Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
In my personal opinion, I like clean and simplistic designs with a hint of flare to it. To give an example of products on the one end of the spectrum, cases such as the Thermaltake Chaser MK-1 reviewed by Jeremy To a while back is an example of... as he puts it, a "flamboyant" model. On the opposite end, the Lian Li PC-B12 reviewed by my colleague Jonathan seems too plain and "fridge-like" for my liking. If I were to watch TV, cook, and eat at the same time, then I would buy one to go along with a bar fridge next to it.
What SilverStone has done here is they have kept a very simplistic look with the vertical lines and the few V-shaped designs on the Raven RV04. Measuring 219mm in width, 581mm in height, and 497mm in depth, this case is pretty large, but at 24 lbs, it is surprisingly lightweight. For those that prefer an even more plain appearance, the Raven RV04 comes with a non-windowed version. What I like here is SilverStone has created a very large window on the windowed version. Compared to most -- if not, all -- cases, the window on the Raven RV04 is on the opposite side. This means that the implementation of your motherboard will be a full one hundred and eighty degree turn, which you will see later in this review. It also has two USB 3.0 port and standard 3.5mm audio jacks on the windowed side. The front features a door, and much like its predecessor, it has a V-shaped LED light to hint hard drive activity, and show whether your PC is powered on or not. Although it is made out of plastic, the door and its hinges seem to be pretty durable, yet flexible at the same time. Initially, I thought it would be flimsy, but I was proved wrong after giving it some reasonable abuse. On each side of the door is approximately two to three inches of space from top to bottom. They are used to provide maximum airflow through the front via the two SilverStone's very own Air Penetrator AP181 180mm fans located behind the door. You will also find two 5.25" bays behind the door, each with a plastic cover. If needed, you could always pinch-and-pull before installing your external 5.25" devices.
Opening the door, you will notice that it will only swing in one direction (1D eh? - Editor), which I find slightly inconvenient if you must place your chassis against a certain wall. With that said, it is not likely I would use my optical drive that often; after all, it's 2013, but it would still be nice if SilverStone could implement some mechanism that opens the door both ways. A plastic covered LED strip runs across the back of the door for power and hard drive activity indication in front of the case. When it boils down to design preference, some say the door looks very awkward, but isn't the whole point of the Raven RV04 to redefine tradition in the first place? Fundamentally, design and looks is a very subjective topic, so I simply cannot force any one person to agree with my liking. (As you can tell, I am a fan.) What it comes down to is the performance issue of whether this area is able to provide efficient airflow. Whether you like its design or not, keep in mind that the SilverStone Raven RV04 is a chassis mainly designed for such a purpose, and hence the rotation of the motherboard. On top of that, some air cooling and closed loop CPU coolers will further enhance the airflow within the case by directing airflow to the back of the chassis. For those enthusiasts out there, you could even mount additional fans from your favorite manufacturer for an increase in air ventilation without compromising too much in noise.
For further comparison, the SilverStone Fortress FT04 implements a very similar design. The only main difference is the FT04 utilizes aluminum for the front and top panels, as well as extra ventilated material on both sides of the door for design purposes. Generally speaking, if you don't like the way the Raven looks, I would personally take the Fortress FT04 over the Raven RV04, but its functionality is fundamentally the same.
As opposed to having the I/O panel on the top like the RV03, the RV04 has its I/O panel at the back, which is a lot more orthodox. From the top down, you will find the standard PSU opening, eight expansion slots next to a strip of ventilation, optional 120mm fan slot, motherboard backplate opening, and thumbscrews on both sides of the case for the side panels. You will also notice a removable dust filter dedicated to the power supply along the top edge of the case. Both side panels (Besides the window itself) are made out of steel, while the rest of the outside of the case is made out of reinforced plastic. These two sides are pretty standard; so let's move onto more interesting parts.
The top features a streamlined design with lines, which, to me, represents a similar design to a raven's feathers. As aforementioned, there is a dust filter dedicated for the power supply at the back, while the front features a power and reset button. This top panel is also removable in order to install the power supply, plus any 5.25" devices you may have. You will see a better example of this in the following pages to come. In order to remove this panel, the side panels must first be removed, then unscrew another few screws for the top panel to slide back and come loose. When it comes down to cleaning settling dust on the top of your SilverStone Raven RV04, you may find it difficult to clean with a cloth because of its design. I found it much easier to use compressed air, then remove the power supply's dust filter, and run it under tap water. That way, you wouldn't have to worry about dust settling into your power supply when there is no filter.
Because your motherboard is installed upside down as mentioned earlier, there isn't anything to special at the bottom of the SilverStone Raven RV04. You will see four plastic feet to support the RV04 itself, with additional padding to ensure it doesn't create marks on easily surfaces that can easily be scratched. Unlike its predecessor, the Raven RV03, there are no fans on the bottom of the case, so there is no need for any type of dust filter here. In its place, you will notice some small bumps, which are used for the hard drive bays found inside, and for mounting 2.5" drives. You will also notice that there will be enough space for up to four 2.5" drives. One of the bays is held down by a screw located in this area, so if you would like to remove it, here is where you will do it.
Generally speaking, the SilverStone Raven RV04 is a solidly built case. There were no sharp edges or corners as far as I could see. Additionally, the interior matte black paint job makes the whole case unified. Both side panels fit perfectly well without the need to resort to additional force. The plastic panels are also well built for durability. The hinges for the door do not seem flimsy at all. In fact, they are quite durable, yet flexible at the same time. Overall, I am quite pleased with the built quality of the Raven RV04.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
