Information about the Silverstone Raven 2

Silverstone introduced last year, the first housing from the series Raven before. Characterized by innovative concepts it represented the division of the computer case in the true sense on its head. It was one of the first case in which the hardware has been installed rotated by 90°. Besides the unique design and bundled out of the lid extending cables are made to the chimney effect Silverstone as one of the first advantage. Now comes the second generation of this unusual case series, the second Raven Again be the motherboard and thus all the hardware installed rotated 90 degrees and the chimney effect, supported by three 180-mm fans on the ground, used. In terms of design the Raven 2 was something kept simple and comes with completely different dimensions. It include addition to the usual screws and detailed instructions, a 3.5-to-5, 25" converter, an SSD-bracket for mounting next to the drive bays, a 3.5" aperture for mounting the drive shaft, a holder for a radiator, a power supply fuse and a Velcro strap and five reusable cable clamps supplied with the second Raven.

The Raven 2 does something subtle, though no less appealing and capable of taking on more sympathetic than its predecessors. It is immediately apparent that the development department of Silverstone has a lot of work in the new edition. Most of the front panel is equipped with eight removable panels for the underlying drive bays. Three of them can be exploited only if the hard drive cage, which is behind it is not required. In the lower area there is a big "Raven", which reflects the design of the front. Thus, in the top of an illuminated V generation of the first set and the entire area in the middle was a bit drawn out. In addition, the four feet are incorporated into the rounded housing design. The cover is next to the Portkit the power and reset switches, the actual design approach of the second Raven Three-quarters of the lid are removable without tools and made from a combination of plastic and Meshoptik. Including hides what is in other cases on the back: The slots for expansion cards, a 120-mm fan, which should contribute its share to the chimney effect and the power supply. In addition, the lid must be removed to open the side parts. Successful as we find, for this is not a single screw from the outside to see. In the back of connect all necessary cables bundled out from under the lid, the housing also provides for the connected state from tidy. However, every time a new cable is added, the lid can be removed.

The back is kept as simple as it gets. Only a generous opening to the underlying built-in power supply through a dust filter in fresh air to see there. Unlike many other packages is worth the Raven 2, a look at the bottom. There, next to the rubber feet fall grille for by a clip mounted on 180-mm fan. All the fans pull cool air as possible from the underside, which is heated in the course of the case and then re-emerges on the cover. Even with the side walls is Silverstone is another way than usual. While the left side wall is kept very simple without any opening, is in the right panel where the motherboard is normally attached, a large window made of 5 mm thick Plexiglas. This offers a clear view of the hardware and in terms of size and location arranged perfectly. Having thus established that not only the motherboard rotated 90 degrees, but also built on the opposite page. Overall, the Silverstone Raven is processed two extremely good. The combination of plastic and steel is achieved, all attachments firmly engage and secure the chassis, and from the outside is not a single screw to see.

The interior of the Raven 2, the unusual concept really comes into play. It takes a few minutes to orientate themselves and see through the arrangement of the hardware. Apart from that, like at first glance, the black paint and the interior makes a neat and tidy. Only through the fan set on the ground is purely visually a little space is lost. First, something familiar on the characteristics, the front: there is among the four 5.25 "drive bays, in which optical drives installed without tools using a clip system, a removable HDD cage for fitting with a maximum of three 3.5" hard drives available. Unlike in most cases they are not horizontally but vertically, in order to use the air flow of the underlying 180-mm fans and lead the heated air from the storage media at the top of the case. To counteract unwanted vibrations, equips Silverstone the hard drive cage from the factory with vibration dampers, in which the disks are screwed. The entire floor is covered by three powerful 180mm fans, which run each through a separate, washable dust filter cold air from the bottom of the case and it is carrying through the interior to the top. Between the rear of the three fans and the back wall, two hose guides are for a base to pursue an external water cooling. With the included brackets and some craftsmanship offers there an option of single, dual, triple or even a radiator for the new generation to be attached to three 140-mm fan. It should be noted however, that the attached radiator takes important place long expansion cards such as the graphics card to complete.

