider the Line-M if building today. It's only $36 on Amazon and seems nearly equally good (2x120mm fans, small, room for large video cards, bottom 2.5" mount), and possibly more straightforward to install in. The case seems to be a rebirth of the Cooler Master Elite 341. It really checks all the boxes for a small mATX case, and it's cheap. Dustin says it's a "good case, but not a great one," however looking back at his review his only complaints in the conclusion are no top vent and not a lot of cable management. Those are pretty minor complaints for something that costs less than half of the PS07.That said I love the SilverStone and you probably can't go wrong with either. I'm sure many people appreciate the SilverStone's inverted layout and dual front intake fans to help with the use of tower coolers, and the price is good. But the Line-M sure seems like a steal.
just4U - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
What about the Cooler Master N200?antef - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
The N200 looks okay but still a bit unnecessarily deep.PS07: 8.27 " W x 14.73" H x 15.75" D
Line-M: 7.29" W x 14.37" H x 15.74" D
N200: 7.95" W x 14.9" H x 17.52" D
The Line-M has the best dimensions here. The PS07 is slightly wider and taller but maintains the same short depth. The N200 is nearly 2" deeper. What's so nice about the Line-M/PS07 dimensions is that they keep it extremely compact but still have the space for a large video card and modest tower cooler if you want it.
HisDivineOrder - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
CLC is a fad that will die out just as soon as people realize it's ridiculous to put a water cooler on chips that increasingly cannot overclock reliably for reasons that are NOT at all about heat production and/or not about heat being reliably transferred by the heatspreader.At this point, CLC is the new "in-thing," but eventually there'll be a move back to standard heatsinks and fans. This reminds me of how "everyone" was making aluminum cases, then the market contracted down to only a couple of players. Because it was the fad for a while.
just4U - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link
I've found that the Temjin (and I assume the PS07 since their very similar) both work well with modular Power Supplies that use cables that are ribboned rather than sleeved. That makes cable management so much easier.bobbozzo - Sunday, September 22, 2013 - link
Hi,Please also re-review the Antec P18x (p183 v3 is current, afaict) and p280 cases.
Thanks!
bobbozzo - Sunday, September 22, 2013 - link
http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/3085/Large%2...It looks like there might be a filter on the intake, but it's hard to tell for sure
Please state in all reviews if there are dust filters, and if they're removable.
thanks!
tonyou - Sunday, September 22, 2013 - link
Yeah, that pictures shows the front removable filter for the PS07. There is also another removable filter on the top of the case for PSU intake.Hrel - Monday, September 23, 2013 - link
I looked and didn't find one; but you guys REALLY need a sound meter that goes below 30db. I'm not sure where to find it, but it's gotta exist somewhere.lwatcdr - Monday, September 23, 2013 - link
You would probably not only have to find a meter that goes below 30db but also a special room to measure in. Even wind outside or the ac turning on could swamp a sub 30db signal.