Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
While the last small case I reviewed, the SilverStone Milo ML09, was meant for the home theater setting, this one is definitely made for the game room or a LAN party. From here, you can see the aggressive styling and lines. However, I would say this is even more gamer-like than previous SilverStone Raven cases, as these diagonal edges and lines stand out quite distinctly. These aspects definitely are drawn from previous SilverStone Raven cases, making the RVZ03 fit right in the lineup. The majority of the case is made up of a black steel body, while the outer black plastic shell covers the front and two sides. The front shows off a symmetrical look, with a single line splitting into two spikes. The RGB strip is shown quite clearly in the middle of the front panel, but we will see what this looks like later on. While some may not be a huge fan of this showy look, I think it looks fine. The case is a matte finish, which should do a decent job at hiding potato chip-stained hands. Material choices here are also okay, though it would be nice to see SilverStone move away from the cheaper feeling plastic towards some metal or even glass. Metal gives a more premium look and feel, and I think the Raven RVZ03 would benefit from this addition.
In terms of sizing, SilverStone's Raven RVZ03 measures in at 382mm in width, 105mm in height, and 350mm in depth. For comparison, the Milo ML09 was smaller than the Raven RVZ03 in all directions. These measurements translate into a 14L volumetric capacity, which is double the capacity of the Milo ML09. These two chassis, while they both hold smaller motherboards, serve two different markets and thus the size differences are understandable. In addition, the RVZ03 we have today can handle full sized graphics cards, while the Milo ML09 only fit half height expansion cards. In terms of weight, the SilverStone Raven RVZ03 weighs 4.05kg.
Starting here, you can see the top side panel, which slides off the rest of the enclosure. A single 120mm fan grid can be seen here, as well as an included SilverStone fan. As we have pointed out in the accessories, SilverStone has included a 120mm fan filter to stop dust from getting inside the case. Otherwise, there is not much else to point out here
Taking a closer look at the front panel, you can see here is where all the input and output exist. At the top left, we have the standard two USB 3.0 ports with two 3.5mm audio jacks found in between. In the middle, you can see the indentation and translucent slit where the RGB strip exists. Underneath, we have a power button, followed by a single blue LED for hard drive activity and a slim reset button. Input and output are as you would expect, but in this current day and age, it would be nice to see USB-C ports on the front here. With many new phones having this reversible connector, I think this would only make sense. Internal USB-C headers are only making their way to market on motherboards, but it baffles me to see a headlining case without this updated input.
Finally, at the bottom, you can see two more grilles. The first are the two 120mm fan areas on the left side of the image. One of the slots is already lined with another slim 120mm fan from SilverStone. However, as this area is used for air intake or exhaust, depending on your graphics card, you can remove the slim fan. The other two 120mm fan filters can be used here too, if necessary. On the right, we have another air intake area, except this time it is for the power supply. You may be wondering why the power supply is so far forward while the power cord is at the back. This will be answered when we get to our internal look.
At the back, we have the aforementioned power plug, as well as two full-sized expansion slots for your video card. Next to these two slots is the opening for the mini ITX motherboard's input and output. As you can tell, the graphics card slots and motherboard opening run parallel to each other. While this is a bit strange compared to conventional cases, it really is not too surprising considering the form factor. The next page will paint a clearer picture of how this is done inside. Even more honeycomb holes can be found at the back to allow air to pass through for better cooling.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
