Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
The SilverStone KL07E has the exact same design as the Kublai KL07, which I reviewed seven years ago. The case has a straightforward design, featuring a black color all around. The case design is unassuming, meaning it can easily blend into a room without standing out as a gaming computer. On the front, a glossy strip runs along the left side from the bottom to the top, which then continues on the top of the case. This small glossy contrast with the matte black of the rest of the case is a welcome break from simply having the same texture all around. Along the sides of the front panel is the air intake to keep a clean front. The bottom of the front panel also opens up to allow for more airflow. Within the glossy ridge-like pattern on the front of the case, we find the power and reset buttons. These are well-hidden, which aligns with the idea of a silent case. A nearby small blue light indicates when the system is powered on as well. The dimensions for the SilverStone KL07E come in at 222mm in width, 510mm in height, and 467mm in depth, which is the exact same as the predecessor Kublai KL07. One difference of note is the weight of the case. The KL07 was 7.7 kg, while the KL07E is 9.23 kg. This is quite a weight increase and makes the overall final weight, including your system components, notable.
Similarly to the previous KL07, the KL07E features a split I/O panel. As I have mentioned, the power and reset buttons are found on the front of the case, while the rest of the I/O is along the top. As before, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. However, this time, the two full-sized USB ports are black instead of blue to fit in the stealth-like theme. Towards the back of the I/O panel, there are two 3.5mm audio ports, one for headphone out and the other for the microphone. I appreciate the I/O being on top of the case. It makes it easy to plug in multiple components and rest them on top of the case. The I/O available on top is also fairly standard for chassis these days. All in all, the inputs and outputs are helpful for what is required.
Along the back of the case, we see the black look of the rest of the build continued. Next to the standard motherboard cutout, we find the 140mm exhaust fan. A 120mm fan can also be mounted here. Below the fan exhaust area and the motherboard cutout, we find the seven expansion slots. I was not a fan of the previous design to remove expansion slots, and the same holds true yet again. Two screws hold the expansion slots in place and removing them means all the expansion slots can fall out if the case is bumped. Below the expansion slots is the power supply cutout, which has mounting holes for an ATX power supply.
Along the bottom of the SilverStone KL07E, we find the exhaust or intake for the power supply. A small mesh dust filter that sits on rails can be found here. This filter can be easily removed, cleaned, and reinstalled without too much hassle. Otherwise, there are four feet with some rubber on each to provide some grip. These feet are rather small, raising the case about 15mm to allow for some airflow. Overall, the SilverStone KL07E is well-built for the most part.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
