Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
Taking a look at the SilverStone Sugo SG13WB, it is a very different beast compared to what I have seen in the past. Normally when I review cases, I expect it to be larger than everything else. On the other hand, the Sugo SG13WB is small. Looking at the Sugo SG13WB, it is somewhat bland in terms of design. While I do like the color options available, specifically this model's black and white mix, it seems quite boxy. Overall, I do not think it looks bad, but rather the design seems uninspired. Looking at past Sugos, you can also see the thirteenth model has been more of an iteration than a new design. Considering the price point of the Sugo SG13WB, however, it is not bad. Practically all of the case is metal, with the exception of the front panel. The front grille is a metal mesh, while the side frames of this panel are plastic. Material choices are acceptable, but I would have liked to see thicker metal parts, as there was a bit of flexing seen in all the metal areas. I can understand the idea to lighten the box as much as possible, but I think I would have sacrificed a bit of weight for a more rigid case.
In terms of dimensions, SilverStone's Sugo SG13WB measures in at 222mm in width, 181mm in height, and 285mm in depth. This translates into an 11.5L volumetric capacity. Comparatively speaking, the last mini-ITX case I looked at, the Fractal Design Define Nano S, was much closer in relative dimensions to a regular case. By volume, the Nano S was more than double at 26.8L. These two chassis, while they both hold smaller motherboards, serve two different markets and thus the size differences are understandable. In terms of weight, the SilverStone Sugo SG13WB is very light at 2.47kg. For reference's sake, this is just over half the mass of the aforementioned Fractal Design Define Nano S.
From here, you can also get a pretty clear look of the right side of the Sugo SG13. One thing you may notice is how the side of the front panel has a honeycomb pattern, and this is where air can pass through and in. As the Sugo SG13 is small, there needs to be a lot of breathing holes to ventilate all the areas inside. This honeycomb pattern also has a finer mesh behind it to prevent dust from going into the case. On the right side panel, you can see there is also another ventilation area. Unfortunately, due to size limitations, this is just for passive ventilation and a fan cannot be mounted here. It also is not mesh filtered, which is a tad disappointing, but it is not as crucial for side panels.
When it comes to the front panel, as mentioned previously, the SilverStone Sugo SG13 is available in either a mesh or a flat plastic front. As we have the mesh in front of us, you can clearly see a filter inside mounted on the back of the front panel. The front panel is removable, but it takes a bit more effort as I will explain later on. Otherwise, this panel is completely plastic and holds the basic front input and output for the computer. This includes two USB 3.0 ports at the bottom, and two 3.5mm audio jacks for headphones and microphones. A plastic power button is found on the top and it provides decent tactile feedback. A small reset hole is also right beside the power button on the left side.
From this angle, there are three spots to speak about. The first two are the top and left sides of the Sugo SG13. The top holds a huge ventilation area, but again can only be used passively as it does not accommodate any fans. Oddly, there are two indentation marks here, but they do not seem to serve any purpose other than for looks. As this is where the power supply is to be mounted, users could place their power supply facing up or down, each with their own benefits. However, it should be noted there is no mesh cover here, which would have prevented dust from settling into the power supply. The left side has the largest area of circular ventilation holes and this is closest to the video card. Non-reference cards are quite common as they expel heat away from the video card and into the enclosure, unlike the reference blower style design, meaning these holes will allow for hot air to exit. Once again, there is a lack of meshing here, but it will not be as important if it is used for releasing air.
Finally, the last exposed area to cover is the back. The top shows a large cutout for the power supply. Despite such a small case, the SilverStone Sugo SG13WB can fit a regular sized ATX power supply, albeit with some length limitations. I should note this is one of the first top mounted power supply cases I have reviewed in a very long time, though they are not uncommon, such as the recent In Win 303. Under the power supply cutout is the motherboard I/O area. To the right is where your expansion card would go, such as a discrete graphics card. These two slots should accommodate most graphics cards, but again there are limitations to the length and width of card you choose.
Finally, at the bottom of the SilverStone Sugo SG13WB, we have four exposed black rubber feet. These stick out quite a bit and hold the whole box in place, especially on flat surfaces. The rubber also will help in dampening any vibrations created between the Sugo SG13 and the sitting area. As you may have spotted, there are also four mounting holes. This is where users can install a 2.5" drive inside, but you will see more about this on our next page when we crack the Sugo SG13WB open for a closer look. Otherwise, everything is pretty much as you would expect. I would have liked to see a handle on the Sugo SG13WB, as it would make portability much easier. Even though it is tiny and light enough to carry, I think the handle will be appreciated by gamers.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
