New desktop from Silverstone: LC13

Aleksi · Post by **Aleksi** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 12:42 am

Hi guys

As we all know, finding a good HTPC case is not very easy. I was about to order the Silverstone LC03, when I noticed this case had just come out. Some people may prefer due to the very plain and smooth front.

http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-lc13.htm

Not really sure which case has better ventilation... Or should I say, which one is less bad without modding?

the_smell · Post by **the_smell** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:00 am

Why the 60mm exhausts why

REMF · Post by **REMF** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 5:59 am

it's hard to see how they could be any bigger, i certainly wouldn't want the case any taller!

still, one bugbear about SS cases: how is it than Coolermaster can fit vertical expansion slots within a case less than 14cm tall, yet SS cases are not less than 16cm.

i would happily have a flat mounted PSU, with a microATX board as a tradeoff, in order to get a 13cm tall case.

i know some people don't like MATX motherboards, but if i can already buy an nForce4 motherboard then i can live with the compromise, and i am a poweruser.

hmsrolst · Post by **hmsrolst** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:48 pm

I agree that it's a shame this couldn't be a bit shorter, but it does have some very nice features:

--takes a standard PSU
--steel body
--reasonable ventilation
--using undervolted reasonably quiet 60mm fans is feasible
--nice looks (but it's height makes it somewhat imposing)

If this was the same height as my Coolermaster 620, it'd be a sure replacement for it. As it is, I might go for the LC-04 and take a chance on the Silverstone PSU.

acaurora · Post by **acaurora** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:12 pm

Personally, while the front cover is a nice touch, the 60mms again is a big gripe for me. i understand you can undervolt them, but if the fan's noisy from the start undervolting it wont do much =[

But then again i'm sure there are adapters that go 60 to 80, somewhere in that vast place known as the EARTH. ;P

WHERE ARE THE FRIGGEN DUST FILTERS?!! =[

I'm sort of thinking about going to the LC11 - I like that design more.

Off Topic - Note the big white "?" box for the LC12 - makes me wonder what it will look like

milo · Post by **milo** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 6:10 pm

Off Topic - Note the big white "?" box for the LC12 - makes me wonder what it will look like

This.

acaurora · Post by **acaurora** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 6:17 pm

Funny how the image file name says LC 14, lol...

Otherwise, it looks kinda ugly to me. That would change, however, if it housed an 80mm ;P

REMF · Post by **REMF** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:49 am

just seen the pics for the LC14, looks great, but i understand it is even taller than than the usual ATX cases at 173mm.

fair enough, if they must make it taller (though i would prefer shorter), at least use rear 80mm fans! the A-Tech 5000 case is about 15.5cm tall, and they manage to get 80mm fans above the mounting bracket, SS cases are 16cm tall and they can only fit 60mm fans................

SS could learn a lot from the way A-tech have designed their boxes. they are perfect except for the price.

acaurora · Post by **acaurora** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:56 am

A-Tech? ooOOOoooo *investigates

REMF · Post by **REMF** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:20 am

A-tech gear is magnificient, but i choked at the price. i think i will get one next year, but i need a PC now, i just wish other HTPC chassis manufacturers would copy A-techs layout.

acaurora · Post by **acaurora** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 12:14 pm

OH MY GOD. I saw their website prices - for the A-Tech 4000 EX (although the page title says 5000 HP), $535?!!!! ARE THEY OUT OF THEIR MINDS?!! Although it does look like a sweet case (2x80mms, standard ATX PSU, sweet.)

Now if only it was $400 cheaper... lol

REMF · Post by **REMF** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 12:30 pm

if A-tech can manage to fit 80mm rear fans and ful size expansion slots in a case of 14cm in height.................. why can't SS?

pangloss · Post by **pangloss** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 12:58 pm

For awhile, A-Tech cases reminded me of "audiophile" speaker wire. A-Tech labeled their original case the "Heatsink Case" when it did little to actually use the case as a heatsink. Oh, but it's made of aluminum, which is the material used in many heatsinks, so natch, we'll call it a "Heatsink Case".

The fact that most of the discussion, design and customers of the case resided on a home theater forum only reinforced this perception. But the newer revs seem to have improved. Allowing standard ATX power supplies is good. Using heatpipes is good. The pricing is still ridiculous.

I always thought if A-Tech was serious about their noise claims, they would submit some of their cases for review/validation by SPCR. I'd be interested in a review of their latest and greatest case + their hard disk "mass storage" case.

acaurora · Post by **acaurora** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 1:05 pm

It's funny how it's called "Heatsync".

Elixer · Post by **Elixer** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:02 pm

The case does however have a 92mm intake fan. Perhaps a good canidate for positive case pressure?

shigaloo · Post by **shigaloo** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:03 am

REMF wrote:if A-tech can manage to fit 80mm rear fans and ful size expansion slots in a case of 14cm in height.................. why can't SS?

because A-Tech uses a really thick aluminum chassis with no bends - therefore more room for fans, SS has 3 bends in the steel to keep it from flexing (or bending), a mfg technique to get more strength from thinner material.

atech

ss

aside from the fact that atech's materials cost is probably 5x or more, the mfg process (probably laser) costs more as well.

REMF · Post by **REMF** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 1:21 pm

Silverstone can do better.

davidlindow · Post by **davidlindow** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 12:55 am

is it possible to make this case silent? I was thinking about this config with the LC13 case:

CPU AMD: 3000+ winchester + Zalman cooler
MOTHERBOARD: Abit AN8, nForce4, Socket-939, maybe with passive NB cooling
MEM: 2*512 pc3200 ddr
HD:SEAGATE 160gb IDE (Already have it)
GRAPHIC: X700 pro (passive or active cooling?)

I would like to have an HTPC case and price is good. Have been watching the sonata case but that isnt a htpc case as you know