Page 4: Installation and Conclusion
I began my build process by installing the motherboard into the case first. I used my ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi for the build, which is perfect as a mini ITX form factor motherboard. It should be noted the motherboard is mounted upside down in this chassis. I had the ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi mounted with the Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5-6000 2x16GB memory kit, Patriot P400 1TB storage, and the Noctua NH-L9i-17xx for cooling before installation. The CPU air cooler height limit is dependent on what power supply form factor you use. Because I am using an ATX power supply for this build, I was limited to 85mm height for air cooling, which the NH-L9i-17xx cleared with ease thanks to its low-profile nature.
Next up was installing the PSU into the system. I used the Fractal Design Ion+ 2 Platinum 860W for this build. I simply slotted the power supply against the side of the case, which fit well. It should be noted if you use an ATX power supply, you are limited in your cooling options in the front side. However, your storage options are not affected by what power supply form factor you choose. Due to this mounting location, you must use the internal power cable to connect the power supply.
As mentioned earlier, with the SUGO 16, you are limited to 275mm of length and 147mm of width when it comes to your graphics card. My EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti was sadly unable to clear the length limit. I could technically use my card still, but it would be sticking out of the front, preventing the front panel from fitting on. Thus, I will be using Intel integrated graphics for this build to capture the full essence of the SUGO 16, as was intended. This is also a good reminder for users that you must be mindful of graphics card length with this case, as it has its limits.
The photo above gives a completed look for this particular build. Overall, I enjoyed the building process for the SilverStone SUGO 16. This is my first full mini ITX build, and the SUGO 16 made it fun. There is plenty of room for all the components. You may not be able to fit everything you want in it, such as a longer graphics card, but that is the nature of a small form factor build. I was able to push all the cable behind the power supply to clean it up a bit. I finished the build by installing the side panels back on and plugging all the necessary external cables into the machine.
With everything plugged in, I brought the system to life by hitting the power button. Because I had no fans installed, I did a check to make sure the system was working fine since it was so quiet. According to the standard APH Network sound scale, where 0 is silence and 10 is a rock concert, the SilverStone SUGO 16 is technically a 0/10 because no fans are included with it out of the box. Thankfully, my components that do have spinning parts, the Noctua NH-L9i-17xx and Fractal Design Ion+ 2 Platinum 860W, are both very quiet in operation. The PSU in particular has a hybrid fan, so it is off when there is low load. This brings the rating to 2.0/10, which is still very quiet. Because of the limited fan mounting capacity, I imagine the sound output would not be much different if you mounted other fans in the SUGO 16, but obviously it depends on what fans you are using.
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Did the SilverStone SUGO 16 pack a punch in a small package? To start, the SUGO 16 computer case is well-built with a solid and sturdy frame. It is quite compact, as it is designed for mDTX/mITX motherboards. Accessing all four sides is easy thanks to the easily removable side panels. When it comes to the interior design, SilverStone has got users covered with various options for mounting cooling fans, storage devices, and power supplies. I appreciate that the SUGO 16 can support ATX-sized power supplies, even if it does limit the cooling options for both case fans and air cooler height. There was also enough space inside the case for reasonable cable management. It is important you keep in mind the size of the graphics card you wish to use with this chassis, since there are space restrictions. When it comes to improvements, a USB Type-C port would be nice to have with the I/O panel, given it is 2022. I also think the missing third expansion slot is a bit sad, considering its predecessor included one. I still want to see the front I/O internal connectors grouped into a single header for easier cable management, and it would have been nice to see an included case fan for exhaust or intake. At the time of the review, the SUGO 16 can be found for $100, while its predecessor, the SUGO 14, is around the same price. With all that said, the SilverStone SUGO 16 is a solid choice for a case if you are looking to downsize to a smaller system that can still pack some punch.
SilverStone provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
8/10 means Definitely a very good product with drawbacks that are not likely going to matter to the end user.
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks, but should be considered before purchasing.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 7.4/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The SilverStone SUGO 16 is a solidly built mDTX/mITX computer case that can fit a powerful system.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
