****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I've always been a fan of SFF gaming PCs. I don't even carry them to parties or anything often, but I still enjoy them. A few years ago, I built a small gaming PC in one of Silverstone Tek's other mini-ITX cases that was vertically arranged. It was a great case but was a rat's nest. Partly my fault for poor build order and cable management, but also just not a great layout. This SG13 case uses a better layout that allows for actual empty space and airflow if you assemble in the correct order and dedicate serious time to cable management.The case itself is not necessarily a steal at ~$45, but is certainly worth every penny. I got the mesh front and can honestly say that the waffle pattern seen in the picture is not nearly as prominent in person. The metal (the sides and top are one piece) is not very thick but does feel sturdy enough to hold up. It does tend to bulge out slightly, but that's a minor nuisance. When it comes to building, I felt that it was very easy to work with. I won't list my full build, but just what mattered for this case. The motherboard, CPU, ram, and storage are nothing more than preference, though if you can get away with a single 2.5" drive (I used a 250GB SSD), I'd recommend it to negate the need for the upper drive bay.Graphics: EVGA GTX 980 SC ACX 2.0 EVGA GTX 980 SC ACX 2.0 4GB GDDR5 Graphics Card 04G-P4-2983-KRThis is absolutely the longest Graphics Card that will fit without modification to the front. There is not a single millimeter to spare. Choose wisely.Cooling: Corsair H55 AIO Water Cooler Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler (CW-9060010-WW)I recommend water cooling regardless of processor or OC to keep CPU temps low. If air cooling, definitely use a blower-style graphics card.Power Supply: Corsair 600W Modular Corsair CX Series 600 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze ATX12V/EPS12V 552 Power Supply CX600MATX is fine but I recommend modular design to keep cable clutter down. If water cooling, I recommend having fan facing out so it gets cool air.Mount the 2.5" drive first, then mount the already fully assembled motherboard. Keep cables managed along the way. Graphics card should be last. Long graphics cards (like mine) will either need to be mounted through the front or at least have that side of the front popped loose so there is room to back it in first. The case is awesome, and I highly recommend it, just be conscious of its limitations. By following good steps and stuffing spare wire above the radiator, the actual center of my case is open space. No wires, just good airflow. As others have stated, a 140mm cooler will be problematic for the graphics card and drive bay if you end up using. Happy building.
