SilverStone Fortress FT01 Mid-Tower Case Review

Interior Impressions


With the side window removed, we are greeted with a spacious interior and a peak at the massive 180mm fans.

Instead of leaving enthusiasts to do it themselves, Silverstone has taken the initiative to paint the interior of the FT-01 completely black. I am sure there are many people who have been waiting for more manufacturers to move away from dull grey interiors so it is great that SilverStone has indeed been listening carefully to what enthusiasts want.


A total of seven 3.5” hard drives can be installed in removable drive caddies. They are mounted perpendicular to the case, which makes installation very easy and keeps them accessible. On the flip side, however, the drive cage appears awfully restrictive and will definitely impede the intake flow of that lovely 180mm fan. The drive caddies are intended to be used in conjunction with SilverStone’s CP05 hot-swap adapters.


A very unique feature of the FT01 is the locking mechanism for the five 5.25” drive bays. They simply swing upward like a switch to open, and then lock the optical drives in place in the down position. No more tiny screws to fuss with.


The PSU vent on the bottom of the FT01 is nice and large so it should accommodate just about any regular or oversized PSU with a 120 or 140mm fan. SilverStone does provide holes to mount the PSU upside down, but keeping the fan facing the lower vent will ensure that the PSU intake does not reduce the positive pressure in the case. Mounting in this orientation will also ensure that the PSU is receiving cooler air from outside of the case. Power supplies with rear 80mm fans, like the PC Power and Cooling Silencer series will not be able to take advantage of this.


Many of the header connections come from the top panel and some of them can be easily removed if so desired.


There is no shortage of motherboard connectors coming from the FT01’s top panel and the front of the case. USB, Firewire, AC97 and HD audio connectors can all be found coming from the top panel as well as the reset switch lead comes from the top of the case. The other switches and LED header connections come from the front.

Like we usually see, some of the leads are wrapped in black insulating plastic, but many are simple twisted multi-coloured leads. It would have been nice to see SilverStone sleeve these; especially considering the high quality appearance of the FT01. Picky enthusiasts will likely sleeve these cables themselves.


Another nice feature of the FT01 is the acoustic dampening foam found on the side panels that helps to reduce vibration as well as noise. It also gives the panels a slightly heavier and higher quality feel. This foam is about a centimetre thick and compresses easily. It should also be said that this is not something we are used to seeing on a mid-tower case but then again, the FT01 is priced slightly higher than many mid-tower cases on the market as well.