The real heart and also the innovation of the Raven 2, the arrangement and position of the motherboard tray. This is, as already discussed, turned 90 ° and on the opposite side (as usual) is attached. This has the advantage that the three fans on the floor all the components cool at large. In order to operate large CPU cooler with a back plate can, is in the motherboard tray a generous recess. In addition, three openings for improved cable management behind the tray with numerous mounting possibilities for cable ties are available. So it should be possible to "clutter" that could disrupt the air flow in the housing to avoid. When Raven 2 take the lid is a key function. It is home to fit the card all the connections, which are usually located on the back. Both the motherboard with eight slots for expansion cards and the power supply several inches are inserted into the case. This creates under the hood of the lid to ensure sufficient space available to ensure that the cables suffer the lead out from the cover not be damaged by bending. Only on second glance falls on a small fan controller between the cover and fan and power supply. Here are the three connected to the bottom located fan to choose between high (1,000 rpm) and low (about 750 rpm) power. Virtually all those who do not have the ability to control the fan to the motherboard via software.

The Silverstone Raven 2 breaks the rules of the design of PC chassis, which gets the user to feel just the installation of the hardware because it is simply unfamiliar with the motherboard and any related components installed rotated by 90 °. The slots in the motherboard tray are different than most cases arranged, but offer very good opportunities to perform all necessary cables to stow away safely. Apart from the initial confusion turned off by the motherboard, the installation of hardware designed otherwise very straightforward. With an included adapter from a 4-pin connector on three 3-pin fan connectors, the three 180-mm fan at the bottom, be supplied without any problems with the AC adapter with power. If during use the full power rating of these fans, they can be installed with the fan control be regulated down and then silence. The side walls (especially the left side wall) can be even after the laying of the cable and close smoothly without effort. Once all the necessary USB, VGA, and other cables are connected, the cover is easily put back on the chassis and the Raven 2 can be put into operation.

As the power supply draws cool air from outside, it is also working under high stress calmer than when the warm air is sucked from the interior of the housing. Who still wants it can obstruct the power supply with the CPU fan direction, as the Raven 2 offers both options. In the test criterion "room for expansion cards," the Raven gives about 30 cm 2 with a solid place in the midfield, but offers enough space to also be able to accommodate the latest high-end graphics cards. However, to obstruct the upcoming monster like the ATI Radeon 5870 X2, would have to be developed at this point one of the 180-mm fan. Then whopping 36 cm square are available. The temperatures were measured while the system is running the 3DMark Vantage as a continuous loop. The volume measurements were made with a "V Craft Digital Sound Level Meter 320" carried out measures the sound level in the range of 30 to 120 decibels. The overall volume of the measuring room was subjectively perceived silence below the measurement range, ie less than 30 decibels.

The term "modification options" we have been making for quite some time conceivable changes to the packages we tested, usually in relation to the optical and cooling. But there are modifications that are not a silent system or optical changes assigned. So is the presented in the following frames, the buyers need it, regular access to their storage media, makes it possible to make this subtle and unobtrusive, without having to open each time the housing need. The Raven 2 provides for this modification is especially useful because in the lower area behind the front sits a hard drive cage that can be removed if desired. The advantage here is that in the front before the hard drive cage covers for 5.25" drive bays are available. Change order to this area for now so that an additional acquired caddy can be hidden behind the drive panel, you must first remove the existing hard drive cage be. Then the required number of panels connected together from the inside (with either glue or screws) and then with a little sandpaper on the sides prepared so that the panels fit without any resistance from the front. Then, the bottom panel can be connected to the inner pages are provided with two holes to be drilled and hidden by the front then just fix it yet with a threaded rod in the front and provide means of small magnets that the covers are held in the upper range - finished.

Only on second glance, proves to be the Silverstone Raven 2 as a near-perfect housing for extremely quiet operation. In the floor-mounted bulky 180-mm fan rises initially suspected that these provide an unbearable noise. Which is not so! Already at 12 V, the noise is limited. Then they provide but also guarantees a proper air flow of cold hardware component. To fix it down over the existing fan control, they are already difficult to perceive and yet still provide an acceptable air flow. Due to their low starting voltage, it is possible to enable additional software in a near-silent operation, in which still get enough air into the interior of the casing around the chimney effect stronger.

Since the disks decoupled in the appropriate cages are built and owns the power supply has its own cooling circuit through the back wall and allows thus lower fan speeds, the power supply fan, the only nor the 12 V operation clearly perceptible 120mm fan remains in the top. This should if possible be controlled via a fan controller or software downloaded or replaced with a quieter model. If he built into the casing, it offers the buyer the option it vibrate on uncoupling at least secure. The possibilities of additional insulation of the Raven 2 are limited. Almost all the interior surfaces are covered by hardware components, fans or vents. However, it should be noted that the outstanding design of the interior offers ideal conditions to graphics card and processor to cool passively. The already shipped - for a Midi-Tower - very high weight of about 12.5 kg and the vibration-damping feet help prevent unwanted vibrations from inside.