SilverStone Grandia SST-GD07B HTPC Case

Manufacturer: SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.
Product Name: Grandia Series GD07
Model Number: SST-GD07B
Price As Tested: $139.99 in Silver or Black (Newegg / Amazon)

Full disclosure: The product used in this review was supplied by SilverStone

The latest HTPC cases from SilverStone's Grandia line are the newly launched GD07 and GD08. They're both full-sized cases that can handle standard ATX motherboards and full length, high-end video cards. Today, Benchmark Reviews will explore the GD07, which features a full-width, lockable, aluminum front cover. The GD07 may not be slim, but it's still sleek looking, with an air of elegance.

Space has been a constant factor in HTPC case design, ever since the beginning of the genre. Consumers want sleek, fashionable components in their living rooms, not big tower cases with exposed drive bays and fans bulging out on all sides. There are certainly a host of small, svelte boxes available that work with a mini-ITX motherboard, or even a micro-ATX system. They can do an excellent job of serving up basic home theatre needs in style, especially in a fully networked environment where your primary storage requirements can be met by other servers tucked away out of sight.

Trouble is, the long-predicted convergence is going to come around and bite you. Want to do a little gaming on your skinny HTPC - not the best experience. 3D's even tougher. Want to transcode some of your videos and upload them to your tablet - that takes too long. Want to use your NAS for backup, instead of front-line storage - better make space for some more drives. Reality is, if you want your live-in PC to be all that it can be, you probably need a more muscular form factor. Who needs a glorified DVR, running Windows?

Silverstone's GD06 addressed this situation, with a self-imposed limitation of a micro-ATX motherboard. You can certainly get some stellar performance out of today's uATX boards, but it's easier with full ATX; you have so many more choices. One more thing the GD07 and GD08 bring to the table is a huge amount of space for internal storage.

SilverStone GD07 HTPC Server Case Features

• Positive air pressure design for excellent cooling/quietness and dust-prevention
• Support expansion cards up to 13.6 inches
• Supports Extended ATX motherboard
• Quick access filters to prevent dust buildup
• Lockable front door and power button ensure security of system and drives
• LED indicator with adjustable brightness
• Impressive storage capacity of up to eleven drive bays
  

SilverStone GD07 HTPC Server Case Specifications

• Material: Aluminum front door and plastic front panel, steel body
• Model: SST-GD07B (black)
• Motherboard: SSI EEB, SSI CEB, Extended ATX, ATX, Micro ATX *1
• Drive Bay: Exposed - 5.25" x 4, Internal - 3.5" x 5, 2.5" x 2
• Cooling System:
  • Side - 1 x 120mm intake fans, 900rpm, 18dB, 1 x 120mm fan slot
  • Rear - 2 x 80mm fan slot
  • Top - oversized vents
  • Bottom - 2 x 120mm intake fans, 900rpm, 18dBA
    (backwards compatible with 1 x 120mm fan +
    2 x 80mm fans, or 5 x 60mm fans)
• Expansion Slot: 7 + 1
• Front I/O Port: USB 3.0 x 2, audio x 1, MIC x 1
• Power Supply: Support standard PS2 (ATX) up to 220mm, recommend
  depth is under 180mm *2
• Expansion Card: Support graphic cards up to 13.6 inches
• Limitation of CPU cooler: 138mm
• Dimension: 440mm(W) x 175mm(H) x 435mm(D)

*1: Motherboard size will affect the size and amount of fans that can be fitted in the bottom panel.
Please refer to manual for details.
*2: With optical drive installed, the deepest PSU recommended is 180mm.

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